Catalyzing Climate Solutions Through Strategic Philanthropy
1.5°Climate is a free, national donor collaborative that connects philanthropists with a broad portfolio of high-impact organizations and projects on the front lines of climate action. Informed by landscape research and hundreds of organizational interviews each year, 1.5°Climate identifies catalytic, high-leverage, and gap-filling opportunities in urgent need of direct funding. Members receive insights through curated, bi-weekly presentations that spotlight emerging opportunities, respond to real-time developments, and explore a wide range of critical climate issues.
The Problem
Less than 2% of philanthropy goes to climate
The climate crisis affects nearly every part of society, yet it receives only a small share of philanthropic funding.
Impactful climate philanthropy is complex
The vast and complex climate solutions landscape can cause paralysis, making it challenging for donors to identify and support effective opportunities.
Rapidly scaling climate philanthropy is critical
Now is the pivotal moment for philanthropists to act and help guide us back toward a 1.5°C future.
The Solution
1.5°Climate offers a powerful platform to drive change through strategic philanthropy. By connecting donors with high-impact climate solutions via bi-weekly virtual presentation events, it enables donors to direct their resources to the most effective organizations with ease.
Empower donors: 1.5°Climate streamlines the process, making high impact climate philanthropy easy and rewarding. Members will have the opportunity to provide input to the process and recommend impactful projects.
Maximize impact: Gain access to true matching funds, doubling impact for vetted organizations that deliver high returns on investment.
Build community: Join a network of like-minded philanthropists and institutional donors committed to accelerating climate action and driving lasting change through collaboration.
1.5°Climate Network
Individual Donors
Philanthropists seeking community and looking for opportunities to support or recommend high impact climate projects.
Donor Advisors
Trusted advisors helping donors make informed and impactful philanthropic decisions.
Foundations and Pooled Funds
Board members and professional staff looking for high-impact climate projects to fund or getting more support for projects they have identified.
1.5°Climate Process
Step 1: Steering committee identifies research topics
The 1.5°Climate steering committee, composed of leaders from across the climate and philanthropic space, as well as member volunteers, provides guidance on research topics.
Step 2: Staff conducts landscape assessments, organization interviews, and evaluations
1.5°Climate staff conducts landscape assessments on research topics, completes hundreds of organizational interviews each year, and shares recommendations with the steering committee.
Step 3: Steering committee makes final selections
The steering committee selects the most promising projects to share with members through regular communications and quick-pitch events.
1.5°Climate Infrastructure
Research Program
1.5°C Climate researches, interviews, and evaluates hundreds of organizations annually, focusing on identifying catalytic, high-leverage, gap-filling, and urgent projects.
Project Portal
Members gain exclusive access to a searchable project database with recorded presentations and due diligence documents, helping them discover opportunities aligned with their philanthropic goals
1.5°Climate Fund
With a single contribution, members can support multiple organizations, maximize tax benefits, preserve anonymity, and ensure 100% of their gift is re-granted—without any overhead or fiscal fees.
Two Way Communications
Members have a channel to submit project suggestions. A rotating group of members serves on the steering committee, working alongside leaders from the climate and philanthropic sectors to guide 1.5°C research and project selection.
1.5°Climate Advisory Board
Bill McKibben
Founder, 350.org and Third Act
Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez
President, NextGen America
Denis Hayes
Founder, Earth Day Network
Emily Teitsworth
ED, Honnold Foundation
Heather Coleman
Philanthropic Advisor, Wallace Global Fund
Hunter Lovins
President, Natural Capitalism Solutions
Isabel Leighton
ED , Donors of Color Network
Jamal Raad
Co-Founder and Former ED, Evergreen Action
Ken Alex
Director, Project Climate, UC Berkeley
Maurice Mitchell
National Director, Working Families Party
Michael Mann
Professor and Director, Earth Science Center, Penn State University
Michelle Deatrick
National Chair, DNC Climate Council
Pamela Shifman
President, Democracy Alliance
Steve Choi
Former ED, One for Democracy
Tory Gavito
Co-Founder and President, Way to Win
1.5°Climate Creative Advisory Board
Adam McKay
Academy Award-winning Director of Don’t Look Up, The Big Short, etc
Favianna Rodriguez
Artist, Co-Founder and President of The Center for Cultural Power
James Balog
Award-winning Photographer, Founder of Extreme Ice Survey, Earth Vision Institute
Jeff Orlowski-Yang
Award-winning Filmmaker, Founder of Exposure Labs
Jane Fonda
Academy Award-winning Actor, Founder of Jane Fonda Climate PAC
1.5°CSG Steering Committee
Ning Mosberger-Tang
Founder & President, 1.5°Climate
Steve Toben
Facilitator, Climate Action Labs, Forward Global
Beth Braun
Philanthropist
Khanh Nguyen
Head of Engineering, WeaveGrid
Frances Sawyer
Founder of Pleiades Strategy
Betsy Taylor
Chair, Volgenau Climate Initiative
Jim Lazar
Moderator, Electricity Brain Trust
Michael Kieschnick
President, Green Advocacy Project
Eleanor LeCain
Founder & Executive Director, The Solutions Summit
Nik Mittal
Managing Partner, Molecule Ventures, LLC.
