Together, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.

You love the ocean as much as we do, and we can’t protect it without you.

A healthy ocean means more than beautiful coasts and vibrant ocean wildlife. If the ocean isn’t healthy, neither are we. Because the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we’re breathing this very second comes from our ocean.

Our work is focused on solving some of the greatest threats facing our ocean today. From the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico, we bring people, science and policy together, to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean.

That’s why for over forty years we’ve worked to protect vital ecosystems, defend critical legislation, enforce accountability of leaders and legislators and rally the world’s largest effort to remove trash from our beaches. Because a healthy ocean means a healthy planet.

Ocean Conservancy

MAPS works towards a post-prohibition world by advancing research, changing policies, and shaping culture. 

Since our founding in 1986, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has been the leading organization building the movement to foster evidence-based approaches to psychedelics and the people who use them. When used safely and responsibly, psychedelics have the potential to promote personal growth and well-being and treat various mental health conditions. Three pillars guide our efforts: advancing research, changing policies, and shaping culture. 

[Advancing Research](https://maps.org/advancing-research/)

MAPS spent decades developing MDMA-assisted therapy for the clinical utilization of psychedelic-assisted therapies. With the road paved for the next generation of research and drug development, MAPS now stewards the research landscape we helped cultivate.

We are dedicated to fostering new research directions that prioritize public benefit, supporting international researchers and pilot programs, and ensuring the accessibility and culturally appropriate integration of psychedelics as a tool for individual and community wellness. We center research that contributes to knowledge in the public domain.

[Changing Policy](https://maps.org/changing-policy/)

The cultivation, use, and trade of psychoactive substances — including psychedelics — has been a consistent aspect of human history, but prohibition, criminalization, and militarization — and their inherent oppression — have led to drastic consequences. The ongoing, global War on Drugs has been justified by bad science, racism, and fear for too long: it has led to mass incarceration; erosion of civil liberties; ecological damage; economic waste; and the public health polycrisis of adulteration, poisoning, and overdose. Many of these harmful effects have disproportionately impacted the most historically exploited and oppressed communities. Consequently, we believe societies worldwide have an obligation to account for and repair those harms, to the extent possible. 

MAPS envisions a post-prohibition future based on Consciousness, not Criminalization.

[Shaping Culture](https://maps.org/shaping-culture/)

For psychedelics to be most safely integrated into society, we need to be honest about the implications. MAPS recognizes the importance of a comprehensive understanding of their risks and potential benefits, teaching people how to navigate altered states of consciousness and how policies impact individuals and communities. 

We create cutting-edge education for professionals and the public, provide expert support for the psychedelic and drug policy movement, and convene people who share our vision—all to lay the groundwork and create the guardrails necessary for responsible social transformation. 

As psychedelics become more mainstream and an increasing number of people seek to use them for healing and personal growth, we are more dedicated than ever to making resources available for people and communities to safely and responsibly integrate psychedelics into medical, legal, and spiritual contexts.

MAPS

Supporting highly-impactful, evidence-based solutions to the triple challenge of climate change, air pollution and energy poverty.

The Founders Pledge Climate Change Fund exists to leverage each dollar and fund the most effective, neglected climate solutions.
 
Climate change is an incredibly complex problem borne out of how we produce and consume energy; it's intertwined with challenges of economic development, energy poverty, and emissions-fueled air pollution. It is an environmental and humanitarian crisis we must urgently address. 

We aim to take a holistic approach that recognizes the global nature of this challenge and the fact that, despite its urgency, we are still in the early days of climate action. We address the worst-case scenarios of climate damage, and look for solutions that can reduce current carbon emissions and accelerate the transition to clean energy to meet global demand, especially in developing countries. Through the Fund, we:

- Accelerate innovation in neglected technologies
- Catalytically grow the most effective climate organizations
- Promote policy leadership and paradigm shaping

### Our Approach to Grantmaking
When evaluating potential grants, we consider several key points:

- **Counterfactual impact.** Our grants are designed to create a meaningful outcome that would not otherwise have happened. This means that you can rely on the Funds to create meaningful, real change, rather than just maintaining the status quo.
- **Impact-driven philanthropy.** This fund prioritizes the highest-impact solutions to challenges. We assess where the gaps are, which opportunities may be neglected by other funders, and where the biggest wins are in terms of making the biggest difference.
- **The organization’s funding gap.** Not all organizations are set up to scale up their programming and many can’t productively absorb large amounts of unsolicited funding. We evaluate all potential grantees’ capacity for growth and consider how much money they could put to good use.
- **Organizational strength.** Particularly with unrestricted funding, it’s important to have trust in the leadership and capacity of the organizations we support. We look at their track record of success and their transparency about failures as well as successes, and we only support those organizations which are exceptionally well run.
- **Time-critical opportunities and funding certainty.** While Founders Pledge members give to our top climate charities regularly, sometimes there are time-critical opportunities which require fast decisions. We will use the Fund to make grants that enable such short-term opportunities and stability for high-impact funding opportunities thereby increasing the impact compared to individual giving to specific organizations.
- **Portfolio approach.** Because most climate damage comes from particular severe outcomes – with a world of 4 degrees of warming being much worse than twice as bad as a world with 2 degrees – and because every particular strategy – such as energy innovation – might underdeliver, we pursue a portfolio approach to maximize positive impact. This means we will diversify our bets in ways that, when one approach fails (such as energy innovation), the others we promote (such as carbon removal) can be expected to be particularly important and still available.

### Frequently-Asked Questions

**Can charities apply for money from the Fund?**
The Funds do not generally accept applications from charities, and we request that charities do not send unsolicited applications for funding. If the Fund Managers choose to open up an application round, this will be publicized. 

**How frequently will you make grants from the Fund?**
In general, Fund Managers will review grantmaking decisions on a quarterly basis. Decisions will be made based on the value of Funds and the available options for high-impact grantmaking. We may disburse funds outside of quarterly review dates if we become aware of a particularly promising and time-sensitive funding.

**How will my contribution be used?**
All funds are granted out. The Fund is not an investment vehicle. The Fund does not use any percentage of contributions to cover staff time or other overhead costs. Every dollar contributed to the Fund will be used to make grants directly to end-user organizations creating a real difference.

### More Questions?

To learn more about the Founders Pledge Climate Change Fund, please visit [founderspledge.com](https://founderspledge.com/funds/climate-change-fund) or email the Fund Managers at [funds@founderspledge.com](mailto:funds@founderspledge.com).

Founders Pledge: Climate Change Fund

Founders Pledge is a global nonprofit empowering entrepreneurs to do the most good possible with their charitable giving. 

We equip members with everything needed to maximize their impact, from evidence-led research and advice on the world’s most pressing problems, to comprehensive infrastructure for global grant-making, alongside opportunities to learn and connect. We’re grateful to be funded by our members and other generous donors. 

Founders Pledge

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NFT artist with a collection of LSD Gummy Bears that are themed around psychedelics for mental health.