What types of proposals do you fund?

Climate Grants supports people exploring solutions for climate change at the edge of mainstream thinking, i.e. research or development. Ideally, you're someone who documents your work in public, whether that's in the form of content (blog posts, tweets, books), code, or developing a product. The size of your audience doesn't matter. I care more about authenticity, an interesting perspective, and a demonstrated commitment to your work.

You can use the funds for whatever you'd like, including equipment or materials, or funding your time. A few caveats: Climate Grants are intended for individuals (not organizations); they cannot be used to repay debt; and your proposal should be appropriately sized to a $1K grant (i.e. don't apply with a $250K budget; additional funding sources are fine for bigger budgets, but you should already have that money secured).

What are the criteria by which the grants are being awarded?

My only criterion when making the decision on who to fund is: "Where would my $1000 make the most impact?".

When you say “no strings attached,” what does that mean?

If you're selected for a grant, I’ll email you to arrange payment details. I'll send you a followup email to hear how it went. That’s it!

Can anybody apply?

Yes, any age, country (see caveats below), industry, job title, philosophy, or stage of life.

I work/don't work at a research institution, can I still apply?

Yes! You can be an expert or an amateur, affiliated with a university or research institute, independently funded, or doing this on nights and weekends. It doesn't matter how "official" or "unofficial" your research is: just that you're exploring interesting ideas.

If my application gets rejected this month, can I apply again next month?

Yes! Each individual can submit one application per month. Since a lot can change in a month, consider updating your application so that I have the most up-to-date information about the work you are doing.

How will you send the money?

I can send money via PayPal (you need a PayPal/bank account), TransferWise, Venmo, or mail a check.

I’m outside of the U.S., can I apply?

Yes, as long as you use PayPal or TransferWise. I’m not an expert on international payments, so there may be country-specific issues I’m unaware of. If I follow up on your application, I’ll do extra research to make sure we’re all on the same page about fees and legal rigmarole.

I have a question about applying for a grant or becoming a patron. How can I get in touch?

Email climategrants@gmail.com.

Where does the funding come from?

The grants are funded by these generous patrons and myself. If you would like to pitch in, you can apply to become a patron here.

How can I get updates on this project?

Sign up here. Expect at most one email every month.

Can I start my own version of this?

Of course! Feel free to adapt these grant terms to your own needs. If you start your own version, I'd love to hear about it: climategrants@gmail.com.

Who are you?

I work at DataGrail and I like to spend my spare time thinking about how to solve climate change. You can reach me on LinkedIn or Twitter or email me at climategrants@gmail.com.