Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA)

The Environmental Grantmakers Association was formed in 1987 following a meeting of environmental funders in Washington, DC to discuss common interests and to learn about each others programs. As a result of the enthusiasm generated at the meeting, 12 member foundations from across the United States made plans for future gatherings, exchanged grants lists, and published a directory of foundation program interests. Subsequent meetings reaffirmed the groups interest in facilitating increased communication among grantmakers through EGA. Over 35 years later, our membership spans more than 230 foundations, donor and giving programs, spanning large and small in terms of giving level and staff size, and includes multiple types of foundations that are concerned with protecting the environment. In 2021 EGA published its racial equity point of view and strategic framework. Next in 2021, as a result of that clariy in vison and focus on racial equity EGA hired a new CEO and President, a Chief Operating Officer, as well as a Director of Strategic Partnerships and Program Director and became majority diverse staff team for the first time in its history. In 2023, EGA succesfully held its signature in person convening coninuing the tradition of signature events despite the compound crisis of the covid 19 epidemic. EGA hosts about 300 members, and partners to examine the landscape together.EGA's northsttar is its racial equity point of view. EGA is an association of trusted practitioners that develops impactful signature programming for environmntal grantmakers in leadership. Inside Philanthropy named EGA as a top PSO keeping environmental philanthropy going and growing!United Philanthropy Forum Racial Equity Capacity Assessment detrmine that EGAs internal and external racial equity practices are at the leading edge of PSOs, in general.