Who funds Rocky Mountain Institute?
67 private foundations reported grants to Rocky Mountain Institute in Boulder, Colorado totaling $25.9 million across 84 grants in tax years 2023 to 2025. The largest funder was Sequoia Climate Foundation, with $6.3 million.
From the funders' IRS Form 990-PF filings.
- Foundation funders67
- Grants reported84
- Total received$25.9 million
- Funders taking applications15
Foundations that fund Rocky Mountain Institute
| Foundation | Purpose given | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sequoia Climate Foundation | To support decarbonization of the power sector and improve public health | 7 | $6.3 million |
| The Bloomberg Family Foundation Inc | To support clean energy | 1 | $4.7 million |
| Sall Family Foundation | General operating support and programmatic support | 1 | $2.9 million |
| Sergey Brin Family Foundation | General operating support | 2 | $2.5 million |
| The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation | For the china program | 6 | $1.7 million |
| The Heising-Simons Foundation | To advance u.s. Power ($600,000) and transportation sector transformation ($400,000) | 1 | $1.0 million |
| The Lewis Foundation | General support | 1 | $1.0 million |
| The Lemelson Foundation | To source, select, support, and scale promising startups through rmis third derivative and climate-aligned industries programs focused on decarbonizing three heavy industries: cement and concrete, petrochemicals, and steel | 1 | $1.0 million |
| Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc | For its state energy boost project | 2 | $700,758 |
| The Rao Foundation | Unrestricted charitable grant | 1 | $500,000 |
| The Arthur M Blank Family Foundation | Clean energy deployment | 1 | $465,000 |
| ELDRED FOUNDATION INC co CAROLYN S ELDRED | General contribution | 1 | $300,000 |
| Crankstart Foundation | To decarbonize maritime shipping | 1 | $300,000 |
| The Heinz Endowments | To create an equitable clean energy and cleantech regional investment action plan for southwestern pennsylvania, leveraging existing resources, and assets, including those offered by the inflation reduction act | 2 | $233,000 |
| The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation | Developing the Critical 'Connective Tissue' Infrastructure in Texas for Powering a new Energy Economy | 1 | $200,000 |
| The Esther A & Joseph Klingenstein Fund Inc | Environment | 1 | $150,000 |
| Stolte Family Foundation | Funding for general charitable operations | 1 | $150,000 |
| Sally Mead Hands Foundation | Operating funds | 1 | $147,500 |
| The Planetary Trust | Research institute dedicated to rethinking us energy | 1 | $130,000 |
| The Educational Foundation of America | Engage and act: powerful data and analytical engines for climate action | 1 | $125,000 |
| Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao Foundation | Program/project support | 1 | $125,000 |
| Wy'east Foundation | General operations to support efficient and restorative uses of resources | 1 | $125,000 |
| Laura and John Arnold Foundation | To conduct non-partisan research and analysis on estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from prospective federal permitting bills. | 1 | $105,000 |
| The Nathan Cummings Foundation Inc | Cultivating brightfields in marginalized communities | 1 | $100,000 |
| Lennox Foundation | Climate Change Mitigation: Capacity Building in Developing Regions | 3 | $94,308 |
| Branson Family Foundation | environmental protection | 1 | $90,000 |
| The Moses Feldman Family Foundation | General operating support | 1 | $75,000 |
| Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc | Fci year 4 (2 of 2) | 1 | $66,500 |
| Flora L Thornton Foundation | General support | 1 | $55,000 |
| The Klungness Family Foundation Inc | General & Unrestricted | 1 | $50,000 |
| The Hartfield Fdn Inc 0739-80-42 | Nc direct regulatory | 1 | $50,000 |
| Caldera Foundation | Financial support for rocky mountain institute | 1 | $50,000 |
| Wiancko Charitable Foundation Inc | Unrestricted | 1 | $50,000 |
| The Arjun Gupta Family Foundation | General | 1 | $50,000 |
| Lafetra Foundation | General support | 1 | $50,000 |
| Aria Foundation | General operating purposes | 1 | $30,000 |
| Dallas & Louise Anderson Foundation | Support sustainable energy and climate solutions | 1 | $28,000 |
| MRB Foundation Inc | Environmental | 1 | $25,000 |
| Mulberry Essence Foundation | General | 1 | $25,000 |
| Paul M Anderson Foundation | Greatest need | 1 | $25,000 |
| Lakeside Foundation | General fund | 1 | $25,000 |
| The Rona and Jeffrey Abramson Foundation | Unrestricted funds | 1 | $15,000 |
| The Laura L Tiberti Charitable Foundation | Energy and resource efficiencies | 1 | $12,000 |
| The Lipman Family Foundation Inc | To create a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future | 1 | $10,000 |
| Records Johnston Family Foundation | General | 1 | $10,000 |
| Equinox Foundation | Operating fund | 1 | $10,000 |
| Moeller Foundation Inc | General fund | 1 | $7,500 |
| Arches Foundation | Organization dedicated to preserving natural resources, promoting arts, education and civil rights. | 1 | $7,000 |
| The JM Kaplan Fund Inc | General operating support | 1 | $5,000 |
| The Fine and Greenwald Foundation | Environmental | 1 | $5,000 |
| John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found | All contributions made for the intent established by the various charities | 1 | $5,000 |
| Howard P Colhoun Family Foundation Inc | For the exempt function of the organization | 1 | $5,000 |
| Rim Institute | Education | 1 | $5,000 |
| Gaia Fund | General Support | 2 | $4,000 |
| The Fanwood Foundation | General purpose | 1 | $3,500 |
| Richard and Judith Stern Family Foundation | General purpose | 1 | $3,000 |
| Oumu Foundation Inc | Support nonprofit activities | 1 | $2,500 |
| Caithness Foundation | Energy/environment | 1 | $2,000 |
| The Goodwin Foundation | Charitable operations support | 1 | $1,000 |
| Weller Investment Company | Aid to community | 1 | $1,000 |
| The Kean Foundation Inc | Unrestricted | 1 | $500 |
| The Nagourney Institute | 2023 donation | 1 | $500 |
| Douglas and Maria Bayer Foundation | General operating funds | 1 | $450 |
| Family Mayer Foundation | renewable energy | 1 | $300 |
| Pohlad Family Foundation | General operating support | 1 | $200 |
| Brady Foundation | Charitable use | 1 | $150 |
| Analog Devices Foundation | General support | 1 | $103 |
Using this list
A foundation that already gives to Rocky Mountain Institute gives in its field and region, so the list doubles as a prospect list for similar organizations in Boulder. Open a foundation to see its application rules, typical grant and every other grant it paid.
Questions people ask
Who funds Rocky Mountain Institute?
Sequoia Climate Foundation, The Bloomberg Family Foundation Inc, Sall Family Foundation, Sergey Brin Family Foundation and The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, and 62 more, according to their IRS Form 990-PF filings.
How much does Rocky Mountain Institute get from foundations?
$25.9 million in 84 reported grants from 67 private foundations in tax years 2023 to 2025. Government grants and gifts from individuals are not included.
Which of these funders accept applications?
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc, The Rao Foundation, The Heinz Endowments and The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation say in their filings that they accept applications.