American Forests

In Phoenix, a neighborhood with a Tree Equity Score of 92 (left) experienced surface temperatures nearly 5 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than a south Phoenix neighborhood with a score of 63 (right), according to American Forests’ heat disparity dataset, which uses Landsat surface temperatures to measure heat severity differences. Credit: Rick D'Elia / American Forests.

In Phoenix, a neighborhood with a Tree Equity Score of 92 (left) experienced surface temperatures nearly 5 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than a south Phoenix neighborhood with a score of 63 (right), according to American Forests’ heat disparity dataset, which uses Landsat surface temperatures to measure heat severity differences. Credit: Rick D'Elia / American Forests.

In April 2022, American Forests, City of Phoenix staff and community volunteers planted more than 250 trees in Phoenix's Cesar Chavez Park to create the city's first "cool corridor" in efforts to generate shaded, and safer, commuting paths. Credit: Michael Jennings / American Forests.

The Tree Equity Score tool provides data and insights on the impact of tree cover alongside demographic data, land use, poverty and other socioeconomic indicators to guide planning and investments to grow tree cover in the neighborhoods that need it most. Credit: Tom Koenig / American Forests

Tree Equity Score was created to help address damaging environmental inequities by prioritizing human-centered investment in areas with the greatest need.

Planting 500 million new trees would bring every neighborhood in every city to a Tree Equity Score of 100. Credit: Liz Putnam / American Forests

American Forests
2024 & 2025 - $25,000 Tree Equity Score Toolkit
2022 - $25,000 Cool Corridors
2021 - $20,000 Tree Equity
2019 - $20,000 Tree Equity Toolkit

Founded in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the United States and a leader in the movement to protect and restore forest ecosystems. For more than 150 years, the organization has advanced science-driven approaches to forestry, shaping many of the practices used in conservation today. Its mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large natural landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife.

American Forests’ work centers on ensuring that forests remain powerful natural climate solutions, and it provides scientific tools, resources, and long-term planning needed to keep forests thriving. These resources enable partners nationwide to implement restoration and management practices that remain effective as climate conditions evolve.

A core pillar of American Forests’ work is climate-smart reforestation. Through its Resilient Forests program, the organization partners with federal and state agencies, Tribal Nations, local communities, and private landowners to restore forests in some of the country’s most ecologically vulnerable regions. American Forests develops and applies climate-informed reforestation strategies using tools such as its Reforestation Hub, which identifies low-cost, high-feasibility opportunities for restoring forest cover across the U.S. This work includes expanding native seed and nursery capacity, supporting climate-ready forestry jobs, and helping communities plan large-scale restoration across millions of acres.

Equally central to the organization’s mission is its Tree Equity program. Tree cover in the U.S. is distributed unequally: in many cities, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color have significantly fewer trees than wealthier areas. These disparities contribute to hotter temperatures, higher energy bills, poorer air quality, and increased health risks. To close these gaps, American Forests works with city leaders, community-based organizations, and residents to build urban forests that support health, resilience, and opportunity.

At the foundation of this work is the Tree Equity Score, a nationally recognized tool developed by American Forests to quantify and map the need for trees at the neighborhood level. The free, publicly available tool analyzes factors such as current tree canopy, surface temperature, income, race, age demographics, and health vulnerabilities to identify where trees will have the greatest benefit. Cities across the country use the Tree Equity Score to guide investment, set canopy goals, prioritize neighborhoods for greening, and engage residents in decision-making.

Policy leadership is another essential pillar of American Forests work. The organization collaborates with lawmakers, federal agencies, and national coalitions to expand funding for reforestation and urban forestry, modernize forest management, and integrate climate resilience and environmental justice into public policy. These efforts have helped secure historic federal investments, like the REPLANT Act, and have strengthened the systems needed to scale climate-smart forestry nationwide.

As climate challenges accelerate, American Forests continues to scale its work to meet national need: restoring forest landscapes across millions of acres, advancing Tree Equity in cities nationwide, and preparing the workforce needed to steward forests for generations to come. With its long history, scientific expertise, and commitment to community-centered solutions, American Forests is driving lasting change and ensuring that forests and the people who depend on them can thrive far into the future.

www.americanforests.org

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
2024 - $10,000 Seed Fund Fellow

Bronx River Alliance

Bronx River Alliance
2026 - $25,000 General Operating Support
2025 - $25,000 Cross Bronx Community Imagining
2024 - $25,000 Five Bridges Project

The Bronx River Alliance serves predominantly Hispanic and Black low-income communities along NYC’s only freshwater river. It engages, educates, and empowers local residents—especially those in under-resourced South Bronx neighborhoods— to restore the Bronx River corridor as a healthy ecological, recreational, educational, and community resource. In partnership with 100+ community organizations, 25+ schools, and public agencies, the Alliance delivers equitable, community-driven conservation and outdoor programs including paddling, habitat restoration, eznvironmental education, and cultural events. Each year, the Alliance connects 5,400 Bronx residents to nature, wellness, and stewardship, advancing environmental justice and equitable access to green space.

Widely regarded as a model for community-based waterfront development throughout the city and the nation, the Alliance pursues its goals through six interconnected program areas of Education, Ecology, Greenway, Recreation, Foodway, and Outreach.

The Greenway Program develops open spaces, restores existing parks, and integrates them into a series of continuous parks and trails along the river—the Bronx River Greenway. The Greenway program is also expanding its climate justice advocacy efforts, working with other local actors to promote climate resilience and improved infrastructure. For example, the Bronx River Alliance, working closely with a coalition of Bronx, city- and statewide allies is leading a campaign to halt a proposed highway expansion project along the Cross Bronx Expressway (CBE), and invest in the community’s vision instead.  The project, which goes by the moniker “5 Bridges”, is an unnecessary expansion that New York State has tied to a bridge repair project.  

The Education Program opens doors for youth from underrepresented communities who face disproportionate environmental health and safety hazards to authentically engage in science, environmental policy, education, and advocacy.

The Recreation Program helps the community discover an intimate experience with the river corridor. Operating hand-in-hand with other Bronx River Alliance programs, Recreation programs help visitors relax and connect with the river, and also integrate lessons, projects, and programs. Recreation staff take around 1,500 adults and children canoeing on the Bronx River each year, where they learn a fun, new skill while seeing the Bronx from a whole new perspective.

The Ecology Program protects, restores and manages the Bronx River through field work and policy leadership. Our Bronx River Conservation Crew has a full-time presence on the river, implementing and maintaining river and upland restoration projects.

The Foodway Program works to maintain and improve the Bronx River Foodway, an edible food forest located directly within Concrete Plant Park.

The Outreach Program works to connect the communities of the Bronx with the Bronx River through a wide range of public events designed to increase community knowledge and ownership of the river.

www.bronxriver.org

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
2024 - $10,000 General Operating Support

Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s (BBG) mission is to connect people to the wonder and power of plants, sparking delight and curiosity about science, culture, and our environment to help create a greener, more sustainable city and world.

BBG was founded in 1910 by civic leaders who sought to create one of the world’s first urban botanic gardens. Located in the heart of Brooklyn, where more than 2.6 million people live, the Garden welcomes more than 850,000 visitors annually, nearly 30% of whom access BBG free of charge through Community Tickets, winter free admission, free entry for children under 12, education and community group visits, and partnerships such as the public library Culture Pass program.

The Garden’s early vision, deeply influenced by the social welfare reforms of the time, sought a major shift from the gated academic botanic gardens of that era to prioritize greater access for all to education and open space, while providing an inspiring and innovative site for world class plant collections and gardens. This early vision continues to guide BBG today. The public value of nature, education, and beauty shape not only the Garden’s physical landscape but also its enduring role as a civic and cultural institution. BBG’s lasting commitment to community engagement and hands-on learning, along with its position as a leader among public gardens, has contributed to the evolution of botanic gardens across the United States and beyond as places where a broad public is welcome and their stories celebrated.

BBG is a 52-acre living classroom, a beautiful green space, a platform for community engagement, and a vibrant cultural anchor in Brooklyn. Recognized for leadership in horticulture, education, and sustainability, BBG cares for a diverse collection of plants and serves a diverse public. The Garden’s programming includes education programs that annually reach tens of thousands of individuals through in school and on-site science education, initiatives that cultivate deep engagement in urban greening throughout Brooklyn, and public programs that encourage visitors to appreciate nature, connect to plants, and imagine a greener future.

BBG is a recognized local and national leader in the field with distinguished contributions in:

• Horticulture: BBG's living collections count 10,000 plant species and cultivated varieties, including 850 globally or locally rare or endangered species. Comprising 32 garden areas and collections and five climate-controlled indoor conservatories, BBG's world-class collections showcase plants from around the globe and those that are native or regional.
• Education: BBG reaches tens of thousands of children, families, teachers, and lifelong learners annually through drop-in and registered programs, in-school science education, teacher training, youth environmental leadership programs, professional certification and training, adult classes, a library, urban greening initiatives, and more. More than 150,000 people participate in BBG's education programs, and more than 50,000 are impacted by community greening efforts catalyzed by the Garden's outreach.
• Conservation & Sustainable Practices: BBG’s densely planted 52 acres offer many benefits for the ecosystem and people living in New York. The Garden maintains 70% tree canopy, which is essential to removing pollution from the atmosphere, cooling, and storing carbon, and cares for hundreds of threatened and possibly threatened plants. BBG has also long been a leader in modeling sustainable practices, including organic gardening methods and integrated pest management, the award-winning Steinberg Visitor Center (LEED Gold accredited), the innovative Water Conservation Project (reducing BBG's outdoor freshwater consumption by nearly 96 percent), and borough-wide, community-based composting initiatives.

BBG’s integrated approach centers plants as an essential foundation in nature-based education, community environmental action, interdisciplinary arts and cultural events, and sustainable practices—advancing the Garden’s vision of a future where plants, people, and our planet flourish together.

www.bbg.org

Climate One

Climate One
2021 & 2024 - $18,000 General Operating Support
2019 & 2022 - $15,000 General Operating Support
2017 - $30,000 General Operating Support
2015 & 2018 - $15,000 Resilience Program

When Greg Dalton set off for the Russian Arctic in 2007, he didn't know how profoundly his life was about to change. Upon returning home, Greg worked with Commonwealth Club CEO Gloria Duffy to launch Climate One. 

Climate One is rooted in the belief that climate disruption is the single greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. A  sustainable, just, and equitable path forward starts when we come together to talk about our concerns, share expertise, and put forth bold ideas. 

Since its founding, Climate One has provided a unique and respectful space for influential, inclusive discussions. Dalton and his team have prioritized a broad, evidence-based conversation about climate disruption and its consequences by bringing leaders and experts on different sides of issues together in pursuit of empathy, common ground, and cross-sector solutions.

Now in their second decade, Climate One is doubling down on their mission to be the premier platform for the conversation about the climate emergency. Through their podcast, national radio show, and live convenings for thought leaders and concerned members of the public, Climate One creates opportunities for dialogue that inspire a more complete understanding of the current crisis. 

A pioneer in the podcast arena, Climate One has seized on the opportunity to become an influential voice in a previously untapped media segment, exceeding 100,000 downloads each month. In parallel, radio stations across the country have taken notice and Climate One now airs on more than 50 public radio stations in red and blue states from Texas, Georgia and Florida, to Pennsylvania, California and more. By building credibility and a broad community, every conversation they publish reaches more than 50,000 people, and that audience is growing rapidly. 

In addition to their weekly climate show, they support leading science communicators through the Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Science Communication. Created in 2010, the Schneider Award has honored a variety of natural and social scientists such as Dr. Robert Bullard, Dr. James Hansen, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe and more. In a world so littered with disinformation, Climate One is committed to recognizing the scientists who have dedicated their lives to understanding the climate crisis and informing the public. 

