Our Impact

Fiscal Year July 2023-June 2024

View the 2023 Impact report here

Collective Impact

in the Genesee-Finger Lakes Climate Collective's Steering Committee

  • The Genesee-Finger Lakes Climate Collective Steering Committee has entered its fourth year with 15 organizations, including a new member, and exemplifies a diverse range of cross-sector stakeholders. These organizations represent sectors such as government, renewable energy, health care, philanthropy, transit, and equity-focused initiatives, bringing valuable perspectives that enhance collaborative climate solutions across the region.

included in ACT Rochester’s dashboard

  • The Genesee-Finger Lakes Climate Collective Steering Committee collaborated with ACT Rochester to integrate eight indicators focused on environmental justice and sustainability into ACT Rochester’s publicly accessible community well-being dashboard for 2024. This dashboard will support the ongoing collection and monitoring of relevant regional data, establishing a shared measurement system that reflects environmental and social health in the Genesee-Finger Lakes region.

from the Genesee-FLX Climate Action Strategy Identified  

  • Two strategic priorities from the Genesee-FLX Climate Action Strategy were identified by the collective as key focus areas: increasing climate action awareness among elected officials and local residents, and promoting participation in energy efficiency programs. These priorities were chosen for their potential to influence public and official perspectives on climate solutions and to increase access to clean energy technologies for historically underserved groups.

AMPED: Finger Lakes Regional Clean Energy Hub

  • The Finger Lakes Regional Clean Energy Hub hosted 92 events this year, engaging over 2,000 residents through tabling, community presentations, canvassing, and webinars. Nearly half of these events took place in NYSERDA-designated disadvantaged communities, emphasizing equity and accessibility in clean energy outreach across the region

  • Energy Advisors supported local residents and businesses in transitioning to clean energy by connecting them with resources, qualified installers, and programs that empower informed energy choices.

  • Installations primarily took place in single-family homes, with some in commercial properties, enhancing energy efficiency, comfort, and safety. This was achieved through access to resources, skilled installers, and programs promoting energy-smart decisions

Color Your Community Green (CYCG)

  • As of June 2024, more than 195 active members participated in 11 CYCG teams across the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region. These team members engaged in 30 diverse projects, all aligned with the Genesee-FLX Climate Action Strategy. Efforts included advocating for county-wide composting, advancing clean heating and cooling campaigns, promoting carbon pricing, increasing tree planting initiatives, and improving walkability throughout local communities.

across the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region

  • The Accelerator introduced a grants program to support existing CYCG teams with funding for impactful community engagement projects. For this first round, proposals from Color Irondequoit Green, Green Orleans, and Color Rochester Green were chosen for financial support, with a total of $900 awarded. This funding will assist each team in driving individual and system climate action in their communities.

  • The Color Your Community Green (CYCG) Toolkit now includes three new guidance documents designed to support teams in implementing climate strategies more effectively: Roles, Responsibilities, and Decision-making, Building Energy Efficiency and Electrification, and Transportation and Land Use.

Public Engagement

  • The 2024 Climate Solutions Summit brought together 226 organizational leaders, healthcare professionals, equity advocates, and community members, including 16 scholarship recipients from across the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region. Supported by 61 sponsors and featuring 24 vendors at the Climate and Health Solutions Fair, the event was a testament to the collaborative efforts that are possible in addressing climate challenges through the lens of public health and equity.

  • The 2023 Rochester Climate March brought together 250 participants representing 27 organizations, highlighting community solidarity in addressing the climate crisis. Marchers concluded at Washington Square Park, where they engaged with 11 local organizations at a climate action fair that provided resources on how to take climate action. The Rochester march was part of a global movement, joining 700 events in 65 countries that weekend, collectively mobilizing over 600,000 people worldwide.

  • The Accelerator has over 240 dedicated volunteers who actively promote climate solutions. Their efforts include community outreach events, advocacy with local legislatures, participation in regional climate actions, and involvement in programs like Color Your Community Green and the Climate Advocacy Network. These volunteers also support legislative bills and memos through direct action and educational initiatives.

Policy & Advocacy

  • In early 2024, the Accelerator launched the Climate Advocacy Network as a rapid-response team to mobilize community members around urgent climate action initiatives. This grassroots network grew quickly, with over 90 members engaged by June 2024.

