What The Chisholm Legacy Project does

The Chisholm Legacy Project (TCLP) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, fiscally sponsored by Community Initiatives, that operates as a resource hub for Black frontline climate justice leadership. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Baltimore, MD, the organization was inspired by the legacy of Shirley Chisholm — the first African-American woman elected to Congress and the first Black woman to seek a major-party presidential nomination — and centers its work on a Just Transition Framework rooted in Black Liberation. TCLP's primary constituents are Black frontline climate justice leaders, Black women and femmes in environmental justice, and the rural, Black frontline communities emphasized by its Catalysts for a New Democracy (CND) strategy.

The organization's core product surface comprises interconnected programmatic tools rather than a traditional software platform. Key offerings include the Afro-Descendant Climate Justice Database (CJDB), a curated directory of 190+ climate-justice organizations; the Resource Hub and Policies for the People (a tagged policy database); the Black Liberation and Just Transition Institute, a three-tier certification program spanning water, energy, food, land, and climate adaptation; Black Femme Wellness (coaching, healing circles, sisterships); the Global Afro-Descendant Climate Justice Collaborative co-presented with PACJA at UNFCCC; and the RESTORE Act initiative aimed at preserving Freedmen's Settlements. Adjacent offerings include the BIPOC in ECJ Network, Black Climate Justice Toastmasters, and the Shirley Chisholm Black Femme Leader Wellness Sistership Award.

TCLP funds itself through donations (via Network for Good), foundation grants, and program partnerships; no priced goods or subscription tiers are offered, and financials are not publicly disclosed. Distribution is overwhelmingly digital — the organization's website and a multi-platform social presence (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Mailchimp email) — supplemented by in-person participation at UNFCCC COP and Intersessional events, conferences, and webinars. No AI/ML technology, proprietary software, or venture-style funding has been disclosed.

Name

The Chisholm Legacy Project

Legal name

The Chisholm Legacy Project Inc.

Website

https://thechisholmlegacyproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Chisholm Legacy Project is a U.S. nonprofit resource hub serving Black frontline climate justice leaders, operating databases, certification programs, research publications, and wellness offerings anchored in a Just Transition framework and Black Liberation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Justice Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Climate justice advocacy
• Environmental justice nonprofit
• Leadership development programs
• Black community organizing
• Policy research publication

Headquarters

HQ city

Burtonsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Chisholm Legacy Project operates as a nonprofit resource hub and capacity-building organization for Black frontline climate justice leaders, providing curated research, policy analysis, leadership development programs, wellness support, and advocacy resources. Its offerings combine digital content (publications, database, video series), structured programs (institutes, awards, fellowships), and global convenings to advance climate, racial, and gender justice.

Product overview

The Chisholm Legacy Project is a resource hub for Black Frontline Climate Justice Leadership operating as a nonprofit organization with multiple interconnected programs and tools. The core offerings include the Afro-Descendant Climate Justice Database (searchable database of 190+ organizations), the Resource Hub (curated resources including guides, publications, fellowships, and toolkits), and Policies for the People (climate justice policy database). Supporting programs include the Black Liberation and Just Transition Institute (certification program with three tiers), Black Femme Wellness (holistic support system), the Global Afro-Descendant Climate Justice Collaborative (UNFCCC engagement), RESTORE Act initiative, and various awards/contests. The organization publishes major reports including Fossil Fueled Foolery 3.0, Transforming Climate Finance, and Cultivating the Conditions. Rather than a traditional SaaS product, it functions as a centralized resource and programmatic hub connecting Black frontline communities with tools, education, and policy resources for climate justice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Black Liberation and Just Transition Institute: A transformative initiative that prepares participants to lead climate justice efforts using the Just Transition framework.
• Global Afro-Descendant Climate Justice Collaborative (GADCJC)

