Krista Donaldson

Health x Climate: I have spent a lot of time thinking about the intersection of climate and health, so I appreciated the City Futures: HealthTech and ClimateTech Intersections panel discussion during NY Tech Week, with Ben Furnas, Sara Holoubek, and Joel Cesare as panelists. They highlighted the work happening in NYC; even though subway use helps our GHG emissions, there is still opportunity to prepare the city and electrify our buildings for the changes to come. Some key takeaways 🔄 Health + Climate: The effects of climate change impact our health and our health decisions impact climate change. We often think about climate and health in silos but they are very connected.  🔥 Heat waves: Hotter temperatures are the biggest risk to health from climate change, so we must prepare now. I learned about NYC's AC giveaway to support vulnerable communities.  🤓 New ideas: There is much opportunity to engage in mental cross training and leverage learnings from analogous spaces and industries at this intersection. What do you think about the intersection of health and climate? A big thanks to Climate Health Innovation & Learning Lab, Women in Healthtech and Fenwick for hosting this event and showcasing how government, innovators, and investors can work together to address these challenges. Thanks Oriana Fuentes and Chethan Sarabu, MD, FAMIA, FAAP for your thoughtful curation too! #climate #healthtech #innovation #NYtechweek

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Echoing Green announces the launch of the Signal Fund, a financial tool that provides capital to social innovators at critical growth stages. Signal launches with $15.6 million raised and prioritizes founders with overlooked potential for scalable social impact. Signal Fund aims to test a new set of financial mechanisms and model more broadly accessible investment vehicles that can help fuel transformational social change and innovation globally. It will disrupt the current funding landscape that is misaligned with the needs of social innovators. “In the current economic climate, fundraising for entrepreneurs has become increasingly difficult,” said Echoing Green President, Cheryl L. Dorsey. “Through Signal Fund, we are strengthening and de-risking a new pipeline of social innovators — ones that we believe will expand the set of leaders who are too often overlooked by mainstream philanthropy and financial institutions. This fund can help proven social innovators move past the proverbial valley of death that so many start-ups face, achieving organizational milestones recognizable to traditional investors without compromising impact.” #YesWeInnovate https://lnkd.in/dgfjDqAd

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I had the pleasure of being on a panel with Isabelle Hau of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning at the Care Summit last month, and I can't stop thinking about this fascinating research she presented. RAPID, as they call it, launched in April 2020 to understand and address the experiences and challenges that caregivers of young children were facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, they have found that 71% of child care providers feel burned out "often" or "always" and that 1 in 3 are experiencing material hardship. While these kinds of statistics don't come as a surprise to anyone paying attention to the headlines or their own community's experiences, it is so helpful to have it concretized in this actionable way. They have continued to field monthly national surveys after the most acute moment of the pandemic in order to provide timely, actionable data to advocates, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. If you play any of those roles, or are just a parent wondering—what the heck just happened?!—you will find their beautifully designed site fascinating. https://lnkd.in/gdvCeUmP

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How does reimagining funding mechanisms look in practice? ⚙ 🔧 “Get clear on why [it’s] the approach you want to take and what makes you uncomfortable about it. If you understand what makes you uncomfortable—perhaps a perceived lack of control or knowledge about how funds will be used, or questions about the organization’s leaders or approach—then you can address those concerns by building relationships and defining what information you need to proceed." Thanks for sharing David Vigoureux!

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New Profit, through its Catalyze cohort in Unlocked Futures, will provide $100,000 of one-year unrestricted funding, $10,000 of funding for leadership development, and strategic advisory support to ten innovative nonprofit organizations focused on expanding access and opportunity in America.  The Unlocked Futures cohort will provide funding to organizations led by justice-impacted social entrepreneurs to increase visibility and remove barriers to capital for justice-impacted individuals and communities, including those who have been incarcerated or detained in a prison, immigration detention center, local jail, juvenile detention center, or any other carceral setting, those who have been convicted but not incarcerated, those who have been charged but not convicted, and those who have been arrested (LSAC).

