The Sunrise Project Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. Designated as a public charity, the organization operates as a global network of independent organizations united by a common mission focused on climate action and energy transition. The organization functions at the intersection of social movements and philanthropy, employing a "directed network" model that supports networks of people and organizations to work together toward large-scale systemic change.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.0M
+169.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$17.3M
+5.7% YoY
Grant Count
75
+47.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$231K
-28.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Driven by the imperative of climate justice, The Sunrise Project's mission is to scale social movements to drive the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy as fast as possible.
Primary Activities: The organization engages in six core functions:
- Analysis to understand the political, social, and economic systems driving the climate crisis
- Strategy design for multi-organization efforts that create systemic change
- Collaboration with philanthropy to resource these strategies
- Funding a diversity of organizations and supporting them to work together for collective impact
- Supporting organizations and movements to sharpen their strategies and build capacity to achieve real-world outcomes
- Driving strategic interventions that hasten the transition beyond fossil fuels
The organization takes a system-wide view of the causes of and solutions to the climate crisis, focusing on understanding power dynamics and how to influence decision-makers toward climate action.
Grantmaking
The Sunrise Project re-grants approximately two-thirds of the funds it raises to other non-government organizations and community groups in line with its charitable objectives.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization operates globally, with specific documented activity in Australia. The organization's headquarters is located in Wilmington, Delaware, with a mailing address at 800 N King Street, Suite 304, Wilmington, DE 19801.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $33.3 million
- Total Expenses: $36 million
- Total Assets: $5.2 million
- Total Liabilities: $2.75 million
Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-exempt since May 2022 (EIN: 87-2370083)
Filing Requirements: The organization is required to file IRS Form 990 annually.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,015,616 | $5,199,627 | $5,246,874 |
| Revenue | $61,111,981 | $33,276,881 | $9,846,280 |
| Expenses | $51,691,946 | $36,014,694 | $4,661,231 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $129,430 | $264,295 | $16,147 |
| 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
102 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Potential Energy Coalition Inc ($2,500,000), Ceres Inc ($800,000), Public Citizen Foundation Inc ($580,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 350 COLORADO BOULDER, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| A STRONG ECONOMY FOR ALL COALITION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $110,000 |
| ACCE INSTITUTE LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $380,000 |
| ACCELERATE CHANGE INC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| AMAZON WATCH OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $80,000 |
| AMERICA'S FUTURE PROJECT MESA, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $270,000 |
| AMERICANS FOR FINANCIAL REFORM EDUCATION FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| AS YOU SOW BERKELEY, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| AYNI INSTITUTE INC REVERE, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF LELAND STANFORD JR UNIVERSITY REDWOOD CITY, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $175,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Sam La Rocca
Staff Size: 58 employees (as of most recent data)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUDHA NANDAGOPAL | CHAIR | 4 | $30,000 |
| JOHN HEPBURN | TREASURER (THRU 6/2024) | 2 | — |
| LORENA GONZALEZ | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| DANNY KENNEDY | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 8/2024) | 2 | — |
| ANAY SHAH | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| PARIN SHAH | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| SAM LA ROCCA | BOARD MEMBER / EXEC DIRECTOR | 40 | $209,901 |
| JANE LI | GENERAL COUNSEL & COMPANY SECRETARY | 40 | $146,667 |
| MARIJKE VAN LIEMT | INTERIM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $125,161 |
| ANITA SCHWARTZ | MNG DIR OF DEVELOPMENT (THRU 5/2024) | 40 | $193,587 |
| AMANDA ROLL-PICKERING | PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $163,110 |
| ELAINE REGULLANO | RESEARCH DIRECTOR | 40 | $153,493 |
| UMME HOQUE | PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $147,838 |
| ADWOA AGYEMAN | NETWORK GRANTS DIRECTOR | 40 | $141,685 |
| DANIEL SUFRANSKI | FEDERAL POLICY STRATEGIST | 40 | $138,113 |
| DIANA BEST | PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $146,744 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The organization maintains an active presence and continues to expand its grantmaking and strategic initiatives. Contact information for inquiries is available at the organization's website, with a dedicated email address for organizations interested in collaboration opportunities.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sunrise Project Inc fund?
**Mission Statement:** Driven by the imperative of climate justice, The Sunrise Project's mission is to scale social movements to drive the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy as fast as possible. **Primary Activities:** The organization engages in six core functions: • Analysis to understand the political, social, and economic systems driving the climate crisis • Strategy design for multi-organization efforts that create systemic change • Collaboration with philanthropy to resourc…
How do I apply for a grant from The Sunrise Project Inc?
The Sunrise Project re-grants approximately two-thirds of the funds it raises to other non-government organizations and community groups in line with its charitable objectives. **Application Process:** The organization generally does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. However, it actively seeks good ideas and new collaborations. Organizations working on issues aligned with the organization's programs are encouraged to contact the organization directly to explore partnership opportunities. …
Where does The Sunrise Project Inc make grants?
The organization operates globally, with specific documented activity in Australia. The organization's headquarters is located in Wilmington, Delaware, with a mailing address at 800 N King Street, Suite 304, Wilmington, DE 19801.
What size grants does The Sunrise Project Inc award?
In 2024, The Sunrise Project Inc awarded 75 grants totaling $17.3M — an average of about $231K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Sunrise Project Inc's EIN?
The Sunrise Project Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2370083. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sunrise Project Inc'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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