Advocates for Climate Innovation
Advocates for Climate Innovation (ACI) is a New York, New York–based private foundation that works to advance U.S. climate policy, with current initiatives on carbon dioxide removal and next-generation geothermal power. Founded in 2006 as the Linden Trust for Conservation, it rebranded in 2025. ACI describes its approach as combining grants with substantial staff time and project execution management.
Advocates for Climate Innovation at a glance
In short: Advocates for Climate Innovation gave $1.3M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $76K), top state District of Columbia. 53% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,292,024
- -92.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- -29.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $76,001
- -89.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $22,500
- Total assets
- $4,898,112
- -34.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (8 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (49% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Advocates for Climate Innovation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
ACI states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 287 Park Avenue South 210, New York, NY 10010-4573
Phone: (917) 355-5346
Website: https://advocatesforclimate.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Advocates for Climate Innovation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was World Resources Institute ($450K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 114 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ACI’s stated policy work concerns U.S. federal climate policy. In 2025, grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Washington, DC (49%), New York (35%), and Virginia (15%); the filing also reports 0% for Vermont and an unspecified state category.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Advocates for Climate Innovation open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 15 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $169K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $150K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2025) to $17.8M (2024). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Linden Climate Fund Inc New York, NY | Endowment Grant | $253,691 |
| World Resources Institute Washington, DC | CDR Objectives and Opps | $230,000 |
| World Resources Institute Washington, DC | Carbon Dioxide Removal | $220,000 |
| National Wildlife Federation Reston, VA | Advancing carbon dioxide removal as an essential component of federal climate policy | $200,000 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council New York, NY | To support projects to build support and develop effective regulatory models for responsible carbon dioxide removal | $150,000 |
| Bipartisan Policy Center Washington, DC | Carbon Dioxide Removal | $100,000 |
| Center for American Progress Washington, DC | To Support Cap Policy, Communications and Intergovernmental Staff | $50,000 |
| Resources for the Future Washington, DC | Unrestricted General Institutional Support | $25,000 |
| Brooklyn Public Library Brooklyn, NY | Unrestricted General Institutional Support | $22,500 |
| Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Institute Washington, DC | Unrestricted General Institutional Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Advocates for Climate Innovation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,898,112 | $641,065 | $3,596,289 | $1,292,024 | 17 | $3,184,640 | $102,471 |
| 2024 | $7,472,703 | $7,878,009 | $19,879,505 | $17,797,450 | 24 | $20,227,723 | $1,035,680 |
| 2023 | $19,852,346 | $1,023,512 | $4,072,533 | $1,558,500 | 20 | $3,658,759 | $297,422 |
| 2022 | $19,599,051 | $759,619 | $4,519,810 | $2,067,157 | 25 | $4,344,146 | $477,334 |
| 2021 | $26,681,648 | $8,640,437 | $2,585,417 | $4,099,833 | 28 | $6,388,665 | $964,915 |
| 2020 | $23,988,522 | $6,900,987 | $4,475,301 | $4,222,177 | 27 | — | $454,525 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
ACI’s stated objective is to help U.S. policymakers develop comprehensive climate policy frameworks. Its current focus areas are carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the atmosphere and next-generation geothermal power production. The foundation has worked on CDR policy since 2017 and geothermal policy since 2023.
ACI supports research, policy analysis, policymaker education, and coalitions working with policymakers on new policies. Its 2025 grants included support for policy and research organizations. For example, the World Resources Institute describes its mission as improving people’s lives while ensuring the natural world can thrive, and the Bipartisan Policy Center describes its mission as advancing principled solutions through analysis, negotiation, and dialogue. Resources for the Future says it works to improve environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement.
Grantmaking
In 2025, ACI reported 17 grants totaling $1,292,024. Awards ranged from $2,500 to $253,691, with a median grant of $22,500. Notable grants included $253,691 to Linden Climate Fund Inc. for an endowment grant; $230,000 and $220,000 to the World Resources Institute for “CDR Objectives and Opps” and carbon dioxide removal; $200,000 to the National Wildlife Federation to advance carbon dioxide removal in federal climate policy; and $150,000 to the Natural Resources Defense Council for projects supporting public support and effective regulatory models for responsible carbon dioxide removal. ACI also gave $100,000 to the Bipartisan Policy Center for carbon dioxide removal.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Roger T. Ullman as trustee and chair, Lawrence H. Linden as trustee, William J. Roberts as trustee, and Alexander Flint as trustee, appointed June 6, 2025. ACI identifies Ullman as executive director and chairman of the board of trustees. Its website says Linden and Ullman co-founded the organization’s predecessor in 2006.
Advocates for Climate Innovation is led by Roger T. Ullman, Trustee & Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Roger T. Ullman
Trustee & Chair
Executive Director → Trustee & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$561K (2020) → $650K (2025)
Lawrence H. Linden
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William J. Roberts
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexander Flint
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Dana Wechsler Linden (2020–2024) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $650K, to Roger T Ullman (Trustee, Chair).
Frequently asked questions about Advocates for Climate Innovation
How much does Advocates for Climate Innovation give each year?
Advocates for Climate Innovation gave $1.3M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $17.8M across 24 grants.
What is Advocates for Climate Innovation's typical grant size?
Advocates for Climate Innovation's median grant in 2025 was $22,500, and its average grant was $76,001, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Advocates for Climate Innovation that year got $14K on average.
Where does Advocates for Climate Innovation give grants?
Advocates for Climate Innovation's top state is District of Columbia, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (35%) and Virginia (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (6 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does Advocates for Climate Innovation give general operating support?
Yes: 47% of Advocates for Climate Innovation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Advocates for Climate Innovation's largest grantees?
Advocates for Climate Innovation's largest 2025 grantees include World Resources Institute ($450,000 across 2 grants), Linden Climate Fund Inc ($253,691) and National Wildlife Federation ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Advocates for Climate Innovation?
Advocates for Climate Innovation reported $4.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $641K.
What does Advocates for Climate Innovation fund?
ACI’s stated objective is to help U.S. policymakers develop comprehensive climate policy frameworks. Its current focus areas are carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the atmosphere and next-generation geothermal power production. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Advocates for Climate Innovation?
ACI states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Advocates for Climate Innovation's EIN?
Advocates for Climate Innovation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3748063. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Advocates for Climate Innovation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Advocates for Climate Innovation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Advocates for Climate Innovation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Advocates for Climate Innovation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/advocates-for-climate-innovation-morg_9fbecb7cb50c411db82da282a3439e29
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133748063_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Advocates for Climate Innovation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/advocates-for-climate-innovation-morg_9fbecb7cb50c411db82da282a3439e29},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Advocates for Climate Innovation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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