The selection process for the Climate Breakthrough Award program ensures that we look for candidates of varying experiences and backgrounds anywhere in the world, and a broad array of ideas from any sector, area, or discipline to the benefit of people across classes and borders.
candidates we look for
A Climate Breakthrough Awardee boasts a rare combination of traits: a social innovator with the demonstrated ability to effect change, an ambitious strategist thinking at immense scale, and a visionary with an uncommon audacity paired with humility and compassion.
That’s why our rigorous sourcing, vetting, and selection process is a critical ingredient of the program. We do not accept unsolicited applications or self-nominations. Instead, we leverage our global network of partners with extensive connections on the ground to look for exceptional candidates. The process begins even before initial contact with the candidate and continues through multiple interviews and in-depth reference checks.
First, we source candidates through our networks and scouts
Second, we screen and vet candidates to assess suitability
We invite candidates to interviews on leadership and idea exploration
Finally, we recommend candidates to our Board for selection
IDeas we look for
We look for ideas with breakthrough potential to address climate change. This means they aim to significantly reduce global annual greenhouse gas emissions, affect entire industries or regions of the world, and materially change the lives of tens of millions of people within ten years of launch. Our focus is on high-ambition, high-gain ideas that can drive large-scale system changes, not incremental work centered on near-term success.
During the selection process we ask candidates to submit initial ideas for the initiative they might pursue. Although awardees can refine or change their strategic focus after selection, their initial ideas help us evaluate their ambition, creativity, and strategic acumen. At this stage, we partner with experienced third-party experts to assess the breakthrough potential of each idea.
What initiatives may not be a good fit?
While we consider early-stage initiatives, the Climate Breakthrough Award program is designed for new work. As such, we are not interested in work that is already substantially underway or well-funded.
Additionally, ideas that pursue incremental progress, focus narrowly on technological innovation and R&D, or aim to generate profit would not align with our mission. As a holistic and compassionate approach to climate action is core to our values, we also will not support initiatives that we believe could threaten the wellbeing of humans or other living beings.
PRIORITIES
We maintain a wide aperture in the selection for the Climate Breakthrough Award program. However, in keeping with our founding vision and commitment to breakthroughs, we prioritize candidates and ideas with significant added value.
They address critical gaps
Perhaps there’s a missing piece in the current landscape of solutions. Leaders from underrepresented regions or sectors, underexplored strategies, or innovative tactics could fill these gaps.
They challenge conventions
We’re highly interested in candidates who can disrupt the status quo in how we develop climate solutions, and in concepts that push beyond the limitations of well-established approaches.
They scale early wins
We’re also drawn to candidates who are poised to build on promising work and are primed for new funding to expand their scope or ambition.