Since 2016, we have championed some of the world’s most visionary strategists to 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.

These are initiatives that 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 of people 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.

But our legacy isn’t just about who and what we support—it’s about how we support. We believe philanthropy must evolve to meet the scale of the climate challenge. Bold philanthropy thrives on taking chances, trusting ambitious leaders, and backing ideas that push the boundaries of what’s possible. We have evidence our approach fosters an environment where transformative ideas can take root and grow. 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.

our story in numbers