Climateworks Foundation

“During 2021, the organization contracted with vesancy forestry consultants/chris elliott to manage the climate and land use alliance. Compensation paid to vesancy forestry consultants during the 2021 tax year in exchange for these services totaled $555,854.”

“The form 990 is prepared jointly by climateworks foundation staff and an outside accounting firm. The draft is reviewed by the cfo/treasurer, president & chief executive officer, and general counsel. Climateworks' financial management and the accounting firm's tax lead reviews the draft with climateworks' audit committee. The audit committee recommends approval of the return to the board, who receives the form 990 prior to filing with the internal revenue service.”

“Climateworks foundation's policy requires that any apparent or potential conflicts of interest be fully disclosed before a decision is made on the matter involved, and that no director, officer, or staff member participate (other than by providing information) in any decision in which he or she has a conflict of interest. Climateworks' conflict of interest policy is included as part of the formal orientation for all new board of directors, officers, and staff. Additionally, all officers, directors, and staff are required to complete an annual conflict of interest disclosure statement. Potential officer and board member conflicts are reviewed by the chair of the board, who will investigate the facts, seek advice from outside counsel as necessary, and report back to the board at the time it considers the transaction. An interested director or officer will not participate in deliberations or the vote. Potential staff member conflicts are reviewed by the president & chief executive officer, who will investigate the facts, seek advice from outside counsel as necessary, and take appropriate action in accordance with the policy.”

“The board annually reviews the compensation of the president and chief executive officer and approves changes. Consistent with its conflict of interest policy, the president and chief executive officer, who is also a director, did not participate in any board deliberations or votes regarding her compensation. The board approves changes to the cfo/treasurer's compensation, unless the change applies to substantially all employees. The board uses third-party compensation surveys and compensation information of comparable organizations, including other foundations, public charities, and ngos to benchmark compensation for these positions. Climateworks foundation documents the deliberations regarding compensation in minutes of the meetings of its board. Compensation for key employees is reviewed annually by direct supervisors, with final review by the president and chief executive officer. Third-party surveys, compiling data from other foundations, public charities, and ngos are used to benchmark compensation for each position.”

“Climateworks foundation provides a copy of the form 990 directly to guidestar to publish on its website, in addition to posting the form 990 on its website and providing a copy of the form 990 upon request by the general public.”

“Climateworks foundation makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and audited financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“Climateworks foundation's mission is to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy. We are a global platform for philanthropy to innovate, collaborate, and accelerate climate solutions that scale by bringing together a unique network of funders, grantees, researchers, and other partners. We provide a suite of global programs and global services uniquely designed to amplify the power of a climate philanthropy community that is larger, more coordinated, more international, and growing faster than ever. Climateworks global programs support climate change mitigation efforts from early explorations to scaled initiatives. We help develop innovative and impactful solutions, fund their implementation, and scale up those that show the greatest promise. Our diverse set of philanthropic programs are critical to climate mitigation success and include carbon dioxide removal; cooling; finance; food & agriculture; forests & land use; governance & diplomacy; industry; power; super pollutants; transportation; as well as expertise and advisory services to help design and implement grantmaking strategies that drive climate progress. Climateworks global services include: (i) global intelligence that provides funders with the knowledge necessary to build their climate investment strategies. It helps them explore areas for climate action and identify opportunities for greater impact and partnership; (ii) global collaborations that enable climate funders to increase individual and collective impact; and (iii) global grantmaking that enable funders to invest in climate strategies around the globe. Through our programs and services, climateworks helps the field of climate philanthropy act with the ambition, urgency, capabilities, and interconnections needed to end the climate crisis.”

