The Grantham Foundation For The Protection Of The Environment

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $61.3 million (2023)
Total Assets: $684 million (2023)
Grant Range: $10,000 - $3.7 million
Median Grant: $475,000
Number of Grants: 94 grants awarded (2023)
Geographic Focus: International (strong focus on U.S., U.K., and India)
Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited proposals

Contact Details

Address: 53 State Street, 33rd Floor, Boston, MA 02109

Phone: 617-346-7500

Overview

The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment was established in 1997 by British investor Jeremy Grantham and his wife Hannelore. With total assets of $684 million and annual giving of $61.3 million (2023), the foundation focuses exclusively on environmental protection and climate change. The foundation operates through two entities: The Grantham Foundation (a private foundation with five family trustees) and The Grantham Environmental Trust (a public charity whose independent trustees serve as CEOs of Rare, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund US, and Rocky Mountain Institute). In 2019, Jeremy Grantham pledged 98% of his personal wealth (approximately $1 billion) to fight climate change. Jeremy Grantham was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2016) and received the Carnegie Medal for Philanthropy (2017) with Hannelore.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants focused on research and advocacy in environmental and climate areas:

University Research Institutes: Major multi-year grants to climate research centers (millions of dollars each)
- Imperial College London - Grantham Institute (extended support through 2034, additional £8 million commitment bringing total to £12 million)
- London School of Economics - Grantham Research Institute (secured £12.1 million in 2023-24 including Grantham Foundation support)
- University of Sheffield - Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures
- Indian Institute of Science - climate research programs
Major Environmental Organizations: Long-standing partnerships with awards of $3 million or more
- The Nature Conservancy
- World Wildlife Fund
- Rocky Mountain Institute
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Rare
Policy and Communications Organizations: Grants typically around $5 million each
- European Climate Foundation
- Foundation for International Law for the Environment
- Energy Foundation
- ClimateWorks Foundation
- Windward Fund
Climate Communications and Journalism: Smaller targeted grants
- Carbon Brief
- Inside Climate News
- Yale Project on Climate Change Communication

Priority Areas

Climate change research and science
Environmental advocacy and policy
Climate communications and public awareness
Green energy and technology solutions
Conservation and biodiversity protection
Research into renewable energy and energy storage

What They Don't Fund

Projects with indirect costs above 10%
Organizations outside their strategic focus areas
Most domestic U.S. giving stays within California, New York, and Massachusetts

Governance and Leadership

Founders

Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham set the direction of the Foundation and Trust. Jeremy serves as co-founder and Chairman of investment management firm GMO, LLC. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2015).

Key Leadership

Hannelore Grantham: Director of the Grantham Foundation
Ramsay Ravenel: President & CIO - manages all aspects of the foundation, including grantmaking and endowment management

Board Members

Oliver Grantham (Co-chair)
Rupert Grantham
Isobel Grantham

Environmental Trust Trustees

The Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust has independent trustees who are CEOs of Rare, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund US, and Rocky Mountain Institute.

Leadership Philosophy

Jeremy Grantham has been outspoken about climate urgency, stating: "Scientists should say what they honestly believe instead of being so damn conservative." On capitalism and environment, he noted: "Capitalism is mythically good at everything, but there are a handful of things it doesn't do well. Capitalism will pollute at will. It will always take the cheap route unless mandated not to. To a capitalist, grandchildren have no value."

On green energy, Grantham expressed optimism: "I am confident that we will end up with a plentiful supply of cheap green energy. I recognized 10 years ago that progress was substantially faster than the world realized, and it's been faster than I would have imagined."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The Grantham Foundation reviews project proposals by invitation only. The foundation operates with a proactive grantmaking strategy, identifying potential grantees through its own extensive research and networks rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.

Questions can be directed to staff at info@granthamfoundation.org, though this does not constitute an invitation to submit a proposal.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation works primarily through established relationships with major environmental organizations and academic institutions. Grants are made based on the foundation's strategic initiatives rather than incoming applications. Organizations are typically identified through:

The foundation's strategic research process: The foundation's team conducts extensive research to identify organizations aligned with their climate and environmental priorities
Board connections: The Environmental Trust's independent trustees (CEOs of major environmental organizations) provide networks and insights into the sector
Academic and research networks: Strong relationships with university-based climate research institutes

Grantmaking Approach

The foundation emphasizes flexibility and speed. According to Jeremy Grantham, "We can move fast. We answer to nobody," and the team asks "What is really crucial right now?" almost monthly to remain responsive to urgent climate issues.

The foundation's approach involves making "bigger, longer grants and look for leverage—emerging or overlooked areas with high potential."

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only funder, success factors relate to strategic alignment and visibility in the environmental sector:

Strategic Alignment

Focus on climate change as "the bedrock on which all protection of nature rests": The Granthams came to this conclusion through direct observation, expert consultation, and data analysis
Support for research and advocacy: The foundation explicitly funds both scientific research and communications/advocacy work
Emerging or overlooked areas with high potential: Jeremy Grantham looks for opportunities with significant leverage potential

Types of Organizations Funded

Established major environmental organizations: Long-term partnerships with organizations like The Nature Conservancy, WWF, Environmental Defense Fund
University-based research institutes: Multi-year commitments to climate research centers
Communications organizations: Climate journalism and public education efforts
Policy and legal organizations: Environmental law and policy advocacy groups

Grant Characteristics

Larger, longer grants: The foundation prefers substantial multi-year commitments rather than small one-time grants
Low indirect costs: Cannot consider proposals with indirect costs above 10%
Geographic concentration: Most U.S. domestic giving focuses on California, New York, and Massachusetts

Foundation Philosophy

The foundation values organizations that share their sense of urgency about climate change. Grantham has been warning that humans are losing the "race of our lives" and urging scientists to raise the alarm about accelerating global warming.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only model: Do not submit unsolicited proposals - the foundation will reach out if interested in your work
Climate change is paramount: The foundation sees climate change as the foundation for all environmental protection work
Scale matters: With a median grant of $475,000 and grants ranging up to $3.7 million, this funder makes substantial investments
Long-term partnerships: The foundation maintains multi-year, multi-million dollar relationships with major organizations rather than one-off grants
Low overhead requirement: Projects must have indirect costs of 10% or less
Strategic focus: The foundation conducts its own research to identify grantees aligned with urgent climate priorities and emerging opportunities with high leverage potential
Geographic preference: If you're a U.S.-based organization, being in California, New York, or Massachusetts increases visibility to this funder

References

All sources accessed December 2025.