Sequoia Climate Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Sequoia Climate Foundation works by invitation only and says it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is not the route in; build a relationship first and wait to be invited.
- Its stated aims are climate mitigation, emissions reductions, the clean energy transition and global market transformation, and its stated geographic priority is around the world, so work that clearly advances those aims is the natural fit.
- Its typical grant runs from $350,000 to $3,150,000, with about 8 in 10 grants in that band and a median of $1,000,000, but the largest was about $18,000,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- Half of its grants to organisations were $1,000,000 or less, so a request around that level is a sensible basis for a first conversation.
- In the latest filing, 79% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in the year before, so existing relationships count for a great deal.
Overview
Sequoia Climate Foundation is a US private foundation based in Irvine, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Sequoia Climate Foundation supports ambitious organisations and coalitions catalysing rapid emissions reductions, transforming global markets and accelerating the transition to clean energy around the world. It backs climate-change mitigation efforts across key regions and sectors, focusing on the strategies, tactics and geographies where grantees can have the greatest impact. Its approach is science-based and informed by data, evidence, and the expertise of partners and grantees. Grantmaking considers the scale of emissions reductions, speed of impact, cost effectiveness and leverage of resources, and probability of success. It takes calculated risks on strategies with transformative potential and seeks leveraged, catalytic opportunities to accelerate action and enable ambitious policy implementation.
Themes
- Climate mitigation
- Emissions reductions
- Clean energy transition
- Global market transformation
Geographic Focus
Priority: Around the world.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 79% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 358 grants to organisations were $1,000,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It assesses opportunities by the scale of emissions reductions, speed, cost effectiveness and leverage, and probability of success.
- It takes calculated risks on strategies justified by their transformative potential.
- Its grantmaking decisions are data-driven and informed by the best available science and the expertise of its partners and grantees.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 3%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 43%
- The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 79% of grant dollars went to organisations Sequoia Climate Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 17% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany).
- 49% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 187 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $1M (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · To support the educational activities of the energy transition$17,900,0002023 tax year
- Stichting European Climate Foundation · To provide general operating support$15,000,0002023 tax year
- Tara Climate · To provide general operating support$12,500,0002023 tax year
- ClimateWorks Foundation · To support research and education to further climate finance efforts$7,924,0002023 tax year
- Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · To support the educational activities with respect to climate diplomacy$7,550,0002023 tax year
- United States Energy Foundation · In support of climate policy planning to advance clean energy to foster public health$7,500,0002023 tax year
- Climate Lead · To provide general operating support$7,000,0002023 tax year
- Meliore Foundation · To support education with respect to the clean energy transition$6,800,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- James Jenkin — Treasurer, Chief Operating Officer
- Michelle Moersfelder — Secretary, General Counsel
- Gilbert Ching — Treasurer, VP Of Finance
- Christie Ulman — President
- Jennifer Reynoso — Director, Secretary
- C Frederick Taylor — Director, Chair
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $280,930,446 | $257,446,975 | $78,783,978 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $332,324,266 | $305,365,925 | $113,662,252 | Filing for 2023 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 Sequoia Climate Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- sequoia@pentagroup.com
- Irvine, CA
- sequoiaclimate.org
Applying to Sequoia Climate Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- sequoia@pentagroup.com
- Irvine, CA
- sequoiaclimate.org