Philanthropy, people, planet, pressure… and progress?

Since the establishment of Philea in 2022, our members have been crystal clear about the challenges that would define the coming years: Climate and the environment emerged alongside equality and democracy as one of the three most important priorities for European philanthropy. Such clarity was grounded in a growing understanding that climate change and environmental degradation are reshaping the context in which all philanthropic work now takes place.

The scientific and lived realities of climate and environmental degradation are increasingly stark. An overshoot of the 1.5°C temperature threshold now appears ever more likely, with consequences that are already being felt across the globe – and disproportionally in those regions both least culpable and least able to withstand them. Intensifying heatwaves, extreme rainfall events, prolonged droughts, accelerating ice loss, ocean warming and rising sea levels are no longer doomsday scenarios but daily news. Simultaneously, they augment existing inequalities while inhibiting the conditions that make social, economic and democratic progress possible.

At the same time, the broader context for action has become more complex. Political backsliding, widening finance gaps and the persistence of global conflict make it harder to advance solutions at the speed and scale required. For many actors across civil society, including philanthropy, operating space has narrowed and public positioning on climate issues can feel increasingly sensitive. Scrutiny has intensified, particularly around advocacy, while polarisation has complicated public debate and decision-making.

And so the dichotomy: The role of philanthropy is becoming not only more challenging, but more relevant than ever. We know that foundations have a unique capacity to take a long-term perspective, support systemic change, and invest in areas that are underfunded or politically contested. And relevance alone is not enough. To rise to the challenge of this moment, philanthropy must continuously reflect on its practices, understand emerging trends, and identify where collective efforts can be strengthened.

This is where the current mapping plays a vital role. Building on six previous editions, it offers the most comprehensive overview to date of environmental grantmaking by European philanthropic foundations. As such, it represents far more than a snapshot of activity: It is a contribution to a shared evidence base that allows us, collectively, to better understand where we are investing, how approaches are evolving, and where gaps and opportunities remain.

In a context where individual foundations may face increasing pressure or reputational exposure when engaging publicly on climate and environmental issues, aggregated transparency matters. Reporting collectively on trends provides a credible way to strengthen accountability and learning, while mitigating some of the risks associated with acting alone. This mapping enables the sector to speak with greater confidence about its role, its progress, and its limitations – grounded in data rather than assertion.

The findings presented here point to a sector that is changing. Environmental funding by European foundations is growing in scale and shows signs of diversification, both in thematic focus and in the approaches being supported. Compared to the previous edition, there are positive signals of increased investment and reach. Notably, advocacy is now more widely recognised as an important philanthropic approach, alongside the continued support for research, community-based work, and the delivery of practical solutions. This shift is significant. Rather than reflecting naivety about the challenges funders face, it highlights resilience and determination to remain effective in a more constrained and contested operating environment.

Yet the mapping also provokes uncomfortable questions. Despite encouraging growth, environmental funding still represents only a relatively small share of overall European foundation expenditure. Given the existential nature of climate change and environmental degradation, it is difficult to avoid asking whether current levels of effort are sufficient. The scale of the challenge demands ambition, urgency and sustained commitment that reaches beyond those foundations traditionally focused on environmental issues alone.

Indeed, climate change and environmental degradation are not discrete thematic concerns: They are forces that shape all areas of philanthropic activity. They affect every community and every issue our sector seeks to address, and they will determine the conditions of life on Earth for generations to come. In that sense, and with that lens, foundations working in every area can act on climate and environment. This understanding underpins Philea’s role, alongside our European Environmental Funders Group and Funders Forum on Transitioning Cities, in hosting the European Philanthropy Coalition for Climate. The coalition invites all foundations, regardless of mission or scope, to recognise the levers they already have at their disposal to act on climate and environment.

Looking ahead, progress will depend on two interlinked questions; how environmental philanthropy continues to grow and how we choose to grow it. Scale alone will not be enough. Collaboration, coordination and a willingness to bring new actors on board will be essential if philanthropy is to meet the challenges that affect us all. The data and analysis found in this mapping provide a foundation for that collective effort, offering insight, perspective and a basis for dialogue at a time when clarity and shared purpose are urgently needed.

The future is in our hands.