Hey Folks! 👋🏽 I’m writing this newsletter amidst travel for some much needed rest and relaxation. This year has been filled with some incredible wins and moments of progress AND its tried me in ways that I couldn’t have predicted on December 31, 2024. In this spirit, this edition will be the second-to-last edition of the Resource Radar for 2025 before taking a winter break and returning back in Mid-January. I’ll share more on my thinking here next week.
Table of Contents
Interesting last few weeks in US politics to say the least 🤐
By the numbers:
Funding Opps: 35+
Job Opps: 65+
Contract Opps: 25+
Funding Opportunities 💰
2026 Pro Bono Fund by Spitfire
Who it's for: Spitfire's 2026 Pro Bono Fund supports organizations preserving underrepresented stories through communications training and support for museums, archives, nonprofit news outlets, and organizations promoting diverse arts and literature. Up to four organizations with limited communications capacity will participate in a cohort experience focused on sharing diverse narratives through exhibitions, archives, media, and educational programming.
Funding Amount: N/A —> pro bono services
Deadline: 11/28/2025
How to Apply: Click Here
Prize for Scaling Impact by F.M. Kirby Foundation
Who it's for: An annual global prize of $150,000 in unrestricted funds that amplifies and accelerates the work of enterprises working to scale their impact on social or environmental problems. The prize recognizes enterprises pursuing strategic pathways to impact at scale who center the voice and experience of the populations they serve.
Funding Amount: $150,000
Deadline: 12/3/2025
How to Apply: Click Here
Bold Path Fellowship by NC IDEA Foundation
Who it's for: A two-year, full-time program that empowers individuals from under-resourced backgrounds to pursue entrepreneurship following postsecondary completion. The program provides $120,000 in non-dilutive grant funding, educational programming, mentorship, and technical assistance.
Funding Amount: $120,000
Deadline: 12/5/2025
How to Apply: Click Here
SEEDS Project - Energy Efficiency Marketing and Case Management Microgrants by Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)
Who it's for: SEEA seeks local governments, nonprofits, and community organizations to provide marketing and case management assistance to help low-income households access energy efficiency, weatherization, and home repair programs. The initiative aims to reach 5,000 households across the Southeast with program information and enroll at least 500 households in home upgrade programs.
Funding Amount: $10,000 - $15,000
Deadline: 12/10/2025
How to Apply: Click Here
The 1954 Project Luminary Award by The CAFE Group
Who it's for: The 1954 Project Luminary Award provides $1 million in unrestricted funding to transformational education nonprofit leaders dedicated to serving Black students and communities. Recipients also receive leadership coaching, capacity support, and access to a national network over a three-year program.
Funding Amount: $1,000,000
Deadline: 12/15/2025
How to Apply: Click Here
Jobs & Fellowships 👨🏽💼👩🏽💼
Network Engagement Manager
Organization: NCEL
Location: Washington, DC; Remote
Description: NCEL seeks a Network Engagement Manager to oversee the growth, stewardship, and outreach to NCEL's network of state legislative environmental leaders. This inaugural position will lead network recruitment and engagement strategies while integrating equity and environmental justice values into all work.
Deadline to Apply: 12/8/2025
Salary: $76,000 - $84,000
Link to Apply: Click Here
Director of Social Impact
Organization: Jonathan Rose Companies
Location: New York, NY; Hybrid
Description: The Director of Social Impact oversees Rose's Communities of Opportunity Program, developing innovative social service delivery systems and coordinating resident services across the company's green affordable housing portfolio. This role involves supervising social impact staff, managing third-party service providers, and establishing strategic partnerships to achieve measurable social impact across 20,000 apartment homes in 14 states.
Deadline to Apply: Apply ASAP
Salary: $180,000 - $220,000
Link to Apply: Click Here
Senior Manager Business Engagement and Partnerships
Organization: Project Equity
Location: United States; Remote
Description: Lead business development and partnerships to grow employee ownership transitions by generating leads, conducting consultations with business owners, and closing services sales. Assess readiness for employee ownership and communicate the transition process to business owners while building strategic relationships with business networks and advisors.
Deadline to Apply: Apply ASAP
Salary: $80,000 - $110,000
Link to Apply: Click Here
Director, Energy Partnerships
Organization: National Audubon Society
Location: Remote
Description: Lead strategic partnerships with clean energy and transmission industries to advance Audubon's clean energy strategy while safeguarding bird habitats. Represent the organization in coalitions and collaborative forums, working to align bird conservation and climate goals with responsible renewable energy development.
Deadline to Apply: Apply ASAP
Salary: $92,000 - $129,000
Link to Apply: Click Here
Senior Campaign Strategist, Clean Energy
Organization: Industrious Labs
Location: Remote
Description: Build and maintain relationships with industrial manufacturers and organizational partners to advocate for clean energy development policies in key manufacturing states. Support campaign strategy development and facilitate meetings for the Sustainable Aluminum Network to advance industrial decarbonization.
