Collaborative Funding System
Investment purpose. The Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) has been influencing the climate field for over a decade via its member-driven funding mechanisms. Since 2011 and as of the start of 2025, $30.4 million has been invested in 366 community projects. This has gained a known $77.1 million in additional support from other funding sources. An annual assessment of USDN’s investment success metrics prove that these funds are critical in advancing USDN’s strategic goals. As USDN updates its overarching strategy in 2025, these investment metrics will also shift to reflect the new direction.
Fund design. For maximum field impact and member value, USDN intentionally contracts with an external fund management team who routinely works across trusted climate networks. This team, with guidance from USDN staff and a USDN member Selection Committee, ensure that USDN’s flexible member funds are: (1) an unbiased support platform for all of the networks’ programs, initiatives, and members to tap; (2) aligning with and delivering against ever-shifting funder signals and demands; (3) coordinating closely with and clearly differentiated from similar funding opportunities; and (4) pulling individual projects into compelling evidence of effective field evolution to attract more climate investors.
Member support. Via on-call technical assistance (TA) and through regularly scheduled virtual and in-person informational sessions, USDN members receive expert 360-degree advice on what funding types to purse based on short- and long-term goals, how to develop proposals for different sector funders, and how to successfully pitch ideas while networking with funders and partners to unlock resources. Reach out to fund management staff Mariana Garcia and Susanna Sutherland to schedule a 1:1 idea session.
Current iteration. USDN’s funding mechanisms are continuously adjusting to best serve the members in the climate field as it evolves. USDN launches this Catalyst Fund in 2025 to build on the Emergent Learning Fund that has been most recently serving USDN’s membership. With the Catalyst Fund, USDN continues to support novel approaches to climate work, partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs) - especially resourcing organizations doing impactful work who may soon lack federal support, and collaborations between members, across departments, and spanning jurisdictions.
Investment differentiation. USDN members rely on these flexible, competitive resources to accelerate climate practice across U.S. and Canadian communities with their peers and within their communities. The goal is seed, spur, normalize, and advance effective climate action within any political and fiscal environment. To this end, USDN resources members to test and refine holistic approaches across the network and within local and regional contexts. While similar funds will not allow local governments to receive money, USDN allows funds to go to local governments OR to partners that USDN members specify. Also, work is not required to be topic-specific, focused on implementing federal funds, or to match funds. In contrast:
The Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance Funds support collaborations among international cities committed to achieving aggressive long-term carbon reduction goals.
The Partners for Places Fund, operated by The Funders Network, supports collaborations between a local government, a community based organization, and a matching local place-based funder to fund equitable climate action and green storm water infrastructure projects.
Learn more about USDN collaborative projects »