The European Climate Foundation (ECF), headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, was established in 2008 by a consortium of philanthropists aiming to accelerate Europe’s transition to a low-carbon economy and strengthen its role in combating climate change. Structurally, ECF operates as a “foundation of foundations,” functioning largely through strategic grantmaking. In 2022, it awarded 1,209 grants to 696 partners—an exponential growth from 181 grants to 102 organisations in 2012. Its annual budget is estimated at around €25 million, most of which goes to supporting NGOs, think tanks, and advocacy groups.
The foundation divides its work across sector-specific programs (including energy, transport, industry, and land use), cross-cutting platforms, and country-specific initiatives. Its efforts have contributed to significant policy milestones, such as the EU’s 2035 ban on sales of new internal combustion engine cars, following coordinated action with more than 120 partners. Another recent initiative, ReNew2030, aims to foster a global coalition to rapidly expand renewable energy within the next five years.
ECF’s grant portfolio has broadened in scope, now including projects focused on citizen participation, peace and security, as well as agriculture, and its geographic reach continues expanding into regions like Spain, Italy, and Ukraine. The foundation strictly finances its work from philanthropic—not corporate or government—sources, and does not fund political parties or religious activities. As of 2021, the ECF employs over 200 staff members and has been led by CEO Laurence Tubiana since 2017.