Since 2016, we have championed some of the world’s most visionary strategists to swiftly and justly close the gap between the world today and a sustainable future. Through the Climate Breakthrough Award program, we have backed leaders who understand what it takes to win: bold, transformative climate mitigation initiatives rather than incremental ones centered on near-term success.
Our philanthropic program is designed to bridge the gap between ambition and action, removing common philanthropic barriers so these leaders can pursue solutions as innovative and incisive as the problem demands. With our support, Climate Breakthrough Awardees have launched initiatives that are shaping consequential climate conversations, challenging outdated assumptions, and pushing for transformative change where it’s long overdue. Their projects span the globe: several are global in scope, while others operate in Latin America, OECD Countries, Climate Vulnerable Countries, Europe, North America, China, and Africa.
Over the years, we have watched their projects evolve from “underexplored,” “too ambitious,” and “too improbable” to become the new norm. These are initiatives that, if successful, could significantly reduce global annual greenhouse gas emissions, affect entire industries or regions of the world, and materially change the lives of tens of millions within ten years of launch. They span a wide range of efforts, from accelerating clean energy adoption to fostering grassroots activism that mobilizes thousands of communities. They have focused on overcoming entrenched barriers in economic systems and cultural norms, creating new frameworks for international climate policy and collaboration, and supporting decision makers to set ambitious targets. Furthermore, we have helped catalyze the development of emerging and underexplored strategies, such as climate litigation, building electrification, and reimagining the role of insurance. Ambitious concepts, like the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and capping oil consumption in countries like China, took root within our program.
Our legacy isn’t just about who and what we support—it’s how we support. Bold climate action deserves bold philanthropy that takes chances, trusts capable leaders, and backs ambitious ideas that push the boundaries of what’s possible. We have evidence our program fosters a rare environment that leaders need to pursue solutions as innovative and incisive as the problem demands. Our grant model has been cited multiple times as an example of an exciting platform to support, such as here and here.
Through what we call Philanthropy Forward, we are sharing these insights to inspire the broader philanthropic sector and challenge funders to embrace the kind of ambition this moment demands.
Climate Breakthrough offers a framework of how institutional philanthropic operations can be comfortable making bigger commitments to the bold ideas of brilliant individuals.
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