River Network’s Climate Justice Flow Fund

The River Network Climate Justice Flow Fund is a community of people and organizations working with flow funds distributed by River Network, inspired by Flow Funding philanthropy principles. As the initiator, River Network funds people and projects that are typically outside of the traditional proposal-based grantmaking structures while examining the privilege and power inherent in typical philanthropic efforts. For a second year (Oct. 2022 to Jun. 2023), River Network is giving money to four Flow Funders to support Flow Fund Recipients in their communities on projects that address the impacts of climate change and promote social and water equity.

River Rally 2022 panel speakers including Flow Funders Teresa Davis and Arthur Johnson (center). Photo by Imagine Photography.

💦 Stories from the Flow Fund

🧡 August 2023: Listen to our interview with Flow Funder Daniel Joseph Wiley and recipient Sharee Harrison.

✨ May 2023: Listen to our interview with Flow Funder Teresa Davis.

⚜️ July 2023: Explore our story map featuring Flow Funder Arthur Johnson’s work in New Orlean’s Lower Ninth Ward.

🎧 July 2022: Listen to Lisa Runkel and Renée Mazurek’s first-year reflections, as well as clips from the Flow Funders themselves, reflecting on the process.

Meet the Flow Funders & Flow Fund Recipients

  • Teresa Davis
    Teresa Davis Servant Leader & Founder of Communities of Love In Action, C.O.L.I.A

“I think that it’s the delivery of hope. It’s one thing to believe that you will arrive at the intended outcome or to reach your goal. It’s something different to witness accomplishing those goals and seeing the difference that it makes when you have accomplished something. And so there’s a delivery of hope that’s transferable through the entire journey through this entire process that keeps me inspired.” 

– Teresa Davis, in a 2023 Meet Your Network interview

Teresa’s Flow Fund Recipients

Achieving Community Tasks Successfully (ACTS)

Funded 2022 and 2023.

Teresa Davis (right) and Flow Fund recipient, Bridgette Murray (left) from ACTS, meet to discuss their flow funding partnership, and receive a coincidental sign from their waiter that they're on the right path. Photo by Teresa Davis.
Teresa Davis (right) and Flow Fund recipient, Bridgette Murray (left) from ACTS, meet to discuss their flow funding partnership, and receive a coincidental sign from their waiter that they're on the right path. Photo by Teresa Davis.

Leona Tate Foundation for Change

Funded 2023.

Teresa and other RN staff and Flow Funders hearing from Leona Tate (in pink), March 2023. Photo by Renée Mazurek.
Teresa and other RN staff and Flow Funders hearing from Leona Tate (in pink), March 2023. Photo by Renée Mazurek.

“Mustard Seed Program” by Delores McGruder

Funded 2023.

Ms. Delores McGruder, one of Teresa Davis's flow fund recipients, leads community members on a garden tour. Photo by Teresa Davis.
Ms. Delores McGruder, one of Teresa Davis's flow fund recipients, leads community members on a garden tour. Photo by Teresa Davis.

Fort Bend Houston Environmental

Funded 2023.

Radio Talk show with 93.5 Jamz Mountain Movin Monica talking about W.A.Parish and Fort Bend County with Air Alliance Houston Alondra Torres. Photo via Fort Bend Environmental's Facebook page.
Radio Talk show with 93.5 Jamz Mountain Movin Monica talking about W.A.Parish and Fort Bend County with Air Alliance Houston Alondra Torres. Photo via Fort Bend Environmental's Facebook page.
  • Arthur Johnson
    Arthur Johnson Chief Executive Director, Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED)

Arthur’s Flow Fund Recipients

Dr. Bernard Singleton

Funded 2022 and 2023.

Students presenting at the State of our Coast Conference in June, 2023. Photo by Dr. Bernard Singleton
Students presenting at the State of our Coast Conference in June, 2023. Photo by Dr. Bernard Singleton

Leona Tate Foundation for Change

Funded 2022 and 2023.

River Network staff and Flow Funders with Leona Tate (in pink jacket) in March 2023. Photo by Renée Mazurek.
River Network staff and Flow Funders with Leona Tate (in pink jacket) in March 2023. Photo by Renée Mazurek.

Lower 9th Ward Voter’s Coalition

Funded 2023.