Deadline to Apply: Apply ASAP
Salary: $121,000
Link to Apply: Click Here
RFP & Contracting Opportunities 📑
RFI: Civic Assembly Facilitator
Issued By: CivicLex
Scope: CivicLex seeks a skilled facilitator to guide a multi-session Civic Assembly in Lexington during March 2026. The Assembly will bring together residents to learn about local issues and develop recommendations for improving local government services.
Budget: $10,000
Deadline for Proposals: 11/28/2025
Details & Submission Link: Click Here
RFP: Invest Forward Cohort Program Facilitators
Issued By: Forward Cities
Scope: Forward Cities seeks qualified facilitators to co-design and lead entrepreneurial cohort programs for Durham entrepreneurs. The program includes two tracks: Start Up Track for early-stage founders and Accelerator Track for growth-stage businesses.
Budget: Not disclosed
Deadline for Proposals: 11/28/2025
Details & Submission Link: Click Here
RFP: Climate Breakthrough Case Study Writing Service
Issued By: Climate Breakthrough
Scope: Climate Breakthrough seeks a creative writing partner to produce 10 in-depth case studies showcasing their Climate Breakthrough Award grantees for their 2026 tenth anniversary. The case studies will highlight the human-centered work of grantees and demonstrate their philanthropic model's impact on climate crisis solutions.
Budget: Not disclosed
Deadline for Applications: 11/30/2025
Details & Submission Link: Click Here
Lagniappe ⚜ (a lil extra)
I heard that COP 30 was wild 🫢
Interactive COP30 Exhibit Allows Attendees To Be Shot Up Into Air On Big Spurt Of Oil
— The Onion (@theonion.com) 2025-11-24T20:30:08.684875721Z
News Scan: Updates to Track 📰
Despite the 30th Conference of Parties being interrupted by climate disasters in real time, the negotiations were hamstrung by 1600+ fossil fuel lobbyists who continue the vibe of tip-toeing around what needs to be done. Meanwhile, climate advocates and experts have had to continue to stand on business (bidness where i’m from) to tell the truth while big oil & gas continues to play in all our faces. One interesting note here: especially for those of us who are facilitators, planners, or solidarity economy folks, the biggest way that the fossil fuel industry has slowed progress down? They’ve weaponized COP’s consensus-driven model.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Events 🗓️
Date: 12/5/2025; 12 - 2 PM CT
Location: Virtual
Title: Graduation Showcase | Start.coop's Black Community Wealth Accelerator Q&A
Host: Start.coop
Description: “Join us to meet and celebrate our cohort of twelve Black-owned cooperatives as they share the incredible, impactful work they do!”
Sign Up: Click Here
Date: 12/2/2025; 11 AM CT
Location: Virtual
Title: Rural Reality Check: New Findings on Climate Emissions & Solutions in Rural America
Host: Rural Climate Partnership
Description: “You're invited to a public webinar on the 2025 Rural Climate Emissions & Solutions Report. The briefing will cover the top findings from the new report, shedding light on the rural nature of U.S. climate emissions and what these findings mean for the road ahead. Fellow funders, nonprofit partners, and interested members of the public are all welcome. Hosted by the Rural Climate Partnership.”
Sign Up: Click Here
⚡️ Recharge ⚡️
This week I’m finding some recharing from this conversation from 2021 between Leah Thomas, founder of Intersectional Environmentalist and writer & entrepreneur, Rachel Cargle covered in Atmos. It covers how we might chart a path forward in the midst of such much going around us without falling into a trap of false optimism. The convo still holds relevance four years later.
Enjoy the full convo here friends
“We must offer ourselves—and each other—space to grasp onto that rest, joy, possibility, and freedom now, or we’ll grind ourselves completely away simply surviving the oppressive pressures around us.”
Leah: I think it’s also good to note that toxic positivity is a bit different where people live in a state of denial and are hoping “good vibes” will solve all social and environmental injustice—what advice would you give for people to avoid channeling toxic positivity when trying to be optimists? Because optimism and toxic positivity are not the same.
Rachel: You’re absolutely right. Optimism and toxic positivity are not the same thing. Toxic positivity dismisses the systematic issues at hand in an attempt to make optimism the moral crux instead of justice. I often teach from the framework of KAE: Knowledge, Empathy, Action. The empathy I speak of in that framework is a radical empathy—empathy that doesn’t just say “I see you” or “I’m sorry for what you’re experiencing.” With radical empathy we ask the question, “In what ways does my existence play into your oppressions?” This offers a rational and solution-based approach to allyship and community care. This radical empathy is an on-ramp to a much more optimistic and rational approach to justice.
In solidarity,
Trace