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

Newsroom focused on investigative journalism in the public interest.

ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Our work focuses exclusively on truly important stories, stories with “moral force.” We do this by producing journalism that shines a light on exploitation of the weak by the strong and on the failures of those with power to vindicate the trust placed in them.  Investigative journalism is at risk. Many news organizations have increasingly come to see it as a luxury. Today’s investigative reporters lack resources: Time and budget constraints are curbing the ability of journalists not specifically designated “investigative” to do this kind of reporting in addition to their regular beats. New models are, therefore, necessary to carry forward some of the great work of journalism in the public interest that is such an integral part of self-government, and thus an important bulwark of our democracy.

ProPublica

Realizing the promise of the Bill of Rights for all - the ACLU dares to create a more perfect union.

The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union — beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.

ACLU Foundation

We will automate and expand eligibility for record clearance across the country, impacting millions of people.

The Clean Slate Initiative works to expand and automate the sealing of arrest and conviction records after people have completed their sentence and remained crime-free for a period of time - believing everyone should have a shot at redemption.   

We are a national, bipartisan non-profit organization that builds advocacy campaigns where local, state, and national partners operate with the shared goal of passing Clean Slate laws in states and in Congress.

Through partnerships, collaboration, and coordinated advocacy campaigns, the Clean Slate Initiative unites businesses, advocates, community members, and impacted people across the country.

We support state-based campaigns with the goal of passing laws that ensure conviction and non-conviction records are automatically sealed once someone has completed their sentence and remained crime-free for a period of time. 

The Clean Slate Initiative supports campaigns that have clear goals, well-thought-out strategies, and a vision for building a base of support that can defend and sustain policy wins.

Since this initiative’s inception, we have helped pass legislation that provides a path for: 

- 2.3 million people to have at least one conviction or non-conviction cleared;

- 7.3 million conviction and non-conviction cases to be cleared; and

- 2 million people to receive full record clearance.

You may wonder - why is there a need for Clean Slate Initiatives? Here are the facts: 

1 in 3 adults in the United States have an arrest or conviction record that limits their ability to work, obtain housing, and engage in civic life. Having a record, even an arrest record, is a significant barrier to economic mobility. 

- 9 in 10 employers use background checks when hiring.

- 4 in 5 landlords use background checks on prospective tenants.

- 3 in 5 colleges and universities use background checks on prospective students.

There are more than 44,000 collateral consequences that limit the ability of people with a record to access meaningful opportunities to build a better life. Our work focuses on automating the process to remove those barriers, providing a real second chance for the millions who are currently impacted by an arrest or conviction record. 





The Clean Slate Initiative

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

Maximize your philanthropic impact with Founders Pledge. We empower a global community of over 2,100 members, equipping them with everything needed to give effectively: from evidence-led research and expert advice on the world's most pressing problems to comprehensive infrastructure for seamless global grant-making, and a powerful network for collaboration. Together, we've already channeled over $1.5 billion to high-impact causes globally, tackling critical issues like climate change, global health, and emerging existential risks. 

When you donate through every.org today, you're joining this proven movement, and our unique funding model ensures 100% of your contribution goes directly to charity, as our operational costs are generously covered by a dedicated community of philanthropists.

Founders Pledge

1067431123

1435915265

148788709

2074652487

2352003526

2535103040

2547000601

2551237796

2595251256

2808155606

2883383521

2970598858

3107677517

316638097

339774024

3497063662

3797661376

3868271524

410756082

4124487947

4172451122

496574456

698107245

91415239

2729980760

3440869557

671754822

87081813

1014384873

1112422858

153399038

2028390811

220342792

2266630408

2456389719

2519810400

2539558839

2826465835

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

Choose a donation for Every.org

2843798242

2898624300

2916352438

3125568929

3259439560

3583328878

3642494300

3902459442

4136002033

4177183036

4250940449

585491400

641510716

91682487