Imperative to a constructive conversation is diversity and representation. Across the nation, in all aspects of life and governance, the BIPOC community has been marginalized. Climate One recognizes that the climate conversation has been no exception. While black and brown communities are affected first and worst by the pollution, severe weather, sea level rise, and economic upheaval brought on by climate change, their voices have not been heard. In 2020, Climate One renewed their commitment to amplifying the voices of BIPOC speakers and perspectives on their program. Climate change is a racial justice problem, and needs to be covered as such. 

Climate One envisions a world where a clear-eyed awareness of the climate crisis shapes decisions ranging from personal behavior to public policy and where the full spectrum of humanity’s wisdom, talent, and expertise is marshaled toward the wellbeing of all life on Earth. That is why they are going beyond simply raising awareness to catalyzing action with a conversation that can expose the web of interrelated issues and the impact on the global ecosystems, economies and communities. They set the stage for one-time adversaries to develop empathy and perhaps become partners who develop solutions that inspire us all.

climateone.org

Climate Ride

Climate Ride
2024 & 2025 - $9,000 General Operating Support
2022 & 2023 - $8,000 General Operating Support
2019 to 2021 - $6,000 General Operating Support
2015 to 2018 - $3,000 General Operating Support

Founded in 2008, Climate Ride is nonprofit that transforms outdoor adventure into a powerful engine for environmental philanthropy. By organizing multi-day cycling, hiking, and running events, the organization empowers individuals to tackle personal challenges while raising critical funds for sustainability, active transportation, and climate justice.

Climate Ride addresses the historic underfunding of the environmental sector by bridging the gap between advocacy and sport. Participants engage their personal networks to amplify awareness, turning every mile traveled into a catalyst for community-based activism. This unique model allows participants to direct the funds they raise to a diverse roster of beneficiaries working on clean energy, public health, and sustainable infrastructure.

The impact of this movement is significant. Since its inception, more than 3,600 participants from 47 states and 12 countries have raised over $6.2 million for environmental causes. These grants have supported high-stakes legal battles for clean air, funded renewable energy projects in National Parks, and expanded safer pedestrian and cycling networks. Beyond the financial contributions, Climate Ride fosters long-term behavioral change; for many, a single event evolves into a lifetime of advocacy, as seen in supporters who have personally raised tens of thousands of dollars to safeguard the planet.

Even when faced with global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Climate Ride remained resilient by launching virtual initiatives like Climate Rise, which mobilized hundreds of new advocates. Through its Community Leaders awards and events like the Green Fondo, the organization continues to diversify the environmental movement, ensuring that the next generation of sustainability leaders has the resources and community support needed to drive lasting policy change.

climateride.org

El Puente

El Puente
2024 - $20,000 Youth Engagement Brooklyn Queens Expressway

Gowanus Canal Conservancy

Community Science Water Quality Testing (Pre-COVID, Photo_ Jeremy Amar)

Gowanus Blue Schools Design Challenge (Pre-COVID, Photo_ Jeremy Amar)

Gowanus Canal Shot (Photo_ Jonathan Grassi)

Gowanus Green Team Group Pose (During COVID - Photo_ Caroline Laroche)

Gowanus Neighborhood Tree Stewardship (Pre-COVID, Photo_ Jeremy Amar)

Gowanus Canal Conservancy
2024 - $15,000 Landscape Management
2022 - $15,000 Master Plan
2020 - $10,000 General Operating Support

Gowanus Canal Conservancy (GCC) advocates and cares for ecologically sustainable parks and public spaces in the Gowanus Lowlands while empowering a community of stewards. Since 2006, GCC has led volunteer projects focused on garden and street tree stewardship; educated and activated community stewards, volunteers, and students in urban water issues; equipped the community to build and advocate for a healthy waterway and environmentally resilient neighborhood; and worked with agencies, elected officials, and the community to advocate for, build, and maintain innovative green infrastructure in the Gowanus Watershed. 

As the Gowanus neighborhood is facing rapid change from the Gowanus Canal Superfund clean-up, City-proposed Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning, and preparations for sea level rise, GCC has established itself as the guiding community voice for innovative green infrastructure design in Gowanus’ public realm to create a more sustainable and livable neighborhood.

The Gowanus Lowlands Master Plan is a community-based vision for a public realm formed from a network of parks, publicly-accessible waterfront esplanades, and tree-lined corridors centered on the Gowanus Canal. The Gowanus Lowlands builds upon multiple planning and clean-up processes to provide the community with accessible green space, cultural resources, and recreational amenities while serving multiple functions through increased flood resilience, mitigation of the impacts of the urban heat island effect, creation of habitat, stormwater management, and reduction in pressure on the sewer system. 

GCC empowers local stakeholders in stewardship of their local landscapes through ongoing, in-person stewardship events and opportunities. Through the Gowanus Tree Network, GCC recruits, trains, and supports local residents and business owners in the Gowanus Lowlands as they provide long term tree stewardship on their blocks. GCC distributes tools, compost, and plants and provides support for volunteers and residential gardeners living in nearby NYCHA public housing. Additional volunteers are engaged in GCC’s Volunteer Program in propagating and planting native plants, and in removing weeds and litter from street trees and bioswales throughout the neighborhood. These stewardship efforts help to reduce combined sewer overflow (CSO) and urban heat island impacts, while supporting livable and beautiful spaces for community members to enjoy. Temporary COVID adaptations have been developed to ensure the safety of all environmental stewards. 

The Lowlands Nursery grows healthy native, urban-adapted plants, with a focus on local ecotypes in order to facilitate the planting of native plants in the Gowanus Lowlands. These native plants are distributed throughout Gowanus, and can be found at the Salt Lot, in nearby tree pits and neighborhood gardens, and in the yards of community members, organizations, and schools. Volunteers help plant these native plants during in-person volunteer events. Plants can also be purchased at the Salt Lot during plant sale events or by appointment. Temporary modifications have been made, allowing customers to purchase plants, soil, and compost online, which they can then pick up at a predetermined time.

