Climate change can feel overwhelming and can seem like an issue that only the world’s governments can tackle. In fact, everyone can help reduce the greenhouse gases causing climate change. The most important actions individuals and organizations can take to advance climate change policy are protecting and exercising active citizenship and democracy. Please see the resources under Threats to democracy. In addition, we have assembled a list of specific actions that you can consider.

• Turn on power-save modes on equipment and appliances
• Turn off equipment during nights and weekends. Attach computers, copy machines, microwaves etc. to power strips for ease in turning them off at the end of the day. (Even when not in use, appliances use electricity. According to Co-op America, turning computers and copiers off after work can cut energy usage up to 75 percent)
• Install an automated thermostat and/or set temperatures so that it will be comfortable during the day and will use less energy during nights and weekends
• Close the blinds at windows that receive direct sunlight after work and on weekends to prevent excess heating in the summertime
• Use a ceiling fan or other fan in the summer. Fans use 98 percent less energy than A/C and make you feel up to 6 degrees cooler
• Ensure radiators and heaters are not blocked by furniture
• Add weather stripping to all doors and windows
• Use energy-efficient LED bulbs
• Use thin fluorescent tubes (T8) which use less energy but have the same output as T12 tubes
• Turn off lights when exiting rooms or install motion sensors
• Schedule an energy audit though your local power company
• Buy rechargeable batteries and a charger
• Look for EPA Energy Star certified options when purchasing new equipment or appliances

• Bike, walk, take public transportation or carpool to work https://www.bikecleveland.org/; https://gohiocommute.com/#/; http://www.riderta.com/
• Use bikeshare http://uhbikes.com/
• Subsidize the use of public transportation for employees
• Install bike racks outside your office
• Purchase hybrid or electric vehicles
• Use videoconferencing and conference calls instead of travel when possible

• Purchase chlorine-free, high post-consumer waste recycled paper.
• Use email for internal distribution in place of hard copies
• Keep mailing lists up-to-date and avoid duplicates
• Edit documents on-screen as much as possible to avoid printing multiple drafts
• Conserve paper by printing and copying double-sided
• Use the reduction feature on a copier to fit more on a page
• Print using lowest quality print setting when appropriate to conserve ink and cartridges
• Use postcards for mailings when possible and use the smallest size envelope required
• When appropriate, stock fax machines, copiers and printers with scrap documents to make use of both sides of office paper
• Use reusable inter-office envelopes
• Cancel junk mail and notify senders if you are receiving more copies of a mailer than you require.
• Work with printers who use responsible inks and papers

• Keep washable plates, mugs, glasses and silverware in the kitchen and avoid disposables
• Purchase recycled and non-chlorine bleached paper towels and napkins
• Hang hand towels in the kitchen and bathroom, and use cloth napkins in place of paper ones
• Establish a system for washing cloth items
• Bring lunches in reusable rather than disposable containers
• Provide a dish washing area to support the use of reusable dishes
• Bring your own bags when shopping
• Frequent restaurants that purchase local foods
• Compost food waste

• Have a “used goods area” within the office and include binders, folders, padded envelopes, cardboard boxes, disks, etc. Use these before purchasing new supplies
• Purchase and use products that are recycled and recyclable
• Purchase unbleached or chlorine-free, high post-consumer waste recycled paper products, including binders, envelopes and toilet paper
• Purchase Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper
• Consider products with minimum packaging and purchase in bulk
• Use refillable pens and tape dispensers instead of disposable ones
• If replacing your carpet, look for non-toxic recyclable carpeting
• Purchase products from local suppliers to avoid long-distance shipping and packaging and from suppliers committed to environmental issues
• Purchase used items from thrift stores when possible

