#United States #Washington #Wallace Global Fund #Ellen Dorsey #Climate Philanthropy

Dr. Ellen Dorsey Named to TIME100 Climate List

In a significant recognition of her groundbreaking work in the field of climate philanthropy, Dr. Ellen Dorsey, the Executive Director of Wallace Global Fund (WGF), has been named to the TIME100 Climate list for 2026. This annual list highlights the most influential leaders dedicated to advancing solutions in response to the climate crisis. Dorsey's remarkable leadership has established her as a pivotal force in transforming how philanthropic resources are allocated in the fight against climate change.

Dr. Dorsey has spent over a decade actively challenging foundations to cease funding the very industries that exacerbate the climate crisis. Instead, she advocates for redirecting financial resources toward sustainable solutions. Her tenure at WGF has exemplified how philanthropy can harness its financial influence—not just through grantmaking but also through investments and advocacy—to oppose entrenched interests and expedite a fair energy transition.

Leadership and Impact

In 2010, long before fossil fuel divestment became recognized as essential, WGF divested its entire endowment from fossil fuels and other harmful industries, choosing instead to invest in a portfolio that aligns with its mission. This strategic shift not only upheld its values but also yielded impressive financial returns, demonstrating that organizations need not sacrifice financial performance to honor their climate commitments. Dorsey's impact extends beyond WGF; she has been integral in shaping a global divestment movement that includes over 1,700 institutions managing around $40 trillion in assets. This broad coalition signifies a collective effort to dismantle the financial and political power wielded by the fossil fuel sector.

Dorsey articulates that the fight against the climate crisis transcends technology. It fundamentally revolves around power dynamics. She asserts, "We cannot solve the climate crisis while continuing to finance the industries that generate it." This recognition, she notes, also belongs to the activists, community organizers, and advocates spearheading a global movement against fossil fuel dominance, championing a just transition.

Grassroots Dynamics

A cornerstone of Dorsey's philosophy is that sustainable climate progress must originate from grassroots movements. She emphasizes that frontline communities possess the most profound understanding of their challenges, along with the power to generate viable solutions when given the necessary resources to organize effectively. Rather than imposing solutions from an upper echelons, her approach prioritizes investing in community leaders and empowering them to shape their own futures.

WGF has operationalized this belief through initiatives that bolster frontline organizations combating fossil fuel expansion while advocating for climate justice. Examples include the SHINE Collab, a women-led initiative promoting clean energy access across Africa, and the Community Just Transition Centers and Fund in South Africa, which center community involvement in developing and financing locally driven energy transition initiatives.

Challenging Philanthropic Norms

Dr. Dorsey has also questioned a long-held assumption within philanthropy: the need for foundations to maintain their endowments indefinitely. She has prompted WGF to increase its annual payout to 20% since 2020, with a bold plan to deplete its entire endowment. This strategic decision aims to deploy all available resources toward movements addressing critical issues such as climate change, democracy, and human rights.

As the WGF's planned spend-out concludes in December 2026, Dorsey is set to launch Dorsey Advisors, an advisory practice focused on the intersections of climate, finance, and human rights. This new venture aims to continue her work advocating for the redirection of capital away from detrimental industries toward initiatives that foster social and climate justice.

In this new chapter, Dorsey emphasizes the need for urgent philanthropic and financial responses that are proportionate to today’s challenges, urging action using every available tool to dismantle systemic power structures and promote meaningful change.

About Wallace Global Fund

Founded by former U.S. Vice President Henry A. Wallace, the Wallace Global Fund champions grassroots movements advocating for human rights, democratic integrity, and a healthy planet. It supports these endeavors through strategic grantmaking and mission-aligned investments.

About Dorsey Advisors

Dorsey Advisors, helmed by Dr. Ellen Dorsey, aims to catalyze impactful changes at the intersection of climate action, finance, and social justice. This practice will focus on redefining how philanthropic efforts can effectively address climate-related challenges and set the stage for a just future.