Gowanus Green Team employs youth, primarily recruited from local NYCHA public housing, in order to better understand local environmental issues and build skills and knowledge for environmental careers. Apprentices participate in classroom lessons, field work and training, and trips to parks and restoration areas in Gowanus and around NYC. Apprentices develop physical skills, including gardening, infrastructure maintenance, and plant identification; teamwork and communication skills; and knowledge about urban environmental issues facing our city. Last season, GCC’s apprenticeship program took place with stringent physical distancing and safety measures in place. Eight youth living in neighborhood NYCHA housing logged 884 hours over three months and developed stewardship skills and provided horticultural maintenance in the Lowlands Nursery, rain gardens, and street trees. The program included weekly virtual sessions focused on neighborhood ecology, green infrastructure, horticultural techniques, and job skills.

The Urban Ecology, Gowanus Blue Schools, and Community Science education programs provide supplementary educational content tailored to an audience of students, teachers, and families in the surrounding watershed and EJ areas. These programs educate, engage, and inspire those who are most directly impacted by the environmental issues in Gowanus. They are equipped with the tools they need to make positive change. The Urban Ecology Program engages K-5 students in the importance of environmental stewardship, green infrastructure as a solution to pollution, and native plant horticulture, as they propagate numerous native plant species on site. The Gowanus Blue Schools Program teaches students in grades 5-12 to imagine and develop green infrastructure design proposals to help reduce CSO impacts on their school campuses. The Community Science Program equips students in grades 5-12 with an understanding of water quality health and data collection, allowing students to assess a variety of water quality parameters through on-site testing. Each program has been temporarily modified into a remote learning model, featuring virtual field trips, to accommodate as many students as possible during this challenging time.

gowanuscanalconservancy.org

Island Press

Rep. Jose Serrano reads from an Island Press op-ed in The Washington Post calling for a return to science-based decisionmaking at the Environmental Protection Agency

Solutions that Inspire Change: Recent Titles from Island Press

Carey Gillam, author of Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science (Island Press, 2017) testifies to the European Parliament about the dangers of glyphosate 

Steven Higashide, author of Better Buses, Better Cities: How to Plan, Run, and Win the Fight for Effective Transit (Island Press, 2019)

Book launch party for Transit Street Design Guide (Island Press, 2016)

Island Press
2025 - $20,000 Built Environment Portfolio
2021 to 2025 - $10,000 General Operating Support
2021 - $15,000 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Work 
2020 - $15,000 Online Programming During COVID-19 Pandemic
2020 - $25,000 Founders’ Pot
2019 - $25,000 General Operating Support
2017 & 2018 - $5,000 Founders’ Pot for General Operating Support
2013 - $10,000 Sustainability Knowledge Network
2011 & 2014 to 2017- $5,000 General Operating Support

Island Press supports the environmental community in advancing their knowledge and practice which, ultimately, improves the natural systems on which humankind depends. A non-profit organization, its mission is to provide the best ideas and information to those seeking to understand and protect the environment and create solutions to its complex problems. 

From its growing network, Island Press identifies promising thinkers, inspiring stories, and game-changing ideas to publish some 30 books each year. Island Press’ publishing expertise delivers critical information that enhances the work of thousands of professionals striving to create healthier, more sustainable, and more just communities. Today, Island Press is one of the nation's leading providers of environmental ideas and solutions. 

Island Press’ goal is to spark lasting solutions to environmental problems. Its approach is two-fold: 

Identifying and Developing Ideas 

Island Press identifies and shapes the best ideas, methods, and approaches into accessible content. The most valuable lessons come from those who are doing the work-the scientists, activists, and professionals who are leading change every day. But these problem-solvers often need guidance on how to share their experience with others. Without the editorial and communications support Island Press provides, important new voices would be left unheard, and effective approaches unknown.

Promoting and Distributing Content

The field needs cutting-edge information and practical solutions to a wide range of problems. Island Press taps into a distribution network of environmental movement leaders, researchers, policymakers, professionals, and the public. The organization’s reach extends into many areas, ranging from transportation planning and food systems to affordable housing and green space.

Setting this work apart from for-profit publishers, Island Press is committed to providing reliable, science-based knowledge in digital formats-webinars, articles, opinion pieces, and online courses-most of them free. 

Island Press has developed a body of environmental literature that is considered by many to be the most comprehensive, rigorous, and innovative available. This work is shaping policies, establishing thought leaders, and advancing influential concepts that have had important real-world impacts.

Notable Accomplishments 

Creating Safer Streets for All: Publishing the Urban Street Design Guide guided billions of dollars in infrastructure spending for energy-saving, carbon-reducing public transit and pedestrian-friendly streets across the country. 

Reducing Toxic Chemicals: The award-winning Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science led to limits on the cancer-causing chemical glyphosate (the main ingredient in Roundup) in several countries, as well as on college campuses and public lands across the U.S. 

Regulating Overfishing: The Most Important Fish in the Sea led to the first-ever limits on menhaden fishing, which had reached unsustainable levels. The quota resulted in a 26% reduction in the menhaden catch-a huge victory for fishing communities and conservationists.

Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

As workplaces closed and events were canceled, Island Press moved quickly to create more online offerings for professionals and students who were now working from home. Island Press released a dozen e-books for free and nearly tripled its schedule of free webinars for professionals. As a result, attendance to online trainings more than doubled. This evolving approach helped the organization grow the number of people it serves, and has widened its geographic reach.

islandpress.org

New York Botanical Garden

Visionmaker team member Mario Giampieri at a TEDYouth event.  (photo credit: TED)

Visionmaker homepage.  (photo credit: NYBG)

Visionmaker vision created for Jamaica, Queens (photo credit: NYBG)

Environmental performance compared between vision extent in 1609, 2014, and the Jamaica vision (photo credit: NYBG)

Five boroughs with historical ecology (photo credit: NYBG)

Five boroughs with contemporary ecology (photo credit: NYBG)

Dr. Eric Sanderson presenting Visionmaker at TedYouth at the Brooklyn Museum in 2014 (photo credits: Ryan Lash/TED)

New York Botanical Garden
2024 - $25,000 General Operating Support
2023 - $15,000 Visionmaker

The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) has been a connective hub among people, plants, and the planet since 1891. We’re rooted in the cultural fabric of New York City, here in the heart of the Bronx-its greenest borough. For more than 130 years, we’ve invited millions of visitors to make the Garden part of their lives, exploring the joy, beauty, and respite of nature. NYBG’s 250 acres are home to renowned exhibitions, immersive botanical experiences, art and music, and events with some of the most influential figures in plant and fungal science, horticulture, and the humanities. We’re also stewards of globally significant research collections, from the LuEsther T Mertz Library collection to the plant and fungal specimens in the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium, the largest such collection in the Western Hemisphere.

Amplifying the role of plants in solving the climate and biodiversity crises is a primary focus in our latest strategic plan, Branching Out, which officially launched in January 2024. Paramount to the future of the Garden is our strategic approach to Urban Conservation led by Dr. Eric Sanderson, Vice President for Urban Conservation. In his role at NYBG, Dr. Sanderson is tasked with advancing nature-based solutions to environmental issues and working with New Yorkers to visualize a nature-full city, secure community input on future plans, raise public awareness, advocate on a citywide scale, green the landscape, and ultimately, make New York City more resilient to the effects of climate change.

Core to Dr. Sanderson’s strategy is Visionmaker, a digital tool that enables New Yorkers to better contend with the environmental challenges in our backyard and beyond. Visionmaker is a platform for ecological democracy for the citizens of New York City that strives to empower and embolden everyday citizens to utilize their voice (and technology) for climate change planning. Using the website, users can investigate the city’s ecology in three timeframes: the past, the present, based on the current distribution of ecosystems and lifestyles in the city, and the future, as generated by the user’s imagination and using scientific models to estimate different ecosystem and ecological scenarios. Once a user has created a vision that matches their expectations, it can be shared through the interface with others, who can then borrow and build their vision, thereby shaping an idea of what the future of NYC could look like in the face of climate change.

In this next phase of Visionmaker, Dr. Sanderson and his team seek to take the website to the next level by converting the carbon model in Visionmaker from JavaScript to Python code and testing the digital tool in a new cloud-based server. Following the update, anyone with an Internet connection can contribute their ideas for the future of their neighborhoods more effectively and visualize multiple ecological scenarios related to the carbon cycle, which includes predictions of carbon dioxide and methane and transportation and climate-dependent buildings submodels. Although currently focused on New York City, the online platform is designed for expansion and portability to other cities and for enthusiasts and experts alike. Visionmaker NYC is just one example of how NYBG meets the moment.

nybg.org

Open Plans

The Building Blocks program guides neighborhoods through the process of envisioning, and then implementing, community-minded changes to their streets

Open Plans summer interns work with a mentor to complete a concentrated project at the end of their internship, culminating in a presentation to staff, fellow advocates and city officials

Director of Advocacy and Organizing Jackson Chabot gives Curbside Climate Award at Open Plans' first-annual Public Space Awards

Awardees and attendees cheer for 34th Avenue Open Street in Queens at Open Plans' first-annual Public Space Awards

Co-Executive Director Sara Lind speaks at rally for safe streets legislature

Emily Chingay and Sabina Unni connect with community at family event

Family music event on Manhattan's Upper West Side

StreetopiaUWS leads neighborhood walk with City Council candidates and local residents during a recent election cycle

Community engagement on Open Streets offer New Yorkers a chance to think creatively about their neighborhood

Open Plans' Emily Chingay shares School Streets toolkit at community event

Co-Executive Director Sara Lind leads Rally to Plan for People, Not Parking

The Building Blocks program guides neighborhoods through the process of envisioning, and then implementing, community-minded changes to their streets

Open Plans
2025- $20,000 General Operating / Filmmaking Support
2024- $20,000 Congestion Pricing
2024- $3,000 General Operating Support
2023- $15,000 General Operating Support

Founded in 1999 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to making New York City more livable, Open Plans works to foster a more connected relationship between New Yorkers, their streets, and their city government. In its early years, the organization focused on developing mapping tools as a way to analyze the issues that affect New Yorkers on a block-by-block basis. Using the information gathered, the organization began to not only map the issues but develop and propose solutions. Topics included public transportation; the use of streets as spaces for community gathering, neighborhood celebration, and events; public safety challenges caused by car dominance; lack of infrastructure for micromobility and pedestrians; and the desire for more equitable access to accessible, safe, public spaces.

In 2004, Open Plans launched Streetfilms, a project that produces and publishes short films highlighting best practices for transportation systems and public spaces around the world. These informative, playful, and inspiring films continue to fuel advocacy efforts today -- and garner huge wins the world over, including the launch and expansion of a robust protected bike lane network in New York City, bike access across the Queensboro and Brooklyn Bridges and complete redesigns of iconic areas such as the Meatpacking District in Lower Manhattan. 

In 2006, Open Plans launched Streetsblog, a daily news source providing deep dives and insider scoops, chronicling the transportation and livable streets scene in New York City and beyond. Inspiring offshoots in many of the major cities in the United States, Streetsblog has become a one-stop shop for all the news that’s fit to discuss regarding transportation, policy, planning, advocacy, budgets, and more. Its readership includes hobbyists, urbanism professionals, and city officials alike. From their annual Parking Madness awards to their recent coverage of the fight for safe and equitable public spaces for all, including the right to protest and the rights of delivery workers, Streetsblog is always on the cutting edge. 

