Sea Change Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Sea Change Foundation funds climate mitigation work, with themes including clean energy policy, utility reform, business and finance, communications and public engagement, transportation and energy efficiency, prioritising the U.S. but also giving internationally, so a grant writer should only approach if their project sits squarely in one of these areas.
- Grants mostly run from $150,000 to $5,300,000, with a median of $1,300,000, so a modest request in that range is realistic rather than a very small or very large one.
- The foundation operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so organisations should not send in a proposal cold; only once invited can they use the CyberGrants site for Tempest Advisors.
- Giving is strongly relationship-led: 99% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the previous two years' filings, so this is not a foundation that is easy to break into as a brand-new applicant.
- Anyone not already invited, or working outside its stated themes and geographic priorities, is unlikely to be a good fit here.
Overview
Sea Change Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Francisco, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Sea Change Foundation funds organisations working to mitigate climate change by supporting private and public policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy in the United States and internationally. Its focus areas include utility reform, business and finance, communications and public engagement, transportation, and energy efficiency. It provides fewer and larger grants than most foundations with similar grant-making budgets, and aims to act nimbly through an efficient and effective grant-making process. It seeks opportunities to engage market forces and public policy, and to foster collaboration within the non-governmental organisation community and with other philanthropic funders. Its due diligence process manages risk, while it remains open to unproven approaches where significant impact is possible.
Themes
- Climate mitigation
- Clean energy policy
- Utility reform
- Business and finance
- Communications and public engagement
- Transportation
- Energy efficiency
Geographic Focus
Priority: U.S.; internationally.
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Prospective grantees must first be invited to submit a proposal; invited applicants and existing grantees can access the CyberGrants site for Tempest Advisors.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 46 grants to organisations were $1,300,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation provides fewer and larger grants than most foundations with similar grant-making budgets.
- It seeks opportunities to engage both market forces and public policy.
- It strives to foster collaboration within the NGO community and with other philanthropic funders whenever possible.
- Its due diligence manages risk, but it is not deterred by unproven approaches where significant impact is possible.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 54% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Sea Change Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 65% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 9 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $3M (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- United States Energy Foundation · Promote clean energy$20,100,0002024 tax year
- Building Decarbonnization Coalition · Promote clean energy$5,000,0002024 tax year
- United States Energy Foundation · Promote clean energy$3,750,0002024 tax year
- Partnership Project · Educate public about climate and clean energy$3,000,0002024 tax year
- Potential Energy Coalition · Educate public about climate and clean energy$3,000,0002024 tax year
- United States Energy Foundation · General support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- BlueGreen Alliance Foundation · Promote energy efficiency$175,0002024 tax year
- 2030 · Promote energy efficiency$175,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Anjali Jaiswal — Executive Director
- Laura Baxter-Simons — CFO / Secretary
- Nathaniel Simons — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $47,859,770 | $46,567,179 | $229,495,527 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $48,213,459 | $45,537,500 | $225,257,068 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $38,799,779 | $37,350,000 | $208,518,596 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Sea Change Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@seachange.org
- San Francisco, CA
- seachange.org
Applying to Sea Change Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@seachange.org
- San Francisco, CA
- seachange.org