← Back to US Funders Directory

Waverley Street Foundation

Annual Giving
$225.5M
Grant Range
$1000K - $36.0M

Waverley Street Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $225.5 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $2.78 billion
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $1 million - $36 million+
  • Geographic Focus: G20 countries (U.S., Mexico, Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa), with priority on California

Contact Details

Website: www.waverleystreet.org
Phone: 650-313-2002
Address: 2475 Hanover St Ste 100, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1114
Contact Page: www.waverleystreet.org/contact

Overview

Founded in 2016 by philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, Waverley Street Foundation is a spend-down climate funder with assets of $2.78 billion committed to distributing $3.5 billion by 2035. The foundation awarded $225.5 million across 106 grants in 2023, significantly scaling from 21 awards in 2020. Led by President Jared Blumenfeld (former California EPA Secretary), the foundation focuses on regenerative agriculture and renewable energy with a distinctive emphasis on community-led, place-based solutions. The foundation distinguishes itself among major climate funders through its support of frontline, community-based organizations while also funding large re-grantors that extend reach to grassroots groups. Blumenfeld describes the approach as meeting the climate crisis "with the urgency it demands" through a spend-down model that reflects the time-sensitive nature of climate action.

Funding Priorities

Core Focus Areas

Regenerative Agriculture: The foundation invests in rebuilding healthy soils, creating opportunities for farmers, preserving farmland, and supporting seed preservation and agricultural heritage. Priority is given to projects that integrate local knowledge, support small farm sustainability, and promote equitable food systems.

Renewable Energy: Supports clean energy transitions that move communities away from fossil fuels while creating green jobs and fostering energy independence. Recent examples include the Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund partnership with United Tribes Technical College for solar installation and workforce training.

Strategic Priorities

  • Community-level, place-based solutions: The foundation is "built upon the belief that community-level, place-based change is paramount in addressing climate change"
  • Frontline and environmental justice organizations: Emphasizes supporting communities disproportionately affected by climate change
  • Scalable local initiatives: Uses "success mapping" to identify promising initiatives for global scaling
  • Indigenous communities and knowledge: Recent grants to Indigenous Resilience Center and tribal organizations
  • Policy development capacity: Supports organizations developing climate and energy policy, particularly from frontline perspectives

Geographic Strategy

Concentrated in G20 countries, with grantmaking that "prioritizes but is not strictly limited to community-based organizations in California." The foundation has funded organizations across major cities globally (New York, London, Sydney) as well as smaller communities.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. It focuses exclusively on climate-related work in regenerative agriculture and renewable energy, suggesting other causes fall outside its mandate.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Lisa P. Jackson - Board Chair; Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives at Apple, Inc.; former Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Laurene Powell Jobs - Vice Chair; Founder and philanthropist

Executive Leadership

  • Jared Blumenfeld - President (compensation: $909,115); Former California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary under Governor Gavin Newsom; extensive background in environmental policy
  • Dr. Lande Ajose - Managing Director and Chief of Staff
  • Jagadha Sivan - Chief Operating Officer

Organizational Scale

As of 2024, the foundation operates with a full-time staff of 15 and continues growing. The lean staffing model supports the foundation's rapid deployment strategy to meet the 2035 spend-down deadline.

Leadership Philosophy

President Blumenfeld emphasizes that the foundation operates "like a speed boat" rather than a traditional perpetual foundation, reflecting the urgent timeline for climate action. The organization's tagline "Cultivating Health, Justice and Joy" signals an integrated approach that views climate work through the lens of community well-being and equity rather than purely technical solutions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, strategic identification of promising organizations, and the foundation's proactive research using their "success mapping" approach to identify initiatives for potential support and scaling.

Grant Structure

  • Grant Size: Most grants fall in the $1-2 million range, with larger strategic grants reaching $36 million (Climate Imperative) and $8-10 million for major policy centers
  • Commitment Type: Multi-year commitments to grantee partners
  • Notable Recent Awards:
    • Climate Imperative: $36 million (re-granting organization)
    • Communities First Fund: $10 million
    • Clean Future Forum: $8 million
    • Tishman Environment and Design Center (The New School): $8 million
    • Rural Climate Partnership: $8 million
    • Conservation International: $7.5 million
    • Potential Energy Coalition: $7 million
    • Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice: $5 million
    • USC Equity Research Institute: $5 million
    • Deep South Center for Environmental Justice: $2.3 million
    • Indigenous Resilience Center (University of Arizona): $2 million

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As an invitation-only funder with a proactive identification strategy, there is no standard application cycle.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies grantees through several specific mechanisms:

Re-granting Partners: Waverley makes substantial grants to organizations like Climate Imperative ($36 million) that function as re-grantors to support frontline community organizations. Building relationships with these intermediary organizations may provide a pathway to funding.

"Success Mapping" Process: The foundation uses this proprietary methodology to identify promising initiatives globally that demonstrate potential for scaling. Organizations showing measurable community-level impact in regenerative agriculture or renewable energy may be identified through this research process.

Strategic Focus on Specific Institutions: The foundation has shown interest in university-based environmental justice centers, tribal colleges with climate programs, and established advocacy organizations with frontline community connections.

Board and Staff Networks: With leadership including former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and former California EPA Secretary Jared Blumenfeld, organizations known within policy and environmental justice circles in California and at the federal level may have visibility.

Policy and Coalition Work: Several grantees focus on policy development for frontline communities, suggesting visibility in climate policy spaces may attract attention.

Application Success Factors

Alignment Indicators

Organizations most likely to be identified by Waverley Street Foundation demonstrate:

Community-Led and Place-Based: Blumenfeld has explicitly stated this is the foundational belief of the foundation. Projects must center community leadership rather than top-down solutions.

Environmental Justice Integration: The foundation's tagline "Cultivating Health, Justice and Joy" is not decorative—it reflects a core commitment. Funded organizations consistently address how climate solutions advance equity for communities disproportionately harmed by climate change.

Regenerative Agriculture or Renewable Energy Focus: These are the only two funding areas. Organizations working at the intersection (e.g., solar-powered farm operations, soil health initiatives with energy components) may be particularly compelling.

Scale Potential: The foundation's "success mapping" approach seeks initiatives that can be replicated or scaled globally. Local work should demonstrate transferable models.

Frontline Community Connection: Whether through leadership, constituency, or partnership, organizations must authentically represent and serve communities on the front lines of climate impacts.

Strategic Considerations

G20 Geographic Focus: While the foundation has global reach, it has "strategically narrowed its focus" to G20 countries. Organizations based in or working in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, India, Indonesia, and South Africa align with current strategy.

California Priority: Grantmaking "prioritizes but is not strictly limited to community-based organizations in California." California-based organizations have a structural advantage.

Multi-Year Capacity: With grants typically ranging from $1-2 million and described as "multi-year commitments," organizations need the operational capacity to absorb and deploy significant funding over time.

Re-granting Pathway: For smaller grassroots organizations, the pathway may be through Waverley's re-granting partners like Climate Imperative rather than direct funding.

What Sets Successful Organizations Apart

Based on the foundation's documented grantees and approach:

  • Established Environmental Justice Organizations: Multiple grants to centers focusing on environmental justice (Bullard Center, Deep South Center, USC Equity Research Institute) suggest preference for organizations with track records in this space
  • Indigenous-Led Climate Work: Specific support for Indigenous Resilience Center and Tribal Solar Accelerator indicates prioritization of Indigenous-led solutions
  • Policy Development Capacity: Grants to Tishman Center "to support frontline communities in developing climate and energy policy" shows value placed on building community power in policy spaces
  • University Partnerships with Community Focus: Several grantees are university-based but with explicit community engagement and justice mandates
  • Coalition and Network Organizations: Support for organizations that amplify smaller groups (Climate Imperative, Rural Climate Partnership, Communities First Fund)

Challenges

  • No Public Application Process: Organizations cannot apply, making visibility and network connections crucial
  • High Bar for Scale: The "success mapping" approach seeks initiatives ready for or demonstrating scaling potential, which may favor more established organizations
  • Limited Staff: With only 15 staff managing $225+ million annually, the foundation cannot conduct extensive due diligence on numerous prospects
  • Urgency of Spend-Down: The 2035 deadline may drive preference for organizations that can deploy funding quickly and effectively

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • You cannot apply directly: Waverley Street Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Focus on building visibility through re-granting partners, policy networks, and demonstrating measurable community-level climate impact in their focus areas.

  • Community-led is non-negotiable: President Blumenfeld has stated this is the foundation's core belief. Your organization's governance, leadership, and approach must authentically center community voice and decision-making.

  • Environmental justice lens is essential: The foundation views climate work through a justice framework. Be prepared to articulate how your work addresses disparate impacts on vulnerable communities and advances equity, not just environmental outcomes.

  • Focus area discipline matters: Only regenerative agriculture and renewable energy are funded. If your climate work falls outside these areas (e.g., transportation, built environment, coastal resilience without agriculture/energy components), you are not aligned.

  • California and G20 geography: While not absolute, the foundation has strategic focus on these geographies. Organizations outside this scope face an uphill path to visibility.

  • Scale and urgency drive decisions: The spend-down model means the foundation seeks organizations that can deploy significant multi-year grants effectively and demonstrate models worth replicating globally. Show how your local work has transferable insights.

  • Re-granting partners may be your pathway: If you're a smaller grassroots organization, building relationships with Waverley's major re-granting partners (Climate Imperative, Communities First Fund, Rural Climate Partnership) may be more realistic than direct foundation funding.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory