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    Climate Imperative Foundation

    ActiveEnvironment
    San Francisco, CAWebsite4157992162

    About Climate Imperative Foundation

    Climate Imperative Foundation provides funding, technical support, and expertise to inform the most important climate policy decisions in major-emitting countries around the world, with a focus on near-term policy decisions that rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while advancing equity, public health, and environmental benefits.

    Focus Areas

    renewable energybuilding electrificationtransportation (zero-emission vehicles, rail)industrial decarbonizationpower sector / electricityaviation (lower-emission aviation solutions)clean heatair quality and public healthinternational policy engagement (EU, major-emitting countries)

    Who They Fund

    households/residents (healthy homes focus)U.S. federal and state policymakers and agencies

    About Climate Imperative Foundation

    Climate Imperative Foundation’s largest recent grants show a policy shop built around near-term climate decisions: $29,750,000 to Energy Foundation China and $27,000,000 to The Energy Foundation. Those awards sit alongside repeated funding for organizations working on transportation, homes, industrial decarbonization, and clean power, often with research, education, outreach, and technical support as the stated purpose. The foundation also backs efforts tied to clean air, public health, and equity through climate policy work. Its recent giving points to a strategy that combines major grants with a small set of familiar intermediaries and advocacy organizations. Sierra Club Foundation received $25,550,000 for clean and healthy homes and $23,050,000 for environmental protection, while United States Energy Foundation and US Energy Foundation appear multiple times for climate and energy-system work. The foundation’s grants also reach groups such as Rocky Mountain Institute, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Tides Foundation. Across the record on file, Climate Imperative Foundation funds work aimed at shifting policy in major-emitting countries and at the U.S. state and national level, with recurring emphasis on transportation, buildings, and the power sector.

    What Climate Imperative Foundation Funds

    Clean and healthy homes are a consistent theme in the recent record. Climate Imperative Foundation gave $25,550,000 to Sierra Club Foundation for research, education and outreach about clean and healthy homes, and $19,573,080 to United States Energy Foundation for the same area. It also supported Rocky Mountain Institute with $13,750,500 for research, education and outreach about clean and healthy homes. Transportation is another major line of work. The foundation awarded $23,327,000 to The Energy Foundation for decarbonizing China’s transportation sector and zero-emissions road transport in China, and $4,850,000 to The Partnership Project for clean transportation policies. International Sustainable Energy Foundation received $3,400,000 for clean transportation policies. Industrial and energy-system work appears as well. Natural Resources Defense Council received $7,439,000 for clean industrial practices, and Rocky Mountain Institute received $4,105,000 for clean industrial practices and solid waste management. The foundation also funded Clasp with $3,000,000 for clean lighting.

    How Climate Imperative Foundation Gives

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $161.5M

    Total Assets

    $109.6M

    Total Revenue

    $271.7M

    Total Expenses

    $356.9M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $210K and $1M, with a median of $426K.

    25th Percentile

    $210K

    Median

    $426K

    75th Percentile

    $1M

    Geographic Reach

    National28 states funded

    About 25% of grants go to recipients in MN.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

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    Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSystem Status
    EIN (Tax ID): 84-5024713Latest Form 990: 2025Total assets: $109.6M4 filings on recordFind their full 990 filing →
    See If You're a Fit — FreeFree account · instant fit score · similar funders
    China national and subnational transportation and power-sector stakeholders
    industrial sectors and manufacturers (strategic US industries)
    urban communities / cities (clean cities and transport focus)

    Funding Style

    research and analysiseducation and public outreachpolicy advocacy and legal supporttechnical assistance / capacity buildingsystems-change / decarbonization initiatives

    Topics

    clean and healthy homes (indoor air, home energy decarbonization)clean and healthy transportation / zero-emissions road transportpower-sector decarbonization (early peaking, China power sector)transitioning from coal and fossil fuels to clean energyclean industrial practices and industrial decarbonization (including reshoring incentives)clean air policies and regulatory strengtheningclimate-friendly solid waste management and clean lighting

    Typical grants fall at a median of $425,500, with a p25 of $210,000 and a p75 of $1,000,000. The recent record includes both very large strategic awards and a long tail of mid-sized grants, suggesting a mix of anchor funding and targeted project support. The grant list shows repeat recipients across multiple years, including The Energy Foundation, Sierra Club Foundation, United States Energy Foundation, Rocky Mountain Institute, and Natural Resources Defense Council. Climate Imperative Foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. The recent grants also show purpose-driven awards, often framed as research, education, outreach, analysis, or technical support.

