desert-drought-dehydrated-clay-soil-./ PHOTO ; Pexel
Global philanthropy is increasingly directing resources to climate adaptation and resilience, recognising the urgent need to help communities withstand escalating climate impacts.
A new landscape report from ClimateWorks Foundation reveals a historic rise in funding, signalling that foundations are responding to the scale and immediacy of the crisis.
The report shows an estimated US$870 million in foundation funding for adaptation and resilience in 2024, more than double the US$404 million tracked in 2021.
Despite this significant increase, the need remains vast: climate impacts such as flooding, extreme heat, wildfires, and food shortages are already affecting vulnerable populations.
Without accelerated support, nearly 900 million people living in poverty are at heightened risk.
“Climate resilience can save lives, transform communities, unlock new possibilities, and safeguard economies,” said Helen Mountford, President and CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation.
“How funders respond to climate impacts today will shape the future for decades to come. Local leaders are already driving innovative and catalytic adaptation on the ground, but the scale of progress depends on how boldly philanthropy invests in these solutions now.”
The report identifies critical opportunities for funders to target underfunded regions, sectors, and locally‑led initiatives. Maria Netto, Executive Director of Instituto Clima e Sociedade, explained:
“Adaptation is a unifying thread across philanthropy.
The report highlights clear opportunities to direct resources to underfunded regions, sectors, and locally led efforts from families affected by recurrent forest fires in Brazil’s Pantanal to fishing and riverine communities in the drought‑stricken North.”
Regionally, Asia and Oceania received less than 10% of adaptation funding from 2021 to 2024, despite being home to more than half of the global population.
By sector, disaster risk management and infrastructure, which form the backbone of community resilience, received the least funding, exposing critical gaps that must be addressed.
Encouragingly, the number of foundations making adaptation‑related grants increased by 55% between 2021 and 2024.
“Philanthropy plays a vital role in accelerating innovations that help communities build resilience. Momentum for climate adaptation is growing, but funding must move faster and reach farther to local innovators and communities already facing climate extremes,” said Neil Watkins, Deputy Director at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“Investing in locally led solutions can strengthen the food, health, and economic systems people rely on to adapt and thrive. But philanthropy can’t do it alone. Progress depends on sustained, aligned investment at every level.”
The business case for adaptation is also gaining recognition. Claire Harbron, CEO at Howden Foundation, noted:
“The business case for investing in adaptation and resilience efforts is clear. A recent report from WRI calculates that every dollar invested in adaptation pays off with a $10 return. It is heartening to see new philanthropic actors step into this space. It’s no longer a debate about whether to invest in adaptation or mitigation to invest in a prosperous future; it’s both.”
The 2025 report builds on a 2024 ClimateWorks survey and represents the first comprehensive analysis tracking adaptation‑funding flows from 40 foundations, offering insights into how philanthropic dollars are allocated, where gaps persist, and where strategic investment can drive the greatest results.
In the context of COP 30, which began on 10 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, and runs through 21 November, these findings take on added significance. The summit places adaptation finance, locally led action, and resilience at the heart of global climate negotiations.
“Adaptation is no longer a niche concern,” said Jessica Hitt, Associate Director of Adaptation and Resilience at ClimateWorks Foundation and author of the report.
” An adaptation lens is essential to ensure all future foundation strategies can withstand escalating climate risks. Without resilient systems, climate shocks could quickly erode decades of progress in health, food security, and poverty reduction.”
As climate‑related challenges grow in complexity and frequency, the findings from the ClimateWorks report signal that philanthropy is beginning to align with urgency.
Strategic and sustained investment, particularly in locally led initiatives, will be essential to progress. Targeted funding in under‑resourced regions, coupled with sectoral investment in disaster risk management and infrastructure, can strengthen health systems, safeguard food security, and bolster economic stability for communities worldwide.
About ClimateWorks Foundation
ClimateWorks Foundation is a catalyst for accelerating climate progress, driving bold solutions that benefit people and the planet.
We connect funders and implementing organizations worldwide to identify and scale transformative solutions across sectors and geographies, achieving faster, greater impact together.
Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $2 billion to more than 850 grantees across 50 countries, working with over 80 funders.
