Nonprofit Founded by Gettys, Kennedys Tied to Anti-ICE Activists

Climate Emergency Fund has provided funding to radical groups engaging in civil disobedience and vandalism

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A West Hollywood nonprofit called the Climate Emergency Fund, founded by members of the Getty and Kennedy families, has been providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to radical activist groups across the country, including those involved in anti-ICE initiatives and disruptive tactics such as storming a church service in Minnesota.

Why it matters

This story highlights the growing influence of activist groups with ties to wealthy Hollywood donors, and raises questions about the use of charitable funds to support potentially extremist activities that go beyond traditional civil disobedience.

The details

The Climate Emergency Fund was founded in 2019 by filmmaker Rory Kennedy, daughter of Sen. Robert Kennedy, and philanthropist Aileen Getty, granddaughter of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. The group has provided funding to organizations like Beautiful Trouble, which produces a civil disobedience toolkit, as well as the radical climate activist group Extinction Rebellion. The fund has also given money to a group called Climate Defiance, whose activists recently disrupted an event where a moderate Democratic congressman was speaking.

  • The Climate Emergency Fund was founded in 2019.
  • In 2022, filmmaker Adam McKay joined the fund's board of directors and donated $4 million.
  • In January 2026, anti-ICE activists connected to Beautiful Trouble disrupted a church service in Minnesota while being livestreamed by former CNN host Don Lemon.
  • Earlier in 2026, Extinction Rebellion activists spray-painted the Wall Street charging bull statue with the words "Greed=Death."

The players

Climate Emergency Fund

A Hollywood nonprofit that has provided funding to radical activist groups across the country, including those involved in anti-ICE initiatives and disruptive tactics.

Rory Kennedy

Filmmaker and daughter of Sen. Robert Kennedy, who co-founded the Climate Emergency Fund.

Aileen Getty

Philanthropist and granddaughter of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, who co-founded the Climate Emergency Fund.

Adam McKay

Filmmaker who joined the Climate Emergency Fund's board of directors in 2022 and donated $4 million to the organization.

Don Lemon

Former CNN host who was present and livestreamed an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota in January 2026.

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What’s next

The judge in the case involving the disruption of the Minnesota church service will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the protesters out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing influence of activist groups with ties to wealthy Hollywood donors, and raises concerns about the use of charitable funds to support potentially extremist activities that go beyond traditional civil disobedience.