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Foundation or Coalition — both critical
Forward Climate Foundation (501(c)(3)) does research + education — tax-deductible. Forward Climate Coalition (501(c)(4)) does advocacy + lobbying — NOT tax-deductible. Both essential to movement; different tax + funding structures.
Why two organizations
The 501(c)(3) + 501(c)(4) structure
Forward Climate Foundation — 501(c)(3)
Research + education + science. Tax-deductible to donors. NO lobbying allowed (or very limited). Independent research informing policy debate. Universities + foundations + individual donors fund.
Forward Climate Coalition — 501(c)(4)
Advocacy + lobbying. NOT tax-deductible to donors. Direct policy advocacy. Mobilizing members for federal + state + local action. Member dues + donations + grants fund.
Why both
Different IRS rules for different work. 501(c)(3) Foundation does research. 501(c)(4) Coalition does advocacy. Both legally required to pursue both research + advocacy. Standard structure for major US advocacy organizations.
Donor choice on tax-deductibility
Donors with tax preferences for deductibility: give to Foundation. Donors prioritizing direct policy impact: give to Coalition. Both critical; donors choose based on preferences.
Coordination but separation
Foundation + Coalition share mission but operate separately. Different boards + budgets + bylaws + employees (mostly). Coordinated strategically; separated legally + operationally.
Combined impact
Together, Foundation research + Coalition advocacy = effective movement. Research without advocacy = good ideas without political weight. Advocacy without research = weak claims. Combination is what works.
Donate to Foundation (501(c)(3))
Tax-deductible giving
What Foundation funds
12 PhD-level researchers + 8 senior policy analysts + 5 communications staff. 47 reports published per year. Conference attendance + academic engagement. External research partnerships (Princeton, Columbia, Berkeley, others).
Tax-deductible 501(c)(3)
Tax-deductible to extent allowed by US tax law. EIN: 47-1842950. Tax receipt within 30 days. Annual donor summary in January. Standard 501(c)(3) tax treatment.
Donor-advised fund grants
Most DAFs grant to 501(c)(3)s. Foundation accepts DAF grants. Recommend grant from Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, others. EIN 47-1842950.
Stock + securities donations
Tax-efficient way to give appreciated stocks. Foundation accepts. You avoid capital gains tax; Foundation receives full fair market value. Email development@forwardclimate.org for transfer instructions.
Planned giving + bequests
Bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable remainder trusts. Email planned-giving@forwardclimate.org for sample bequest language. Significant long-term funding source for Foundation research.
Major donor opportunities
$25k+/year donors: assigned major gift officer. Annual stewardship + research briefings. Specific research project funding opportunities. Direct relationship with senior leadership. Important capacity-building source.
Donate to Coalition (501(c)(4))
Direct advocacy + lobbying
What Coalition funds
240+ partner organization coordination. Federal + state + local advocacy + lobbying. Action Network organizing infrastructure. Lobby days + grassroots mobilization. Press + communications. State organizers + national staff.
NOT tax-deductible
501(c)(4) advocacy organizations are NOT tax-deductible. Standard for organizations that lobby + advocate directly. Donors who prefer tax-deductibility should consider Foundation. Many donors give to both based on tax + impact preferences.
Membership dues
Forward Climate Coalition membership: $25/year (free for income hardship). Provides Action Network access + advocacy materials + member voting. Larger membership = larger movement. Most members give beyond dues for additional support.
Major donor opportunities
$10k+/year donors: assigned major gift officer. Direct relationship with organizing leadership. Strategic input on campaigns. Specific to building stronger advocacy movement.
Coalition partner organization grants
Coalition makes grants to partner organizations: Action Network organizing capacity, state-level work, environmental justice partnerships. Funds directly enable other organizations’ movement work.
Why give to Coalition specifically
Direct impact on policy outcomes. Lobbying $1 sometimes leverages 100x in policy impact. If your priority is influencing political + policy decisions: Coalition funding is direct path. Tax structure matters less than impact for some donors.
Combined donation strategies
Most donors give to both
Strategic split: Foundation + Coalition
Many donors split giving 50-50 between Foundation + Coalition. Foundation tax-deductible portion. Coalition direct policy advocacy portion. Both essential; combined contribution maximizes mission impact.
Different giving for different goals
Tax planning year: more to Foundation (tax-deductible). Critical political moment year: more to Coalition (direct advocacy). Same donor; different giving strategy by year.
Recurring monthly to both
Recurring monthly donations to both Foundation + Coalition. Most-impactful giving structure. Predictable income for organizations. Compounds over time.
Major gifts to both annually
Major donors ($25k+) often give to both. Foundation strategic research support. Coalition political mobilization support. Donor relations team coordinates between both organizations.
Coordinated donor cultivation
Coalition + Foundation coordinate donor cultivation. Donors with tax priorities → Foundation. Donors prioritizing political impact → Coalition. Donors wanting both → combined approach.
Annual donor summary across both
Annual donor summary in January shows giving to both Foundation (tax-deductible) + Coalition (NOT tax-deductible). Useful for tax preparation + understanding total commitment to movement.
What different giving levels enable
Specific impact
$25/year — Coalition member
Coalition membership + Action Network access. Foundation: $25 supports 1 day of staff research time. Both: building member base + supporting infrastructure.
$100/year (combined) — Sustaining donor
Sustaining donor at both Foundation + Coalition. Newsletter + impact reports. Specific impact: sustained membership + research support. Many donors stabilize at this level.
$500/year (combined) — Major sustaining
Significant sustaining donor. Specific recognition. Direct relationship with development team. Specific impact reports. Many donors give at this level long-term.
$2,500/year (combined) — Major donor
Annual major donor designation. Major gift officer relationship. Quarterly impact updates. Strategic input opportunities. Particular impact on movement capacity.
$10,000/year (combined) — Significant major donor
Significant major donor. Direct relationship with senior leadership. Briefings + research input. Influence on movement priorities. ~30-50 donors per year at this level.
$25,000+/year (combined) — Major institutional donor
Substantial commitment. Strategic partnership. Direct involvement in movement leadership. ~10-15 donors/year at this level. Particularly impactful.
Specific funding priorities
What funding enables
State campaign organizing (high priority)
10 priority states require dedicated state organizers. ~$80-$120k/year per state organizer + program costs. State-level mobilization most-impactful per dollar in many cases.
Foundation research expansion
Hire additional senior researchers ($150-$200k each). Expand research areas (international, EJ, just transition, technology). Specific to addressing research gaps + opportunities.
Communications + media (Coalition)
Senior communications staff. Op-ed development. Press relationships. Earned media value substantial; specific investments enable. ~$300-$500k/year communications budget.
Action Network technology platform
Modern advocacy platform supporting 380k members. Specific features: phone-banking, regulatory commenting, lobby visits coordination. ~$200-$300k/year technology investment.
Field organizing + lobby days
Federal + state lobby day coordination. Travel + materials + training. ~$300-$500k/year. High-impact specific advocacy investment.
Coalition partner organization grants
Direct grants to partner organizations for capacity-building + specific campaigns. ~$1-$2M/year in partner organization support. Strengthens overall movement infrastructure.
Donation questions
What donors ask
- Depends on priorities. Tax-deductibility important: Foundation. Direct political impact priority: Coalition. Many donors give to both. Email development@forwardclimate.org if you want to discuss specific situation.
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