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Not to be confused with Climateworks Centre.

ClimateWorks Foundation is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization founded in 2008.[1] ClimateWorks Foundation’s mission is to slow global warming by funding other organizations internationally to help find best practice solutions to cut down on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.[1]

In 2016 the nonprofit was listed as one of the Top 100 Largest U.S. Charities by Forbes Magazine.[2] The ClimateWorks Foundation is part of the Partner Circle of the Foundations Platform F20, an international network of foundations and philanthropic organizations.[3]

History

Founding and early years

ClimateWorks Foundation was founded in 2008 by the Hewlett Foundation, McKnight Foundation, and Packard Foundation. The three organizations collectively pledged $1 billion over the following five years to combat climate change, focusing on reducing carbon emissions.[4] These founders had financed a report called “Design to Win” that laid out an approach for reducing 30 gigatons of annual heat emissions by the year 2030.[5] The foundation, led by CEO Hal Harvey at the time, based its initial strategy on this 2007 report.[4][5]

In 2010, the foundation created the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a funding group that supports efforts related to forest conservation and land use.[6]

In 2012, Charlotte Pera became the foundation’s president and CEO. The organization shifted its approach to supporting multinational initiatives and created programs in areas such as carbon dioxide removal, cooling, and road transportation.[4] The organization also provided resources for donors such as funder learning communities.[4] In 2016 the nonprofit was listed in Forbes Magazine as one of the 100 largest U.S. charities.[7]

Since 2020

Around 2020, the foundation began to focus more on people and the impact of climate change.[4][8] It continued to provide funds to grantees and support for funders.[8]

In the early 2020s, the organization was criticized for its “technocratic” and “rigid” approach that focused on major advocacy work rather than supporting grassroots organizations and smaller-scale initiatives that can benefit communities.[8][4] Critics argued that the organization often gave to the same large organizations and didn’t provide enough support to smaller community-based organizations.[8][4] According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, ClimateWorks had begun to change its approach and incorporate more support for grassroots organizations and efforts as of 2022.[8] Also in 2022, Inside Philanthropy noted that the foundation had increased decentralized grantmaking for community impact in response to critiques.[9]

During this period the foundation established the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program,[4] later known as the Clean Cooling Collaborative.[10] The joint-action fund aims to reduce the use of refrigerants and supports changes to help people access cooling.[4] In 2021, the foundation launched the Drive Electric Campaign, an initiative aimed at broader adoption of electric vehicles.[8]

The organization appointed Chris DeCardy as interim CEO in 2021, who was then succeeded by Helen Mountford as CEO in January 2022.[8]

In late 2023 and early 2024, the foundation was part of two groups of funders that signed calls to action to commit more funding for climate change adaptation.[11]

Organization

ClimateWorks is a non-profit foundation[12] which provides global climate change grants.[13] As of 2020, work supported by the foundation’s grants was split as approximately 56% global, 12% within the United States, and 32% in other countries.[14]

The organization is led by Helen Mountford, who became the foundation’s president and chief executive officer in 2022.[15] Past leadership has included Hal Harvey,[16] Charlotte Pera,[17] and Chris DeCardy.[18]

Donors and grantees

The foundation’s donors have included the Hewlett Foundation, the Packard Foundation, and the McKnight Foundation, which were its initial funders[18] and the largest donors as of 2009, the year following ClimateWorks’ founding.[16] Other donors have included Bloomberg Philanthropies,[19] the Bezos Earth Fund, the Ford Foundation,[12] the Oak Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation.[14]

The organization’s grantees include regional non-profits such as the African Climate Foundation,[12] the European Climate Foundation,[14] Instituto Clima e Sociedade in Brazil[20] and ViriyaENB in Indonesia.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b Paddock, Richard C. (December 5, 2009). “ClimateWorks Is Carrying Out New Global Strategy”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  2. ^ “ClimateWorks Foundation on the Forbes The 100 Largest U.S. Charities List”. Forbes. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  3. ^ “F20 – For a transformation that leaves no one behind – F20 – For a transformation that leaves no one behind”. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kavate, Michael (August 5, 2020). “Once the “800-Pound Gorilla,” ClimateWorks Charts a New Course in a Changing Field”. Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  5. ^ a b Paddock, Richard C. (December 5, 2009). “ClimateWorks Is Carrying Out New Global Strategy”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  6. ^ Kavate, Michael (June 25, 2024). “A Look at Eight Major Conservation Regrantors Based in the Global North”. Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  7. ^ “The Largest U.S. Charities For 2016”. Forbes. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Rendon, Jim (March 8, 2022). “How Can Philanthropy Curb Climate Change?”. The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  9. ^ Kavate, Michael (August 11, 2022). “Inside a Campaign to Move $1 Billion Toward Electrifying Global Transportation”. Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  10. ^ Dickle, Gloria (October 19, 2023). “Exclusive: Countries asked to slash cooling emissions by 68% by 2050”. Reuters. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  11. ^ Musaddique, Shafi (February 27, 2024). “Twenty major foundations sign climate adaptation commitment”. Alliance. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  12. ^ a b c “The ecosystem of climate philanthropy”. Alliance Magazine. June 1, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  13. ^ “Funder Profile: ClimateWorks Foundation”. Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  14. ^ a b c Kavate, Michael (August 5, 2020). “Once the “800-Pound Gorilla,” ClimateWorks Charts a New Course in a Changing Field”. Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  15. ^ Kavate, Michael (April 12, 2022). “Seven Questions with Helen Mountford, President and CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation”. Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  16. ^ a b Paddock, Richard C. (December 5, 2009). “ClimateWorks Is Carrying Out New Global Strategy”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  17. ^ Long, Katherine Anne (April 13, 2021). “Bezos Earth Fund’s first two named execs nabbed from groups getting big grants from the charity”. Seattle Times. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  18. ^ a b Rendon, Jim (March 8, 2022). “How Can Philanthropy Curb Climate Change?”. The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  19. ^ Astor, Maggie (May 17, 2022). “Michael Bloomberg Plans a $242 Million Investment in Clean Energy”. The New York Times. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  20. ^ Kavate, Michael (April 24, 2024). “A Year and a Half After Its Founder’s Passing, Robertson’s Green Program Looks Abroad”. Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  21. ^ Suparman, Sheena (August 3, 2023). “The race toward net zero: ViriyaENB announces first round of partnerships”. The Jakarta Post. Retrieved March 17, 2026.