Indigenous Earth Fund distributes $5 million to Indigenous-led projects

Summary

Climate Connections: "Indigenous Earth Fund distributes $5 million to Indigenous-led projects"

Host: Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz
Guest: Edgar Villanueva (Lumbee Tribe, Decolonizing Wealth Project)
Date: July 13, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode spotlights the crucial work of the Indigenous Earth Fund, a philanthropic initiative distributing over $5 million to Indigenous-led environmental projects. Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz speaks with Edgar Villanueva, a member of the Lumbee tribe and leader of the Decolonizing Wealth Project, about the funding landscape for Indigenous climate efforts and why these communities hold unique and valuable climate solutions.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Funding Gap for Indigenous Projects

• Despite billions donated annually to climate initiatives, Indigenous communities receive only "a tiny fraction" of those funds.

  • [00:01] Dr. Leiserowitz: "...only a tiny fraction goes to indigenous communities who have long cared for the Earth."

• Indigenous groups often lack access to wealthy donors and are excluded by traditional funding criteria.

  • [00:28] Leiserowitz: "...may not have connections to wealthy donors or may lack certain credentials that foundations are looking for."

Indigenous Communities as Solution-Holders

• Villanueva emphasizes that Indigenous communities have both the historical and practical knowledge essential for effective climate action.
  • [00:21] Villanueva: "I often think of those communities as having solutions, the best solutions to the problems that we are facing."

The Daily Struggle for Resources

• Indigenous leaders are forced to dedicate significant time seeking basic resources, detracting from their environmental work.
  • [00:36] Villanueva: "I stay up at night worrying about folks that I know who are so critical to this movement and yet have to spend half time or more out begging for resources to do their work."

The Indigenous Earth Fund: A New Model

• The Decolonizing Wealth Project’s Indigenous Earth Fund seeks to address these inequities:
  • Raises money from donors and foundations
  • Distributes funds through decisions made by Indigenous advisors
  • Since 2021: over $5 million given to projects in clean energy, forest management, and beyond

Trust in Indigenous Stewardship

• Villanueva expresses confidence in Indigenous leadership for the planet’s future:
  • [01:10] Villanueva: "Folks who I truly believe we can trust to guide us into the future and take care of this planet because they have stewarded it for so, so long."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Edgar Villanueva [00:21]:
  "I often think of those communities as having solutions, the best solutions to the problems that we are facing."
• Edgar Villanueva [00:36]:
  "I stay up at night worrying about folks that I know who are so critical to this movement and yet have to spend half time or more out begging for resources to do their work."
• Edgar Villanueva [01:10]:
  "Folks who I truly believe we can trust to guide us into the future and take care of this planet because they have stewarded it for so, so long."

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:01 – Introduction and context on climate fundraising disparities
• 00:21 – Indigenous solutions and their value
• 00:36 – Challenges Indigenous leaders face in fund-seeking
• 00:47 – Creation and operation of the Indigenous Earth Fund
• 01:10 – Affirmation of Indigenous leadership and stewardship

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Conclusion

This episode underscores both the historical marginalization and the profound potential of Indigenous communities in the climate movement. The Indigenous Earth Fund, as described by Edgar Villanueva, aims to shift power and resources to those best equipped to steward the planet—offering a hopeful and pragmatic path forward.

Transcript

[A]

I'm Dr. Anthony Liesiewicz, and this is Climate Connections. Each year, donors and foundations give billions of dollars to groups working to address climate change. But Edgar Villanueva of the Lumbee tribe in North Carolina says only a tiny fraction goes to indigenous communities who have long cared for the Earth.

[B]

I often think of those communities as having solutions, the best solutions to the problems that we are facing.

[A]

He says. Members of tribal communities may not have connections to wealthy donors or may lack certain credentials that foundations are looking for.

[B]

I stay up at night worrying about folks that I know who are so critical to this movement and yet have to spend half time or more out begging for resources to do their work.

[A]

So to help relieve that pressure, his organization, the Decolonizing Wealth Project, created the Indigenous Earth Fund. They raise money from donors and foundations, then distribute those funds to projects chosen by a group of Indigenous advisors. Since 2021, they've granted more than $5 million to projects in clean energy, forest management, and more, all led by indigenous people.

[B]

Folks who I truly believe we can trust to guide us into the future and take care of this planet because they have stewarded it for so, so long.

[A]

Climate Connections is produced by the Yale center for Environmental Communication. To learn more about climate change, visit climateconnections.org.