Funding search · EIN 854095972 · Irvine, CA

Sequoia Climate Foundation

Name: Sequoia Climate Foundation grants, 2021–2023
Creator: PaperOrbit
License: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organization-public-disclosure-and-availability-requirements

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

495
grants reported: $736.5M
total given: 2021–2023
filing years: $1.0M
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 2021–2023. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

energy climate clean transition education public health through

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is built Report an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

Clean energy transition policy and advocacy, global scale
Regranting intermediaries and fiscal sponsors moving money abroad
Climate diplomacy, COP engagement, international climate finance
Power sector and industrial decarbonization research and analysis
Public education, communications, and narrative campaigns on climate
Forests, deforestation, super pollutants, climate-smart agriculture

Typical grant

Median grant is $1,000,000, with the middle half between $500,000 and $1,600,000. The eight-figure checks go to intermediaries and regranters like Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, European Climate Foundation, Tara Climate, and ClimateWorks, which redistribute to field networks; the $1 million to $2 million band is where think tanks, universities, and single-issue advocacy groups sit. Repeat funding is the norm, with several grantees receiving three or four separate awards in a single year for distinct workstreams.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

“TO PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT”
“THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION”
“TO FOSTER PUBLIC HEALTH”
“RESEARCH AND EDUCATION”
“CAPACITY BUILDING”
“DECARBONIZATION”

Positioning adjacent work

Frame emissions or energy work as a public health outcome; that phrasing appears in dozens of their grant descriptions.
Ask $1M to $1.5M for a defined research and education workstream, not a small pilot project.
Tie to a named theme they already fund: power sector, industrial decarbonization, climate finance, or transition planning.
If US-based, connect your work to international policy audiences; most of their money moves outside the US.

Worth knowing: This is a large, fast-moving climate funder that concentrates heavily in DC, New York, and a set of European and Asian intermediaries; a dozen repeat grantees absorb a large share of the total. Giving looks relationship-driven and network-based rather than responsive, so a warm introduction through an existing grantee like ClimateWorks, the European Climate Foundation, or Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is more realistic than a cold approach.

11 grants matching “pollution” · $10.3M

$1.4M
The Partnership Project · Washington, DC · 2023
To support public health through climate pollution reduction activities
$1.0M
The Partnership Project · Washington, DC · 2023
To support implementation of pollutant policies to improve public health
$1.0M
Clean Air Fund · 2023
To support reduction of super pollutants to foster public health
$850,000
Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023
To support super pollutant mitigation activities to foster public health
$500,000
Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (Cai-Asia) Center · 2023
To foster support and public education regarding super pollutants
$400,000
Clean Air Fund · 2023
To foster support and public education regarding super pollutants
$1.6M
Clean Air Fund · 2022
To accelerate emissions reductions of super pollutants
$1.4M
The Partnership Project · Washington, DC · 2022
To drive ambitious action to equitably reduce climate pollution
$1.4M
Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022
To support super climate pollutant mitigation
$270,000
Vasudha Foundation USA · Sugar Land, TX · 2022
To provide evidence on tackling short lived climate pollutants
$480,000
Vasudha Foundation · Sugar Land, TX · 2021
To provide evidence on tackling short lived climate pollutants

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

Stichting European Climate Foundation25 grants · $101.1M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors18 grants · $61.5M
Tara Climate Ltd5 grants · $30.7M
Natural Resources Defense Council16 grants · $25.9M
World Resources Institute22 grants · $25.5M
Climateworks Foundation11 grants · $22.0M
The Sunrise Project Australia Ltd6 grants · $21.2M
United States Energy Foundation5 grants · $19.1M
Rocky Mountain Institute12 grants · $13.5M
Meliore Foundation (Fup)3 grants · $13.1M

Giving over time

$173.7M

2021

$257.4M

2022

$305.4M

2023

Grant history

The 100 largest of 495 grants.

$17.9M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2023
To support the educational activities of the energy transition
$15.0M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2023
To provide general operating support
$13.2M
Tara Climate Ltd · 2022
To accelerate a clean energy transition
$12.5M
Tara Climate Ltd · 2023
To provide general operating support
$12.0M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2021
To advance transition to clean energy and net-zero emissions
$10.5M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2022
To support the energy transition fund
$10.3M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2021
To support climate finance and the global strategic communications council
$10.0M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2022
To advance transition to clean energy and net-zero emissions
$7.9M
Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023
To support research and education to further climate finance efforts
$7.7M
Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2021
To support decarbonization of the power and transportation sectors
$7.5M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2023
To support the educational activities with respect to climate diplomacy
$7.5M
United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023
In support of climate policy planning to advance clean energy to foster public health
$7.0M
Climate Lead · San Francisco, CA · 2023
To provide general operating support
$7.0M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2022
To provide general operating support
$7.0M
The Sunrise Project Australia Ltd · 2022
To accelerate the financial sector in shifting towards clean energy and a just transition
$7.0M
Windward Fund · Washington, DC · 2021
To support the methane hub in reducing emissions
$6.8M
Meliore Foundation (Fup) · 2023
To support education with respect to the clean energy transition
$6.4M
United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022
To support state clean energy policy implementation
$6.0M
Meliore Foundation (Fup) · 2023
To support coordination on communications strategies
$5.7M
The Sunrise Project Australia Ltd · 2023
To support public health through clean energy and energy transition activities
$5.6M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2023
To advance public education about clean energy
$5.0M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2022
To support strategic climate communications
$4.8M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2021
To support the energy transition fund in acceleration of a transition to net-zero
$4.8M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2021
To support the energy transition fund
$4.5M
International Council On Clean Transportation · Washington, DC · 2022
To help decarbonize the transport sector
$4.5M
The Regents of the University of California · Berkeley, CA · 2023
In support of capacity building and climate partnerships to advance training and education
$4.3M
Clasp · Washington, DC · 2023
To provide technical assistance support in the development of energy efficiency standards
$4.1M
International Sustainable Energy Foundation · Austin, TX · 2023
To provide general operating support
$4.0M
International Sustainable Energy Foundation · Austin, TX · 2022
To provide general operating support
$4.0M
Natural Resources Defense Council · New York, NY · 2022
To support technical assistance for energy system decarbonization
$3.8M
Instituto Clima E Sociedade · 2023
To provide general operating support
$3.8M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2022
To support the climate emergency collaboration group in its work on the global climate ambition
$3.6M
Instituto Clima E Sociedade · 2022
To provide general operating support
$3.5M
International Council On Clean Transportation · Washington, DC · 2023
To support public health through clean transportation efforts
$3.5M
Stichting Foundation for International Law for the Environment (File) · 2023
To support public health through energy transition efforts
$3.5M
Stichting Foundation for International Law for the Environment (File) · 2023
To support public health through energy transition efforts
$3.4M
Natural Resources Defense Council · New York, NY · 2023
To support energy system decarbonization activities to foster public health
$3.4M
Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022
To support the clean cooling collaborative for the transformation of the cooling sector
$3.3M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2023
To support research and analysis on clean energy activities
$3.3M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2022
To support international climate cooperation
$3.2M
Potential Energy Coalition · New York, NY · 2023
To provide general operating support
$3.2M
International Sustainable Energy Foundation · Austin, TX · 2021
To develop net-zero roadmaps
$3.1M
United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023
To support clean energy policy implementation efforts
$3.1M
World Resources Institute · Washington, DC · 2023
To support carbon neutrality efforts to foster public health
$3.0M
Corporation for National and Community Service · Washington, DC · 2023
To support workforce development
$3.0M
League of Conservation Voters Education Fund · Washington, DC · 2023
To support clean energy development and education activities
$3.0M
Multiplier · San Francisco, CA · 2023
To support public health through the clean energy transition
$3.0M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2023
To support public health through clean power efforts
$3.0M
The Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023
To improve public health and energy security through climate mitigation activities
$3.0M
Climate Leadership Initiative · San Francisco, CA · 2022
To provide general operating support
$3.0M
International Institute for Sustainable Development · 2022
To support the beyond oil and gas alliance secretariat and research related to a just transition
$3.0M
League of Conservation Voters Education Fund · Washington, DC · 2022
To support development of a clean energy future
$3.0M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2022
To unlock the grid bottleneck as a barrier to reaching clean power by 2035
$3.0M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2021
