Growald Climate Fund Inc
Growald Climate Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Brookline, Massachusetts. It supports climate and environmental work, with a primary focus on transforming the electricity sector, through grantmaking, research, and convenings.
Growald Climate Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Growald Climate Fund Inc gave $28.0M across 170 grants in 2024 (avg $165K), top state California. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $28,015,246
- -0.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 170
- +28.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $164,796
- -23.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $40,968,618
- +79.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (47 of 148, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (14% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Growald Climate Fund Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 1 Harvard Street 202, Brookline, MA 02445-7923
Phone: (802) 238-8062
Website: https://growaldclimatefund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Growald Climate Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was European Climate Foundation ($4.0M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $15.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($193,679), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
678 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 434 grants of 678 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund says it supports clean-energy diplomacy and national transition efforts in key countries and states. In a 2020 statement, it described its then-current grantmaking as focused outside the United States. For 2024, reported grant dollars were distributed across recipient locations as follows: 14% to California, 13% to Washington, DC, 11% to New York, and 2% to Massachusetts; the filing data also lists 56% under “?” without identifying a location.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 170 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Growald Climate Fund Inc open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 47 of 148 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $246K; repeat grants $163K. How we count
Medians: $200K first-time, $1K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $6.7M (2020) to $28.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 170 grants totaling $28.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| European Climate Foundation | Project Support | $2,500,000 |
| Int'l Research & Exchanges Board (Irex) Washington, DC | Project Support | $1,217,000 |
| European Climate Foundation | Project Support | $1,000,000 |
| Sunrise Project Inc - US Brooklyn, NY | Project Support | $1,000,000 |
| The Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | Project Support | $1,000,000 |
| Agence Francaise De Developpement | Project Support | $800,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc New York, NY | Project Support | $760,000 |
| Int'l Research & Exchanges Board (Irex) Washington, DC | Project Support | $700,000 |
| Int'l Research & Exchanges Board (Irex) Washington, DC | Project Support | $608,495 |
| Climate 2025 | Project Support | $575,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Growald Climate Fund Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $40,968,618 | $29,285,365 | $33,477,306 | $28,015,246 | 170 | $35,067,953 | $3,482,706 |
| 2023 | $22,766,935 | $29,383,813 | $34,021,840 | $28,245,496 | 132 | $33,950,371 | $3,828,728 |
| 2022 | $22,528,651 | $1,341,181 | $19,307,602 | $15,115,752 | 127 | $18,908,412 | $5,137,243 |
| 2021 | $40,583,150 | $39,346,635 | $16,951,882 | $13,586,915 | 128 | $16,634,658 | $10,007,876 |
| 2020 | $11,962,826 | $6,443,289 | $8,820,125 | $6,698,953 | 121 | — | $386,847 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s stated aim is to promote “a vibrant, healthy, and balanced world in which all species thrive.” Its primary work focuses on climate, the environment, and educational efforts to strengthen social wellbeing.
The fund identifies four strategic pathways for climate action: energy policy and diplomacy, financial flows, national campaigns, and pollution. It says it supports diplomatic engagement on clean energy, analysis of fossil-fuel risks and clean-energy opportunities, national clean-energy transition efforts, and shifts to energy choices that reduce pollution.
Its work includes venture philanthropy, field innovation, organizational development, and collective impact. The fund says its venture philanthropy supports start-up and early-stage climate innovators, including leaders from communities that are traditionally underfunded. Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of supported work: The Energy Foundation describes its mission as pursuing greenhouse-gas neutrality, air quality, energy access, and green growth; the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy says it provides no-cost capacity-building support to Tribes; and Global Greengrants Fund says it supports grassroots environmental action and social justice through small grants.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund reported 170 grants totaling $28,015,246. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $2,500,000, with a median of $40,000. The largest listed grants included $2,500,000 and $1,000,000 to European Climate Foundation; $1,217,000 and $700,000 to the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX); and $1,000,000 each to Sunrise Project Inc – US and The Energy Foundation. These grants were listed as project support.
Other 2024 awards included $760,000 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc, $500,000 to the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, $500,000 to ClimateWorks Foundation, and $280,000 to Greening Youth Foundation. The fund states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Eileen Rockefeller Growald as director and president; Paul J Growald as director and vice president; Adam R Growald as director and treasurer; B Stephen Toben as director and secretary; and Joanna Messing as chief executive officer.
Growald Climate Fund Inc is led by Joanna Messing, Chief Executive Officer since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joanna Messing
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Director → CEO, 2022
CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
36 hrs/week
$212K (2020) → $317K (2024)
Eileen Rockefeller Growald
Director & President
President → Director & President, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam R. Growald
Director & Treasurer
Treasurer → Director & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul J. Growald
Director & Vice President
Vice President → Director & Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
B. Stephen Toben
Director & Secretary
Secretary → Director & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: B. Stephen Tobin (2020–2021) — Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $317K, to Joanna Messing (Chief Executive Officer).
Frequently asked questions about Growald Climate Fund Inc
How much does Growald Climate Fund Inc give each year?
Growald Climate Fund Inc gave $28.0M across 170 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $28.2M across 132 grants.
What is Growald Climate Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Growald Climate Fund Inc's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $164,796, across 170 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Growald Climate Fund Inc that year got $246K on average.
Where does Growald Climate Fund Inc give grants?
Growald Climate Fund Inc's top state is California, with 14% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (13%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Burlington, VT (13 grants), New York, NY (12 grants), Washington, DC (8 grants) and San Francisco, CA (8 grants).
Does Growald Climate Fund Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 48% of Growald Climate Fund Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (81 of 170) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Project Support" (53 grants) and "Core Support" (30 grants).
Who are Growald Climate Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Growald Climate Fund Inc's largest 2024 grantees include European Climate Foundation ($4,000,000 across 4 grants), Int'l Research & Exchanges Board (Irex) ($2,807,579 across 4 grants) and Climate 2025 ($2,175,000 across 6 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($193,679), which are not listed by name. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Growald Climate Fund Inc?
Growald Climate Fund Inc reported $41.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $29.3M.
What does Growald Climate Fund Inc fund?
The fund’s stated aim is to promote “a vibrant, healthy, and balanced world in which all species thrive.” Its primary work focuses on climate, the environment, and educational efforts to strengthen social wellbeing. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Growald Climate Fund Inc?
Growald Climate Fund Inc does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check growaldclimatefund.org for any change to that policy.
What is Growald Climate Fund Inc's EIN?
Growald Climate Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4209325. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Growald Climate Fund Inc 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Growald Climate Fund Inc 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 Growald Climate Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Growald Climate Fund Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/growald-climate-fund-inc-morg_f5142d6309854c02be4433f66e79ca58
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_464209325_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Growald Climate Fund Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/growald-climate-fund-inc-morg_f5142d6309854c02be4433f66e79ca58},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Growald Climate Fund Inc'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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