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Climate Imperative Foundation

Annual Giving
$247.1M
Grant Range
$100K - $10.0M

Climate Imperative Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $247.1 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation/partnership-based)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Estimated $100,000 - $10,000,000+ (based on portfolio)
  • Geographic Focus: Global - major emitting countries (United States, Europe, China, India, Australia)
  • Application Method: Invitation only / No public application process

Contact Details

Website: climateimperative.org

Address: 98 Battery Street, Suite 202, San Francisco, CA 94111

Press Contact: press@climateimperative.org

Phone: Not publicly listed

Important Note: Climate Imperative does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organizations interested in partnership should contact them through their website contact form.

Overview

Founded in 2020, Climate Imperative Foundation is a rapidly growing climate philanthropy based in San Francisco focused on cutting global carbon emissions at speed and scale. With $175.9 million in net assets and $247.1 million in annual grantmaking (2023), the foundation partners with experienced on-the-ground organizations to provide capital, technical support, and expertise to inform the most important climate policy decisions in major-emitting countries around the world. The foundation is backed by prominent philanthropists including Lukas Walton (Walmart heir, $20 million annual commitment) and board chair John Doerr. Led by President Sonia Aggarwal and a team of seasoned climate advocates including former Sierra Club Beyond Coal campaign director Mary Anne Hitt, Climate Imperative has grown from 45 grants in 2020 to 130 grants in 2023, demonstrating rapid scaling of its impact.

Funding Priorities

Strategic Focus

Climate Imperative targets "near-term policy decisions in major greenhouse gas-emitting countries and regions" that offer the greatest emissions reductions. According to Managing Director Mary Anne Hitt: "I think what sets us apart is identifying the biggest decisions for our climate in the biggest emitting countries in the next five years, and then providing the resources and expertise to make sure those decisions go the right way."

Priority Areas

Renewable Energy: Rapid scaling of renewable energy deployment and grid modernization

Building Electrification: Widespread electrification of buildings, clean heat solutions, and green workforce development

Transportation Decarbonization: Zero-emission vehicles for cars, trucks, off-road vehicles, rail, and lower-emission aviation solutions

Industrial Decarbonization: Reducing pollution from major industrial sources including steel and aluminum

Fossil Fuel Infrastructure: Stopping the expansion of new fossil fuel infrastructure including LNG terminals and coal plants

Economy-Wide Pathways: Policy frameworks for comprehensive emissions reduction in major emitting nations

Geographic Focus

United States: Significant domestic policy focus across electricity, buildings, transportation, and industry sectors

Europe/European Union: $26.5 million to Europe-based groups (2020), including EU-specific policy initiatives

China: Energy Foundation China and other partners focused on world's largest emitter

East Asia & Pacific: $8.6 million regional investment (2020) including Australia-specific initiatives

India & South Asia: Emerging focus area ($58,500 in 2020, likely expanded since)

Current Grantee Partners

  • American Lung Association - Healthy Air Campaign focusing on clean air standards and zero-emission vehicles
  • European Climate Foundation - Network of 700+ organizations working toward net-zero emissions
  • International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) - Research and policy on zero-emission transport technologies
  • Emerald Cities Collaborative - Building electrification and green workforce training for equity
  • Global Energy Monitor - Open-source data on global energy systems and coal plant tracking
  • Energy Foundation China - Climate policy solutions in China
  • Citizens Action Coalition - Industrial decarbonization in Indiana
  • Building Decarbonization Coalition - U.S. building electrification advocacy
  • Transport & Environment - European transport policy
  • WE ACT for Environmental Justice - Environmental justice and climate equity

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • John Doerr (Chair) - Legendary venture capitalist (early investor in Google, Amazon)
  • Sonia Aggarwal (President) - Climate policy expert
  • Christina Fernandes (Secretary/Treasurer) - Chief Operations Officer
  • Anita Bekenstein - Philanthropist and board member
  • Laurene Powell Jobs - Founder of Emerson Collective
  • Sanjeev Krishnan - Technology and climate leader
  • Greg Nelson - Climate finance expert
  • George Pavlov - Strategic advisor
  • Sam Walton - Member of Walton family

Note: All officers and directors report zero compensation (per 990 filings 2020-2023), indicating a values-driven volunteer board.

Senior Leadership

  • Sonia Aggarwal - President
  • Bruce Nilles - Vice President (former Sierra Club Beyond Coal campaign leader)
  • Christina Fernandes - Chief Operations Officer
  • Nick Conger - Chief Communications Officer
  • Susan Hamsher - General Counsel
  • Mary Anne Hitt - Managing Director, U.S. Initiatives (25+ years climate campaigning, former Sierra Club national campaigns director)
  • Stephanie Epner - Managing Director, Global Initiatives

Leadership Philosophy

Hal Harvey, founding president (now advisor), articulated the foundation's policy-first approach: "The more I studied it, the more I realized that the technical challenges were fixable. But the policy ones had been neglected, horribly neglected, and often still are." The foundation emphasizes urgency with the message: "Today's policy decisions are the difference between a livable and unlivable tomorrow."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Climate Imperative Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The foundation operates through a strategic partnership model, identifying and approaching organizations working on priority policy decisions in major emitting countries. Grants are made through:

  • Direct partnerships with established organizations
  • Regranting partners who distribute funds to networks
  • Strategic initiatives identified by foundation leadership and program staff

Organizations cannot submit applications through an open portal or in response to public RFPs.