“We collaborated with our expansive network of partners and grantees to contribute to a variety of achievements around the globe, driving meaningful progress on climate action. Climateworks global programs: through our global programs, we drive innovation and climate solutions that scale. Our portfolio of global and transnational climate mitigation strategies and grantmaking help funders maximize their philanthropic impact. We support climate change mitigation efforts from early explorations to scaled initiatives. We help develop innovative and high-impact solutions, fund their implementation, and scale up those that show the greatest promise. 2021 global programs activities included: (i) aviation: climateworks helped launch a new coalition and campaign to create a sustainable aviation fuel roadmap for california, which outlines regulatory changes to help clean the air in communities near airports. (ii) carbon dioxide removal: in the u.s., climateworks grantees submitted more than 500 appropriations requests totaling $275m. The u.s. Department of energy released $101.5m for direct air capture (dac) r&d as well as carbon dioxide utilization and storage. (iii) food & agriculture: in europe, climateworks' food and agriculture program entered the second phase of its healthy food, healthy planet initiative, collaborating to promote a future for animal agriculture in europe that aligns with health, sustainability, and justice goals. (iv) road transportation: zero-emission trucks save lives by slashing pollution, and drive electric partners are expanding global adoption. At cop26, 15 governments, including in chile and uruguay, launched an agreement for 100% zero emission new truck and bus sales by 2040. (v) industry: climateworks grantees at cop26 helped realize a commitment from 27 nations to accelerate and scale the production of near-zero emission steel. Signatories included several of the top steel-producing countries such as the u.s., japan, and germany. (vi) finance: climateworks grantees laid the groundwork for the securities and exchange commission to propose new rules requiring companies to report on financial risks posed by climate change, greenhouse gases emitted from their operations, and emissions in their value chains. (vii) governance & diplomacy: at cop26, climateworks' africa short-lived climate pollutants (slcp) project hosted a public event with leading voices from across africa to spotlight intersectional approaches to climate change mitigation in the global south. (viii) power: thanks to work by partners from the global energy transition initiative, south korea and japan, two of the three largest financiers of coal development in the world, committed to ending their investments in overseas coal-fired power. (ix) super pollutants: at cop26, the u.s., the european union, and partners launched the global methane pledge, which seeks to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030. In total, 110 countries have signed on to the pledge. Climateworks global services: our intelligence, collaborations, and grantmaking services give funders the tools they need to make their climate giving as effective as possible. Designed with the unique needs of individual funders in mind, these services also enable the broader climate philanthropy community to operate collaboratively for greater collective impact. Global intelligence: climateworks global intelligence provides funders with the knowledge necessary to build their climate investment strategies. It helps them explore areas for climate action and identify opportunities for greater impact and partnership. 2021 global intelligence highlights include: (i) climateworks' funding trends report captured key trends in climate philanthropy, including the growth of large-scale commitments and an increased focus on equity and justice. Downloaded 500+ times within 24 hours of publication, the report was shared widely on social media and cited in several popular publications. (ii) in addition t”

“In 2021, climateworks foundation advanced land-use policies and practices that mitigate climate change, benefit people, and protect the environment through its support for and administration of the climate and land use alliance (clua), a collaborative philanthropic initiative. Through clua, in 2021 climateworks made 132 grants totaling $18.6 million to 111 grantees focused on halting and reversing forest loss, advancing sustainable land use and development, and securing the rights and livelihoods of indigenous and forest communities. In addition, at cop26 in 2021, governments and private funders announced a historic us$1.7 billion pledge in support of indigenous peoples and local communities. As part of the pledge, donors committed to directly funding communities and promised them "decision-making and design" agency over climate programs and finance instruments. Donors include the united kingdom, norway, germany, the united states, the netherlands, and 17 funders - including clua members the ford foundation, packard foundation, moore foundation, and good energies foundation.”

“Program consulting: program service expenses 21,160,132. Management and general expenses 150. Fundraising expenses 40,000. Total expenses 21,200,282. Communications: program service expenses 405,140. Management and general expenses 253,200. Fundraising expenses 397. Total expenses 658,737. Consulting and professional services: program service expenses 158,187. Management and general expenses 14,543. Fundraising expenses 9. Total expenses 172,739. Temporary staffing: program service expenses 396,504. Management and general expenses 70,623. Fundraising expenses 8,841. Total expenses 475,968. Program measurement and evaluation: program service expenses 536,373. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 536,373. Recruiting: program service expenses 56,554. Management and general expenses 296,437. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 352,991.”

“Recovery of prior year grant expenses 295,480.”