Philanthropy plays a uniquely critical role in climate action—it can fund the bold, early-stage, community-led, and systems-changing work that markets and governments too often overlook. And with the federal government cutting funding to a wide range of climate, energy and conservation efforts, philanthropy plays a more important role than ever before.

That’s why we’re teaming up with the Skyline Foundation and their Climate Lead, Shereen D’Souza on a series of conversations on climate philanthropy.

Over the coming episodes, we’ll explore how philanthropy can accelerate climate solutions—not just by moving more money, but by moving it differently and to high impact topics and geographies. We’ll talk to leaders who are rethinking power, reimagining partnerships, and reshaping the way resources flow.

Today, we’re starting with a conversation that sets the tone for the entire series: trust-based philanthropy. What does it look like to fund climate work in ways that are long-term, rooted in real relationships, and prioritize the expertise of grantee organizations? How can funders shift from control to collaboration, and what happens when they do?

Shereen and I are joined by Shaady Salehi, Executive Director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. Shaady has been at the forefront of this movement, helping foundations transform their practices and support grantees with more transparency, humility, and flexibility. We talk about Shaady and Shereen’s backgrounds in philanthropy, what trust-based philanthropy is and how it can help non-profit partners be more effective, why it’s relevant to Skyline Foundation’s approach and ways other donors can learn more.

This series is one of several deep dive series we’ve created this year. Find the others on InvestedinClimate.com and reach out through the website if you’d like to partner on a deep dive series of your own.

On today’s episode, we cover:

03:30 – Shadi’s Background & Origins of Trust-Based Philanthropy
05:34 – Shireen’s Climate Journey & Work on the Paris Agreement
08:38 – Inside the Skyline Foundation’s Climate Program
10:21 – The Role of Philanthropy vs. Markets in Climate
12:20 – What Makes Skyline Different as a Climate Funder
13:29 – What Is Trust-Based Philanthropy? Core Practices
17:11 – Accountability & Critiques of Trust-Based Philanthropy
19:20 – Power Dynamics & Mutual Accountability
20:58 – Inside the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
23:12 – How Trust-Based Philanthropy Shows Up at Skyline
25:35 – Why Trust-Based Philanthropy Is Critical for Climate Now
27:55 – How Trust Builds Honesty & Problem-Solving
29:32 – Shadi’s Motivation & What’s at Stake Systemically
33:12 – Barriers to Trust-Based Climate Philanthropy
34:21 – How Skyline Shares Control with Field Experts
38:11 – Entry Points for Funders New to Trust-Based Philanthropy
40:23 – Closing & Call to Action

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