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Accurately reporting GHG reductions from climate tech investments is like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube intoxicated and blindfolded. (Not recommended.) Luckily, there's new guidance from Prime Coalition. 👇 Teaching classes at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill on climate tech startups, ESG investing, and sustainability reporting, I’d love to believe that I understand this topic. (But then my EFI Climate CEO Fellows remind me how much I have to learn!) These questions and figures below represent nuances I’ll be chewing on. -- Are we measuring “planned” or “potential” GHG reductions? -- Are they from our company or from a technology more broadly? -- Which other investors are claiming GHG reductions from the same company? -- Which other companies played a role in causing the GHG reductions? Thanks to Prime Coalition for leading this important work — Pre-Investment Considerations: Diving Deeper into Assessing Future Greenhouse Gas Impact - https://lnkd.in/gFu_-fBP Sarah Kearney Lee Scott

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Opportunity

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Award-winning environmental and justice leader Tzeporah Berman just addressed the financial impact leaders at the Confluence Philanthropy annual Climate Solutipns Summit, sharing deeply moving realities of the suffering already from climate impacts, costing $16M an hour and growing. Fossil fuels are responsible for 83% of historical emissions, and we have enough fossil fuels in existence or under production today to reach the budget of keeping us to 1.5 degrees. The International Energy Agency (IEA) agrees there is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply in our net zero pathway. Yet still, public funds are subsidizing fossil fuels to the tune of $7 trillion dollars per year! Oil and gas companies spend on average about 1% on renewable energy development but 80% of advertising spend…. I am proud to be a champion of the FFNPT, and at last year’s Sun Valley Forum we featured Tzeporah, the Treaty Chair, interviewed by the great Lisa Friedman of The New York Times, and there as a result of connections made, an alliance of banks supporting the treaty was sparked led by Amalgamated Bank and Global Alliance for Banking on Values. Follow, support, align to and collaborate with Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. And join us for this year’s Sun Valley Forum to learn, connect and act to accelerate all efforts while in a magical setting of inspiration. https://lnkd.in/gayr4zVg

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**Earth Day Storytelling: A Call to Action for San Francisco** 🌉🌱 "San Francisco can be a beacon for what’s possible when you prioritize sustainability and climate action." These are not just words; they are a commitment—a vision I shared with Adam Shanks of the San Francisco Examiner. They reflect my unwavering belief in the positive, transformative power that bold climate action holds for our city and the world. 💡🏙️ Storytelling remains one of our greatest tools in addressing climate change. It starts with listening and sharing our views with one another. Today, I want to applaud the editorial team and reporters of the San Francisco Examiner for their special edition dedicated to #EarthDay. They have intricately woven together the many challenges and opportunities presented by the climate crisis, showcasing the innovative solutions emerging in our city. 📰🔍 The articles in this edition cover the spectrum—from the advancements and obstacles in our city’s climate action journey to the dynamic climate tech sector and the health ramifications of climate change. 🌳🏘️ I urge you all to read these insightful articles and share their stories. Let them educate you, resonate with you, and inspire you and others to take action. 📘💬 This Earth Day, let's do more than just admire the beauty and fragility of our planet. Let's recognize the collective strength we have to protect and enhance it. 🌎✨ Together, let's continue to light the path for others by carrying a torch of awareness and action into a greener future. 🔥🚶‍♂️ 👉 https://lnkd.in/gVxDbRJh Jessica Wolfrom #climateaction #sanfrancisco #bayarea

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The The Hechinger Report and MindShift KQED do absolutely terrific reporting that delves deeply behind the headlines to provide in-depth perspectives on issues that educators and concerned parents may not be following. In this piece, Anya Kamenetz does terrific work probing across school and informal learning settings to look at ways in which educators and educational media groups like Encantos and Tinkercast are providing #climatesolutions to help youth activate on their own and place needed pressure on their elders to march on! We need more of this type of journalism and creative responses! #climateaction #media #youthvoice

