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    Sunrise Project

    ActivePublic CharityEnvironment
    WILMINGTON, DEWebsiteEIN: 87-23700833 filings on record

    About Sunrise Project

    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.

    Focus Areas

    Climate change / climate justiceRenewable energy transitionFossil fuel phase-out (coal, gas)Shifting finance (banks, investors, insurance, bonds, private equity)Policy and financial regulation (central banks)Movement building and organisingCommunity grants and grassroots capacity

    Who They Fund

    not specified

    Funding Style

    general/unrestricted core supportoperating/core support (non-project-specific)

    About Sunrise Project

    The Sunrise Project Inc regrants roughly two-thirds of the funds it raises, directing money to other NGOs and community groups that work to speed the transition away from fossil fuels. That strategic model is a defining feature of the funder: it operates as a public charity and a regular funder, but much of its grantmaking is coordinated through programmatic partnerships rather than an open application process. Recent support shows a strong blend of climate movement work and finance-sector pressure. The largest grant in the recent list went to Potential Energy Coalition Inc for general support, and Democracy Forward Foundation also received a large general-support grant. The portfolio includes repeated support for organizations such as Sierra Club Foundation, Ceres Inc, Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, and Public Citizen Foundation Inc, which points to ongoing backing for groups working on climate advocacy, financial regulation, and related policy work. The foundation’s active programs also show a split between global regranting and Australia-specific work, including an open small-grants program for community groups in Australia. Across the recent grants, the common thread is general operating support for organizations positioned to shift finance, build movements, and accelerate the fossil-fuel phaseout.

    What Sunrise Project Funds

    A major part of The Sunrise Project Inc’s giving supports finance-sector change. In that area, it gave $800,000 to Ceres Inc for general support and $400,000 to Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis Inc for general support, both aligned with work on investors, banks, and financial institutions. The foundation also funds policy and accountability groups: Public Citizen Foundation Inc received $580,000 in 2025 and $550,000 in 2024 for general support, while Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund received $600,000 in 2024 and $500,000 in 2025. Movement-building is another clear strand. It gave $1,000,000 to Majority Action for general support and $470,000 to New York Communities for Change Inc for general support. The grant list also includes climate advocacy and research-oriented organizations such as As You Sow, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, and Global 2050 Inc, all funded at the general-support level.

    How Sunrise Project Gives

    Typical grant size is $120,000 at the 25th percentile, $200,000 at the median, and $450,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list shows repeated support for several recipients across multiple years, including Sierra Club Foundation, Ceres Inc, Democracy Forward Foundation, Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, Public Citizen Foundation Inc, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis Inc, Georgetown University, and Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. That pattern fits its strategic regranting model: The Sunrise Project Inc raises funds and regrants roughly two-thirds to other NGOs and community groups. It is a public charity and a regular funder, with no program-related investments and no individual giving. Funding is usually coordinated strategically rather than through unsolicited public applications, though the Australian Peter Gray Community Action Fund accepts unsolicited applications.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $34.4M

    Total Assets

    $14M

    Total Revenue

    $61.1M

    Total Expenses

    $51.7M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $120K and $450K, with a median of $200K.

    25th Percentile

    $120K

    Median

    $200K

    75th Percentile

    $450K

    Geographic Reach

    National15 states funded

    About 0% of grants go to recipients in CA.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

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    organizational sustainability/core funding

    Topics

    no programmatic focus specifiednon-project-specific/general operating expensescapacity preservation for grantee organizations

    Where Sunrise Project Makes Grants

    The Sunrise Project Inc gives nationally, and every grant in the recipient list goes to U.S. organizations. California appears as the top state by grant count, with recipient cities including Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and Richmond. New York is another major recipient hub, with grants to organizations in New York City and Brooklyn. Washington, DC also appears frequently, including multiple grants to policy and advocacy groups there. Outside the U.S. scope, the active programs reference global and Australia-focused work, but the recent grant recipients shown here are all in the United States.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Sunrise Project

    What kinds of organizations does The Sunrise Project Inc fund?

    It funds NGOs and community groups working on climate justice, movement building, renewable energy transition, fossil-fuel phaseout, and efforts to shift finance away from fossil fuels. Recent grants also support policy and financial-regulation work, including banks, investors, insurers, and central banks.

