Philanthropy For Climate: State of the Movement Report 2026

The first Philanthropy For Climate movement progress report shows that climate action is rapidly becoming embedded across philanthropy. With nearly 1,000 signatories globally, the movement is helping foundations move from awareness to action, shifting how they fund, operate, and collaborate.

Overview

Climate action is no longer being treated as a niche concern for environmental funders alone. Across the philanthropy sector, foundations working on health, education, inequality, poverty, and community development are increasingly recognising that climate change is already affecting the outcomes they care about.

The report captures a philanthropy sector that is increasingly recognising climate change not as a standalone issue, but as something shaping every area of work, from health and education to inequality and community resilience.

Drawing on responses from foundations across the movement, the report explores how organisations of different sizes, structures, and missions are approaching climate action in practice.

Key takeaways

1. Climate action is the new norm: 98% of signatories are making measurable progress on their climate commitments.
2. This is a global movement: Foundations across different countries, contexts, and funding models are participating, showing that climate action is not limited to specialist environmental funders.
3. Peer-learning matters: Foundations that engage more actively in the movement report stronger awareness, action, and institutional progress.
4. Capital is beginning to shift: 85% of signatories are committing resources to climate, with 27% at an advanced stage. While 36% of signatories are still taking no action on endowment and assets, 95% of those with confirmed endowments are taking active steps to align their investments with climate values.