ClimateWorks Foundation is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2008, the organization functions as a catalyst for accelerating climate progress by connecting funders and implementing organizations worldwide to create and scale transformative climate solutions across sectors and geographies.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$533.1M
+13.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$96.3M
+7.9% YoY
Grant Count
140
-3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$688K
+11.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: ClimateWorks Foundation's mission is to connect philanthropy, grantees, and strategic partners to build and deliver high-impact climate solutions that benefit all people. The organization is driven by a vision of creating a thriving planet for all living beings for generations to come.
Primary Focus Areas: The foundation's grantmaking priorities include renewable energy, sustainable transportation, sustainable cooling, maritime shipping, carbon removal, and climate adaptation and resilience. The organization also supports climate-related research and analysis.
Grantmaking
Since 2008, ClimateWorks Foundation has granted over $2 billion to more than 850 grantees across 50 countries, working alongside 80 funders. The foundation has made over 1,500 grants since its inception.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ClimateWorks Foundation funds organizations globally across 50 countries. The foundation's grantmaking has particular concentration in the District of Columbia, California, and New York, though its reach extends internationally with grantees in over 40 countries.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $533,132,275
- Total Revenue: $350,641,228
- Total Expenses: $317,281,654
- Net Income: $33,359,574
- Total Liabilities: $91,800,000
- Total Giving: $229,765,915
Staffing: The foundation employs 189 staff members as of 2024.
Tax Status: ClimateWorks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity with tax-exempt status since February 2009. The organization files Form 990 annually with the Internal Revenue Service.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $533,132,275 | $470,889,781 | $503,138,297 |
| Revenue | $350,641,228 | $266,466,761 | $330,535,203 |
| Expenses | $317,281,654 | $264,000,632 | $355,547,001 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $15,852,277 | $10,285,663 | $2,717,407 |
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Environmental Defense Fund Inc ($4,182,129), Coal Swarm Dba Global Energy Monitor ($2,950,000), Calstart Inc ($1,950,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIONAID USA WASHINGTON, DC | TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT THE POTENTIAL OF FORESTED AND OTHER LANDSCAPES TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE | $75,000 |
| AMAZON CONSERVATION TEAM FALLS CHRUCH, VA | TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT THE POTENTIAL OF FORESTED AND OTHER LANDSCAPES TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE | $150,000 |
| AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR AN ENERGY EFFICIENT ECONOMY WASHINGTON, DC | TO EXPAND ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE COOLING AND REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ($425,268); TO PROTECT THE CLIMATE, REDUCE POLLUTION, AND STRENGTHEN ECONOMIES ($185,000) | $610,268 |
| AMERICAN INDIA FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT DECARBONIZATION EFFORTS | $165,000 |
| AMERICANS FOR FINANCIAL REFORM EDUCATION FUND WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT THE TRANSITION TO A SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL SYSTEM | $449,522 |
| BANK INFORMATION CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT THE POTENTIAL OF FORESTED AND OTHER LANDSCAPES TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE | $20,000 |
| BAY AREA COUNCIL FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT DECARBONIZATION EFFORTS AND THE TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGY IN CHINA | $250,000 |
| BUILDING DECARBONIZATION COALITION PETALUMA, CA | TO EXPAND ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE COOLING AND REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS | $152,754 |
| BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS RESOURCE CENTRE NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES IN BUILDING INCLUSIVE MODELS FOR CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION | $486,612 |
| C40 CITIES CLIMATE LEADERSHIP GROUP INC NEW YORK, NY | TO PROTECT THE CLIMATE, REDUCE POLLUTION, AND STRENGTHEN ECONOMIES ($400,000); TO SUPPORT THE GLOBAL TRANSITION TO CLEAN TRANSPORTATION ($1,350,000) | $1,750,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HELEN MOUNTFORD | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 40 | $622,909 |
