Advocates for Climate Innovation
Advocates for Climate Innovation (ACI) is a private foundation based in New York, NY, focused on identifying and advancing transformative climate solutions through policy work and strategic funding. The organization was founded in 2006 as the Linden Trust for Conservation and rebranded in 2025 as Advocates for Climate Innovation. ACI operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and takes a proactive, hands-on approach to climate philanthropy, combining grant funding with substantial staff time and execution management.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.5M
-62.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$17.8M
+1042.0% YoY
Grant Count
24
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$742K
+851.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
ACI seeks to contribute to solving the climate change problem by identifying transformative solutions that lack needed Federal policy support and then securing that policy. The organization pursues bipartisan approaches that create incentives to stimulate innovation.
The foundation is currently focused on two primary areas:
Carbon Dioxide Removal — removing CO2 from the atmosphere as an urgently needed complement to emission reduction efforts. ACI has been working on carbon dioxide removal policy since 2017.
Next-Generation Geothermal Power Production — a highly-promising complement to other clean-power production techniques. ACI began focusing on geothermal policy in 2023.
Grantmaking
ACI provides both funding and substantial staff time and execution management for its projects. The foundation generally takes the initiative in designing project objectives and recruiting both partner organizations and additional funders needed to achieve those objectives.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ACI's funding activities have primarily focused on the United States, with particular emphasis on U.S. climate policy development.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,472,703
- Total Revenue: $7,878,009
- Total Expenses: $19,900,000
- Total Giving: $17,797,450
- Total Liabilities: $220,000
Tax-Exempt Status: September 1994 EIN: 13-3748063
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,472,703 | $19,852,346 | $19,599,051 |
| Revenue | $7,878,009 | $1,023,512 | $759,619 |
| Expenses | $19,879,505 | $4,072,533 | $4,519,810 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $20,227,723 | $3,658,759 | $4,344,146 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,035,680 | $297,422 | $477,334 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
124 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Linden Climate Fund Inc ($16,016,950), Carbon 180 ($227,500), National Wildlife Federation ($175,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL | $100,000 |
| CARBON 180 OAKLAND, CA | CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL | $227,500 |
| CENTER ON GLOBAL ENERGY POLICY AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SIPA NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT | $34,000 |
| CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE BOSTON, MA | CDR - ZERO CARBON GOAL | $100,000 |
| DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GEOTHERMAL POWER PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| ENERGY FUTURES INITIATIVE INC WASHINGTON, DC | CDR ANALYSIS AND EDUCATION | $75,000 |
| GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MINNEAPOLIS, MN | CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL | $75,000 |
| LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| LINDEN CLIMATE FUND INC NEW YORK, NY | ENDOWMENT GRANT | $16,016,950 |
| MALIASILI INITIATIVES INC ESSEX JUNCTION, VT | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
ACI was founded in 2006 by Larry Linden and Roger Ullman. Linden is a former Partner at McKinsey and Goldman Sachs who holds a Ph.D. from MIT and a B.S.E. from Princeton. He originally started his family foundation in 1993, which changed its name to the Linden Trust for Conservation in 2005. Ullman is a former Managing Director at Merrill Lynch. The organization is led and staffed by a team of financial professionals with deep experience in investment and management.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE H LINDEN | TRUSTEE | 40 | — |
| DANA WECHSLER LINDEN | TRUSTEE (RESIGNED 12/13/2024) | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM J ROBERTS | TRUSTEE (APPOINTED 12/13/2024) | 1 | — |
| ROGER T ULLMAN | TRUSTEE (APPOINTED 12/13/2024), CHAIR | 40 | $631,500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
ACI rebranded from the Linden Trust for Conservation to Advocates for Climate Innovation in 2025, reflecting its evolution from a focus on conservation finance and environmental markets (until 2014) to a concentrated emphasis on U.S. climate policy (since 2015).
Announcing the 2023 CCAI Innovation Grants Awardees | Climate Change AIThe foundation has been recognized for its effectiveness as a rainmaker through its role in brokering substantial investments from other financial institutions and foundations to support large-scale climate and conservation projects.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Advocates for Climate Innovation fund?
ACI seeks to contribute to solving the climate change problem by identifying transformative solutions that lack needed Federal policy support and then securing that policy. The organization pursues bipartisan approaches that create incentives to stimulate innovation. The foundation is currently focused on two primary areas: 1. **Carbon Dioxide Removal** — removing CO2 from the atmosphere as an urgently needed complement to emission reduction efforts. ACI has been working on carbon dioxide remov…
How do I apply for a grant from Advocates for Climate Innovation?
ACI provides both funding and substantial staff time and execution management for its projects. The foundation generally takes the initiative in designing project objectives and recruiting both partner organizations and additional funders needed to achieve those objectives. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$16,016,950 • The foundation works on and funds a very small number of projects at a time but maintains high commitment to driving measurable outcomes for each • Often…
Where does Advocates for Climate Innovation make grants?
ACI's funding activities have primarily focused on the United States, with particular emphasis on U.S. climate policy development.
What size grants does Advocates for Climate Innovation award?
In 2024, Advocates for Climate Innovation awarded 24 grants totaling $17.8M — an average of about $742K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Advocates for Climate Innovation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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