To support international climate cooperation
$3.0M
Stichting Foundation for International Law for the Environment (File) · 2021
To provide general operating support
$3.0M
Tara Climate Ltd · 2021
To support clean energy and field capacity building
$3.0M
The Sunrise Project Australia Ltd · 2021
To support a managed transition to clean energy through financial interventions
$3.0M
Wwf-UK · 2021
To support the transition to carbon neutrality
$2.9M
Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2021
To create an enabling environment to accelerate climate action
$2.9M
Rocky Mountain Institute · Boulder, CO · 2022
To support capacity building to unlock accelerated decarbonization
$2.9M
Third Generation Environmentalism Ltd · 2021
To support global engagement on energy transitions
$2.6M
Natural Resources Defense Council · New York, NY · 2022
To support emissions reductions at speed and scale
$2.5M
The London School of Economics and Political Science · 2023
To enable research and education regarding the economics of the clean energy transition
$2.5M
New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2021
To support the climate and clean energy equity fund
$2.5M
Fundo Brasileiro Para a Biodiversidade · 2023
To support education and technical assistance with respect to decarbonization
$2.5M
United Nations Office for Project Services · 2023
To further public health by supporting the clean energy transition
$2.5M
Multiplier · San Francisco, CA · 2022
To support the clean grid initiative
$2.5M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2022
To support climate arc
$2.5M
Natural Resources Defense Council · New York, NY · 2021
To support emissions reductions at speed and scale
$2.5M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2021
To support the climate emergency collaboration group in its work on global climate ambition
$2.5M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2022
To engage the financial sector on climate and support climate communications
$2.5M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2021
To engage the financial sector on climate and support climate communications
$2.4M
Cornell University · Ithica, NY · 2022
To advance zero hunger and climate resiliency in agriculture systems
$2.3M
Center for American Progress · Washington, DC · 2023
To provide educational support around climate change and environmental programs
$2.3M
Center for American Progress · Washington, DC · 2022
To support the advancement of climate investment, standards & justice
$2.2M
World Wildlife Fund · Washington, DC · 2021
To accelerate the transition to carbon neutrality
$2.2M
League of Conservation Voters Education Fund · Washington, DC · 2021
To support development of a clean energy future
$2.0M
Avpn Limited · 2023
To accelerate reductions in greenhouse gases for the benefit of public health
$2.0M
Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023
To improve public health through advancements to industrial decarbonization
$2.0M
Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center (Feco) · 2023
To support climate collaboration and engagement efforts
$2.0M
World Resources Institute · Washington, DC · 2023
To support forest restoration
$2.0M
World Resources Institute · Washington, DC · 2023
To support public health through emissions reductions
$2.0M
Alliance for the Climate Emergency · Charlestown, MA · 2022
To support engagement with youth on climate change
$2.0M
Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund · Washington, DC · 2022
To provide general operating support
$2.0M
Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center (Feco) · 2022
To enhance climate collaboration
$2.0M
Natural Resources Defense Council · New York, NY · 2022
To accelerate a coordinated and equitable transition towards carbon neutrality
$2.0M
Potential Energy Coalition · New York, NY · 2022
To provide general operating support
$2.0M
Rocky Mountain Institute · Boulder, CO · 2022
To enable a low-carbon future
$2.0M
Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2022
To support the climate finance strategy
$2.0M
The Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022
To support economic transformation and organizational capacity development
$2.0M
The Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022
To address the nexus of energy security, growth, and climate change
$2.0M
The Sunrise Project Australia Ltd · 2022
To support the acceleration of a managed transition to clean energy
$2.0M
United Nations Office for Project Services · 2022
In support of the energy transition partnership (etp)
$2.0M
World Resources Institute · Washington, DC · 2022
To support a clean energy transition in the agricultural sector
$2.0M
World Resources Institute · Washington, DC · 2022
To support south-south cooperation for green investments and global climate governance
$2.0M
World Resources Institute · Washington, DC · 2022
To accelerate a coordinated and equitable transition towards carbon neutrality
$2.0M
Center for Applied Environmental Law and Policy · Boulder, CO · 2021
To support reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhance environmental justice
$2.0M
Energy Foundation China · San Francisco, CA · 2021
To address the nexus of energy security, growth, and climate change
$2.0M
Energy Systems Integration Group · Reston, VA · 2021
To provide general operating support
$2.0M
International Institute for Sustainable Development · 2021
To support the beyond oil and gas alliance secretariat and research related to a just transition

View all 495 grants →

Who else funds this kind of work

Same state

Silicon Valley Community Foundation10,471 grants · $10.10B
Tides Foundation9,402 grants · $1.86B
UCLA Foundation276 grants · $1.75B

Similar purposes

The Bloomberg Family Foundation815 grants · $3.00B
Sergey Brin Family Foundation457 grants · $1.58B
Climate Imperative Foundation350 grants · $513.4M

Similar grant size

The Andrew W Mellon Foundation2,231 grants · $1.59B
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation13,441 grants · $18.24B
The JPB Foundation1,952 grants · $1.61B

Grants already paid are the record; PaperOrbit reads your paper and finds the funders whose record matches it — then explains why.

Search funders like this one

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.