Products and services

• Afro-Descendant Climate Justice Database Curated database featuring 190+ Black-led climate justice organizations, providing visibility and networking resources for the climate justice ecosystem.
• Resource Hub Curated digital resource hub providing climate justice content, policy briefs, and advocacy tools for Black frontline communities and allies.
• Policies for the People Policy analysis program distilling climate and environmental justice policies for community understanding and action.
• Black Liberation and Just Transition Institute Leadership development program designed to build capacity among Black frontline climate leaders through training, mentorship, and cohort-based learning.
• Black Femme Wellness Wellness program tailored to Black women, femmes, and non-binary people working in climate justice, addressing burnout and holistic well-being.
• Global Afro-Descendant Climate Justice Collaborative International convening and collaboration initiative partnering with the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and other global allies.
• BIPOC in Environmental Climate Justice Network Network program connecting BIPOC climate and environmental justice practitioners for peer learning, resource sharing, and collective action.
• Black Climate Justice Toastmasters Public speaking and leadership communication program designed for Black climate justice advocates.
• Shirley Chisholm Black Femme Leader Wellness Sistership Award Annual leadership and wellness recognition award honoring Black femme climate leaders, named after Shirley Chisholm.
• Catalysts for a New Democracy Strategic initiative building civic engagement and democratic participation capacity within climate justice work.
• Fossil Fueled Foolery 3.0 Publication and cultural commentary series critiquing fossil fuel industry practices and misinformation from a climate justice lens.
• Transforming Climate Finance Research publication analyzing climate finance flows and proposing pathways to align funding with frontline community priorities.
• RESTORE Act Policy advocacy initiative focused on the RESTORE Act and related Gulf Coast restoration and environmental justice efforts.
• Fossil Fueled Foolery Video Contest Community video contest engaging the public to creatively critique fossil fuel industry narratives.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ProInspirecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TCLP collaborated with ProInspire and Dr. Chera Reid to launch the Fellowship for Liberated Futures in 2024 — a program dedicated to nurturing the healing, wellness, and holistic well-being of Black femmes championing justice-focused work across the United States.
• Dr. Chera ReidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Dr. Chera Reid co-designed the Fellowship for Liberated Futures alongside TCLP and ProInspire, providing thought leadership and program design for the Black femme wellness fellowship.
• PACJA (Pan African Climate Justice Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCLP and PACJA co-present the Global Afro-Descendant Climate Justice Collaborative (GADCJC), building and deepening African diaspora participation in climate governance and the UNFCCC process.
• UbuntuminorOthersUbuntu is listed as a coalition partner for the RESTORE Act: Preserving America's Freedmen's Settlements initiative.
• KamlagerminorOthersKamlager is listed as a coalition partner for the RESTORE Act: Preserving America's Freedmen's Settlements initiative.
• Community Initiatives (Fiscal Sponsor)coreOthersThe Chisholm Legacy Project is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides administrative infrastructure including financial management, HR, and legal compliance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Green For All: National initiative building an inclusive green economy for low-income communities, prioritizing people of color; comparable as a climate-equity funder/convener with shared goals around climate justice and workforce development.
• Earthjustice: Public interest environmental law organization; broadly comparable as it litigates and advocates on environmental justice and fossil fuel issues, with growing equity-centered programming overlapping TCLP's policy stance.
• NAACP (Environmental & Climate Justice Program): Long-standing civil rights organization with a dedicated environmental and climate justice portfolio including the original Fossil Fueled Foolery reports that TCLP subsequently published; comparable as the established anchor for Black climate justice advocacy.

Direct peers

• National Black Environmental Justice Network: National network of Black environmental justice advocates and organizations advancing Black leadership in climate and environmental work; highly comparable mission-overlap serving the same constituent base and policy arenas.
• Black Hive at American Compass: Affiliate organization empowering Black communities through restorative economics and equitable policy; comparable for Black-centered policy, finance, and movement-building work in climate-adjacent space.
• Movement Generation: Activist collective using Just Transition framework to build movement for ecological justice; highly comparable for shared Just Transition orientation and emphasis on BIPOC frontline leadership development.
• Climate Justice Alliance: Member-led organization of frontline communities building power for climate justice; directly comparable as both center racial equity in climate work and operate programs supporting frontline leadership capacity-building.
• We Act for Environmental Justice: Community-based environmental justice organization based in Northern Manhattan that builds community power in low-income communities and communities of color; comparable for environmental health advocacy and community organizing focus.

Emerging players

• Solutions Project: Organization accelerating transition to 100% clean energy for all with intentional focus on frontline and BIPOC communities; comparable as a clean energy/climate equity intermediary with overlapping funder and movement relationships.
• Indigenous Environmental Network: Network of Indigenous peoples addressing environmental and economic justice; comparable as a frontline-led, identity-centered climate organization operating in adjacent BIPOC EJ space with similar UNFCCC engagement model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPDvX0DNKteQRV8x0xJpGVg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChisholmLegacy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-chisholm-legacy-project-a-resource-hub-for-black-frontline-climate-justice-leadership
• Instagraminstagram.com/ChisholmLegacy
• TikToktiktok.com/@thechisholmlegacyproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Chisholm Legacy Project