    Where Climate Imperative Foundation Makes Grants

    Grant recipients are all in the United States in the recent file, with 350 grants to U.S. organizations. The foundation gives most often in Minnesota by grant count, even though many of the largest awards go to organizations in California, New York, Washington, DC, Colorado, and Delaware. San Francisco appears repeatedly among recipient locations, including Energy Foundation China, The Energy Foundation, United States Energy Foundation, US Energy Foundation, Tides Foundation, and International Sustainable Energy Foundation. Oakland, New York, Boulder, Washington, DC, and Lewes also appear among recipient cities.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Climate Imperative Foundation

    What kinds of climate work does Climate Imperative Foundation support?

    Its recent grants support clean and healthy homes, clean transportation, industrial decarbonization, clean lighting, clean air policies, and power-sector and international climate policy work. The stated purposes repeatedly mention research, education, outreach, analysis, technical support, and policy work.

    Who are some of the recurring grantees?

    Repeated recipients in the recent record include The Energy Foundation, Sierra Club Foundation, United States Energy Foundation, Rocky Mountain Institute, and Natural Resources Defense Council. Several of these organizations appear in multiple years and for different climate-policy purposes.

    What is the typical grant size?

    The typical grant size is $425,500 at the median. The middle range runs from $210,000 at the 25th percentile to $1,000,000 at the 75th percentile, showing a pattern of sizable project and program grants.

    Where does Climate Imperative Foundation give most often?

    By grant count, Minnesota is the top state in the recent data. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 350 grants going to organizations in the United States.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2025

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    ENERGY FOUNDATION CHINA (EFC)SAN FRANCISCO, CA$29,750,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATIONOAKLAND, CA$23,050,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    US ENERGY FOUNDATIONSAN FRANCISCO, CA$15,167,1502025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL (NRDC)NEW YORK, NY$7,875,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE (RMI)BOULDER, CO$7,640,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    TIDES FOUNDATIONSAN FRANCISCO, CA$4,146,2682025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    ROCKEFELLER FAMILY FUND INCNEW YORK, NY$3,475,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    BUILDING DECARBONIZATION COALITION (BDC)LEWES, DE$3,350,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUNDNEW YORK, NY$3,175,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    ENERGY AND CLIMATE TRANSITIONS AI LLCBERKELEY, CA$3,127,9322025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    VOTE SOLAROAKLAND, CA$3,000,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTWASHINGTON, DC$3,000,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    EARTHJUSTICESAN FRANCISCO, CA$2,680,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    EVERGREEN COLLABORATIVEWASHINGTON, DC$2,400,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    CLIMATE STRATEGIES LAB (INDUSTRIOUS LABS)CINCINNATI, OH$2,356,7502025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY PROJECTWASHINGTON, DC$1,976,3402025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND (LCVEF)WASHINGTON, DC$1,700,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOUNDATION (ISEF)AUSTIN, TX$1,700,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    SUNSTONE STRATEGIES LLCOAKLAND, CA$1,660,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    BERKELEY LAB FOUNDATION CO INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENTOAKLAND, CA$1,655,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    SECURING AMERICAS FUTURE ENERGY (SAFE) FOUNDATIONWASHINGTON, DC$1,652,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    WINDWARD FUNDWASHINGTON, DC$1,435,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE ALLEGHENIESJOHNSTOWN, PA$1,300,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTERCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA$1,250,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON CLEAN TRANSPORTATION (ICCT)WASHINGTON, DC$1,147,3002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    ADVANCED ENERGY UNITED (ADVANCED ENERGY INSTITUTE)WASHINGTON, DC$1,100,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    CLIENTEARTH USA INCSANTA MONICA, CA$1,050,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    SUNRISE PROJECT INCWILMINGTON, DE$1,020,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    APPALACHIAN VOICESBOONE, NC$1,000,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    REGULATORY ASSISTANCE PROJECTMONTPELIER, VT$1,000,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESSWASHINGTON, DC$950,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION (ALA)CHICAGO, IL$950,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE (WRI)WASHINGTON, DC$950,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    CLEAN ENERGY BUYERS INSTITUTEWASHINGTON, DC$905,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    WE ACT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICENEW YORK, NY$900,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    GLOBAL ENERGY MONITORCOVINA, CA$800,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    US-CHINA GREEN ENERGY COUNCILSAN JOSE, CA$800,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    CLIMATE JOBS NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER (CJNRC)NEW YORK, NY$750,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    CLASPWASHINGTON, DC$750,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LOS ANGELES CHAPTERLOS ANGELES, CA$650,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    BLUEGREEN ALLIANCE FOUNDATIONMINNEAPOLIS, MN$641,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    CALSTARTPASADENA, CA$625,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATIONBOSTON, MA$607,2172025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    NEW ENERGY ECONOMICSWILMINGTON, NC$600,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    ASSOCIATION FOR ENERGY AFFORDABILITY (AEA)BRONX, NY$578,4202025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    CERES INCBOSTON, MA$535,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    IOWA ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL (IEC)DES MOINES, IA$500,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    ELECTRIFICATION COALITION FOUNDATIONWASHINGTON, DC$500,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    THE GREENLINING INSTITUTEOAKLAND, CA$500,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
    POTENTIAL ENERGYNEW YORK, NY$500,0002025ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    ENERGY FOUNDATION CHINA (EFC)

