Launched in 2016, the Climate Breakthrough Award program is designed for social change leaders to develop, launch, and scale their boldest new initiatives with breakthrough potential to address climate change. It uniquely blends the large-scale innovation focus of institutions known for pursuing breakthrough inventions, like DARPA and ARPA-E, with the nimble and entrepreneurial spirit of startup incubators and venture capital—applying this approach to drive policy, economic, and social change that addresses the climate crisis. Here’s how it works.
We invest IN exceptional leaders
Every year, we vet and select individuals to be Climate Breakthrough Awardees who boast 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 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 set a high bar for what “bold” means
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.
We provide substantial, flexible, multiyear support
Bold climate action needs resources to take root and time to get off the ground, and it deserves bold philanthropy. We provide each awardee with: 1) a multi-million-dollar grant over at least three years, 2) critical wraparound resources, 3) robust Impact and Learning (I&L) tools, and, 4) if the initiative is gaining traction, an extra matching grant at the end of their tenure.
Our program is non-directive, and our funding is 100 percent flexible. This means we trust our awardees to manage their work without rigid funder-imposed metrics or burdensome reporting requirements that often stifle innovation.
We prioritize a culture of learning and embracing shortfalls
Not all bold efforts we bet on will thrive and, therefore, we embrace the potential for failure. This spirit of exploration and experimentation, widely available in scientific breakthroughs, tech innovation, and business ventures, is what the Climate Breakthrough Award program brings to philanthropy and climate action. Consistent progress might look good in a grant report, but it’s a sure sign we’re not dreaming big enough.
what happens during a tenure?
Strategy development phase
We don’t require or want fully-formed proposals from candidates. After selection, they will have time to develop a complete strategy document during a fully-funded phase that lasts six to nine months. This approach not only encourages awardees to think ambitiously but also urges them to do so, knowing they have secured funding and critical resources.
Launch of initiative
After completing strategy development, awardees move into the implementation stage. Throughout their multiyear tenure, they have access to tailored wraparound resources to help advance their work. They also collaborate with us on Impact and Learning (I&L) activities to design the right assessment tools that reflect the scale and ambition of their initiatives.
End of tenure
As awardees enter their final year, we focus on sustaining their initiatives by connecting them with wider funding networks. Current and alumni awardees are also invited to annual retreats, featuring experts in fields such as fundraising and strategy, to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and inspire further innovation. We also continue to elevate their visibility among key stakeholders and act as a trusted reference.
frequently asked questions
Send your inquiries to info@climatebreakthrough.org
No, the program is neither a bootcamp nor a traditional incubator. While we took inspiration from the startup incubator ecosystem and other fields, we’ve adapted and expanded on the concept to create a unique program. While the term ‘award’ traditionally signifies recognition for past achievements, ours spurs a new era of action.
We do not accept unsolicited applications or self-nominations for the Climate Breakthrough Award program. Candidates are nominated by our network of scouts and partners to undergo a rigorous vetting process that includes a series of interviews, reference checks, and strategy idea exploration.
No, candidates do not need to speak English to be considered. Our team works with interpreters and translators to aim for a fair and inclusive selection process for all candidates.
We make an annual call for scouts with expertise in specific sectors or geographies. Stay connected with Climate Breakthrough to watch for those announcements.