  • Throughout the 2024 legislative session, the Accelerator organized over a dozen meetings with elected officials, signed onto more than 20 letters of support, traveled two times to Albany with over 30 people for direct actions, press conferences, and meetings with elected officials, and collected and mailed numerous postcards in support of the NY Heat Act.

  • In coalition with NY Renews and Renewable Heat Now, the Accelerator organized press conferences in support of statewide advocacy efforts to advance New York State’s transition from fossil fuels. Through these events, they amplified the call for sustainable, renewable energy solutions and aligned public support behind clean energy legislation.

Color Your Organization Green (CYOG)

  • In January 2024, the Accelerator welcomed four new organizations to CYOG. Through monthly training sessions, these organizations committed to setting climate justice goals, reducing their environmental impact, and developing climate action plans to integrate sustainability into their operational practices. This cohort marks another step in expanding regional participation in climate action efforts and fostering impactful organizational change.

  • The Accelerator revived Green Drinks, a happy-hour networking event designed to connect local professionals passionate about sustainability. Over the course of three events, Green Drinks drew in 59 attendees and provided each host organization an opportunity to share its unique sustainability story. These gatherings aim to foster connections, share knowledge, and inspire more organizations to embrace sustainable practices across the region.

Development

  • The Accelerator is backed by 262 individual donors, with 53% continuing their support from the previous year. This strong retention highlights a growing commitment to climate action within the community.

  • In 2023-2024, donors from across the 9-county region and beyond contributed $123,543 to support local climate action. This amount reflects a $51,000 increase from the previous year, demonstrating the growing momentum of our collective work. 

  • Corporate partners demonstrated their commitment to climate action, contributing $65,956 this year. A significant portion of this support came through sponsorship of the 2023 Climate Solutions Summit, reflecting a shared dedication to advancing sustainability across the region.

Climate Justice and Antiracism Activities

Throughout the year, the Accelerator demonstrated its commitment to integrating climate justice and antiracism principles into its operations and initiatives through active participation in a variety of community events, training sessions, and policy advocacy efforts aimed at advancing equity and addressing systemic issues. Below are specific examples of these efforts:

    • Climate Solutions Summit informed by a diverse Program Advisory Committee and focused on health, equity, and climate. 

    • Completed a first draft of a Regional Assessment and Barriers Analysis to guide the Hub's services, including strategies for outreach, education, partnerships, and empowering disadvantaged communities in the clean energy transition.

    • Staff presented to various organizations, including Ibero’s Early Childhood Center, the Monroe County Language Access Coalition, Connected Communities, and ESWA.

    • Community engagement efforts, including a book club on The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee to raise awareness of climate justice issues, and a “Call Malik Every Week” call relay system to promote inclusive participation in climate action.

    • Advocacy efforts focused on equity were integrated into policy work, including developing a policy platform and advocating for legislation in Albany to address things like energy burden.

    • Participation in initiatives outside of the organization, such as the All In Roc Community Canvassing Partnership to raise awareness of health and equity issues.

    • Rural engagement plans and outreach efforts prioritized disadvantaged communities, ensuring inclusivity and representation in public engagement initiatives.

    • Community outreach efforts, including attending events located in disadvantaged communities, aimed to raise awareness of climate justice issues and promote inclusive participation in climate action.

    • Hired Ibero American Action League and CCSI as consultants to support our organization and staff with ongoing internal and external climate justice and antiracism work over the next two years.

    • The Executive Director enrolled in an ongoing group for organizational leaders in our community to explore and breakdown structures of racism in their own spheres of influence. 

    • Key Performance Indicators (KPIS) were created to prioritize measures that track the impact of our programs in terms of geographic and demographic reach.

    • Hired a Climate Justice Fellow to focus on the split incentive problem, which exists when tenants are responsible for paying their own energy bills and landlords are responsible for making decisions about when/how to invest in improving their properties’ energy systems.

    • Hired an intern to work on engagement of rural communities with a focus on disadvantaged communities.

    • Staff and volunteers have continuously advocated for climate justice and equitable access to clean, affordable energy through numerous public presentations and conversations with community leaders.

    • We have been active members of both the Renewable Heat Now and NY Renews coalitions since 2019. RHN’s mission is to advocate for affordable and equitable clean heating and cooling technologies. NY Renews is focused on climate justice and jobs.

    • Intentional procurement practices prioritize purchasing materials and supplies from Black-owned businesses whenever feasible, contributing to economic empowerment and fostering diversity in vendor relationships.