Joanna Messing has been Paul and Eileen R. Growald's Philanthropy Advisor since 2007. Joanna works with the Growalds to set and implement their philanthropic strategy, which focuses primarily on climate change and coal. The Growalds are venture philanthropists, providing a combination of financial support, capacity building and networking to a carefully selected portfolio. They have realized outsized impact since implementing this strategy, contributing to the blocking of over 100 new coal plants representing 408 million tons of annual CO2 emissions. One average sized coal plant generates emissions equivalent to cutting down 161 million trees. Read more about The Growald Family Fund here.

Joanna Messing has been an advisor to the Sierra Club since 2008. She initially led the highly acclaimed Beyond Coal Campaign through a business planning process, and then advised the Climate Recovery Partnership's business plan process.

Positive Ventures has worked with RFF to develop a strategic plan and proposal for the Power Plant Finance Project, and is currently working with RFF to develop a business plan for their coal program.

Positive Ventures is advising Appalachian Voices on the development of their business plan. Appalachian Voices is a leading organization working on the issues of coal and mountain top removal. They are well known for their site www.ilovemountains.org

The Champlain Housing Trust is a community land trust that supports strong, vital communities in northwest Vermont through the development and stewardship of permanently affordable homes and associated community assets.

P2 works to protect the health of managed and native pollinating animals vital to our North American ecosystems and agriculture.

The Intervale Center is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen community food systems. They operate a range of programs and social enterprises to accomplish this mission.

Root Cause is a research and consulting firm dedicated to mobilizing the nonprofit, public, and business sectors to work together in a new social impact market.

The Vermont Employee Ownership Center works to promote and foster employee ownership of Vermont businesses.

VSJF uses early stage grant funding and technical assistance to catalyze and accelerate the development of markets for sustainably produced goods and services.