New report marks five years of climate action by foundations
14 May 2025
The Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) has today marked a five-year milestone with the release of a new report on climate action by foundations.
Hosted by ACF since 2020 with an initial 21 signatories, the Funder Commitment on Climate Change (FCCC) has now been signed by over 130 foundations from Land’s End to John O’Groats. These foundations have pledged to drive climate action both within their organisations and beyond. This landmark UK commitment has sparked a global movement of funder commitments on climate action, with over 900 signatories worldwide.
Analysis of signatory actions in the Funder Commitment on Climate Change (FCCC) year 5 progress report shows that progress continues to be made on committing resources, education and learning, and more.
This year’s progress report shows that engagement with the commitment remains high, with 87% of eligible signatories sharing their actions, achievements and challenges with ACF and their peers.
Highlights from this year’s report include:
- Four foundations* started new funding programmes specifically to address climate change or encourage sustainability in 2024, a record for FCCC reporting. Inspiring Scotland launched the Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund in co-operation with The Carman Foundation and NatureScot, providing funding and support for community-led ecosystem restoration projects across Scotland.
- Four signatories** started initial work on a funder collaboration on youth-led climate justice work in 2024, which has now been launched as the Roots & Routes Fund.
- Signatories report being more vocal about their work on climate change, and prioritised taking part in sector-wide learning opportunities as well as learning from grantees.
Foundations also reflected on challenges they have faced over the past year, with rising demand for grants impacting on internal capacity to drive climate action and funding available for climate- related activities.
Report author Rachel Heydecker, policy and practice manager at ACF, said: “It is hugely positive to see foundations of all sizes, types and missions continuing to take actions on climate, supported by the Funder Commitment on Climate Change framework. Signatories continue to develop their practice and share their learning with others, demonstrating the variety of roles foundations can take in addressing climate change.”
The FCCC is a holistic framework for foundations to identify actions and make progress to play their part in tackling the causes and impact of climate change, whatever their mission or size. From learning about climate change and committing resources to work tackling it, to taking action to minimise organisational carbon footprints and consider the risk of climate change to investments, signatories are committed to integrating climate awareness across their work.
*Blagrave Trust, Inspiring Scotland, The Fore and Foundation Scotland
**Blagrave Trust, Energy Savings Trust Foundation, OVO Foundation and the Co-op Foundation, working with Impatience Earth
About the Funder Commitment on Climate Change (FCCC)
The FCCC was launched in 2019 and has been hosted by ACF since 2020. It is a holistic, high-level framework supporting funders to play their part in tackling the causes and impacts of climate change. More information can be found here alongside a list of signatories. It is part of a global movement of almost 900 funders who have signed commitments on climate change in Canada, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Brazil, South Africa and the UK, or the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change where a national commitment does not yet exist. These initiatives were all inspired by the UK commitment.