    What is the typical grant size?

    The typical grant size is $120,000 at the 25th percentile, $200,000 at the median, and $450,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes larger general-support awards, including seven-figure grants.

    Does The Sunrise Project Inc accept unsolicited applications?

    Usually no. Its strategic regranting programs are coordinated with funders and grantees rather than through an open public application process. The exception in the active-program list is the Peter Gray Community Action Fund in Australia, which accepts unsolicited applications.

    Are grants concentrated in a particular geography?

    Yes. The foundation gives nationally, and California is the top state by grant count. The recent recipient list also shows frequent grants to organizations in New York, Washington, DC, and several California cities.

    Do grantees receive support more than once?

    Yes. Several organizations appear more than once in the recent grants list, including Sierra Club Foundation, Ceres Inc, Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, Public Citizen Foundation Inc, Democracy Forward Foundation, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis Inc, Georgetown University, and Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2025

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

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    POTENTIAL ENERGY COALITION INCNEW YORK, NY$2,500,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    SUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATIONNEW YORK, NY$1,070,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    CERES INCBOSTON, MA$800,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATIONOAKLAND, CA$640,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    PUBLIC CITIZEN FOUNDATION INCWASHINGTON, DC$580,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    AMERICANS FOR FINANCIAL REFORM EDUCATION FUNDWASHINGTON, DC$500,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY ECONOMICS AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS INCLAKEWOOD, OH$400,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    ACCE INSTITUTELOS ANGELES, CA$380,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITYWASHINGTON, DC$375,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    INTERFAITH CENTER ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITYNEW YORK, NY$375,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    NEW YORK COMMUNITIES ORGANIZING FUND INCBROOKLYN, NY$360,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATIONWASHINGTON, DC$350,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    GLOBAL 2050 INCOLD LYME, CT$320,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    SOCIAL GOOD FUND INCRICHMOND, CA$315,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGECAMBRIDGE, MA$305,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORKSAN FRANCISCO, CA$300,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    EARTHWORKSWASHINGTON, DC$300,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    TIDES CENTERSAN FRANCISCO, CA$290,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    PEOPLE'S ACTION INSTITUTECHICAGO, IL$280,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    AMERICA'S FUTURE PROJECTMESA, AZ$270,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    STANDSAN FRANCISCO, CA$250,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    CLIMATE CABINET ACTIONSAN FRANCISCO, CA$250,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    AS YOU SOWBERKELEY, CA$250,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    EVERGREEN COLLABORATIVEWASHINGTON, DC$250,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    OIL CHANGE INTERNATIONALWASHINGTON, DC$236,5002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR PROJECT SERVICESNEW YORK, NY$236,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    VOICES FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE INCTAKOMA PARK, MD$200,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    CENTERLINE LIBERTIES INCWASHINGTON, DC$200,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    MIGHTY EARTH INCWASHINGTON, DC$200,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    CALSTART INCPASADENA, CA$200,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    NEW YORK UNIVERSITYNEW YORK, NY$200,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    THE SOCIAL INVESTMENT FORUM FOUNDATION INCWASHINGTON, DC$200,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    EARTH QUAKER ACTION TEAMPHILADELPHIA, PA$200,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    TRAINING FOR CHANGEPHILADELPHIA, PA$180,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF LELAND STANFORD JR UNIVERSITYREDWOOD CITY, CA$175,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    THE HACK FOUNDATIONWEST HOLLYWOOD, CA$155,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORKNEW YORK, NY$150,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    CARBON TRACKER INITIATIVE INCNEW YORK, NY$150,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    THIRD ACT INITIATIVE INCNASSAU, NY$150,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    THE CLIMATE GROUP INCNEW YORK, NY$150,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    CLIMATE FINANCE ACTIONBOSTON, MA$150,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    FAIR SHOT TEXASAUSTIN, TX$150,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    FRIENDS OF THE EARTH USWASHINGTON, DC$145,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    THE GOOD NATION FOUNDATION INCNEW YORK, NY$125,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    VIRGINIA NEW MAJORITY EDUCATION FUNDALEXANDRIA, VA$125,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCNEW YORK, NY$125,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    NEW YORK COMMUNITIES FOR CHANGE INCNEW YORK, NY$120,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    A STRONG ECONOMY FOR ALL COALITIONNEW YORK, NY$110,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    THIRTY PERCENT COALITIONFORT WASHINGTON, PA$100,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    CONGREGATIONS CARING FOR CREATIONMINNEAPOLIS, MN$100,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT

