2025 Mighty Partners We Are Thankful For

Over the years, we’ve learned a few things crucial to showing up in a sustainable way for the work we do. One is noting and celebrating our victories, and another is pausing for gratitude. Drawing near the end of 2025, we’re slowing down a bit to notice and be grateful for the remarkable organizations and individuals we partner with. We’re so honored to support them on the frontlines as they work for a better future for all. Please join us for a moment of appreciation for the incredible things they’ve accomplished this year—and in supporting them as they forge ahead.

Warm Cookies of the Revolution

Doing hard things and having fun are not mutually exclusive—that’s something we’ve learned from Warm Cookies of the Revolution. By creating innovative and fun arts and cultural programs, they get regular people engaged in crucial civic issues in new ways. It works because instead of shaming people for not being more involved, they make civic life joyous and irresistible. They collaborate with everyone from comedians to circus performers to lowrider car clubs and mariachis, working to connect with everyday folks and help them have a say in the decisions, storytelling and culture work of their community. They’ve engaged over a million people with their programs since 2012.

The Kindle Project

Connecting the dots between funders and grantees is a key step for moving important projects forward, and we’re so grateful for the expertise the Kindle Project brings to that work. A women-founded, women-led 501c3 philanthropic intermediary, they work to build bridges, shift power and support community sovereignty. With a team of grantmaking experts, they align bold donors with inspired communities, providing strategic advice and helping donors either join pooled funds or create new ones that will make a difference. We provided support to the Stars & Seeds Fund hosted at the Kindle Project, originally inspired and stood up by another soulful funder, the Kalliopeia Foundation.

Taxpayers for Common Sense and Headwaters Economics

When it comes to finding sustainable solutions to the world’s problems, economics is at the heart of it. Taxpayers for Common Sense is an independent, nonpartisan watchdog dedicated to protecting our nation’s fiscal future. We appreciate their oversight as they work to make sure our government treats taxpayers fairly, providing oversight and demanding accountability. Similarly, Headwaters Economics is an independent, nonprofit research group working to improve community development and land-management decisions. Through research, data and assistance, they provide actionable insights and expertise for local governments, federal and state agencies, nonprofits, charitable foundations, and other leaders. 

Kitchen Table Advisors and Earthworks

This year we’ve had fantastic referrals in our new Transformational Capacity Grant referral program, and we have Kitchen Table Advisors and Earthworks to thank for many of them. The organizations these two partners referred to us taught us a valuable lesson about the “ecosystem” of organizations it sometimes takes to get this work done. Nonprofit community buildings, grassroots organizations who are clients, and leadership development centers are all pieces of infrastructure when making system change. And they are often overlooked as programmatic grantees. Now we know.

Regenerative Agriculture Foundation 

Earlier this year when billions of dollars in federal grants and payments for farmers and farmer-serving nonprofits were frozen or terminated, it triggered a fiscal crisis for many and widespread instability. The Regenerative Agriculture Foundation stepped up to help, and executed fast! Joining with a few other funders, they moved quickly to activate philanthropic capital as unrestricted grants to nonprofits serving farmers at the forefront of regenerative and equitable agriculture. The Soil Health Opportunities & Tools (SHOT) Fund deployed $5 million in emergency response funding. Noting that philanthropy cannot fill every gap left by federal funding pauses and terminations, they did what they could to act responsibly—something we’re very thankful for.

Planet Women

We’ve seen how supporting women in leadership has been a transformational solution to fighting authoritarianism in other countries—which is one of many reasons we’re thankful for Planet Women. Occupying a unique niche, Planet Women exists at the center of the overlapping movements for environmental, racial, social and economic justice. Investing in environmental solutions on the ground, they work to both protect nature and support communities while transforming the culture of conservation. Women are at the center of it all—and we’re so excited to see the resulting systemic changes.

Green Foothills Foundation

We love hearing about environmental movements championed by ordinary citizens—like the story behind the Green Foothills Foundation. Born in the 1950s when a group of Bay Area residents banned together against auto-centric sprawl, the organization has developed expertise and a reputation that carry influence with decision-makers as they routinely deliver meaningful environmental victories. Addressing threats to open space nimbly and rapidly, they engage community members to amplify their voices, and have helped permanently protect more than 200,000 acres since their founding. That’s truly something worth celebrating.

We’re also incredibly grateful for some funders we’ve specifically partnered with over the course of 2025 to amplify efforts, learn together and deepen impact alongside our Mighty Partners and their projects. Thank you, thank you to the Gates Family Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, No Regrets Initiative, AJL Foundation and Philanthropy Colorado’s Climate Work Group, Honnold Foundation, the Water Table, and the Trust Based Philanthropy Project’s Meet The Moment community.

Of course there were so many more conversations shared that influenced our work this year. What a community to be a part of and what a time to be alive!