Guide to the changing landscape of climate philanthropy

This is a guide to high-impact climate philanthropy. It’s deeply informed by data and relevant scientific facts but oriented towards action, providing a strategy foundation for individuals looking to have an outsized impact against climate change and reduce climate damage. We review how the climate funding landscape changed rather dramatically in 2021, across global government, private and philanthropic funds and investments. We share key facts and uncertainties which help clarify a confusing, crowded, and dynamic space. Given these changes, we outline guiding principles and a strategy for high-impact grant-making, meant to complement, rather than copy, existing funding streams. When seeking to maximize impact in the climate space, we believe it is fundamental to look for “impact multipliers,” reasons to expect that a given funding allocation will have an above-average impact. We review one implementation of the strategy by reviewing the grant-making through the Founders Pledge Climate Change Fund.