In 2008 and 2009, Open Plans launched the New York City Streets Renaissance Campaign, in collaboration with Transportation Alternatives and Project for Public Spaces. This campaign challenged the auto-centric policies that create congested and unsafe, inhospitable streets. This work led to the first protected bike lanes in New York City, along 9th Avenue in Chelsea, along with years of streetscape changes on the Upper West Side. 

Between 2010 and 2015, Open Plans built on their success and merged their tech and advocacy foci, working with municipalities on tools for mapping and advocated for open source data tools for people to engage with their communities. The organization created maps allowing people to indicate issues in their neighborhoods, specifically around mobility and public space. Working with schools became a major focus; a new education and advocacy arm of the organization taught students how to identify safety issues on their commutes to school and empowered them to navigate their paths more safely. This work often led to students learning more about urban design and civics. Through drawings, petitions, and letters, students spoke at community boards and even engaging with elected officials, learning the power of civic engagement.

By late 2018, StreetopiaUWS was created to reinvest in Open Plans’ long-standing work in the Upper West Side neighborhood of Manhattan. Rooted in grassroots advocacy, Streetopia’s debut campaign was launched to educate people about public space management and start advocating for the city to care for public spaces, especially in residential areas. Today the place-based project works intimately with Upper West Side residents, decision makers, and other stakeholders to achieve safer bike routes and promote a people-centered mindset to placemaking and planning.

The Covid-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for New York City but ushered in a new era for Open Plans. As the city was forced to repurpose space for safe, outdoor public gatherings, many guiding principles of livability and people-centered space became commonplace. Suddenly, congested streets were transformed into car-free community space; curb lanes once relegated to parking were transformed into business-saving outdoor cafes. Open Plans seized on this spirit of innovation and gained momentum. The new Open Streets program offered a first-ever opportunity for communities to reprogram their streets for strolling, playing, dancing, and learning - and led to Open Plans’ campaign for a central Office of Public Space Management that would care for and invest in these burgeoning spaces as city services. The organization hired new policy expertise and pursued systemic change in city government while connecting directly with communities at the grassroots level.

This dual focus, with Streetsblog and Streetfilms creating compelling media, is a hallmark of Open Plans’ unique approach. Today, Open Plans continues to grow its nimble and focused staff. With a focus on advocacy, journalism, and inspiring film, Open Plans is illuminating new possibilities and creating meaningful change for every resident of New York City.

openplans.org

Regional Plan Association

Regional Plan Association
2026 - $20,000 General Operating Support
2025 - $20,000 Cross Bronx Expansion Report
2025 - $10,000 General Operating Support
2024 - $15,000 General Operating Support
2024 - $20,000 Brooklyn Queens Expressway Report
2023 & 2024 - $20,000 Congestion Pricing

Regional Plan Association is a non-profit organization that conducts research, advocacy and planning to improve quality of life for all residents in the New York City metropolitan area. RPA conducts groundbreaking research on issues such as land use, transportation, the environment, and economic development. It also leads advocacy campaigns to foster a thriving, diverse, and climate friendly region and partners with local government to help them grow in an inclusive and sustainable way.

For over 100 years, Regional Plan Association has been an indispensable source of ideas for policy makers and opinion shapers across the New York City metropolitan region. Some of the NYC region’s most significant public works, economic development initiatives, and open space projects have their roots in RPA ideas and initiatives. 

A cornerstone of RPA's work is the development of long-range plans and policies to guide the region’s growth. Since the 1920s, RPA has produced four landmark plans for the region. The most recent was released in November 2017.

One of the ideas RPA has been advocating is a tolling program for Manhattan's Central Business District, otherwise known as congestion pricing. For decades, RPA has been saying that the program is vital to managing traffic, raising revenue for public transit, and helping reduce pollution. RPA has coordinated a number of efforts over the years to build support for congestion pricing, and after a few failed attempts, was finally successfully in receiving New York State's authorization for the program in 2019. 

The program started in January 2025 and has been successful at reducing traffic, boosting transit ridership, improving traffic safety, and raising revenue for transit projects.  RPA has released a series of more technical documents to track the program's success and monitor its effectiveness and has also supported lawsuits against the USDOT to keep the program in place. 

RPA currently co-leads the Congestion Pricing Now coalition with a few partner organizations. Congestion pricing is officially called the Central Business District Tolling Program and is being managed by the MTA. 

In addition to congestion pricing, RPA has been supporting a number of local coalitions fighting highway projects that will increase traffic and harm local communities. In particular, RPA has supported the No Cross Bronx coalition, Coalition for BQE Transformation and the Rethink Route 17 coalition with design, traffic modeling, communications and external affairs support.

rpa.org

Riders Alliance

Flatbush Bus Bash this summer celebrating the first phase of the project beginning as we continue to organize riders and build their power for the rest of the corridor

Riders Alliance members and coalition partners filled the halls of the Capitol in Albany during state budget season to demand reduced wait times for trains and buses.

Riders Alliance
2025 - $20,000 General Operating Support
2024 - $15,000 General Operating Support
2024 - $20,000 Congestion Pricing

Riders Alliance is a grassroots organization made up of, and dedicated to, New York bus and subway riders fighting for better public transit to make our city more equitable and just.

Riders Alliance is a grassroots organization made up of, and dedicated to, New York bus and subway riders fighting for better public transit to make our city more equitable--especially in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn where transit is most delayed and disjointed.

Since its founding in 2012, Riders Alliance has organized thousands of riders to demand results from officials and to change the politics of New York transit. It has produced meaningful, tangible improvements that save riders time and money: half-priced MetroCards for low-income riders, the nation’s first congestion pricing program with revenues set to fund major accessibility and reliability improvements on the subway, and a first-in-a-generation increase to off-peak subway frequency, which particularly helps shift and service workers.

