Foundation Investors in Environment & Conservation

Access Ventures is an innovative impact multiplier that leverages catalytic capital to drive economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability in communities. They operate as dreamers, doers, and risk-takers who use blended finance approaches to create lasting transformative change, guided by the belief that people are at the heart of any true community transformation. Their mission is to revolutionize the global investment landscape through a blended finance approach and a "one-pocket mindset," proving that financial return and social impact can coexist while improving access and agency for all. They meet complex challenges with creativity, high tolerance for risk, and willingness to be catalytic with capital, emphasizing the development of the next generation of change-makers. Access Ventures serves as a catalyst for change in the impact investing ecosystem, bridging gaps between traditional finance and social impact through their deep understanding of catalytic and blended finance strategies. With 10 years of experience empowering change, they have established themselves as community-focused impact multipliers who teach, advise, and invest in ways that yield both high financial returns and significant community impact, fostering a resilient and dynamic economy where every person can thrive.

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

Ashoka is one of the world’s leading organizations supporting social entrepreneurs. Founded in 1980, Ashoka pioneered the concept of social entrepreneurship and has built a global network of changemakers working to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through its flagship Ashoka Fellows program, the organization identifies and supports high-impact entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and a powerful global network. Ashoka’s broader mission is to create a world where everyone is a changemaker, embedding social innovation across education, business, and civil society.

Blue Haven Initiative is an innovative family office that operates as a multi-asset-class impact investor, managing a diversified portfolio spanning public equities, fixed-income holdings, private equity, and direct investments. They are dedicated to putting wealth to work for competitive market returns while generating positive social and environmental change across various sectors. As one of the first family offices created with impact investing as its primary mission and focus, Blue Haven seeks both market rates of financial return and maximum social and environmental impact. They take a total portfolio approach to managing investments, applying rigorous portfolio-management principles while leveraging their flexibility and multigenerational time horizon to deploy diverse forms of capital including traditional investments, grants, and catalytic investments. Blue Haven has established itself as a significant player in the impact investing ecosystem, being recognized as the Impact Asset Owner of the Year in 2018 by the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment. They believe that solving the world's biggest social and environmental issues requires creative long-term investors who prioritize partnership, patience, and continuous learning, positioning themselves as leaders in demonstrating how family offices can drive systemic change.

Capricorn Investment Group is a sustainable investment platform that has been serving families, foundations, and institutional investors for over 25 years. The firm provides comprehensive Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) services and impact investment solutions aimed at solving environmental and social issues while building sustainable wealth for clients. With $14-19 billion in assets under management and 46 employees across offices in New York City and Palo Alto, Capricorn has established itself as a leader in sustainable investing. The company was founded in 2000 with the belief that sustainable investment practices can enhance risk-adjusted returns while demonstrating the investment potential in breakthrough commercial solutions to the world's most pressing problems.

Ford Foundation is one of the world’s largest philanthropic foundations, focused on advancing social justice, reducing inequality, strengthening democratic values, and expanding human dignity globally. Founded in 1936, the foundation supports nonprofits, movements, institutions, artists, researchers, and community leaders working to address systemic social, political, and economic challenges. The Ford Foundation operates across multiple regions worldwide and funds initiatives spanning democracy, racial justice, economic inclusion, technology and society, gender equity, arts and culture, journalism, and human rights.

The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment operates through both philanthropic grants and strategic investments to address climate change and environmental degradation. They focus on protecting and improving the health of the global environment through a dual approach of funding environmental advocacy, applied research into climate solutions, and investing in entrepreneurs building green industries and technologies. Their mission is to protect and conserve the natural environment, with communication and collaboration as top priorities to build widespread public support for preventing catastrophic climate change. The Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation with five Grantham family trustees, while also working through The Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust, a public charity with independent trustees from major environmental organizations including Rare, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund US, and Rocky Mountain Institute. Established by Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham, the Foundation plays a significant role in the environmental ecosystem by addressing what they identify as humanity's greatest challenge - climate change and the race against time to avoid existential threats. Their impact matters because they recognize that environmental philanthropic resources are immense compared to available funding, making strategic alliances and targeted investments in both advocacy and technological innovation crucial for preventing catastrophic environmental change.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a global climate finance institution established to support developing countries in their efforts to combat climate change. With a shrinking window of opportunity to address the climate crisis and global temperatures already 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels, GCF focuses on limiting global warming to 1.5°C through strategic investment decisions over the next decade. The fund operates through a comprehensive governance structure including a GCF Board, accredited entities, and national designated authorities to ensure effective climate finance delivery across countries and regions.

King Philanthropies is an impact-focused foundation that seeks to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the world's poorest people by multiplying the impact of high-performing leaders and organizations. They focus on combating barriers to economic development through both grants and impact investments, specifically targeting those in extreme poverty defined as living on $2.15 or less per day. The organization operates through a data-driven, evidence-based approach to accomplish the most good, conducting proactive and rigorous due diligence aligned with their core mission. Their investment areas include agriculture, food & water, and girls' education & livelihoods, aligning with what those in extreme poverty need most for their livelihoods. They make grants and impact investments while providing expertise and building networks that enable high-impact solutions to reach more people. King Philanthropies has established itself as a significant player in the impact investing ecosystem, aiming to reach 100 million people with their interventions. They have already made substantial progress toward this goal, having reached 32.9 million lives to date through their strategic partnerships. Their approach of backing non-profits and social ventures that embody essential elements of excellence positions them as a catalyst for scalable solutions addressing global poverty.

The MacArthur Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation focused on advancing a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world through grantmaking, impact investments, fellowships, and institutional support. The foundation funds creative individuals, nonprofit organizations, research institutions, and mission-driven initiatives working across climate solutions, democracy, journalism, criminal justice reform, technology and society, global security, and community development. Known globally for the MacArthur Fellows Program, often referred to as the “Genius Grants,” the foundation combines long-term systems thinking with bold investments designed to address complex social and environmental challenges.

The Surdna Foundation, established in 1917 by John Emory Andrus, supports social justice reform, healthy environments, inclusive economies, and thriving cultures across the United States. The foundation works to dismantle barriers that limit opportunity to create more prosperous, culturally enriching, and sustainable communities. In 2017, Surdna launched a $100 million commitment to impact investing that works alongside their grantmaking efforts. Their investment approach combines mission-related investments (MRIs) and program-related investments (PRIs) to advance their mission while generating risk-adjusted returns and building the field of impact investing.