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Sequoia Climate Foundation

Annual Giving
$257.0M
Grant Range
$20K - $39.0M

Sequoia Climate Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $257 million (2023), $267 million estimated (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only grantmaking)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $39,000,000+
  • Median Grant: $1,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Global (with emphasis on major emitting regions including U.S., China, Europe, Southeast Asia)
  • Total Assets: $79 million (operates on flow-through model)

Contact Details

Website: https://sequoiaclimate.org/

Email: Available through contact form on website

Location: Irvine, California

Note: The foundation maintains a contact form for general inquiries but does not accept unsolicited grant proposals.

Overview

Founded in 2020 and granted tax-exempt status in 2021, Sequoia Climate Foundation has rapidly emerged as one of the world's largest climate funders. Operating as a private foundation with a flow-through funding model, Sequoia receives annual contributions from Twenty-One Holdings rather than relying on a large endowment. The foundation distributed $126 million in its first year (2021), $180 million in 2022, and $257 million in 2023, with 171 grants awarded in 2023 alone. Sequoia's mission centers on "a world powered by clean energy, where all people are protected by policies that have averted the worst effects of climate change." The foundation emphasizes urgent action with a specific focus on achieving measurable impact by 2030, recognizing that climate impacts disproportionately affect underserved communities and communities of color globally. In 2023, Sequoia added super pollutants, strategic communications, and international cooperation as key focus areas, and at COP28, joined partners in announcing a $450 million commitment to mitigating super pollutants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Sequoia operates through strategic grantmaking rather than formal, named grant programs. The foundation primarily funds through:

  • Major Intermediary Organizations: Large grants to regranting organizations like European Climate Foundation ($39 million in 2023), ClimateWorks Foundation, and Energy Foundation
  • Direct Implementation Grants: Support for organizations conducting climate policy, advocacy, and technical work
  • Strategic Initiative Funding: Multi-year commitments to specific climate interventions

Grant sizes in 2023 ranged from $20,000 to $39 million, with a median grant of $1 million. Most awards typically fall between $100,000 and $1 million.

Priority Areas

Sectors Funded:

  • Energy: Power sector decarbonization, renewable energy deployment, transmission reform, energy efficiency and appliance standards
  • Transportation: Electrification of transportation systems
  • Buildings: Building decarbonization initiatives
  • Industry: Industrial emissions reduction
  • Land Use & Agriculture: Climate-resilient agriculture, forestry
  • Super Pollutants: Methane reduction, fluorinated gas phase-out, black carbon, nitrous oxide, ground-level ozone
  • Finance: Energy transition finance, just transition initiatives
  • Strategic Communications: Climate communications and public engagement
  • International Cooperation: Support for climate cooperation, particularly in low and middle-income countries

Geographic Priorities:

  • Major emitting regions including United States, China, Europe
  • Southeast Asia (particularly Indonesia energy transitions)
  • Brazil and Latin America
  • Australia
  • Global initiatives with significant emissions reduction potential

Thematic Approach: The foundation emphasizes environmental justice and recognizes climate impacts disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. They support work that enables "political, economical, financial, and social conditions to achieve and implement the highest ambition policy possible."

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, but the foundation's approach suggests:

  • Projects without clear near-term (by 2030) emissions reduction impact
  • Work that doesn't align with their four criteria: speed, scale, cost-effectiveness, and probability of success
  • Individual research projects without clear policy or implementation pathways
  • Local or small-scale projects that don't demonstrate potential for broader systemic impact or replication

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • C. Frederick Taylor: Director and Chair
  • Jennifer Reynoso: Director and Secretary
  • Christie Ulman: President and Director
  • Gilbert Ching: Treasurer and Director of Finance and Administration
  • Michelle Moersfelder: Secretary and General Counsel

Executive Leadership Team

Christie Ulman, President

  • Oversees foundation efforts to prevent worst climate impacts and guides decarbonization investments
  • Previously served as Climate Director at Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) in London; worked on climate policy at U.S. Department of Energy, Treasury, and White House
  • Education: Master of International Affairs (Columbia University); BSc from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Quote: "Speed must be a central metric for climate funding, along with scale, cost, and probability of success... climate change is a complex systems challenge that requires complex solutions."

Louise Glew, Chief Evidence and Learning Officer

  • Leads strategy and impact assessment through systems thinking and quantitative modeling
  • Previously Global Lead Scientist for Conservation Evidence at World Wildlife Fund; founded Impact Evaluation Working Group at Society for Conservation Biology
  • Published research in Nature and Science
  • Education: Doctorate in Environmental Science from University of Southampton

James Jenkin, Chief Operating Officer

  • Manages daily operations
  • Previously CEO of Clinton Foundation's international economic development programs; served as attorney and worked on corporate social responsibility at TNT Express
  • Education: Combined bachelor of law and public administration with honors from University of Tasmania

Hannah McKinnon, Vice President, Programs

  • Previously Director of Energy Transitions and Futures program at Oil Change International
  • Background in national and international climate policy, advocacy in North America and Europe, and climate adaptation work in Central America
  • Education: MSc from London School of Economics

Clay Stranger, Vice President, Programs

  • Previously Managing Director at Rocky Mountain Institute; founded RMI programs in China and India
  • Led transportation practice and worked on energy transitions in 20+ countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas

Michelle Moersfelder, General Counsel

  • Provides legal and organizational guidance to leadership and staff
  • Previously Legal Counsel at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for nearly 10 years
  • Education: JD from George Washington University Law School; LL.M. in taxation from NYU School of Law

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Sequoia Climate Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding, and does not review unsolicited funding requests.

