Grantmaker Investors in Climate Tech

The Barr Foundation is a Boston-based philanthropic organization focused on advancing climate solutions, arts and creativity, and educational opportunity. Founded by Amos Hostetter Jr. and Barbara Hostetter, the foundation supports nonprofits and initiatives that drive systemic change and strengthen communities, particularly in the Boston region. Through long-term partnerships and flexible funding, Barr Foundation backs organizations working on climate resilience, clean energy transition, public education, and cultural vibrancy. Its approach emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and scaling solutions that can deliver lasting impact.

Bezos Earth Fund is one of the world’s largest philanthropic initiatives focused on addressing climate change, protecting nature, and accelerating the transition to a sustainable global economy. Established by Jeff Bezos, the fund represents a $10 billion commitment to climate and environmental action through 2030. The organization supports scientists, nonprofits, policymakers, entrepreneurs, Indigenous communities, research institutions, and environmental leaders working to conserve ecosystems, decarbonize industries, transform food systems, advance climate technologies, and improve environmental accountability worldwide.

Bloomberg Philanthropies is the philanthropic organization of Michael Bloomberg, focused on improving lives at scale across the globe. The foundation works across more than 150 countries, supporting initiatives in public health, climate, education, government innovation, and the arts. Its approach combines data-driven decision-making with deep partnerships across governments, nonprofits, and institutions. Bloomberg Philanthropies is known for backing large-scale, measurable programs that aim to deliver systemic change and improve outcomes for millions of people worldwide.

Blue Action Fund is one of the world's largest public funders dedicated to marine conservation and sustainable coastal livelihoods in developing countries. Established in 2016 by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and KfW Development Bank, the foundation provides large-scale grants to international and regional nonprofit organizations working to protect marine biodiversity while improving the wellbeing of coastal communities. The fund supports projects that strengthen marine protected areas, conserve blue carbon ecosystems, restore fisheries, protect biodiversity, and promote sustainable ocean economies. Working with governments, NGOs, Indigenous communities, and local stakeholders, Blue Action Fund helps finance long-term conservation initiatives across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Small Island Developing States.

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 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.

Moonshot Platform is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leadership accelerator and global community supporting young changemakers closest to the world’s most urgent challenges. Through its two-year Moonshot Journey, the organization provides grants, mentorship, scholarships, capacity building, peer community, and access to global networks that help emerging leaders scale social and environmental impact. Founded by Yemi A.D., Moonshot Platform supports young innovators building projects, nonprofits, startups, and community initiatives across climate, education, health, economic opportunity, technology, and social justice. Its programs include the Moonshot Awards, Moonshot Camp, Moonshot Summit, Impact Labs, and mentor pathways.

Prime Coalition is a Cambridge, Massachusetts nonprofit that helps philanthropists deploy catalytic capital into climate solutions that conventional investors often skip. Since 2014, Prime has focused on additionality: filling gaps where technology risk, long timelines, or first-of-a-kind infrastructure make ordinary venture or project finance a poor fit. The organization stewards impact-first programs rather than acting as a classic closed-end VC. That includes earlier vehicles such as Prime Impact Fund and Azolla Fund I (managed with Azolla Ventures), plus Trellis Climate for first-of-a-kind climate infrastructure projects that need risk-tolerant capital to reach commercial scale. Public materials cite on the order of $108M in catalytic capital into Prime programs and about $2.8B in external capital crowded in, with dozens of companies supported through impact-first funds. Prime's role in the ecosystem is bridge and standard-setter. It evaluates impact and additionality, helps philanthropists make their first catalytic investments, and publishes tools and field-building resources (including work around Project Frame). For founders, Prime is less a cold outbound check source and more a signal that your solution needs catalytic capital and can prove climate impact that markets alone will not fund yet. If you are building a breakthrough climate company or FOAK project that stalls in the valley between philanthropy and commercial capital, Prime is the kind of steward that exists to close that gap.

The Rockefeller Foundation is one of the world’s largest and most influential philanthropic organizations, focused on advancing human well-being through large-scale investments in energy access, food systems, health, economic opportunity, climate resilience, and emerging technologies. Founded in 1913, the foundation partners with governments, nonprofits, corporations, and local communities to tackle systemic global challenges through innovative finance, data, and technology-driven solutions. The foundation is known for making ambitious “big bets” aimed at improving the lives of hundreds of millions of people worldwide, particularly in underserved and economically vulnerable communities.