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I spoke with Jade Sasser about her new book, “Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question,” which explores the complex intersection of climate change and reproductive decisions. We discussed the importance of diversifying the conversation around climate emotions, understanding climate anxiety as a collective experience, the challenges faced by climate-concerned parents, and cultural pressures around having children. Sasser emphasizes the power of inclusive dialogue and emotional resilience as we navigate this uncertain future together. Her insights provide much-needed perspective on one of the most profound questions of our time. Read our full interview through the link in comments. #ClimateAnxiety #ReproductiveJustice #HopeInAction

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Some of the most innovative work in #impactinvestment is happening in food and ag (IMHO). In this week’s #SocialImpactPowerChat, we dig into the details with the whip smart Founding General Partner of Rethink Food, Rini Greenfield. She walks us through how the team invests to better the entire food system, and gives us all the gift of the “Mr. Burns Test”. This chat will leave everyone - but especially #socialentrepreneurs and #impactinvestors - with A LOT to think about. Take a listen here:https://bit.ly/3SbfSRl

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Last year was the hottest year on record, and we’re already witnessing another hotter-than-normal summer. Extreme heat caused by climate change is harming everyone’s health, but local community leaders in U.S. cities are taking bold steps to drive climate resilience in their backyards. 🚶🏿‍♀️Drawing inspiration from cool islands in Paris, Lawrence, Massachusetts, is mitigating heat with walkable spaces and cool roofs, creating safer, cooler streets and fostering spaces for community.   🌿Through a community-led design process—and inspired by urban nature projects in Velenje, Slovenia—Jackson, Mississippi, is transforming three sites in the historic Farish Street district into green spaces to reduce temperatures and improve health and wellbeing for Jacksonians.   ☀ Learning from community-focused youth coalitions in Morocco and New Zealand, partners in Tempe, Arizona, created the Cool Kids, Cool Places, Cool Futures project, centered on youth education, dialogue, and activism in response to extreme heat. Learn more about these cities taking action to address extreme heat: https://lnkd.in/guwb2j2v #ClimateChange #Heat #HealthEquity

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📰 📣 🎇 PR needs to be a core capability for climate tech startups. As climate tech startups launch new technologies and business models to reduce GHG emissions and remove CO2 from the atmosphere, they likely need build markets for their offerings. In addition to "traditional" activities like customer research, product development, and sales, climate tech startups also need to invest in PR capabilities to increase awareness of their solution and influence public policy changes. Thanks to Alex Constantinople (Bessemer Venture Partners), Alex Wilhelm (TechCrunch), JOHN OBRIEN (SBS), and Kelly Ferguson (Claroty) for putting together this great PR guide for startup founders. My takeaways (which I think are true of any stage company in any sector). 🎯 Set clear objectives for your PR activities that support with your business goals 🗣 Be an authentic storyteller -- tell your personal narrative about why / how you founded your company 📈 Don't be afraid to talk about your solution AND your business results 🎣 Nail your messaging to have a hook, details, what in it for them, and an ask 📆 Plan for PR to be a consistent part of your company's operating calendar 💸 Right-size your investment in PR based on your company's size and need Check out the full summary & transcript!! #climatechange #climatecareers #startups

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𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝...  Social Finance are partnering with the Healey Administration to create the Massachusetts Climate Careers Fund. This will be an outcomes-based workforce fund designed to fill climate workforce gaps, increase access to economic mobility for workers, and support a diverse clean energy workforce. It's great to see more being done to help fill the skills gap in the Climate Tech space and hopefully we will see more of these types of funds being started! What do you think about this new fund? Any other cool developments you've seen in this space to help improve the skills gap? ⬇ #smartbuildings #climatetechnology #skillsgap #carboncapture #energyinnovation

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Sharing this article highlighting the lovely innovation fellow and soon to be YSPH grad, Kailey Seiler! Any organization would be lucky to have her! 

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