    POTENTIAL ENERGY COALITION INC

    $2,500,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    SUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION

    $1,070,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    CERES INC

    $800,000
    BOSTON, MA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION

    $640,000
    OAKLAND, CA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    PUBLIC CITIZEN FOUNDATION INC

    $580,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    AMERICANS FOR FINANCIAL REFORM EDUCATION FUND

    $500,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY ECONOMICS AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS INC

    $400,000
    LAKEWOOD, OH2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    ACCE INSTITUTE

    $380,000
    LOS ANGELES, CA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

    $375,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    INTERFAITH CENTER ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

    $375,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    NEW YORK COMMUNITIES ORGANIZING FUND INC

    $360,000
    BROOKLYN, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    DEMOCRACY FORWARD FOUNDATION

    $350,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    GLOBAL 2050 INC

    $320,000
    OLD LYME, CT2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    SOCIAL GOOD FUND INC

    $315,000
    RICHMOND, CA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE

    $305,000
    CAMBRIDGE, MA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK

    $300,000
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    EARTHWORKS

    $300,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    TIDES CENTER

    $290,000
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    PEOPLE'S ACTION INSTITUTE

    $280,000
    CHICAGO, IL2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    AMERICA'S FUTURE PROJECT

    $270,000
    MESA, AZ2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    STAND

    $250,000
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    CLIMATE CABINET ACTION

    $250,000
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    AS YOU SOW

    $250,000
    BERKELEY, CA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    EVERGREEN COLLABORATIVE

    $250,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    OIL CHANGE INTERNATIONAL

    $236,500
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR PROJECT SERVICES

    $236,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    VOICES FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE INC

    $200,000
    TAKOMA PARK, MD2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    CENTERLINE LIBERTIES INC

    $200,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    MIGHTY EARTH INC

    $200,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    CALSTART INC

    $200,000
    PASADENA, CA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

    $200,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    THE SOCIAL INVESTMENT FORUM FOUNDATION INC

    $200,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    EARTH QUAKER ACTION TEAM

    $200,000
    PHILADELPHIA, PA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    TRAINING FOR CHANGE

    $180,000
    PHILADELPHIA, PA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF LELAND STANFORD JR UNIVERSITY

    $175,000
    REDWOOD CITY, CA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    THE HACK FOUNDATION

    $155,000
    WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

    $150,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    CARBON TRACKER INITIATIVE INC

    $150,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    THIRD ACT INITIATIVE INC

    $150,000
    NASSAU, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    THE CLIMATE GROUP INC

    $150,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    CLIMATE FINANCE ACTION

    $150,000
    BOSTON, MA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    FAIR SHOT TEXAS

    $150,000
    AUSTIN, TX2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    FRIENDS OF THE EARTH US

    $145,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    THE GOOD NATION FOUNDATION INC

    $125,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    VIRGINIA NEW MAJORITY EDUCATION FUND

    $125,000
    ALEXANDRIA, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INC

    $125,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    NEW YORK COMMUNITIES FOR CHANGE INC

    $120,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    A STRONG ECONOMY FOR ALL COALITION

    $110,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    THIRTY PERCENT COALITION

    $100,000
    FORT WASHINGTON, PA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    CONGREGATIONS CARING FOR CREATION

    $100,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    Open Grant Opportunities

    Current and upcoming funding from Sunrise Project that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.

    Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: $0 – $10K

    Peter Gray Community Action Fund (Australian small grants program)

    climate actionrenewable energyfossil fuels phaseout+2 more

    Who can apply: Not-for-profit organisations with a purpose consistent with The Sunrise Project's purpose; in most cases income tax exempt non-profits are preferred, though exceptions may apply. DGR status is not required. The proposal should fit the program priorities and aim to drive the shift to renewable energy or keep fossil fuels in the ground, build the capacity of community groups, support small groups without other funding options, and demonstrate a clear strategy for real-world outcomes.

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    Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.