Environmental Defense Action Fund

About Environmental Defense Action Fund

Environmental Defense Action Fund uses policy advocacy to build political power around climate, clean energy, and pollution standards, with grantmaking that repeatedly supports election-related infrastructure and state-level environmental campaigns. The largest recent grants go to EDF Action Votes Inc, including $7,350,000 in 2025 and $4,065,000 in 2024, alongside $3,512,500 to League of Conservation Voters Inc in 2025. Those awards point to a funder that backs organized political work, not just issue education. Beyond electoral support, the foundation funds organizations working on climate policy and related environmental issues across the U.S. Western Conservation Action received $400,000 in 2023 for state climate policy and $90,000 in 2024 for decarbonization of the U.S. power sector, while NextGen Climate Action received $1,000,000 in 2023 for political affairs. Other grants support methane advocacy, water infrastructure, groundwater protection, and environmental justice, showing a portfolio centered on policy change rather than direct services. The giving profile is national and concentrated in advocacy groups, policy organizations, and campaign-linked entities. In the recent-grants list, recipients range from Washington, DC organizations to state-based climate groups in Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and North Carolina.

What Environmental Defense Action Fund Funds

A major theme is political and electoral support for climate policy. In 2025, Environmental Defense Action Fund gave $3,512,500 to League of Conservation Voters Inc for political affairs, and in 2023 it gave $1,000,000 to NextGen Climate Action for political affairs. Those grants show a preference for organizations that translate climate goals into political action. State climate policy is another clear focus. Western Conservation Action received $400,000 in 2023 for state climate policy, and two Oregon groups, Vote Yes on 113 and Hold Politicians Accountable, each received $30,000 in 2023 for state climate policy. The pattern suggests attention to state-level policy fights. Methane and air pollution standards appear as a separate line of work. Clean Air Action Fund received $30,000 in 2024 for methane advocacy, and Conservation Voters New Mexico received $25,000 in 2023 for methane advocacy. The foundation also supported environmental policy messaging through American Independent Media with a $100,000 grant in 2025.

How Environmental Defense Action Fund Gives