We Do Philanthropy Differently

The Just Transition Fund is the only national philanthropic initiative solely focused on helping coal communities strengthen and diversify their local economies.

As an innovative hybrid—part grantmaker, part catalyst, part convener—the JTF is the de-facto hub of the coal transition movement.

“The Just Transition Fund is…what peak philanthropic performance looks like.”

Secretary Jennifer Granholm
Department of Energy
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With deep roots in coal country combined with data-driven strategies, the Just Transition Fund does philanthropy differently.

We believe the most sustainable economic solutions are built from the ground up, working from a community’s assets and empowering its local leaders. Working closely with our partners, we track the investment we help drive into communities, the specific economic outcomes these investments yield, and the geographic reach of our programs.

Photo credit: Sam Levitan and the Natural Capital Investment Fund

As of 2016, 372 counties—more than 10% of the country—were home to a coal mine, plant, or both.

Since launching in 2015, the JTF has ensured large-scale investment flows to the nation’s hardest-hit coal communities. A decade later, we’ve helped our grantees leverage $2.6B in federal funding for locally led economic development projects, reaching a total of 67% of hard hit coal communities across the United States.

LASTING IMPACT

With a 31x ROI for our philanthropic partners, we offer our funders the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the coal communities we support.

Why the Just Transition Fund?

With the right experience, connections, and strategies in place, the JTF is leveling the playing field for hard-hit coal communities.

  • Unique Domain Expertise

    Our team brings the deep, cross-disciplinary expertise that is necessary to effectively support coal communities through transition. We draw on a broad knowledge base—including rural economic development, community planning, climate and energy solutions, and broadband infrastructure—while grounding our work in the specific cultures and economic realities of the communities we serve. This approach ensures that our strategies are both technically sound and locally relevant.

  • A Track Record of Success

    Since our inception, the JTF has helped our partners leverage $2.6B in public investment. This investment has allowed hard-hit coal communities to create or retain nearly 31,000 jobs, train and support over 40,000 workers and entrepreneurs, create more than 1,100 new businesses, and connect nearly 80,000 households to the internet. Learn more about our impact.

  • The Right Relationships - Across Sectors and Ideologies

    We have a broad, bipartisan network of coal transition stakeholders that allows us to bridge divides and make progress where it’s needed most. This includes frontline community leaders, federal agencies, state and local officials, and private sector partners. With a commitment to local decision-making to create shared prosperity in the places hit hardest by coal’s decline, we’ve built trust on the ground across the political spectrum.

  • Use of Data Analytics

    Our data-driven approach, combined with our deep respect for communities, enables us to have an outsized impact. Through our signature “prioritization project,” we measure the energy transition-related distress in individual communities, using data related to the intensity of coal impacts, economic indicators, and demographic metrics gathered from a diverse set of sources. Our analysis identifies the most economically distressed coal communities with the most disadvantaged populations.

  • Ahead of the Curve

    We anticipate and address systemic opportunities at key moments in time. With our bird’s eye view of the field and a deep understanding of coal communities, we build programs that fill essential gaps for our partners. Standout examples include our National Economic Transition Initiative, which helped inform the creation of new federal policies under the Biden Administration that set aside hundreds of billions of dollars for energy communities, and our Federal Access Center, which has helped to leverage this historic investment.

Key Interest Areas

In 2024, JTF supported community-led projects in a range of sectors. See the breakdown of our investment by sector below:

24%


Broadband

14%


Clean Energy

13%


Technology

13%


Tourism & Outdoor Recreation

10%


Sustainable Agriculture

7%


Construction

JTF also invested in projects focused on Arts & Culture, Healthcare, Water & Road Infrastructure, Education, and Environmental Restoration.

Funding Partners

The JTF is supported by funding partners that share our vision of a future where communities once reliant on coal have developed diverse, resilient, and thriving local economies.

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Join the Movement

Your support helps us scale local economic solutions that are equitable, inclusive, and low-carbon. See how you can get involved:

Become a Funding Partner

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a funding partner of the JTF and supporting coal communities and workers across the nation in a big way, contact our Development Manager, Rhea Carter, at rcarter@justtransitionfund.org.

Donate Through Your DAF

Make a donation through your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) by searching Just Transition Fund (Tax ID: 84-496832) on your DAF sponsor’s website (e.g. Fidelity Charitable, DAFGiving360, etc.).

Donate Online

Make an online donation.

DONATE NOW

Partner With Us

Get in touch to learn more about partnering with the Just Transition Fund.