The co-executive director of the Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice ensures equity is at the heart of climate solutions
Photo by John Michael Simpson
Melanie Allen is on a mission to prove that climate justice isn’t just about policies – it’s about people. As co-executive director of the Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice, she leads efforts to support grassroots organizations working toward a cleaner, more equitable future, especially in the often-overlooked South. She’s making sure the fight for climate solutions includes everyone – because when it comes to saving the planet, all voices matter.
A Greensboro native, Melanie studied history and African American studies at Columbia University before moving to Durham in 2011. She first found her footing in health advocacy before transitioning into climate philanthropy, recognizing the deep connections between community well-being and environmental justice. We caught up with her to discuss her journey, the power of grassroots movements, how the South is shaping the future of clean energy and what keeps her motivated – including a profound love for women’s basketball.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the field of environmental justice and philanthropy?*
I have a job that I did not know existed when I was in high school or even really in college, but as a young person, I got really sick and was diagnosed with a chronic illness. And that brought me into advocating for all people to have access to health care. When I was in New York, I worked with an organization called the Children’s Defense Fund. We were able to expand the state child health insurance program to bring almost a million more children into coverage, which was really exciting. But, when I was doing that work and organizing with other people who had health challenges – many of them in the South Bronx – I came to know that many of those health challenges were either caused or exacerbated by environmental issues. And so I came, like so many people do, to environmental justice work through health. I could not unsee or unlearn those things. Even as I continued working on health policy, the environment was a lens that I had.
What is your main focus right now at the Hive Fund?
We are a regranting intermediary, which means we raise money and then we make grants to people who are doing extraordinary work to move us toward climate progress. We focus on the South – we do fund organizations here in Durham – [specifically] on five key states: Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and then the Carolinas., because [as I] like to say, there’s no path to durable climate action that doesn’t go through the South. Our partners basically do two main things: No. 1, they support work that helps to challenge the growth of climate [change]-causing pollution – that could be anything from helping to stop new gas-fired power plants that we know will contribute to climate pollution [to] also innovating and catalyz[ing] this move to cleaner renewable energy in ways that make sure that everyone is a part of it; No. 2, we fund in ecosystems – our partners use an array of tactics and strategies, but when we’re dealing with something as complex as climate change and also have a goal of [finding] equitable solutions, it means that we have to have an ecosystem of organizations that work together collectively to bring us closer to that vision, and so we fund [those] ecosystems. We have an extraordinary team of 10 who help do this work.
What challenges have you faced in advocating for more equitable climate funding, and how have you overcome them? What work still needs to be done in this arena?
We launched in 2019 and made our first grants in the spring of 2020. That was an exciting time where everyone was thinking about equity and made these commitments. But it’s been a bit of a challenge of late because of political winds, and I just think they’ve made people more hesitant. … One of the challenges has been that we’re based in the South, and the South unfortunately is underfunded, even though as a region, it makes up about 40% of all climate pollution in the U.S. When we launched the fund, less than 2% of climate dollars – or dollars for climate philanthropy – went to organizations that were led by people of color and organizations that were led by women of color. An important part of our work has been to fund people who are doing incredible work that we think has been overlooked and undervalued by philanthropy. And we’ve been really successful and able to amplify some visionary leaders who aren’t just leaders in their hometowns or in their states, but [who] also have set models for global leadership on the climate stage.
Can you share an example of a project or initiative that has been particularly impactful through the Hive Fund? Are there any in Durham?
A lot of our work in North Carolina has been in rural North Carolina, even though we fund a lot of people who are headquartered here [in Durham]. One organization that I’ll elevate is a couple of hours to the east – the Center for Energy Education. We’ve supported them since 2020. They do a tremendous amount of workforce development and job placement to bring new people into the solar industry, particularly returning citizens – [individuals who have been impacted by the criminal justice system] – to offer them the skills they need to succeed in a growing industry that [also] pays well above the local average.
What role do grassroots organizations play in advancing environmental justice, and how can they better access funding and resources?
Grassroots organizations are key. In a moment like this, where North Carolina has won billions of dollars in federal funding, many of it toward climate projects or projects that will improve people’s lives by lowering their energy bills and energy cost – organizations [need to be] talking about the work that they do and about projects that have gone successfully, but also about what we stand to lose if these federal dollars that have already been committed don’t actually hit the ground. We’ve learned that some of the best work to move climate [justice] forward is local. We’ve seen organizations rally, show up, push their local city councils or county commissions to make climate pledges and commitments. In Durham, we have a climate pledge to reduce our energy by 80% by 2030 and to have 100% clean energy by 2050. A lot of that was propelled by grassroots leadership.
How do you see community-based solutions shaping the future of climate justice in the South?
I think communities are going to continue to do the work as best as they can to ensure the health and safety of community members. As we [move toward] cleaner, reliable and affordable energy at scale, it’s likely going to take some interconnected, but smaller, more distributed, solutions. We’re seeing a lot of organizations throughout the Southeast test and innovate on what that can look like. …
The other thing that folks have been able to do is take it from a conversation that’s about parts per million, that very few people understand, to a conversation that [focuses on] what it’s really about, which is our pocketbook. … Our energy system undergirds every aspect of our life, and [our partners who are providing community-based solutions] have been able to help make the case and help people understand that this is about how much you’re paying per month. This is about the air that you breathe and [the] impacts to your health costs over the long term. That’s going to be important for us to continue to understand – that we’re in this together, and climate solutions have to include all of us.
What advice would you give to young women looking to step into leadership roles in nonprofit and philanthropic spaces?
Trust your voice and perspective. I did not know much about philanthropy when I stepped into my first philanthropic job. But I knew people, I knew economic development, I knew a lot about the environment. I think my willingness to think differently and make sure that I was listening to the real-life experience of people helped shape my approach to philanthropy in a way that has allowed me to be in a position to really continue to support progress.
The other thing that I would say is to find things outside of your job that you love. Again, that helps to strengthen your perspective, but it also helps to ensure that you’ve got some flow. You’ve got some joy. I found that that makes it easier for me to come back to face challenges, to come up with creative solutions and also to be in good relationships with people.
What are some of the biggest opportunities you see for climate and gender justice in the next five years?
This moment is one that is reminding people that change and work that is durable operates at the local level. I see both climate and gender justice as an opportunity for people to reconnect with their communities. I think there’s a lot of great stuff that happens online, but being able to actually be in touch – be in physical community with folks – is really exciting. It’s an opportunity that climate justice affords us. … We’ve seen very recently from [Hurricane] Helene and the fires in California that none of us are protected from climate events. I think that we’re going to continue to see people pull together to figure out what it looks like to build resilient communities. And those are communities that are connected, where you know who to call and what to do when the moment arises.
Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you’re particularly excited about?
A lot of our partners are deeply impacted by the federal freeze. Much of the work that we’re doing right now is to support them and make sure that they remain in compliance as we wait for what we believe will happen, which is that federal dollars will flow in alignment with the law and the legal agreements that partners have. On that front, there’s a tremendous amount of opportunity with Solar for All, a program that seeks to roll out solar energy access to people who have historically been locked out due to economic status and income. That’s one of the things I’m most excited about, because we’ve heard from so many partners about how life-changing that can be.
What keeps you motivated in the face of the challenges of this work?
I have an amazing family. Most of my family is an hour in either direction. My mom is originally from Raleigh, and the rest of my folks are in Greensboro. I get to spend wonderful time with two young nieces, and now we have two nieces in college and a baby nephew. That keeps me motivated.
I’m also deeply into women’s basketball – the WNBA and, of course, we’ve seen women’s college basketball be extraordinary and several other professional leagues pop up. … [I enjoy] just being able to burn off steam with folks and celebrate women’s sports in general.
What are your favorite teams?
I love the University of South Carolina if we’re talking [women’s] college basketball. I grew up a Tar Heels fan, and I played basketball when I was young. I remember going to a fundamentals camp and Marion Jones, who was on the Carolina women’s basketball team, was there, and that was the first time I ever saw a woman dunk. … It changed me. So, I’ve been a Carolina women’s fan for a very long time. But really, I love the game, and so anytime there’s a good game, I’m excited.
When you’re not advocating for environmental justice, how do you like to spend your time in Durham?
I am currently on the board of Hayti Heritage Center, so I spend a lot of my time there. I’m on the board of Environmental Grantmakers Association, which is our national board for environmental funders … and I’m also the board co-chair of Grantmakers for Southern Progress, which is what it sounds like, people who make grants that are focused on the South. – as told to Leah Berry
*responses have been edited for length and clarity
