Heidi Binko is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Just Transition Fund. With more than two decades of experience addressing climate, coal, and energy issues, Heidi is a leader in energy transition and climate philanthropy, and has dedicated her career to championing economic resilience and sustainable development in coal-impacted communities across the United States.

With an audacious goal to reach all of the hardest hit coal communities by 2028, Heidi and her team have offered innovation and hope for those significantly impacted by the energy transition, notably rural and Tribal places. Under her leadership, the JTF pioneered a national model for the equitable implementation of federal funds by helping disadvantaged communities overcome barriers to successfully accessing federally investments in locally led projects. Today, many organizations, at the national and state levels, have replicated this approach, and regularly seek JTF’s guidance and leadership.

Heidi’s commitment to this model and her expertise have been instrumental in leveraging $2 billion in public funding to support projects that create tangible economic impacts in more than 300 coal communities across 28 states. 

Prior to co-founding the JTF, Heidi was the Associate Director for Special Climate Initiatives at the Rockefeller Family Fund (RFF), where she worked to played a pivotal role in the development and expansion of the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, galvanizing climate funders to focus on coal communities, supporting the field from $5M-$8M investments to more than $100M over five years. Her earlier tenure as Executive Director of the WestWind Foundation further solidified her reputation as a leader in philanthropic circles. 

A sought-after speaker, Heidi has delivered remarks at the White House under the Biden Administration, Climate Week, Aspen Ideas, Richmond Federal Reserve and numerous other high-profile venues across the country, sharing her insights and expertise on the energy transition. She played an instrumental role in informing and influencing national policy, particularly the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act,  under the Biden Administration, to increase availability of federal funds for transitioning communities through the National Economic Transition platform.

Her influence extends beyond organizational leadership; she has held positions as co-chair of the Climate and Energy Group of the Appalachia Funders Network, the board of directors of the Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA) and of the Climate and Energy Funders Group, a project of the Biodiversity Funders Group. Her academic credentials include degrees from Yale University and the University of Notre Dame.

In recognition of her commitment to climate action, in 2023, Heidi was honored as one of Google’s six most influential women in climate change. Her passion, expertise, and leadership continue to inspire and drive transformative and economic change in the energy transition.

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