| SHAWN REIFSTECK | MANAGING DIRECTOR | 40 | $493,190 |
| IRENE KIM | VP, PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS | 40 | $468,537 |
| CHARLES MCELWEE | VP, PROGRAMS | 40 | $455,221 |
| BRIAN MCCRACKEN | CFO, TREASURER | 40 | $432,962 |
| SURABI MENON | VP, GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE | 40 | $441,807 |
| MICHAEL BOSSE | DEPUTY VP, PROGRAMS | 40 | $399,581 |
| LINDSEY ALLEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CLUA | 40 | $383,661 |
| ANTHONY EGGERT | SENIOR DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION | 40 | $365,341 |
| JAN DERRICKSON | SR. DIRECTOR, CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL | 40 | $361,938 |
| NEGAR NARAGHI | SENIOR DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES | 40 | $327,084 |
| SHELAGH WHITLEY | SENIOR DIRECTOR, SUSTAINABLE FINANCE | 40 | $377,834 |
| REBECCA DELL | SENIOR DIRECTOR, INDUSTRY | 40 | $348,655 |
| MAKEEBA BROWNE | CHIEF OF EQUITY, JUSTICE AND CULTURE | 40 | $325,608 |
| GRETCHEN RAU | SECRETARY | 40 | $208,508 |
| FRANKLIN M ORR JR | BOARD CHAIR | 2 | — |
| NANCY LINDBORG | BOARD VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| JAMSHYD GODREJ | BOARD DIRECTOR (THRU 2/2024) | 2 | — |
| ARUNABHA GHOSH | BOARD DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| NAOKO ISHII | BOARD DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CAIO KOCH-WESER | BOARD DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CARLOS LOPES | BOARD DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KYUNG-AH PARK | BOARD DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KRISTIAN PARKER | BOARD DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JONATHAN PERSHING | BOARD DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ANTHA WILLIAMS | BOARD DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
ClimateWorks Foundation received the Stars of STEM award from the Museum of Science in Boston in 2023.
Adaptation and Resilience Fund - ClimateWorks FoundationThe foundation participated in launching a $50 million Adaptation and Resilience Fund for communities facing climate risks, representing collaborative philanthropic efforts to address climate adaptation.
Foundations Launch $50 Million Adaptation and Resilience Fund for CommunitiesFunding for climate adaptation and resilience reached a record of $870 million, reflecting increased philanthropic commitment to this area.
Foundations Launch $50 Million Adaptation and Resilience Fund for CommunitiesClimateWorks Foundation received a $40 million gift to accelerate zero-emission maritime shipping initiatives.
Foundations Launch $50 Million Adaptation and Resilience Fund for CommunitiesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Climateworks Foundation fund?
**Mission:** ClimateWorks Foundation's mission is to connect philanthropy, grantees, and strategic partners to build and deliver high-impact climate solutions that benefit all people. The organization is driven by a vision of creating a thriving planet for all living beings for generations to come. **Primary Focus Areas:** The foundation's grantmaking priorities include renewable energy, sustainable transportation, sustainable cooling, maritime shipping, carbon removal, and climate adaptation a…
How do I apply for a grant from Climateworks Foundation?
Since 2008, ClimateWorks Foundation has granted over $2 billion to more than 850 grantees across 50 countries, working alongside 80 funders. The foundation has made over 1,500 grants since its inception. **Grant Activity:** In 2024, the foundation made total grants of $229,765,915. Recent grant examples include: • Energy Foundation China: $12,759,098 (2024) for sustainable cooling, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, maritime shipping, clean transportation, and climate research • United States …
Where does Climateworks Foundation make grants?
ClimateWorks Foundation funds organizations globally across 50 countries. The foundation's grantmaking has particular concentration in the District of Columbia, California, and New York, though its reach extends internationally with grantees in over 40 countries.
What size grants does Climateworks Foundation award?
In 2024, Climateworks Foundation awarded 140 grants totaling $96.3M — an average of about $688K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Climateworks Foundation's EIN?
Climateworks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2303250. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Climateworks Foundation'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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