The Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development is an environmental advocacy and consulting organization that is focused on accelerating the transition to net-zero carbon emissions. ¹ It is funded by several large left-of-center organizations that support environmentalism including the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, the World Resources Institute, the ClimateWorks Foundation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and the McKnight Foundation. ^{2 3 4 5 6}

Background

The Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development, also known as the Great Plains Institute, is focused on accelerating the economic transition to net-zero carbon emissions. ¹ It was established in 1997 through a grant from the Northwest Area Foundation (NWAF). ⁷

The Great Plains Institute works with communities, organizations, and government agencies to develop policies that lead toward net-zero emissions in the areas of electric vehicles, renewable energy, utilities, carbon capture and storage, and local and federal policy. It provides technical assistance, education and communication, facilitation, and policy and regulatory advocacy. ^{8 9}

Work Areas

The Powering the Plains Energy Transition Roadmap is a 50-year energy strategy supported by the Bush Foundation and the Joyce Foundation for the upper Midwest of the United States. It was developed from 2006 to 2010 with a variety of energy stakeholders and approved by the Midwestern Governors Association. ⁷

The Great Plains Institute facilitates the monthly sharing of information by the Minnesota Cities Climate Coalition on state regulatory policies associated with energy and climate programs. ¹⁰

The Carbon Capture Coalition is an advocacy coalition focused on federal policies supporting carbon management technologies and deployment. It promotes carbon capture, utilization, and storage, and advocates federal and state policies to accelerate these processes. Participants include the AFL-CIO, the Bipartisan Policy Center, Carbon180, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, the Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Forum, the Clean Air Task Force, the Energy Innovation Reform Project, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, the United Mine Workers of America, the United Steelworkers, and the Utility Workers Union of America. ¹¹

The e21 initiative was established in 2014 by the Great Plains Institute and the Center for Energy and Environment to advance a decarbonized electric system in Minnesota. ¹²

The Industrial Innovation Initiative was established by the Great Plains Institute and the World Resources Institute in 2020 to advance policies at the federal, state, and regional levels to reduce industrial emissions. ^{13 14}

The Great Plains Institute provides paid consulting services associated with developing climate action plans, energy action plans, solar and electric vehicle readiness assessments, and weather-dependent energy program design. ¹⁵

In 2020 the Bezos Earth Fund partnered with the Great Plains Institute, the ClimateWorks Foundation, the BlueGreen Alliance, and the Center for Carbon Removal with a $12.5 million grant for “Creating Markets for Climate-Safe Cement and Steel.” ¹⁶

Funding

In 2024, the Great Plains Institute reported $13,914,854 in total revenue and received government grants totaling $1,043,793. ¹⁷

Donors to the Great Plains Institute include the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation, the Ecology Center, RF Catalytic Capital, Multiplier, Breakthrough Energy, the United Nations Foundation, the World Resources Institute, the ClimateWorks Foundation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Energy Foundation, The Minneapolis Foundation, and the Sequoia Climate Foundation. ^{2 3}

Since 2013, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has awarded the Great Plains Institute over $15 million for general operating support and for specific programs such as the Industrial Innovation Initiative. ⁴

The MacArthur Foundation has awarded $3 million to the Great Plains Institute since 2017 as part of its Climate Solutions grant category. ⁵

The McKnight Foundation has awarded over $3.1 million to the Great Plains Institute since 2020. ⁶

Leadership

Rolf Nordstrom is president and CEO of the Great Plains Institute. Nordstrom earned a master’s degree in international environmental policy and sustainable development from Tufts University and joined the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board as an assistant director. He has been the president and CEO of Great Plains Institute since 2007. ¹⁸ Nordstrom is also on several advisory boards including the American Association of Blacks in Energy, the Energy Systems Integration Group, and Midwest CleanTech Open, and was on the evaluation panel for the 2030 Climate Challenge sponsored by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. ¹⁹

Board member Toyah Callahan is a program director for the environmental advocacy group Interstate Renewable Energy Council and also works at SolSmart and EV Smart which are local government programs funded by the United States Department of Energy. ²⁰

Board member Mothusi Pahl is a senior executive at the energy technology company Modern Hydrogen which is backed by billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates. ²⁰

Board member Deidre Sanders is the founder of ArkSpring Consulting which focuses on “advancing environmental justice, economic justice, and social justice objectives.” ²¹ “Board of Directors.” Great Plains Institute – Who We Are. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://betterenergy.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors/ [/note

Board treasurer Scott Zastoupil is the CFO of the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation. ²¹ “Board of Directors.” Great Plains Institute – Who We Are. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://betterenergy.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors/ [/note

Board member Christa Velasquez is a consultant with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. She has also held senior roles at the Lumina Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. ²¹ “Board of Directors.” Great Plains Institute – Who We Are. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://betterenergy.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors/ [/note

1. Great Plains Institute homepage. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://betterenergy.org/
2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer search. Accessed June 27, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?form%5B%5D=IRS990ScheduleI&q=41-1921126&sort=best&submit=Apply
3. “Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development | 990 Report.” Instrumentl. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/great-plains-institute-for-sustainable-development
4. “Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development.” William and Floral Hewlett Foundation – Grants. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://hewlett.org/grants/?_grant_search=Great%20Plains%20Institute
5. “Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Develo.” MacArthur Foundation – Grants. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/great-plains-institute-for-sustainable-development-10113513/
6. “Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development.” McKnight Foundation – Grants. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.mcknight.org/grants/search-our-grants/?grant-keyword=Great+Plains+Institute&date_start=&date_end=&grant_program=#main-content
7. “GPI’s History.” Great Plains Institute. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://betterenergy.org/who-we-are/our-history/
8. “Our Approach.” Great Plains Institute. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://betterenergy.org/our-work/
9. “Press and Media Page.” Great Plains Institute. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://betterenergy.org/media-great-plains-institute/
10. “Minnesota Cities Climate Coalition.” Great Plains Institute. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://betterenergy.org/cities-climate-coalition/
11. “About the Carbon Capture Coalition.” Carbon Capture Coalition. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://carboncapturecoalition.org/about-us/
12. “About the e21 Initiative.” E21 Initiative. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://e21initiative.org/about-e21/
13. LinkedIn – Great Plains Institute. Posted June 2025. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7336072010285969410/
14. LinkedIn – Industrial Innovation Initiative. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/company/industrial-innovation-initiative/
15. “Our Services.” Great Plains Institute. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://betterenergy.org/services/
16. “Creating Markets for Climate-Safe Cement and Steel.” Bezos Earth Fund – Our Programs. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.bezosearthfund.org/grants/creating-markets-for-climate-safe-cement-and-steel
17. Great Plains Institute For Sustainable Development. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part VIII). 2024.
18. LinkedIn – Rolf Nordstrom. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rolf-nordstrom-11220b7/
19. “Rolf Nordstrom.” Great Plains Institute – Who We Are. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://betterenergy.org/rolf-nordstrom/
20. “Board of Directors.” Great Plains Institute – Who We Are. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://betterenergy.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors/