Afterglow Climate Justice Fund

First launched by Candide Group in 2024, the Afterglow Climate Justice Fund seeks to build momentum toward effective and equitable solutions to the climate crisis. The fund focuses on the root causes of climate harm through an intersectional lens of racism, classism, capitalism, economic injustice, and environmental degradation. In its initial phase, Afterglow reached $48M, providing debt capital to organizations serving communities facing persistent poverty, high energy costs, and disproportionate climate burdens. Investments supported green jobs, equitable clean energy solutions, and community-led climate resilience efforts.

Recognizing the need for deeper impact, the fund is designed to expand access to and ownership of affordable clean energy for historically marginalized communities. Future investments will finance community-centered clean energy projects, distributed generation solar, electric vehicles, and green buildings — while also supporting novel underwriting models, tax credit bridge financing, and lower-cost capital for frontline development.

In addition to financial support, Afterglow offers non-financial assistance, connecting organizations to aligned funders and mission-driven networks. With a commitment to ecological restoration, community protection, and justice, the fund aims to catalyze a regenerative economy that benefits the people most affected by climate change.

Afterglow Borrowers

big_sq_wt.jpg
Sunwealth_tp_tb_2025.png
solarholler_2023_sq_tb.png
georgiabright_sq_cl.png
re-volv_sq_cl.png
gejc_tp_2025.png

FAQs

  • The fund’s title is inspired by the book Afterglow: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors, a compilation of short stories offering sobering, yet hopeful, visions of a future where those most harmed by climate change are surviving and thriving. We encourage you to check out the book and get your own copy here*!

  • Afterglow has currently raised $48M. If you’d like to learn more, please contact us.

  • Afterglow seeks a just transition to a regenerative economy. This work is grounded in three core concepts developed by climate movement leadership. Together, they help clarify and refine our goals with our work.

    • Climate Justice focuses on the root causes of the climate crisis through an intersectional lens of racism, classism, capitalism, economic injustice, and environmental harm*.

    • Just Transition is a framework for unifying place-based practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a Regenerative Economy*.

    • A Regenerative Economy is based on ecological restoration, community protection, equitable partnerships, justice, and full and fair participatory processes*.

  • To center community in our decision-making process, the fund established a formal Community Advisory Board (CAB). From inception, the CAB shapes how and who the Fund invests, advising on strategy, credit decisions, and climate justice approaches. The CAB consists of leaders across lived experiences related to climate justice, race, gender, class, age, sexual orientation, and region.

    Two members of the CAB will serve on the Credit Committee for each deal based on expertise, capacity, and interest. The Fund’s two Managing Directors and an additional external advisor also sit on the Credit Committee. The credit committee analyzes and subsequently approves or rejects loans. CAB members will rotate on the Credit Committee to allow for a balanced distribution of responsibilities and learning opportunities. The committee ensures that the loan meets the Fund’s lending policy and will achieve the fund’s climate justice mission. The Credit Committee conducts deal pre-screens and credit memo reviews for loans conducive to portfolio development. The CAB members have a veto vote: no loans can be made without their consent.