How are we funded?

Cool Petaluma now operates as a DBA program of the Aqus Community Foundation 501(c)3 and depends on the generous, tax-deductible donations of people like you to keep this grassroots movement growing!

Cool Petaluma began in January 2022 after becoming one of three cities in California to win the Cool City Challenge, which provided the potential for $1 million in funding over the course of several years. For year one, the Cool City Challenge provided the coolblock.org platform and a total of $120,000 of restricted funding for staff salaries. At the end of 2022, all three cities left the Cool City Challenge in order to build more localized movements that could address each city’s unique situation, which was not possible under the umbrella of the original funding organization called the Empowerment Institute.

David Gershon, CEO of Empowerment Institute had these words of encouragement, “You are a shining star in the world of climate action. We are proud to have been able to provide seed funding to kickstart the Cool Petaluma journey. We are also happy you have a way to build out the next stage in a more local way. This makes good sense.”

You can read more about this transition here.

Since January 2023, we have built our own program and platform for local climate action with local donations of both time and money. This is truly a community-led climate action movement.

We look forward to growing and expanding in the most amazing ways as Cool Petaluma keeps getting cooler!

Thank you for your love,

Your Cool Petaluma Team

Cool Petaluma operates as a DBA program of the Aqus Community Foundation. Aqus Community Foundation, DBA Cool Petaluma U.S. tax-exempt number: 47-2940838.