Climate Imperative Foundation
Climate Imperative Foundation is a public charity based in San Francisco, California. It provides funding, technical support, and expertise to inform climate-policy decisions in major-emitting countries, aiming to reduce global carbon emissions at speed and scale.
Climate Imperative Foundation at a glance
In short: Climate Imperative Foundation gave $161.5M across 96 grants in 2024 (avg $1.7M), mostly in California. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $161,545,113
- -8.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 96
- -11.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,682,762
- +3.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $500,000
- Total assets
- $109,552,703
- -41.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (44 of 96, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (56% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Climate Imperative Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 98 Battery Street 202, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (415) 799-2162
Website: https://climateimperative.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Climate Imperative Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Energy Foundation China (EFC) ($29.8M). Together the top 10 received $100.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($300,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
387 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 102 grants of 387 (26%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it focuses on policy decisions in major greenhouse-gas-emitting countries and regions around the world. Its 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipient states as follows: California, 56%; District of Columbia, 14%; New York, 12%; Colorado, 5%; and Delaware, 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 96 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Climate Imperative Foundation open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 44 of 96 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2M; repeat grants $1.4M. How we count
Medians: $500K first-time, $518K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $26.3M (2020) to $177.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 96 grants totaling $161.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Foundation China (EFC) San Francisco, CA | Environmental Protection | $29,750,000 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Oakland, CA | Environmental Protection | $23,050,000 |
| US Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | Environmental Protection | $15,167,150 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) New York, NY | Environmental Protection | $7,875,000 |
| Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) Boulder, CO | Environmental Protection | $7,640,000 |
| Tides Foundation San Francisco, CA | Environmental Protection | $4,146,268 |
| Rockefeller Family Fund Inc New York, NY | Environmental Protection | $3,475,000 |
| Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC) Lewes, DE | Environmental Protection | $3,350,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund New York, NY | Environmental Protection | $3,175,000 |
| Energy and Climate Transitions Ai LLC Berkeley, CA | Environmental Protection | $3,127,932 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $109,552,703 | $271,730,022 | $356,885,102 | $161,545,113 | 96 | $3,654,540 |
| 2023 | $188,704,736 | $206,658,028 | $271,024,025 | $176,962,113 | 109 | $2,638,132 |
| 2022 | $250,639,955 | $289,464,924 | $176,696,000 | $101,629,423 | 79 | $95,099 |
| 2021 | $130,219,187 | $221,533,652 | $109,719,308 | $73,257,019 | 66 | $5,237 |
| 2020 | $20,254,293 | $82,761,821 | $67,496,579 | $26,349,750 | 37 | $3,122 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its mission is to use science and economics to cut global carbon emissions and secure a better future for all. Its policy priorities include scaling renewable energy, electrifying buildings and transportation, halting expansion of fossil-fuel infrastructure, reducing pollution from major industrial sources, and developing economy-wide emissions-reduction pathways.
In 2024, the foundation reported supporting organizations and institutions that advanced low-carbon policies through research, education, analysis, and outreach. Reported work included educating officials about policy options, advancing clean-vehicle and clean-power standards and economy-wide carbon goals, and developing policy ideas for local contexts. The foundation describes its approach as science-driven and solutions-oriented, and says it supports strong, credible local groups and sometimes works through regranting partners.
Its grantees include organizations with varied missions. For example, Vote Solar says it works toward a 100% clean-energy transition centered on people’s interests, health, and well-being. Earthjustice describes itself as an environmental law organization that uses law and partnership to protect health, advance clean energy, and combat climate change. The Partnership Project says it works to improve the effectiveness of environmental organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 96 grants totaling $161,545,113. Grant amounts ranged from $75,000 to $29,750,000, with a median grant of $500,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $29,750,000 to Energy Foundation China, $23,050,000 to Sierra Club Foundation, $15,167,150 to US Energy Foundation, $7,875,000 to the Natural Resources Defense Council, and $7,640,000 to Rocky Mountain Institute. Each was listed for environmental protection. Other notable grants included $4,146,268 to Tides Foundation, $3,475,000 to Rockefeller Family Fund, $3,350,000 to Building Decarbonization Coalition, $3,175,000 to Environmental Defense Fund, and $3,000,000 each to the Partnership Project and Vote Solar.
The foundation says grant agreements require funds to be used for the charitable purposes described in the grantee’s proposal and require unused funds to be returned. Grantees submit final reports of activities and expenditures; staff monitor projects through communications and interim updates and review final reports at grant conclusion.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John Doerr as chair. Directors listed are Anita Bekenstein, Sanjeev Krishnan, Greg Nelson, and George Pavlov. Hal Harvey is listed as president through December 2024; Sonia Aggarwal as vice president; and Christina Fernandes as secretary/treasurer.
Climate Imperative Foundation is led by Hal Harvey, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Hal Harvey
President
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Doerr
Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anita Bekenstein
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Pavlov
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sanjeev Krishnan
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Nelson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Fernandes
Secretary & Treasurer
Treasurer & Secretary → Treasurer, Secretary & CFO, 2021
Treasurer, Secretary & CFO → Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
14 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sonia Aggarwal
Vice President
On filings since 2023
23 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Laurene Powell Jobs (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Sam Walton (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Ross Jensen (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ryan Panchadsaram (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Climate Imperative Foundation
How much does Climate Imperative Foundation give each year?
Climate Imperative Foundation gave $161.5M across 96 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $177.0M across 109 grants.
What is Climate Imperative Foundation's typical grant size?
Climate Imperative Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $500,000, and its average grant was $1,682,762, across 96 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Climate Imperative Foundation that year got $2M on average.
Where does Climate Imperative Foundation give grants?
Climate Imperative Foundation gives mostly in California: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (14%) and New York (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (27 grants), New York, NY (9 grants), San Francisco, CA (5 grants) and Oakland, CA (5 grants).
Does Climate Imperative Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 96 grants with a stated purpose on Climate Imperative Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Environmental Protection" (96 grants).
Who are Climate Imperative Foundation's largest grantees?
Climate Imperative Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Energy Foundation China (EFC) ($29,750,000), Sierra Club Foundation ($23,050,000) and US Energy Foundation ($15,167,150), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($300,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Climate Imperative Foundation?
Climate Imperative Foundation reported $109.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $271.7M.
What does Climate Imperative Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its mission is to use science and economics to cut global carbon emissions and secure a better future for all. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Climate Imperative Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Climate Imperative Foundation's EIN?
Climate Imperative Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-5024713. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Climate Imperative Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Climate Imperative Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Climate Imperative Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/climate-imperative-foundation-morg_0b63231bb0404367af01ff515a2e9011
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_845024713_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Climate Imperative Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/climate-imperative-foundation-morg_0b63231bb0404367af01ff515a2e9011},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Climate Imperative Foundation'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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