When it comes to combating climate change through philanthropy, the architecture industry could be doing so much more. A 2020 report from the ClimateWorks Foundation, a San Francisco–based nonprofit, estimated that total charitable giving by foundations and individuals grew to $750 billion, of which only $6 billion to $10 billion was focused on climate change mitigation. That means less than 2% of total global philanthropic giving is dedicated to this urgent cause.
Sure, there are amazing foundations in the architecture community like the Chicago-based Graham Foundation, which recently gave more than $500,000 to organizations worldwide to support exhibitions, publications, and other public presentations that promote architecture and design (and, in some cases, address climate change). This year’s awardees include the fifth edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennial, a new traveling exhibition by the nonprofit ArchiteXX exploring the role of architecture in reproductive justice, and an exhibition inspired by the work of architect Amaza Lee Meredith, to name a few.
There are other programs worth paying attention to as well. The Harvard GSD Wheelwright Prize, an open international competition, grants $100,000 to a young architect to support a design research project. This year’s winner, Jingru Cheng, is focusing on the economic, cultural, and ecological impacts of sand mining and land reclamation.
Plus, the Holcim Foundation’s competition hands out $1,000,000 in awards to designers and architects for projects that exemplify the most innovative practice in sustainable construction. This year’s winners will be announced in November at a ceremony at the Venice Biennale.
One new philanthropic initiative to watch is the re:arc institute, which funds community efforts that target the origins and effects of climate change. Backed by the Interogo Foundation (which owns IKEA), the Copenhagen-based organization endorses projects that focus on fighting climate crises “through the unique needs of place and community action,” according to the group’s mission statement, especially supporting “hyper-local grassroots practices while centering the work of women, youth, and other historically underserved communities.”
The organization’s first round of grantees highlight practices that support social participatory education, collective ownership, and intersectional biodiversity and climate care. Programa Vaca, for example, is a sustainable community-construction platform that tackles housing poverty in rural areas and Indigenous territories in Mexico. Another grant recipient, the group ArhiPera, strives to better the living conditions of Romanian communities in severe poverty by building houses through a participatory approach.
Considering that the architecture industry is responsible for about 40% of carbon emissions, re:arc’s work is an exemplary model for funding real-world projects that leverage architectural expertise to fight climate change—something we can all learn from. I look forward to the announcement of the next round of grantees in September.
This article first appeared in the July/August 2023 issue of ARCHITECT.
