Sequoia Climate Foundation
Sequoia Climate Foundation is a private foundation based in Irvine, California. It supports organizations and coalitions working to reduce emissions, transform global markets, and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
Sequoia Climate Foundation at a glance
In short: Sequoia Climate Foundation gave $305.4M across 187 grants in 2024 (avg $1.6M), top state New York. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $305,365,925
- +18.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 187
- +9.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,632,973
- +8.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000,000
- Total assets
- $113,662,252
- +44.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (33 of 126, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (17% 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 Sequoia Climate Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2 Witherspoon, Irvine, CA 92604
Phone: (949) 328-1725
Website: https://sequoiaclimate.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sequoia Climate Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Stichting European Climate Foundation ($29.4M across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $139.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
559 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 277 grants of 559 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as advancing the transition to clean energy around the world, and says its grantees and partners are located globally. Its 2024 grants included recipients in multiple U.S. states and outside the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 187 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sequoia Climate Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 33 of 126 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1.4M; repeat grants $2.8M. How we count
Medians: $990K first-time, $1.3M repeat.
- 71% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 142% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $126.3M (2021) to $305.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 187 grants totaling $305.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc New York, NY | To support the educational activities of the energy transition | $17,900,000 |
| Stichting European Climate Foundation | To Provide General Operating Support | $15,000,000 |
| Tara Climate Ltd | To Provide General Operating Support | $12,500,000 |
| Climateworks Foundation San Francisco, CA | To support research and education to further climate finance efforts | $7,924,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc New York, NY | To support the educational activities with respect to climate diplomacy | $7,550,000 |
| United States Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | In support of climate policy planning to advance clean energy to foster public health | $7,500,000 |
| Climate Lead Inc San Francisco, CA | To Provide General Operating Support | $7,000,000 |
| Meliore Foundation (FUP) | To support education with respect to the clean energy transition | $6,800,000 |
| Meliore Foundation (FUP) | To Support Coordination on Communications Strategies | $6,000,000 |
| The Sunrise Project Australia Ltd | To support public health through clean energy and energy transition activities | $5,700,000 |
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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 | $113,662,252 | $367,685,730 | $332,324,266 | $305,365,925 | 187 | $331,780,072 | $10,185,043 | $12,241,578 |
| 2023 | $78,783,978 | $289,249,266 | $280,930,446 | $257,446,975 | 171 | $280,991,182 | $8,247,318 | $10,129,595 |
| 2022 | $67,199,037 | $206,954,377 | $188,205,353 | $173,701,944 | 137 | $187,447,436 | $953,282 | $8,351,530 |
| 2021 | $47,430,446 | $181,073,206 | $133,803,393 | $126,299,224 | 64 | — | $73,180 | $7,140,006 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sequoia Climate Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12.2M 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 foundation’s stated vision is “a world powered by clean energy, where all people are protected by policies that have averted the worst effects of climate change.” Its guiding principles are urgency, learning, global action, collaboration, and belonging.
Its grantmaking addresses climate change as a complex systems challenge. The foundation evaluates opportunities based on speed, scale, cost, and probability of success, and supports efforts including clean-energy transitions, climate policy, energy efficiency, climate finance, and public education.
Among its grantees, Climateworks Foundation describes its mission as connecting philanthropy, grantees, and strategic partners to deliver climate solutions. The United States Energy Foundation says its mission is to secure a clean and equitable energy future, while Climate Lead describes its work as helping philanthropic leaders take climate action and identify opportunities to fund climate solutions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 187 grants totaling $305,365,925. Grant amounts ranged from $50,000 to $17,900,000, with a median of $1,000,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $17,900,000 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors for educational activities related to the energy transition; $15,000,000 to Stichting European Climate Foundation for general operating support; $12,500,000 to Tara Climate Ltd for general operating support; $7,924,000 to Climateworks Foundation for research and education on climate finance; and $7,500,000 to United States Energy Foundation for climate-policy planning to advance clean energy and public health.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists C. Frederick Taylor as director and chair; Jennifer Reynoso as director and secretary; Christie Ulman as president; Gilbert Ching as treasurer and vice president of finance; Michelle Moersfelder as secretary and general counsel; and James Jenkin as treasurer and chief operating officer.
Sequoia Climate Foundation is led by Christie Ulman, President on every filing since 2021; 4 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christie Ulman
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$484K (2021) → $736K (2024)
C. Frederick Taylor
Director & Chair
Chair → Director & Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Reynoso
Director & Secretary
Secretary → Director & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gilbert Ching
Treasurer & Vice President of Finance
Treasurer, Director of Finance & Administrator → Treasurer & Vice President of Finance, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$289K (2022) → $170K (2024)
Michelle Moersfelder
Secretary & General Counsel
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$375K (2023) → $404K (2024)
James Jenkin
Treasurer & Chief Operating Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$419K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kenneth J. Slutsky (2021–2022) — Secretary & Treasurer to June
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 $736K, to Christie Ulman (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Sequoia Climate Foundation
How much does Sequoia Climate Foundation give each year?
Sequoia Climate Foundation gave $305.4M across 187 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $257.4M across 171 grants.
What is Sequoia Climate Foundation's typical grant size?
Sequoia Climate Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000,000, and its average grant was $1,632,973, across 187 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sequoia Climate Foundation that year got $1.4M on average.
Where does Sequoia Climate Foundation give grants?
Sequoia Climate Foundation's top state is New York, with 17% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (16%) and California (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (43 grants), New York, NY (23 grants), San Francisco, CA (12 grants) and Boulder, CO (7 grants).
Does Sequoia Climate Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 11% of Sequoia Climate Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 187) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "To Provide Research and Education Related to Climate Finance" (3 grants).
Who are Sequoia Climate Foundation's largest grantees?
Sequoia Climate Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Stichting European Climate Foundation ($29,365,000 across 6 grants), Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc ($27,385,000 across 6 grants) and Tara Climate Ltd ($13,500,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sequoia Climate Foundation?
Sequoia Climate Foundation reported $113.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $331.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $12.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sequoia Climate Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated vision is “a world powered by clean energy, where all people are protected by policies that have averted the worst effects of climate change.” Its guiding principles are urgency, learning, global action, collaboration, and belonging. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sequoia Climate Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sequoia Climate Foundation's EIN?
Sequoia Climate Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-4095972. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does Sequoia Climate 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 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sequoia Climate Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sequoia-climate-foundation-morg_d60209963edf488793c48d040d3e8cd1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_854095972_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sequoia Climate Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sequoia-climate-foundation-morg_d60209963edf488793c48d040d3e8cd1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Sequoia Climate 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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