The foundation works proactively to identify and select grantees based on their strategic priorities rather than accepting open applications. Grants are awarded through trustee and staff discretion, focusing on organizations positioned to make immediate significant impact aligned with the foundation's four criteria.

However, the foundation does invite interested parties to reach out through the contact form on their website (sequoiaclimate.org/contact-us/) with general questions or inquiries.

Getting on Their Radar

Board Member Networks: With board members and senior staff having extensive backgrounds at major climate organizations (CIFF, WWF, Clinton Foundation, Rocky Mountain Institute, Oil Change International, Gates Foundation), connections through these networks may provide visibility.

Major Climate Intermediaries: The foundation's largest grants consistently go to major regranting organizations like European Climate Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, Energy Foundation, and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Organizations working with or supported by these intermediaries may have indirect access to Sequoia funding.

High-Profile Climate Coalitions: Sequoia has participated in major philanthropic commitments such as the $500 million pledge for just energy transitions in low and middle-income countries and the $450 million super pollutants commitment at COP28, suggesting they engage with broad philanthropic coalitions.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on a proactive identification model rather than fixed application cycles.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With 171 grants awarded in 2023 and an invitation-only model, success rates for contacted organizations are likely higher than open application processes, but no specific data is available.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. Organizations are encouraged to maintain relationships and update the foundation on their work through general inquiries.

Application Success Factors

Given Sequoia's invitation-only model, organizations that might be considered for funding should demonstrate:

Alignment with Four Core Criteria

The foundation evaluates all opportunities against these metrics:

  1. Speed: Potential to have measurable impact by 2030. As President Christie Ulman emphasizes, "speed must be a central metric for climate funding." Projects must demonstrate immediate action capability.

  2. Scale: Capacity for transformative impact on emissions reductions. The foundation focuses on "strategies, tactics, sectors, and geographies where grantees can have the greatest impact."

  3. Cost-Effectiveness: Leveraged, catalytic use of philanthropic resources. Ulman describes their approach: "we do our best to look for catalytic levers, so slipstream of finance that is leveraged and to a much greater impact."

  4. Probability of Success: Evidence-based solutions with highest likelihood of near-term change. The foundation invests in "science-based climate change solutions that have the highest probability of achieving the largest near-term impact."

Strategic Positioning

Major Sectors: Organizations working in power decarbonization, transportation electrification, building efficiency, super pollutants reduction, and energy transition finance are priorities.

Geographic Focus: Work in major emitting regions (U.S., China, Europe) and emerging economies with significant emissions growth potential (Southeast Asia, Latin America).

Policy and Systems Change: The foundation emphasizes work that "influences and magnifies efforts by others" and enables "political, economical, financial, and social conditions to achieve and implement the highest ambition policy possible."

Recent Funding Examples

Understanding what Sequoia has actually funded provides insight into their priorities:

  • European Climate Foundation: $39 million across 12 grants in 2023, including $10.3 million for the Global Strategic Communications Council
  • Tara Climate: $14 million across 2 grants to accelerate clean energy transition
  • Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors: $10.5 million for Energy Transition Fund
  • Energy Foundation: $7.7 million for power and transportation decarbonization
  • The Sunrise Project Australia: $7 million to accelerate financial sector shift toward clean energy
  • Natural Resources Defense Council: Multiple grants totaling $7 million
  • Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership: Support for Indonesia's grid modernization, solar and wind mapping to enable renewable energy integration
  • Windward Fund: $7 million for methane reduction hub

Organizational Characteristics

Relationship Approach: The foundation emphasizes "respect, humility, and learning" when supporting grantee work, recognizing that partners are closer to their focus areas than the foundation itself.

Calculated Risk-Taking: Sequoia is willing to "take calculated risks on strategies that are justified by their transformative potential."

Data-Driven: Decisions are "informed by the best available science and the expertise of partners and grantees."

Intermediary Preference: The foundation consistently directs significant funding to major regranting organizations, suggesting comfort with this model for achieving scale and reach.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists: Sequoia identifies and approaches potential grantees proactively rather than accepting applications. However, general inquiries through their website contact form are welcomed.

  • Focus on the 2030 deadline: All funded work must demonstrate potential for measurable emissions reductions by 2030, the Paris Agreement deadline for cutting global emissions in half.

  • Scale and leverage are paramount: Sequoia prioritizes projects with transformative potential and catalytic effect, not incremental improvements. Think systems change, not pilot projects.

  • Intermediaries receive largest grants: Major regranting organizations like European Climate Foundation, ClimateWorks, and Energy Foundation are consistent top recipients, suggesting this is a key strategy for Sequoia's scale ambitions.

  • Evidence-based approach required: The foundation's leadership includes scientists and policy experts who emphasize data-driven decision-making. Projects must be grounded in scientific evidence.

  • Geographic concentration in high-impact regions: While global in scope, Sequoia focuses on major emitting economies where interventions can achieve the greatest emissions reductions—U.S., China, Europe, and key emerging economies.

  • Super pollutants now a priority: With a $450 million commitment at COP28, methane and other super pollutants represent a significant and growing funding area, particularly for organizations working on policy implementation.

References

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