Since joining Kresge in 2008, DeBacker has led the foundation’s environmental grantmaking, which helps cities combat and adapt to climate change while advancing racial and economic justice. In 2007, Kresge identified climate change as a funding priority. DeBacker was hired to build and lead a team that would develop and execute a U.S.-focused grantmaking strategy to reduce the pollution that causes climate change (mitigation) and prepare for the impacts of climate change that can no longer be avoided (adaptation).