    $29,750,000
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION

    $23,050,000
    OAKLAND, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    US ENERGY FOUNDATION

    $15,167,150
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL (NRDC)

    $7,875,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE (RMI)

    $7,640,000
    BOULDER, CO2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    TIDES FOUNDATION

    $4,146,268
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    ROCKEFELLER FAMILY FUND INC

    $3,475,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    BUILDING DECARBONIZATION COALITION (BDC)

    $3,350,000
    LEWES, DE2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND

    $3,175,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    ENERGY AND CLIMATE TRANSITIONS AI LLC

    $3,127,932
    BERKELEY, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    VOTE SOLAR

    $3,000,000
    OAKLAND, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT

    $3,000,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    EARTHJUSTICE

    $2,680,000
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    EVERGREEN COLLABORATIVE

    $2,400,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    CLIMATE STRATEGIES LAB (INDUSTRIOUS LABS)

    $2,356,750
    CINCINNATI, OH2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY PROJECT

    $1,976,340
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND (LCVEF)

    $1,700,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOUNDATION (ISEF)

    $1,700,000
    AUSTIN, TX2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    SUNSTONE STRATEGIES LLC

    $1,660,000
    OAKLAND, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    BERKELEY LAB FOUNDATION CO INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

    $1,655,000
    OAKLAND, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    SECURING AMERICAS FUTURE ENERGY (SAFE) FOUNDATION

    $1,652,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    WINDWARD FUND

    $1,435,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE ALLEGHENIES

    $1,300,000
    JOHNSTOWN, PA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER

    $1,250,000
    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON CLEAN TRANSPORTATION (ICCT)

    $1,147,300
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    ADVANCED ENERGY UNITED (ADVANCED ENERGY INSTITUTE)

    $1,100,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    CLIENTEARTH USA INC

    $1,050,000
    SANTA MONICA, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    SUNRISE PROJECT INC

    $1,020,000
    WILMINGTON, DE2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    APPALACHIAN VOICES

    $1,000,000
    BOONE, NC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    REGULATORY ASSISTANCE PROJECT

    $1,000,000
    MONTPELIER, VT2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS

    $950,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION (ALA)

    $950,000
    CHICAGO, IL2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE (WRI)

    $950,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    CLEAN ENERGY BUYERS INSTITUTE

    $905,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    WE ACT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

    $900,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    GLOBAL ENERGY MONITOR

    $800,000
    COVINA, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    US-CHINA GREEN ENERGY COUNCIL

    $800,000
    SAN JOSE, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    CLIMATE JOBS NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER (CJNRC)

    $750,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    CLASP

    $750,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LOS ANGELES CHAPTER

    $650,000
    LOS ANGELES, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    BLUEGREEN ALLIANCE FOUNDATION

    $641,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    CALSTART

    $625,000
    PASADENA, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION

    $607,217
    BOSTON, MA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    NEW ENERGY ECONOMICS

    $600,000
    WILMINGTON, NC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    ASSOCIATION FOR ENERGY AFFORDABILITY (AEA)

    $578,420
    BRONX, NY2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    CERES INC

    $535,000
    BOSTON, MA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    IOWA ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL (IEC)

    $500,000
    DES MOINES, IA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    ELECTRIFICATION COALITION FOUNDATION

    $500,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE

    $500,000
    OAKLAND, CA2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    POTENTIAL ENERGY

    $500,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION