Project Drawdown, formed in 2014 and headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, operates as a charitable advocacy group under the leadership of executive director Jonathan Foley. ¹ The organization positions itself as a science-driven climate solutions advocate but maintains strong ties to policy networks and left-of-center philanthropic funders. ²

With an annual revenue of $4.2 million in 2021, Project Drawdown channels grants and contributions from foundations, individuals, and corporate partners toward climate research, policy advocacy, and narrative campaigns aligned with environmental justice frameworks. ³

Grants and Contributions

Project Drawdown’s financial ecosystem relies heavily on grants from progressive-leaning institutions. ⁴ Between 2015 and 2023, the organization received significant funding from entities such as the Caldera Foundation ($425,000 for climate solution analysis and finance initiatives), the Windward Fund ($150,000 for capacity building), and the Union of Concerned Scientists ($425,000 for clean energy advocacy). ⁵

In 2021, 60 percent of Project Drawdown’s $2.58 million in foundation grants originated from organizations advocating decarbonization mandates and wealth redistribution strategies tied to climate justice. ⁶

Critics highlight risks associated with donor dependency, as the top five funders contributed 52 percent of total revenue in 2021. This concentration raises concerns about mission alignment with donor priorities, particularly given Project Drawdown’s collaborations with groups like the Sunrise Movement Education Fund and Indivisible Civics, which lobby for Green New Deal policies and federal job-retraining programs. ⁷

Programs and Affiliations

Project Drawdown’s initiatives prioritize systemic economic transformation through left-of-center policy frameworks. Its Climate Action Lab, co-funded by the Windward Fund and the Philanthropy Workshop, promotes investor activism to divest from fossil fuels and advocates for legislation mirroring Green New Deal principles. ⁸ The organization’s research emphasizes social equity, framing family planning and girls’ education as climate strategies, an approach aligned with United Nations gender-action agendas. ⁹

1.  Project Drawdown, “Home,” accessed February 18, 2025, https://drawdown.org.
2.  Project Drawdown, “Drawdown Solutions Library,” accessed February 18, 2025, https://drawdown.org/solutions.
3.  Project Drawdown, “Drawdown Labs,” accessed February 18, 2025, https://drawdown.org/programs/drawdown-labs.
4. Project Drawdown, “Ways to Give,” accessed February 18, 2025, https://drawdown.org/donate.
5. Project Drawdown, “Project Drawdown receives $100000 donation from the McCance Foundation,” September 13, 2024, https://drawdown.org/news/project-drawdown-receives-100000-donation-from-the-mccance-foundation.
6. Project Drawdown, “Project Drawdown awarded $300000 from the Gerald L. Lennard Foundation,” July 1, 2024, https://drawdown.org/news/project-drawdown-awarded-300000-from-the-gerald-l-lennard-foundation.
7. Project Drawdown, “New program to boost funding for priority climate solutions,” May 16, 2024, https://drawdown.org/news/new-program-to-boost-funding-for-priority-climate-solutions.
8. Project Drawdown, “Drawdown Capital Coalition,” accessed February 18, 2025, https://drawdown.org/programs/drawdown-labs/capital-coalition.
9. Project Drawdown, “Grantmaking Climate Change Action Guide,” February 3, 2025, https://drawdown.org/programs/drawdown-labs/job-function-action-guides/grantmaking.