Climate Transformation Fund 2023


New calls are expected to open at the end of the year 2023

Get notified on next call 2023
Introduction

The Milkywire Climate Transformation Fund (CTF), launched in 2021, is a charitable fund that supports pioneering projects needed to reach global net zero. Our ambition is guided by an impact-first approach, meaning we are searching for solutions with the greatest potential long-term impact that actually reduce CO₂ emissions rather than focus on carbon compensation claims. Read our detailed selection criteria and framework.


Selection criteria

Previously supported projects


See previously supported projects in our progress report for 2021-2022. Projects supported in our second round of donations and purchases in late 2022 (new ones include Beyond Zero Emissions, New energy nexus, Plant with purpose, Interearth, and Silicate) are being added to Milkywire's website.

Call for proposals
This year, in preparation for our third allocation round, we are launching a call for proposals within the three pillars that the CTF focuses on. We, therefore, have three different forms with calls for proposals.


Durable carbon removal 


Helping remove CO₂ from the atmosphere through carbon removal with durable long-term storage. CCS/CCU and carbon storage with an insecure or short storage time are not included in this category (nature restoration and protection projects have their own category).  We want to deploy funds catalytically, meaning we are not just looking at high-quality projects but also aim for projects where our support can make the most impact. We are both looking to support the testing of early new technologies not proven at scale yet, and help scale more mature solutions (e.g., biochar) through supporting sustainable, high-quality projects. We are looking to make pre-purchases of carbon removal and do not have the ability to sign longer offtake agreements, although tonnes can be delivered over several years. See our selection criteria and framework

You can also read more about our theory of change in supporting carbon removal in this recommendation of our carbon removal portfolio by Giving Green. 

Get notified on next call 2023

Nature restoration and protection


Nature-based solutions implemented by non-profit organizations that help to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change, such as afforestation, reforestation, forest preservation, restoration of degraded lands, wetlands, mangroves, and beyond. 

In particular, we are interested in innovative projects that could become self-sustaining or replicated. Projects should, along with reducing emissions and absorbing CO₂, help to conserve biodiversity-rich ecosystems and provide synergetic benefits for local communities, for example, poverty alleviation or improved agricultural practices. Projects should be done with an equity-first approach putting decision-making in the local populations' hands. We also aim for projects that have the potential to scale and be replicated, as well as plan for the long-term sustainability of the project.  We provide an initial grant for one year, subject to renewal upon project needs and performance evaluation. See our selection criteria and framework here

Decarbonization


Supporting high-impact projects implemented by non-profit organizations that help to avoid or reduce emissions, as well as supporting policy advocacy projects that fight for climate policy change. Avoided emissions:

In this category, we aim to support effective projects that directly reduce emissions but are not profitable enough to happen independently. For example, building renewable energy to replace fossil fuels in remote locations; or supporting startups and entrepreneurs in the field of green energy transition, green mobility, and beyond.  Policy & advocacy: 

We believe that effective organizations that advocate for policy change in climate can be orders of magnitude more cost-effective than other climate solutions. We, therefore, aim to support effective, professional non-profit organizations in developing and advocating for climate solutions. This can, for example, be projects advocating divestment from fossil fuels, supporting policy dialogues on energy transition and other climate issues, and projects advocating for further support of R&D and research in this field.  We provide an initial grant for one year, subject to renewal upon project needs and performance evaluation. See our selection criteria and framework here

Tentative timeline: 

19 Dec 2022 Call for proposals published 22 Jan 2023 Call for proposals closes 22 Jan - 10 Feb. Milkywire invites selected applicants to submit more information and/or for an interview.  February-March 2023 We grade projects in accordance with our selection framework and take input from our advisory group. April 2023. Final selection. May-August 2023. Contracts written and support paid out.


More information The initial submission from interested projects should be done by filling out these forms: carbon removal, protection and restoring nature, and decarbonization.

The form should not take more than 30 min to fill out. It is intended to create a short list of projects to be invited to provide more information about their solution.  The median level of support for each project from previous allocation rounds was around 100 000 USD, but it is expected to be higher in 2023. Projects with large needs might receive several times higher support than the median project.  Submissions will be treated in confidence and not made public. However, aggregated information might be published, such as the number of companies with direct air capture solutions that applied and the total number of tons that were offered to us, as well as the range of the solutions and key focus of the projects within restoring and protecting nature and decarbonization pillars.  For questions. Contact robert.hoglund@milkywire.com and/or natalya.yakusheva.jarlebring@milkywire.com