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
**
Ready to take the next step with The Sunrise Project Inc?
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Ttee Trustees of Univ of Mass - Art 5
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$380K
Grants
1
Total Given
$14K
The Jonsson Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$784K
Grants
3
Total Given
$15K
Engineering Information Foundation Inc
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
13
Total Given
$220K
The Cucci Family Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$579K
Grants
4
Total Given
$45K
Caroline K Barber Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
$257K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Give Back Brands Foundation
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
—
Grants
19
Total Given
$178K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Sunrise Project Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities