END OF YEAR GIVING

Help us reach our goal of raising $100,000 by December 31.

WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED

Sustainable & Just Future has had over 1,900 students and counting enroll in our founding program at UC Berkeley. In Spring 2024, we will be once again breaking the record for largest-ever student-led class with an enrollment of 400.

Established as a nonprofit in February of 2023, we made huge strides this year. With an entirely Gen Z team, we are already working with faculty, students, and policymakers across the U.S. and abroad to push the agenda on getting as many people climate-educated as fast as possible. In May, our founder, Sage Lenier, was named one of ten 2023 TIME Magazine Next Generation Leaders. In September, we were selected to make a Commitment to Action with the Clinton Global Initiative, committing to be in a minimum of 30 U.S. universities by the end of 2025. And in December, we will be at COP28 working to create an international network of institutions working on environmental education.

Testimonials

Testimonials

  • This program was, in a word, life-changing for me. From the little things I do differently, like avoiding mindless consumerism, to changing my major and thus career plans, to altering my mindset about life and the world – I am simply not the same person I was in August. Hearing someone say it, say that it’s bigger, say how far we really have to go, explain where that place we must go is and how we as a society can get there, that is the much-needed torch at the end of the tunnel for environmental activists everywhere.

  • Wow. What a phenomenal program. It has been a while since I've gotten so excited and fired up about a class at school – I looked forward to it every Monday and always called someone from home to tell them about what I learned after each class. Instead of hearing day in and day out about how human life as we know it may not be around when I am an elder or envisioning an "apocalyptic" version of our current world, this class helped me see that this moment in history could truly be where we look to when we remember where our societal transformational change started. That is what gets me through each day. That is why I'm studying what I am.

  • "I hope to work in biotechnology and possibly in bioethics after college, and this class has encouraged me to continue to search for sustainable solutions to problems our generation will face. I would hope to develop technologies that can function in a circular economic system and make decisions that promote environmental justice."

  • During the last session, I teared up in my spot and walked away with so much in mind. I have learned so much in just one semester; I look up to the instructors and I feel empowered as a female and as a person of color. There is no question that I will definitely put this empowerment to use. I've participated in the recent two climate strikes, I've joined an off-campus organization that tackles poverty with the UN's SDGs in mind, and I've taken my newfound knowledge into discussions with others who have in turn told me that it has made a difference in them. After taking this class, I’m looking forward to taking on a major that relates to environmental solutions as I was originally just studying business.

  • "On the first day of class, Sage said that we need to shift the focus from, 'humans are bad for the planet,' to 'it is completely possible for humans to live in symbiosis with the earth.' In this class, I feel like I realize that this is achievable and I have experienced a major shift from cynicism to optimism. Thank you, [teaching team], for putting so much time and effort into this course, I really enjoyed what I learned – though it was sometimes difficult to hear and quite eye-opening. I am so happy to have such a wealth of access to resources that I can now use to go forth and educate others."

  • “Through this course, I found my passion for environmental studies. Based on all of the interesting topics that we’ve covered in this class, I decided to take on an additional environment-related major where I can further my education on environmental injustice and sustainable architecture. I want to use my new knowledge to create positive social change by studying environmental law. Besides taking on this new major, another fundamental change I’ve made was spending more time on the community farm. I realized how important and connected we are to nature and I began volunteering at The Student Organic Garden and the UC Gill Tract Farm."

Sustainable & Just Future is a California nonprofit entity operated as a fiscally sponsored project and all gifts are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. For donations larger than $1,000, please contact Rip Pahukoa at rip@sustainableandjustfuture.org and you will receive a response promptly!

After our first round of funding, SJF was able to convert 5 of our volunteers to paid part-time employees in October. Doing so has drastically increased our capacity and efficiency, and we’re ready to reach new heights as an emerging nonprofit.

We have a goal of raising $100,00 by December 31 to:

  • Establish 15 new student-led chapters on college campuses across the United States

  • Train 25+ college students to run chapters as educators and change makers in our SJF fellowship program

  • Work with faculty and administration to develop and institutionalize environmental education

  • Hire two full-time dedicated staff

Donation FAQs

  • Your donation will directly support our youth climate education programs, and help us empower young people to take on and win local environmental campaigns. While we are a newly registered nonprofit as of 2023, we plan on publishing an annual transparency report with a full breakdown of our expenses. We are committed to creating equity in the climate space and have a goal of paying all of our team members a livable hourly wage for their work, so that this work is not limited to those with the time and privilege to volunteer for free. Read more about our current initiatives here.

  • Yes, Sustainable & Just Future is a California nonprofit entity operated as a fiscally sponsored program of Collidescope.io Foundation. Collidescope.io Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID 86-3852128), and all gifts are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

  • Absolutely! We are always looking for more volunteers to either join our internal team (send an email to hello@sustainableandjustfuture.org) or start a new chapter of SJF for your local community or school (fill out this form here). You can also follow our work by keeping up with us on social media.

  • Our approach is to allocate donations based on the greatest need and impact. This ensures that we can address urgent and emerging issues effectively, as well as paying our team members and youth activists fairly. However, if you have a specific area of interest, you can reach out to Rip Pahukoa at rip@sustainableandjustfuture.org.

  • Yes, you will receive a receipt via email from GivSum. The receipt will include the necessary information for tax purposes, such as the donation amount, date, and our organization's details.

  • If you have any further questions or require additional assistance regarding donations, please feel free to reach out to Rip Pahukoa at rip@sustainableandjustfuture.org and we will get back to you ASAP.