The Sunrise Movement, often referred to as “Sunrise,” is a left-of-center 501(c)(4) environmental advocacy organization founded in 2017. The group endorses liberal and far-left Democratic Party candidates for public office and organizes alongside other activist organizations to support expansive and radical environmentalist legislation it terms a “Green New Deal.” Sunrise Movement is the 501(c)(4) advocacy counterpart to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Sunrise Movement Education Fund (legally named U.S. Climate Plan Inc.). 1
Sunrise seeks not only to push environmental legislation on local, state, and national levels, but also targets individual political officials for failing to support its policy goals or failing to pledge to refuse campaign contributions from the mainstream energy industry. 1
In January 2019, the Sunrise Movement was a co-signatory on a letter that denounced nuclear power as “dirty energy.” 2
Background
The formation of Sunrise Movement began in 2015, arising out of discussions between various activists and organizers in separate parts of the climate change movement. After the 2016 election, the organizers believed that more direct action was required to bring climate change and the elimination of traditional energy to the forefront of political discourse. Sunrise was founded by a group of activists on the premise that both protests and electoral strategy were needed to advance their political agenda. 6
Advocacy
Green New Deal
The Sunrise Movement pushes the so-called “Green New Deal,” a left-wing legislative and economic spending plan that aims to reduce or eliminate all fossil fuel extraction and non-weather-dependent energy sources across the county. Critics charged the plan would ban most private cars, commercial air travel, and animal agriculture. 9 The deal’s plan to “draw down greenhouse gases” would cost another $11 trillion. 9 Guaranteeing jobs and a “living wage” to all Americans would cost taxpayers another $500 billion in its first year alone. 9 Supporters of the Green New Deal suggest that the government raise taxes and borrow money in order to pay for many of the plan’s aspirations. 2
“Defund the Police” Training Course
In July 2020, the Sunrise Movement co-organized a four-day “crash course” to train activists in “how to turn the mandate to ‘Defund the Police’ into tangible action.” Other organizers included Mijente, DSA Afrosocialists (a branch of the far-left Democratic Socialists of America), Southerners on New Ground (SONG), and Dream Defenders. 36 In addition, O’Hanlon claimed, “Sunrise is still finalizing plans for the 2024 general election…like in 2020, we are not planning to endorse Joe Biden.” 36
People v. Billionaires
Following the second election of President Donald Trump in November 2024, the Sunrise Movement announced a new campaign titled “People vs. Billionaires” that claimed to offer “teach-in” training seminars titled “How to End an Oligarchy,” claiming that President Trump would pass policy that gives “the richest people in the country even more money and even more power, while they jack up the rent and burn the planet.” 37
End the Oligarchy, Save Our Futures
In 2025, the Sunrise Movement launched a national campaign titled “End the Oligarchy, Save Our Futures“, aimed at promoting legislation that would require fossil fuel companies to contribute financially to climate mitigation and recovery efforts. The campaign supports the passage of “climate superfund” laws, following models adopted in Vermont and New York, which seek to shift the cost of climate-related damages from taxpayers to major polluters. As part of the initiative, Sunrise is encouraging political candidates to reject donations from fossil fuel interests and support policies holding polluters financially accountable. The campaign also includes plans to revitalize youth climate activism through public events, including school strikes and other nonviolent actions, ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. 41
Leadership
In 2023, Sunrise Movement’s board was comprised of president Evan Weber, Becca Rast, Barbara Dudley, Keya Chatterjee, Brandon Hurlbut, and Shaniqua McClendon. 42 As of 2025, Becca Rast was the managing director of Justice Democrats. 42 Jesus Pizarro, the chief financial officer, was also the founder of consulting firm Inter CPA LLC. 49
In 2023, Sunrise Movement reported total revenue of $2,464,127, total expenses of $2,514,133, and net assets of $3,432,733. 50
Grantmaking
In 2023, Sunrise Movement gave a grant worth $76,142 to Ground Game Texas to support the El Paso Climate Charter Campaign. 51
In 2023, Sunrise provided its Sunrise PAC with $120,000. 52 During the 2024 election cycle, Sunrise PAC gave $10,000 to Justice Democrats and $9,249 to Workers Vote. 55 $175,000 from Tides Advocacy,56 $28,750 from the Tides Foundation,57 and $150,000 for the Fund for a Better Future. 58
In 2019, Sunrise also received $75,000 from Economic Security Project Action to “support work to end climate change.” 59
In 2023, Sunrise Movement received $100,000 for its “work with youth” from the 128 Collective Initiatives. 60
In 2021, Sunrise PAC received $50,000 from Grove Action Fund. 61 During the 2023-2024 election cycle, Sunrise PAC received $50,000 from Movement Voter PAC. 62 Sunrise Movement executive director, Varshini Prakash, took issue with O’Keefe’s statements, tweeting that O’Keefe was fired simply because he “had not showed up to work in months.” 0){
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