1.5°Climate Staff
Ning Mosberger-Tang
Founder and President
Ning has a background in computer science and has worked for a number of years in the tech industry, including a few years as an early developer and team lead at Google. Since 2006, she has focused on conservation and environmental education, climate change mitigation, community organizing, and policy advocacy. She does her climate work through a private foundation, as a private investor, and as a board member on multiple environmental boards including the board of League of Conservation Voters. Ning also founded Blue Wave Postcard Movement to turn out voters through grassroots organizing, as well as Emerging Voters to empower AAPI voters and increase AAPI representation in politics.
Greg Rock
Executive Director
Greg is an energy engineer with a background in clean energy policies who served as the public buildings energy efficiency lead for the Washington State Energy Office for three years. Greg founded the Green Car Company, which introduced the first Smart Cars and municipal PHEV conversions to the United States and campaigned for the nation’s first carbon tax initiative. From 2015-2020 Greg lobbied the WA State legislature and drafted the WA Sustainable Farms and Fields Act, which contributed to the creation of the $1 billion USDA Climate Smart Commodities program and $20 billion for sustainable agriculture within the Inflation Reduction Act. Greg is also the Executive Director of Clean & Prosperous America which quickly moves pooled resources, free of charge, to grassroots organizations.
Page Atcheson
Program Director
Page Atcheson has been advancing solutions to mitigate the climate crisis for over a decade through community organizing, policymaking, fundraising, electoral politics, and leadership development. After co-founding 350 Vermont as a college student, Page worked with the Northern Plains Resource Council in Montana on a successful campaign to block proposed coal export terminals along the west coast. Page then co-founded Oregon Climate (now Our Climate), a youth-led effort to put a price on carbon pollution in Oregon; in 2016, she stepped into the Executive Director role to lead the organization’s national expansion. Under her leadership, Our Climate engaged thousands of young leaders in efforts to win state-level climate and clean energy policies across the country. More recently, Page has worked with the Global Warming Mitigation Project to raise funds for climate startups around the world and advised The States Project on state legislative climate policy work. In addition to working with the 1.5°Climate Strategies Group, Page currently serves as the Grant Program Director for Clean & Prosperous America, where she identifies, funds, and supports community-based groups to engage voters and elect pro-climate candidates. She lives in Missoula, Montana with her husband, pup, and two young children.
Audrey Peshkam
Community Engagement
Director
Audrey Peshkam is an experienced fundraising and development professional with a deep passion for climate solutions. Audrey received her undergraduate degree in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz and spent two years of her time at UCSC supporting ecology research efforts as well as producing an environmental justice podcast series. Since receiving her Bachelor’s degree, Audrey has gained comprehensive experience in fundraising and development work through various non-profit organizations. As an Armenian American, she has worked with several organizations dedicated to supporting efforts related to public health, education, and economic development in rural Armenia. Her educational as well as professional backgrounds have now intersected through her work at 1.5°Climate, as she works to expand membership, increase giving, and extend the scope of the 1.5° community.
Dominic Canterbury
Technology Director
With over 20 years of experience, Dominic has led successful technology projects for startups, nonprofits, regional businesses, and national and international clients including Microsoft, Intel, AT&T, Target, and Staples. Areas of expertise include IT operations, web development, technology implementation, and analytics.
Ariana Mckisic
Program Manager
Ariana’s journey has been marked by a passion for driving positive change. With a rich background in nonprofit work and a flair for data analytics, Ariana has been a guiding force in creating meaningful impacts. She has dedicated more than 2 years to the nonprofit sector, where she served as a Program Assistant for Atlanta GLOW, a former CaPA grantee committed to community betterment for minority groups, mostly young women of color. Her roles included supporting the implementation of various programs, collaborating with stakeholders, and ensuring the smooth execution of initiatives aimed at making a difference. Her passion for equity and justice has been the driving force behind her efforts to empower those in need and actively work to uplift marginalized communities.
Peter Kago
Research and Data Manager
Peter is an IT professional and a versatile data specialist with a degree in Information Technology. With a rich background in research, quality assurance, web development, and data analytics, Peter has contributed to various projects in multiple roles, including as a Virtual Assistant. His understanding of programming languages, coupled with his ability to analyze and interpret data, enables him to provide insightful solutions for strategic goals. Peter’s expertise lies in leveraging technology to support research-driven decision-making and enhance operational efficiency. When not immersed in data, Peter is passionate about advancing technology and innovation to create impactful solutions.
Climate Justice
The 1.5°Climate Strategies Group acknowledges the disproportionate, negative impacts of fossil fuel extraction and dependence on marginalized communities in the United States and globally. These communities face systemic barriers to accessing crucial resources for a smooth transition to clean energy. As a donor collaborative, we are deeply committed to addressing climate injustices, recognizing institutional racism’s role in sustaining and exacerbating disparities. The 1.5°Climate Strategies Group emphasizes the urgent need to allocate additional financial resources and build capacity for the clean energy transition in disadvantaged communities, striving for a more equitable and sustainable future for all.