About Us

Our mission is to rapidly and exponentially increase climate philanthropy by connecting donors with peers, experts, and high-impact solutions that restore our planet and build a healthy and equitable future for all.

The Climate Leadership Initiative (CLI) was created to provide philanthropists with guidance and insights into impactful climate solutions. We advise new climate philanthropists and engage those with experience to connect with their peers.

With a sophisticated staff and a network of trusted advisors, climate experts, peer philanthropists, and thought leaders, CLI is ready to help philanthropists find their path to impact.

Learn more about CLI and how we’ve helped philanthropists find their path to climate impact in How Climate Leadership Initiative is Accelerating Climate Philanthropy, a featured piece for the Hewlett Foundation.

Our Story

After the adoption of the 2015 Paris Agreement, leaders from our founding funders and key partners decided that addressing the climate crisis at a level corresponding to the urgent threat required more philanthropic investment—quickly and at the scale needed. In 2019, CLI was formally launched, and today we continue to work closely with these original funders.

CLI plays a unique role in engaging philanthropists, particularly those new to the climate issue, and connecting them with high-impact solutions sourced from the broader climate community. In addition, CLI helps donors connect the dots between climate and other areas where they may already be giving–such as poverty, health, education, conservation, and science, as well as in specific geographic regions.

Board of Trustees

CLI is governed by a Board of Trustees that includes leading funders and experts in climate philanthropy.

Meet the Board

CLI Team

We are an experienced, mission-driven team of advisors, communicators, climate experts, researchers, and nonprofit professionals passionate about helping philanthropists find their paths to impact.

Meet the Team

Peer Philanthropists

The Climate Leadership Initiative (CLI) works with volunteers and ambassadors who connect with peers to share experiences, insights, and collaborative giving opportunities that widen the community of donors.

Meet Peer Philanthropists