Climate Lead

The climate crisis touches all of our lives and impacts everything we hold dear. There is no question that this crisis is a formidable challenge – but the good news is that climate change is a problem with solutions.

With less than 2 percent of global philanthropy investing in climate solutions, Climate Lead was created in 2019 and is based on the fundamental premise that today’s leading climate funders are ready to do much more to leverage their credibility, networks, resources, and experience to attract new philanthropists to climate and inspire them to give on a scale commensurate with the global scope of the problem. The founding funders include Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (Chris Hohn), Hewlett Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Oak Foundation (Kristian Parker), Packard Foundation, and Sea Change Foundation (Nat Simons and Laura Baxter-Simons).

Climate Lead is both an advisory service for new climate philanthropists as well as strategic support to help experienced climate funders enlist their peers. When working with Climate Lead, philanthropists can get started fast, receive tailored guidance, and engage with its network of peers and world-class climate experts. Climate Lead works with philanthropists to match their interests and passions with solutions ready to scale — all with the rigor and urgency this cause requires.

Climate Lead is fully funded, so it does not fundraise for itself or any one organization. This frees the team to help philanthropists find the smartest path for them.