Community Fund

Geographic Scope: United States only

Focus Areas:

• Rooftop solar installations for nonprofits
• Environmental justice in pollution-impacted U.S. communities
• Reducing operational costs for BIPOC-led organizations
• Addressing health disparities from environmental pollution

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC)-led nonprofits
• Located in most polluted regions of the United States
• Mission-agnostic: Eligible nonprofits include those providing:
  • Arts and education services
  • Food security/food banks
  • Shelters
  • Community services
  • Health and wellness services
  • Any organization meeting essential community needs
• 501(c)(3) nonprofit status

Focus on Environmental Justice:

• African Americans 79% more likely to live near industrial pollution
• Over 1 million African Americans live near natural gas facilities
• BIPOC-led nonprofits receive 76% fewer unrestricted gifts than white-led counterparts
• Only 10% of domestic philanthropic funding goes to BIPOC communities
• Addresses health disparities (asthma, lung disease, heart disease) linked to air pollution in BIPOC neighborhoods

Project Benefits:

• Reduced energy/utility bills for nonprofits
• Freed-up funds to support core organizational missions
• Environmental benefits through renewable energy
• Community resilience and energy security

Examples of Funded Organizations:

• Bridging Communities (Detroit, MI): 19kW solar install, $4,000/year savings, serves elders and families
• United Parents Against Lead (Petersburg, VA): 19.5kW installation, $5,000/year savings, Solar Resiliency Hub for flood-prone community
• Congress of Communities (Detroit, MI): Community gathering space for Southwest Detroit
• Utah Clean Energy: Solar energy access for low-income families
• Giv Communities (Salt Lake City, UT): 100-bed supportive housing for homeless
• HopeLink of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas, NV): Fighting homelessness and supporting families

Partnership:
Launched in partnership with Sunrun (nation's leading residential solar installer). Sunrun provides solar installation expertise and hardware.

Impact (as of 2021-2022):

• Nearly 60 kilowatts of solar capacity installed
• Projects in Memphis, Detroit, Houston, and Petersburg (Virginia)

Founder Statement:
Alex Honnold stated: "The reality is that in the United States, to focus on environmental issues like air quality and particulate pollution, is to focus on BIPOC communities."

Application Process

How to Apply:

1. Organizations should review Community Fund eligibility requirements
2. Submit application through the Honnold Foundation portal
3. Applications evaluated for:
   • BIPOC leadership
   • Location in polluted regions
   • Community need
   • Organizational mission

Required Information: Specific application materials and detailed requirements not provided in source material.

Selection Criteria:

• Mission-agnostic (any community-serving nonprofit eligible)
• Geographic location in high-pollution areas
• BIPOC leadership requirement
• Community impact potential