Riders Alliance’s theory of change is simple: elected officials and public agencies will prioritize transit riders’ needs only when riders are organized and prepared to hold our representatives accountable. Riders Alliance continually builds membership in the most impacted outer-borough neighborhoods, canvassing at bus stops and on subway platforms to engage riders in its work and identify new leaders to develop and support. It hosts regular trainings to equip members with skills to speak to the media, facilitate meetings, canvass, and lobby elected officials. Member-leaders organize in their communities to support fellow riders. Members are integral to campaign selection, strategy, and  implementation.

In 2024, Riders Alliance is focused on three areas of transit policy and service to improve the lives of everyday New Yorkers:

• Fairer fares for a fairer New York: In 2024, Riders Alliance’s priority for Fair Fares, New York City’s half-priced MetroCard program for low-income riders, is to increase the utilization and impact of the program by increasing eligibility to 200% of the Federal Poverty Line (or $29,160 for a one-person household). Riders have a chance to evolve this program to have the biggest impact and help the most New Yorkers.
• Congestion pricing’s premier year: In 2024, Riders Alliance’s priority for congestion pricing, the tolling program established for Manhattan’s Central Business District, is to keep leveraging rider power and strengthen the coalition to ensure the program successfully exits the political “valley of death” and goes live.
• Buses are the key to transit equity:  In 2024, Riders Alliance’s priority for better buses is to build unignorable bus rider power and test its case for an expanded theory of organizing and powerbuilding to finally deliver fast and reliable service to all of New York City. It will zero in on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn as a model of bus organizing and service for the future.

www.ridersalliance.org

Shared Use Mobility Center

Shared Use Mobility Center
2024 - 2026 - $20,000 General Operating Support

SUMC’s vision is that ALL people have access to equitable, safe, reliable, and affordable transportation options, even if they don’t own a car. (This is regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, education, national origin, or any other distinguishing characteristic or trait.)

SUMC’s mission is to connect and equip change leaders advancing people-centered shared mobility systems to fight climate change, advance equity, and strengthen communities.

Current transportation systems prioritize cars over people, creating systems that are unjust, unsafe, and unsustainable. Car-centric infrastructure contributes to 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions and causes nearly 1.2 million deaths worldwide each year — disproportionately affecting people of color, older adults, and youth.

Across the country, mobility change leaders are working to build safer, more inclusive, and climate-resilient communities. But to scale their work and shift entire systems, these leaders often lack the capacity, resources, and connections they need.

This is where the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) comes in.

Founded in 2014, SUMC is a 501(c)(3) public-interest nonprofit and international thought leader in equitable transportation. The organization connects and empowers changemakers building people-centered mobility systems that reduce emissions, advance equity, and strengthen communities.

Through applied research, SUMC deepens the field’s collective understanding of how shared mobility can advance equity and sustainability and maintains several high-impact dissemination platforms to ensure these insights reach the sector.

As a capacity builder, SUMC delivers tools, training, technical assistance, and consulting services to help practitioners implement people-first transportation solutions. Pilots and projects supported by SUMC include innovative approaches to paratransit challenges; first/last-mile solutions; jobs access pilots; mobility hubs in affordable housing; EV carsharing in disadvantaged communities; and more.

As a trusted convener, SUMC brings together leaders from the public, private, nonprofit, philanthropic, and academic sectors to drive innovation and systems change.

Since its founding, SUMC has helped secure over $90 million for mobility innovation and served as a technical advisor on nearly 150 pilot projects nationwide. The organization has supported both public agencies and community-based organizations in transforming transportation from the ground up. Its body of work includes over 1,500 publicly available resources and tools aimed at empowering the sector.

SUMC is a long-term partner of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and has worked with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and many public, private, and nonprofit clients.

SUMC’s vision is a future where everyone has access to safe, sustainable, reliable, and affordable transportation — even without owning a car.

sharedusemobilitycenter.org

Spring Street Climate Fund

Spring Street Climate Fund
2024 - $20,000 Clean Transportation
2023 - $15,000 Zero Emission School Buses

Spring Street Climate Fund runs strategic, effective campaigns to win transformative climate policy that helps people in concrete ways they experience directly. Using this approach, Spring Street acts as a force multiplier in the climate movement, bringing in new grassroots constituencies of New Yorkers with shared interest in Spring Street’s priority climate policies.

One of Spring Street’s priority campaigns is its work with New Yorkers for Transportation Equity: a powerful coalition of advocates, policy experts and grassroots partners that has come together to demand that elected leaders prioritize public transit, biking and walking and deprioritize cars and highways so that the state can meet its climate goals – and help people all over the state secure access to jobs, services and all of their daily needs.

In 2024, NYFTE launched its first coordinated campaign, the Get Around New York Act: a bold new framework to reduce car use and invest in clean, equitable mobility options for all. The coalition’s policy agenda will:

• Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): The coalition’s proposed bill sets a statewide goal to reduce VMT by 20% by 2050, a crucial step to meeting New York’s climate targets and improving air quality.

• Invest in Transit, Walking, and Biking: The NYFTE coalition is also working to require New York State to protect public investment in sustainable transportation at a pivotal moment for climate, access and mobility. 

Taken together, the Get Around New York Act will not only reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled in New York - it will also create an ambitious new roadmap for addressing one of the nation’s leading sources of climate-harming emissions, pioneer a model for state investment in sustainable modes of transportation, and accelerate the pace of climate progress around the country.

www.springstreetclimate.org

The 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition

La Noche de Velitas - Honoring Colombian tradition and lighting up the avenue during our annual La Noche de Velitas celebration.

Holiday Season Gift Distribution - Sharing the joy of the season through our annual holiday gift distribution and photos with Santa.

Weekly Learn to Bike Classes - Empowering neighbors of all ages to find their balance and confidence during our weekly cycling sessions.

Snowman Contest - Turning snowy days into a celebration of community creativity during our winter snowman contests.

Lunar New Year - Welcoming new beginnings and celebrating the diverse cultural heritage of our neighborhood during Lunar New Year.