• Set up a comprehensive office recycling program for paper, cardboard, glass, metals and plastics and clearly label all recycling bins
• Recycle toner cartridges through manufacturers
• Collect and recycle batteries, especially rechargeable batteries.
• Donate or sell old cell phones for reuse
• Recycle packing peanuts. Call 800-828-2214 to find the nearest drop off location
• Donate equipment and furniture to a resale store such as the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, the Salvation Army or the Greater Cleveland Furniture Bank
• Audit your paper use by comparing your present and past paper usage. Set new paper reduction goals after each audit

• Support environmentally responsible hotels and meeting spaces
• Ensure that meetings and trainings are held at locations served by public transportation, and include train or bus directions on the invitation
• Buy locally grown food and support caterers who do
• Avoid disposable dishes or box lunches when possible
• Label foods at events if they are local
• In evaluations of meetings and events, ask how the event could reduce its carbon footprint in the future

A carbon offset is a way to negate the carbon emissions of your activities by funding a project that removes carbon from the atmosphere or results in the avoidance of emissions that would have otherwise occurred. Offsets typically go to fund renewable energy or energy efficiency projects that wouldn’t have been feasible otherwise. The Cleveland Climate Action Fund offers a way to purchase offsets that fund local projects in the Cleveland area.

Intentional learning about racial equity issues is usually an essential step for individuals and organizations trying to understand their nature and depth. ThirdSpace Action Lab offers racial equity awareness training. These intensive introductions to historic, institutional and systemic racism challenge assumptions that often are deeply held and they reveal with sobering clarity the devastating impact of persistent racial inequality. Training is offered in half-day and two-day sessions. More information can be found here.

Equity in the Center works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems within the social sector to increase race equity. The Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture publication is designed to serve as a reference as organizations build and expand internal and external capacity to advance race equity.

Nonprofit organizations should not shy away from engaging in the democratic process. Doing so is more than a civic obligation; it amplifies their voices and their impact. Nonprofit VOTE is the largest source of nonpartisan resources that help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their ongoing activities and services. The organization’s voter engagement resource library provides helpful tools, guides and checklists for nonprofits looking to participate in democracy building efforts.

Democracy is more than elections and voting. Active citizenship in many forms is essential to robust democracy, and it is especially vital that all voices in a community are heard. Nonprofit organizations are themselves often avenues of civic engagement . As they seek to fulfill that role, they should think about how they can strengthen the ability of all people to influence decisions affecting their lives. The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity’s Principles for Equitable and Inclusive Civic Engagement framework describes essential elements of effective civic engagement, particularly in communities dealing with the adverse effects of poverty and disenfranchisement. It shows that civic engagement work is most effective by understanding the larger cultural, political, and socioeconomic context—both historical and current—in a community and embracing diversity as strength.

The Foundation wants to build awareness of key challenges in our community and help our grantees understand that they must play a role in addressing this critical issue.

The Foundation has for many years promoted awareness of global climate change and actively supported measures to combat it through its grantmaking. This has included not only grants in our environment program but also grants in other program areas that strengthen the urban core and support public policies to fight sprawl and rebuild cities. We have also made some changes in our office operations. We completed an energy audit, and due to recommendations from that study have switched from incandescent to energy-efficient lighting, installed timers on lights in certain areas and started recycling paper, glass and cans. We also used recyclable carpets and nontoxic paints in our last office renovation. We use recycled paper for our work, purchase “green” office products whenever possible and set our printers to automatically print on both sides. The Foundation also provides employees with subsidized transit passes to encourage the use of public transportation. We recognize that, like everyone else, we can always do more to combat climate change. As such, we will continue to set ambitious goals and strive diligently to meet, if not exceed, them.

Tell us in a simple one-page statement what your organization is doing or thinking about doing regarding one or more of the issues articulated in the Foundation’s What We Believe statement: climate change, inequity in our community, or weakened democracy. This can refer to both your programs and/or your office operations.

We will use the information to help others understand how our grantee partners are addressing these issues of interest.

At this time we are primarily interested in raising awareness about these urgent issues and learning what our grantees are doing to address them. In the future, an organization’s narratives here may become a factor in our grantmaking process.