Why we’re still singing for The Climatics… and hope you’ll all join in.

MJ’s thoughts:

When we closed out our first $100K funding round in December, it hit me that the thing that started in my brain as a slightly half-baked idea has become... an actual living entity that apparently needs feeding and care. It felt like I went from adopting a plant to realising it had morphed into a very enthusiastic puppy that wanted to start a band.

That's where I'm at with The Climatics launching the first fundraising round of 2026, and I'm totally vibing with it. In fact, the improv brain in me is loving it. Someone showed up and said "yes, and" to our idea of making climate philanthropy feel less like depressing homework and more like starting a band. And then more people said "yes, and." And suddenly we're here with actual momentum and I'm like... oh cool, let’s do this!

Which is funny to say/write out loud, because, actually, I'm terrified. This thing is still so new, still in its infancy, and it needs nurturing and care and I don't want to mess it up. Like I said, it went from plant to puppy. I can't actually keep houseplants alive, although I have managed to keep a rescue dog thriving for some years now. Pretty sure this isn’t the same skillset though? Can I just feed The Climatics twice a day, take it for walks and give it some cuddles and that’s good enough?

There's something really precious about what we've all started together. This little example shows that climate action doesn't have to feel lonely or impossible. I feel a pull to honour it, to tend to it properly, even though I'm still totally figuring it out as I go. But one thing I’ve learned recently is that none of us have to have it all figured out to just get started. 

Because sheesh.

Climate in Aotearoa right now? It feels like our government is playing Jenga with environmental initiatives, pulling out blocks to see what collapses first. The local and international news cycle is an exhausting stream of ‘everything is terrible and also on fire and there’s even another war now too.’ And lots of us have dealt with all of this chaos by quietly backing away from climate stuff entirely, because caring was feeling like trying to bail out the Titanic with a teaspoon while someone yells statistics at you.

I felt this way too. And then jumping into The Climatics got me inspired. It seems folks were kinda excited for a way to participate in climate that didn’t require them to become a carbon accountant first.

Some of our early donors told us that they loved how their $50 could pile up with everyone else's $50s and become meaningful money. They were relieved that smart people (our rockstar curation team) were doing the hard thinking about which organisations are changing systems, so they didn't have to develop opinions about policy frameworks or whatever. They wanted to be a part of something effective, that also felt hopeful and also have the opportunity to learn some things along the way.

Some folks said that they liked our learner mindset approach. Same here! I'm still very much in the ‘climate-curious’ camp, happily letting Pip do the nerd-burger deep dives while I focus on trying to sprinkle in some glitter (biodegradable, obvs) and making it a little bit playful.

What keeps me excited about 2026 is showing that climate action can be fun. Let’s get energised instead of drowning in overwhelm. Let’s tackle serious stuff and keep our sense of humour while we do it. Let’s have gigs and write theme songs.

And then there’s that less than 2% statistic, the one about how little philanthropic funding actually goes to climate work. We know Kiwis care about climate. Maybe there are heaps more like me, who feel the system is too intimidating, too expert-only, too much like you need three degrees and a working knowledge of the Paris Agreement to know if you're doing it right.

So, we’re doing this again. Our funding round is officially open, and last week we got to celebrate with some of our incredible community in Auckland. Seeing it all come to life in a room full of people who actually care…. Yes! So good. Here's to more organisations getting support. More people discovering that their contribution actually matters when we all throw in together. More momentum for this wee band that started out as a two-person groove and is almost a full orchestra now. We really don't need to be climate scientists to make a difference, we just need to show up.

Oh, and the theme song request stands. Completely serious. Talk to me.

The band definitely sounds better when more people join in. And I'm pretty sure we're just getting warmed up.

Pip’s answer: The Invisible Work (and Why It Matters)

MJ's energy is infectious. And oh-so-necessary. But while she's out there making climate action feel like joining a band, I'm the one trying to explain why the band matters in the first place.

Why? Well, it’s because the work we fund at The Climatics is largely invisible.

We're not funding tree planting or solar panels - things you can point to and say "look, impact!" (Although they are incredibly necessary too!) We're funding organisations that change minds, shift narratives, build movements, and hold power to account. Knowing that those things then lead to the things you can point to and say “look, impact!” but at a different scale. That work doesn't show up in neat before-and-after photos. It's slow. It's strategic. It's absolutely vital.

Lawyers for Climate Action NZ using litigation to force government accountability. All Aboard changing how we think about transport in our cities. Te Weu Tairāwhiti building climate resilience through Māori-led action.

The kind of work that creates the conditions for everything else to be possible.

Because philanthropy can only ever be one piece of the puzzle, so we believe we need to deploy it in the most highly leveraged, most strategic way possible.

But how do you communicate that so people know their donation made a difference?

That's been one of my ongoing questions. Because the honest answer is: we might not see the impact for years. The new policy that happens because an advocacy campaign shifted public opinion. The narrative change that makes a specific climate action feel normal instead of radical. The movement that builds power until decision-makers can't ignore it anymore.

Evidence tells us this is what works (you can read more about it in our funding focus areas document). Research shows that people-power levers (like the ones we’ve chosen) create more emissions impact than direct delivery approaches. But it's not tidy. It's not instantly gratifying. And it requires trust.  

What we're watching for

So if we're not just counting dollars raised (though we are definitely counting those), what are we tracking?

I'm watching for the psychological shift MJ mentioned: people moving from "I care but feel helpless" to "I'm part of something."

I'm watching for donors who come back. Who say "this worked for me, I want to do it again." Who bring their friends.

I’m watching for other funders already in this space who say, we like how you’re thinking about giving and we want to come along too.

I’m watching for people who learn about the organisations we fund who then decide they want to fund them separately, or support them in other ways beyond donations.

I'm watching the organisations we fund. Not just for their programmatic success, but to see if unrestricted funding from a community of supporters gives them breathing room to do their best work. To take strategic risks. To say no to funding that comes with strings attached.

And you know what? I’m seeing green shoots of possibility on all of those. Every single one. And they matter as much to me as the money we raise.

Looking at the challenge head-on

I'll be honest: the scale of the climate crisis is overwhelming. The science is clear and terrifying. The politics are frustrating. Some days the news makes me want to crawl back under the covers.

But staying focused on solutions is what keeps me grounded. Behind the cheery comms and the playful tone is an unwavering commitment to looking at the challenge head-on and doing something about it.

Not something that makes me feel better while changing nothing. Something that actually shifts the dial.

The organisations we fund are doing that work. And The Climatics exists to make sure they have the resources to keep going.

So yes, MJ's right—we're building a band. But we're also building something else: proof that closing the intention-action gap is possible. Proof that people will show up for climate if you meet them where they are. Proof that invisible work can be valued and funded.

That's what I'm here for.