Ideas Beyond Borders

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

The Founders Pledge Climate 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 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 Fund

An organization focused on providing human services. It received its nonprofit status in 2022.

See Forward Ukraine (previously CashForRefugees)

Our research-based matching system motivates people to donate to highly effective charities at GivingMultiplier.org.

**[Giving Multiplier](https://givingmultiplier.org)** is a research project created at Harvard University that matches donations to any charity of your choice and promotes the world's most effective charities.

*Resources to get involved:*

- [Make a donation that gets matched](https://givingmultiplier.org)
- [Become a matching funder](http://givingmultiplier.org/matching) (Donations made on this page will also go toward our matching system.)
- [Sign up to our newsletter](http://eepurl.com/i0GHhc)
- [Learn about our philosophy](https://givingmultiplier.org/philosophy)
- [Create your own fundraiser](https://givingmultiplier.org/fundraisers)

Giving Multiplier

We're on a mission to save and protect bonobos and their rainforest home - forever. 

Friends of Bonobos works with Amis des Bonobos du Congo in the DR Congo to save bonobos and their rainforest home. 

We do this through rescue, sanctuary, and rewilding, by partnering with local communities to tackle root causes and save rainforest, and by raising the profile of bonobos locally and globally.

We have a comprehensive approach to bonobo conservation. We're in this for the long haul.

--We rescue endangered bonobos that have been orphaned by the illegal trade in wildlife.
We give them essential care and sanctuary as long as needed, and then, when possible, release them back to the rainforest.

--We partner with and support Congolese communities near bonobo habitat to save rainforests. We manage and protect the forest preserve, ensuring wildlife and their rainforest home are protected for the long term.

​--We raise global and local awareness of endangered bonobos and the root causes that threaten their survival. We work with local and international authorities to uphold and strengthen the laws supporting endangered wildlife.

Friends of Bonobos

We defend the constitutional principle of the separation between state and church and educate the public about nontheism.

Freedom depends on freethinkers! Join the largest freethought association in North America. Won’t you join FFRF in our critical work to promote nontheism and defend the constitutional separation between religion and government? With more than 40,000 members, FFRF, a 501(c)(3) nonprophet nonprofit, works as an effective state/church watchdog and voice for freethought (atheism, agnosticism, skepticism).

Freedom From Religion Foundation

Promoting the mission of Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel and around the world. MDA is Israel’s national ambulance, blood-services, and disaster-relief organization.

 MDA is Israel’s national ambulance, blood-services, and disaster-relief organization.

American Friends of Magen David Adom

Equal Citizens Foundation

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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We are a nonprofit, so instead of charging fees we rely on the generosity of donors like you.

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