Holi Celebration - Celebrating the arrival of spring and the vibrant unity of our community during our annual Holi celebration.

The 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition
2023 & 2024 - $15,000 General Operating Support

The 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition is a volunteer-led non-profit organization that transforms 26 blocks of 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens, into a safe, inclusive outdoor community center open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Founded in 2020 in response to the pandemic’s need for open spaces in Queens, 34th Avenue has become NYC’s first permanent Open Street.

The Coalition’s focus is on building community by providing free programming, cultural events, and essential services that advance wellness, education, mobility, and belonging for residents of Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst, Woodside, and East Elmhurst. Working in partnership with NYC DOT and many other local organizations and city agencies, they provide year-round classes, youth activities, food and clothing distributions, and health and immigration resources.

Through celebrations that reflect the neighborhood’s extraordinary diversity, they create a welcoming public space where neighbors of all ages can gather, learn, play, and thrive. Their work is rooted in the belief that public space should serve the community every day and that streets can be catalysts for safety, connection, and opportunity; they welcome everyone to join them on the street!

www.34aveopenstreets.com

Transportation Alternatives

Transportation Alternatives
2026 - $20,000 General Operating Support
2025 - $20,000 Biking is Not a Crime
2024 - $20,000 Congestion Pricing
2023 - $20,000 20x20 Project
2022, 2024 & 2025 - $10,000 General Operating Support
2011 - $5,000 General Operating Support

Transportation Alternatives (TA) works to reclaim New York City’s streets from the automobile and to advocate for better walking, biking, and public transit for all New Yorkers. Through grassroots organizing and strategic communication campaigns, TA advances infrastructure and policy improvements that prioritize people, create safer streets, and ultimately realize a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable city. TA engages thousands of stakeholders each year through its advocacy work, including community residents, peer nonprofit organizations, civic coalitions, business leaders, elected local and state officials, and government agencies. Their campaigns reshape streetscapes into safe places where people can walk, bike, meet, play, and participate in the variety of activities that make urban living healthy, vibrant, and dynamic.

In the past five decades, TA has made remarkable progress. Today, bike lanes ribbon up and down Manhattan avenues. Hundreds of thousands more ride a bike to work every day. The city is equipped with dedicated bus lanes, public bike share, and car-free park spaces that did not exist five decades ago. In just the last two decades, TA advocacy was responsible for the introduction of America’s first protected bike lanes and the world’s largest speed camera program.  TA lowered the citywide speed limit for the first time in 50 years, and introduced Vision Zero to New York City, an idea which then spread across the U.S. The same story is true of the federal Safe Routes to Schools and Safe Routes for Seniors programs.

The few who founded Transportation Alternatives recruited and multiplied, and now TA’s tent of supporters is packed with New Yorkers who regularly take action, make the case to public officials, and testify to the importance of TA’s mission. Each week, TA organizes local meetings, protests, rallies, petition drives, community gatherings and on-street actions to amplify voices. By the power of these people and a track record of transformative change, TA demands New York City’s most influential decision makers pay attention.

In that time, a remarkable subset of the organization was also born. Families for Safe Streets (FSS) is a coalition of people injured in traffic crashes, and the children, spouses, siblings, and parents whose loved ones have been killed. What began in 2014 as a small group of families in mourning has grown to a citywide force for change, and a national inspiration, with chapter organizations in 14 cities. Together, this powerful group of survivors tell their stories as an unignorable testament to the need for safe streets and refuse to give an inch in defense of the status quo.

From the creation of grand public spaces, like the pedestrianization of Times Square, to the construction of protected bike lanes and pedestrian plazas in all five boroughs, TA and FSS have paved the way for remarkable changes in New York City’s transportation infrastructure and transformed New Yorkers’ understanding of bicycling, walking and public transit.

transalt.org

Tri-State Transportation Campaign 

TSTC’s Summer Transportation and Environmental Justice Fellows tour the Second Avenue Subway and discuss the importance of congestion pricing funding for the project.

TSTC staff at the Congestion Pricing defense rally with Governor Hochul and advocates, 3/21/25.

Jaqi Cohen, Director of Climate and Equity Policy overjoyed at the Congestion Pricing defense rally with Governor Hochul, 3/21/25.

Photo by Jaqi Cohen

TSTC Board Chair Justin Balik speaks with Rocco Vertuccio on NY1 about Secretary Duffy’s made-up deadline for congestion pricing and why the MTA remains on solid legal footing.

TSTC Board Chair Justin Balik speaks with Rocco Vertuccio on NY1 about Secretary Duffy’s made-up deadline for congestion pricing and why the MTA remains on solid legal footing..

MTA’s promotional billboard for Congestion Pricing over the Astoria-Ditmars subway
station in Queens. Photo by Jaqi Cohen.

Elected officials, advocates, and supporters of congestion pricing gather on the one-year anniversary to celebrate the program and share new reports with the press.

Tri-State Transportation Campaign 
2025 - $20,000 Congestion Pricing and General Operating Support
2025 - $20,000 Clean Rides Network
2024 - $20,000 Congestion Pricing

Since its founding in 1993, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign (TSTC) has been the leading watchdog for the region’s transit network, fighting to reduce car dependency and ensure an equitable, climate-resilient future for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

The decade-long battle for congestion pricing—the first program of its kind in the U.S.—reached a fever pitch in late 2024. When New York’s Governor Hochul unexpectedly paused the plan just weeks before its launch, TSTC spearheaded a massive pressure campaign. This advocacy was decisive: on January 5, 2025, the program officially went into effect.

While the base fee was adjusted to $9, the program is already delivering on its promises. In its first year, Manhattan’s Central Business District saw 80,000 fewer daily vehicles, a 22% drop in air pollution, and billions in revenue secured for critical MTA upgrades. TSTC continues to defend these wins against federal opposition and regional litigation, using data-driven analysis and innovative media—including their latest public engagement video—to ensure these benefits remain permanent.

tstc.org