Getting on Their Radar

While Climate Imperative does not have a public application process, organizations working on climate policy in major emitting countries can connect through:

Contact Form: The foundation maintains a contact form on their website (climateimperative.org/contact-us/) where organizations can introduce themselves and their work. While this does not constitute an application, it allows initial contact.

Sector Networks: Climate Imperative works closely with established climate networks including the European Climate Foundation's 700+ partner organizations. Being active and visible in these networks may increase visibility.

Policy-Focused Work: The foundation specifically seeks organizations working on near-term policy decisions with high emissions-reduction potential. Organizations should emphasize policy outcomes over general advocacy or on-the-ground projects.

Geographic Relevance: Work must be focused on major emitting countries/regions: United States, European Union, China, India, Australia, or other significant emitters.

Specific Program Areas: The foundation has dedicated initiative directors for specific sectors (transportation, buildings, industry, electricity, aviation, LNG). Organizations working in these specific areas might reference relevant program areas when making contact.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Given the invitation-based model, timelines likely vary significantly based on strategic priorities and relationship development.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation/partnership basis rather than competitive applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the partnership-based model.

Application Success Factors

Given Climate Imperative's unique invitation-only model, the following factors appear critical for organizations that successfully partner with the foundation:

Policy-Centered Impact: President Hal Harvey's philosophy emphasizes policy change over other interventions. Organizations must demonstrate clear pathways to influencing specific policy decisions with measurable emissions reduction potential.

Near-Term Focus: Mary Anne Hitt's statement about "the biggest decisions for our climate in the biggest emitting countries in the next five years" indicates preference for work with immediate policy windows rather than long-term capacity building.

Geographic Targeting: Work must address one of the major emitting countries/regions. The foundation's 2020 geographic distribution ($26.5M to Europe, $8.6M to East Asia/Pacific, $58.5K to South Asia) shows strategic concentration.

Established Track Record: Grantee partners include major established organizations (American Lung Association, European Climate Foundation, ICCT) suggesting preference for proven policy advocates rather than emerging groups.

Equity Integration: The foundation funds organizations like Emerald Cities Collaborative and WE ACT for Environmental Justice, indicating that climate justice and equitable transitions are valued alongside emissions reductions.

Sector-Specific Expertise: With dedicated initiative directors for transportation, buildings, industry, electricity, and aviation, the foundation values deep sectoral knowledge and specific technical expertise.

Systems-Level Thinking: Hal Harvey's background (author of "Money Well Spent: A Strategic Plan for Smart Philanthropy") and focus on "economy-wide pathways" suggests appreciation for organizations that understand systemic change levers.

Alignment with Current Initiatives: Organizations working on clean heat, LNG opposition, building electrification, zero-emission transport, or industrial decarbonization align with current program director portfolios.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not a traditional application-based funder - Climate Imperative identifies and approaches potential partners rather than reviewing unsolicited proposals. Traditional grant writing strategies do not apply.

  • Policy outcomes are paramount - The foundation's entire theory of change centers on influencing specific policy decisions in major emitting countries within narrow time windows. Organizations must articulate clear policy targets and pathways.

  • Scale and geographic focus matter critically - With only 130 grants totaling $247M (averaging ~$1.9M per grant), the foundation makes strategic bets on organizations working in major emitting countries (U.S., EU, China, India, Australia).

  • Relationship pathways exist through sector networks - While unsolicited proposals aren't accepted, visibility in climate policy networks (especially ECF's 700+ partner network) and sector-specific coalitions may create organic connection opportunities.

  • The leadership team is accessible - With 30+ initiative directors, program officers, and associates covering specific sectors and regions, organizations doing relevant work might connect with appropriate team members at sector conferences or through the website contact form.

  • Equity is embedded, not separate - The foundation integrates climate justice (WE ACT) and workforce equity (Emerald Cities) into sectoral work rather than treating equity as a separate program area.

  • Five-year urgency window - Lukas Walton's five-year, $100M commitment and leadership statements about "the next five years" suggest the foundation operates with urgency and may prioritize quick-win policy opportunities over longer-term systemic change.

References

Key Quote Sources:

  • Mary Anne Hitt quote "I think what sets us apart..." from Axios interview, December 2021
  • Hal Harvey quote "the more I studied it..." from InfluenceWatch profile citing various interviews
  • Foundation tagline "Today's policy decisions are the difference between a livable and unlivable tomorrow" from Climate Imperative website
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