Shawon Bernard helps register two young black voters who are seated at a table.
Shawon Bernard works to register voters. Photo by Lower Ninth Ward Voter’s Coalition.

“I felt it was important to tie these [the Leona Tate Foundation and Lower Ninth Ward Voters Coalition] together with Dr. Singleton…He knows the importance of science and education and research into building stronger community. If you build stronger community, you build stronger people…from the ground up. Then those communities start to make more connections.”

Arthur Johnson, speaking about why he selected these three Flow Fund Recipients

“There is a desperate need not only for a new workforce around water, but a desperate need and understanding the human right to water and all of the places where public health and Community interest are touching water.” 

– Monica Lewis-Patrick, speaking about the Flint Development Center

Monica’s Flow Fund Recipients

RN CEO Raj Shukla and Mother Gwen Howard.
Monica Lewis-Patrick (left) and recipients (left to right) Rev. Dr. Joanne Watson, Mother Gwen Howard, and Gwen Winston (Wisdom Institute) share their stories with River Network Board Members, May 2023.
Monica Lewis-Patrick (left) and recipients (left to right) Rev. Dr. Joanne Watson, Mother Gwen Howard, and Gwen Winston (Wisdom Institute) share their stories with River Network Board Members, May 2023.
Cicely Allen (top left) and Gwen Winston (top right) from Wisdom Institute, and Mother Gwen Howard (bottom right) with RN VP of Philanthropy Lisa Runkel (bottom left) at a restaurant in Ann Arbor, MI, May 2023.
Cicely Allen (top left) and Gwen Winston (top right) from Wisdom Institute, and Mother Gwen Howard (bottom right) with RN VP of Philanthropy Lisa Runkel (bottom left) in Ann Arbor, MI, May 2023.

Daniel’s Flow Fund Recipients

“Trail Mix” by Sharee Harrison

Funded 2023.

Sharee Harrison leads youth from the Orange and East Orange community in the South Mountain Reservation along the Fairy Trail. Trail Mix serves as a guided tour for youth, seniors, and everyone in between to be introduced or rediscover the accessible land preserved close to them.
Sharee Harrison leads youth from the Orange and East Orange community in the South Mountain Reservation along the Fairy Trail. Trail Mix serves as a guided tour for youth, seniors, and everyone in between to be introduced or rediscover the accessible land preserved close to them.

“Orange Patches” by Haile Bennett

Funded 2022.

Haile gardening. Photo via @orangehubb on Instagram.

“Trail Mix serves as a guided tour for youth, seniors, and everyone else in between to be introduced or rediscover the accessible preserved land close to them. During the tour, folks learn about the history of the land, the importance of the Rahway River, and encourage everyone to advocate for green spaces and clean water in their communities. It also addresses the importance for accessibility to safe, natural spaces for the well-being of BIPOC communities.”

Daniel Joseph Wiley, via email when sharing pictures and providing an update on his recipient

“Getting Unstuck: Stepping Into Power with Philanthropy”

As River Rally 2022 approached, we knew trust-based philanthropy would be a powerful, important, and timely topic for a plenary panel. Panelists Mike Harris (a Flow Fund recipient), Melanie Allen (The Hive Fund), Teresa Davis (a Flow Funder), Arthur Johnson (a Flow Funder), Tyeshia Wilson (Philanthropy Together), and moderator Ronda Chapman (River Network board member) encouraged us to rethink our relationships to wealth and community and shared inspiring stories about novel approaches that both democratize philanthropy from the ground up and use trust as a vehicle for shifting power. If you missed the panel at Rally or weren’t with us in DC, we’re thrilled to share the panel in full, free for all to watch and listen to.

We hope you use will use the recording of this plenary panel as a catalyst for conversations in your own organizations and communities and want to point you to these resources from Trust-Based Philanthropy to serve as an additional resource. Whether you are a community-based or non-profit organization or a funder, we invite you to let this conversation challenge you and change the way you think about philanthropy. This is a deep and heart-felt conversation – we encourage you to take a walk, sit in the sun, go to a nearby park or body of water, tend to your garden or any other activity that brings you peace and allows your mind to truly focus and absorb the content so you can bring your perspectives and reactions fully to any follow-up conversations you may have.

Don’t have time to watch the full panel? Check out the panel’s intro video and this video of panel highlights.

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