Sea Change Foundation
Sea Change Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working on clean energy, energy efficiency, and public education about climate and clean energy.
Sea Change Foundation at a glance
In short: Sea Change Foundation gave $37.4M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $4.2M), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $37,350,000
- -18.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -35.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,150,000
- +27.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000,000
- Total assets
- $208,518,596
- -7.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Sea Change Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: One Embarcadero Center 22Nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (415) 830-9330
Website: https://seachangefoundation.ie
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sea Change Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United States Energy Foundation ($25.9M across 3 grants). Together the top 7 received $37.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
95 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 44 grants of 95 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were California 83%, Washington, DC 8%, New York 8%, Minnesota 0%, and New Mexico 0%. The foundation also made grants to recipients in Minnesota and New Mexico; their reported shares round to 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Sea Change Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−16%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 375% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $37.4M (2024) to $46.6M (2022). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $37.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United States Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | Promote clean energy | $20,100,000 |
| Building Decarbonnization Coalition Petaluma, CA | Promote clean energy | $5,000,000 |
| United States Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | Promote clean energy | $3,750,000 |
| Partnership Project Inc Washington, DC | Educate public about climate and clean energy | $3,000,000 |
| Potential Energy Coalition Inc New York, NY | Educate public about climate and clean energy | $3,000,000 |
| United States Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | General support | $2,000,000 |
| Bluegreen Alliance Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Promote energy efficiency | $175,000 |
| 2030 Inc Santa Fe, NM | Promote energy efficiency | $175,000 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Oakland, CA | Promote energy efficiency | $150,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $208,518,596 | $19,095,869 | $38,799,779 | $37,350,000 | 9 | $38,471,216 | $21,500,550 | $10,259,959 |
| 2023 | $225,257,068 | $6,950,242 | $48,213,459 | $45,537,500 | 14 | $47,295,884 | $17,315,304 | $11,338,770 |
| 2022 | $229,495,527 | $15,143,863 | $47,859,770 | $46,567,179 | 23 | $47,807,628 | $16,332,022 | $11,170,511 |
| 2021 | $294,480,176 | $10,552,554 | $45,884,034 | $44,400,000 | 20 | $45,256,750 | $14,569,524 | $14,413,378 |
| 2020 | $316,657,107 | $70,659,288 | $46,754,683 | $45,927,465 | 29 | — | $1,090,298 | $15,162,084 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sea Change Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for Sea Change Foundation. Its 2024 grants included support for clean energy, energy efficiency, and public education about climate and clean energy. Among its grantees, the United States Energy Foundation describes its mission as securing a clean and equitable energy future to tackle the climate crisis. Potential Energy Coalition says it uses communications strategies to educate the public on climate change and clean energy. Architecture 2030 describes its mission as transforming the built environment to help address the climate crisis.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Sea Change Foundation made 9 grants totaling $37,350,000. Grant amounts ranged from $150,000 to $20,100,000, with a median grant of $3,000,000. The largest grants included $20,100,000 and $3,750,000 to the United States Energy Foundation, $5,000,000 to the Building Decarbonization Coalition, and $3,000,000 each to Partnership Project Inc and Potential Energy Coalition Inc.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nathaniel Simons as president; Laura Baxter-Simons as CFO/secretary; Anjali Jaiswal as executive director; and Thomas Steinbach as former executive director.
Sea Change Foundation is led by Nathaniel Simons, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nathaniel Simons
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Anjali Jaiswal
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Laura Baxter-Simons
CFO & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Thomas Steinbach
Former Executive Director
Executive Director → Former Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Sea Change Foundation
How much does Sea Change Foundation give each year?
Sea Change Foundation gave $37.4M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $45.5M across 14 grants.
What is Sea Change Foundation's typical grant size?
Sea Change Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,000,000, and its average grant was $4,150,000, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sea Change Foundation give grants?
Sea Change Foundation gives mostly in California: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (8%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants).
Does Sea Change Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 11% of Sea Change Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Promote clean energy" (3 grants) and "Promote energy efficiency" (3 grants).
Who are Sea Change Foundation's largest grantees?
Sea Change Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include United States Energy Foundation ($25,850,000 across 3 grants), Building Decarbonnization Coalition ($5,000,000) and Partnership Project Inc ($3,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sea Change Foundation?
Sea Change Foundation reported $208.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $38.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sea Change Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for Sea Change Foundation. Its 2024 grants included support for clean energy, energy efficiency, and public education about climate and clean energy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sea Change Foundation?
The foundation 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 Sea Change Foundation's EIN?
Sea Change Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4952986. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Sea Change Foundation 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
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Figures come from Sea Change 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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