Three Cairns Group
Three Cairns Group is a private, founder-funded investment and philanthropic firm that deploys capital and grants to accelerate climate action, operating through three platforms — Allied Climate Partners, Global Carbon Market Utility, and Allied Talent Partners — primarily serving emerging markets and developing economies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Three Cairns Group does
Three Cairns Group is a private, mission-driven investment and philanthropic firm founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York City by Mark Gallogly and Lise Strickler. The firm deploys capital across three modalities: direct investments in climate-focused businesses via minority patient-capital positions; commitments to climate investment funds spanning early-stage venture capital through climate infrastructure; and philanthropic grants supporting policy advocacy, talent development, communications, and strategic climate initiatives. Its work is organized around three incubated platforms — Allied Climate Partners (ACP) for climate project pipeline development in emerging markets, the Global Carbon Market Utility (GCMU) for voluntary carbon market infrastructure, and Allied Talent Partners (ATP) for connecting climate professionals with EMDE projects.
The firm operates with an 11–50 person team and a leadership bench drawn from Blackstone, Centerbridge Partners, Goldman Sachs, Shell, GE Vernova, McKinsey, and senior U.S. government climate advisory roles. It maintains flagship partnerships with Columbia Business School, Yale School of the Environment, Columbia Climate School, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the World Bank's Private Sector Investment Lab. Co-founder Mark Gallogly's prior track record includes co-founding Centerbridge Partners (over $30 billion AUM) and serving as Global Head of Private Equity at Blackstone.
Three Cairns Group generates returns through investment performance rather than product sales or SaaS fees, with philanthropic deployment funded directly by the co-founders. Its operating geographies span the United States (with a focus on Northeast U.S. and NYC climate policy), the broader Global South, EMDEs broadly, and Africa. The firm's model combines venture-style initiative incubation, policy advocacy, and talent pipeline development — making it a hybrid investment-philanthropy platform rather than a conventional asset manager or foundation.
Three Cairns Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Three Cairns Group
- Legal name
- Three Cairns Group
- Website
- https://threecairnsgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Three Cairns Group is a private, founder-funded investment and philanthropic firm that deploys capital and grants to accelerate climate action, operating through three platforms — Allied Climate Partners, Global Carbon Market Utility, and Allied Talent Partners — primarily serving emerging markets and developing economies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Three Cairns Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate-Focused Investment and Philanthropy
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Climate / Clean Tech & Decarbonization Funds (FSANAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Climate Finance Funds & Green Investment Facilities (BPADACAH), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA)
Keywords
Where Three Cairns Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Three Cairns Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Investment Returns: Three Cairns Group makes direct investments in businesses and commitments to investment funds focused on climate solutions. Fund investments range from early-stage venture capital to resources that help scale climate infrastructure solutions. Direct investments primarily focus on providing patient capital through minority ownership positions in scaling businesses that mitigate and adapt to climate change.
- Philanthropic Grantmaking: Three Cairns Group makes philanthropic grants to advance meaningful climate progress through investments in policy advocacy, talent, communications, and strategic initiatives. They support climate-focused organizations and programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Three Cairns Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Three Cairns Group is a mission-driven investment and philanthropic firm that deploys capital through direct investments in climate-focused businesses, commitments to climate-focused investment funds (early-stage venture capital through climate infrastructure), and philanthropic grants supporting climate policy advocacy, talent development, strategic communications, and strategic initiatives. It also incubates and supports platforms including Allied Climate Partners, Global Carbon Market Utility, and Allied Talent Partners.
Product overview
Three Cairns Group is a mission-driven investment and philanthropic firm focused on climate action, operating through three core initiatives: Allied Climate Partners (ACP), Global Carbon Market Utility (GCMU), and Allied Talent Partners (ATP). ACP is an investment platform targeting bankable climate projects in EMDEs; GCMU provides market infrastructure for the voluntary carbon market including audits, verification, and dispute resolution; and ATP is a talent marketplace connecting climate professionals with EMDEs projects. The firm also engages in direct investments in climate-focused businesses and funds, and philanthropic grantmaking supporting policy advocacy, talent development, and strategic communications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Allied Climate Partners (ACP): Philanthropic investment organization focused on increasing bankable climate-related projects in emerging economies
- Global Carbon Market Utility (GCMU)
- Allied Talent Partners (ATP)
- Three Cairns Fellowship
- Three Cairns Climate Program for the Global South
- Congestion Pricing Now
Products and services
- Allied Climate Partners (ACP) A philanthropic investment organization that increases the pipeline of bankable climate-related projects and businesses in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). ACP identifies and supports local investment managers, aggregates early-stage equity, and partners with governments, public and private organizations, developers, and local communities to help early-stage innovators source and deploy catalytic capital for mitigation and adaptation solutions.
- Global Carbon Market Utility (GCMU) An initiative that creates infrastructure to increase the voluntary carbon market's (VCM) credibility and efficiency by providing basic market utility functions including audits, verification, and dispute resolution. Led by a Governing Council made up of representatives from civil society, academia and leading subject matter experts.
- Allied Talent Partners (ATP) A marketplace platform connecting high-quality local and global talent with climate-related projects in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), initially centered around Africa. It serves project-based work across infrastructure, platform businesses, power and water utilities, governmental bodies, NGOs, donor agencies, and consulting firms.
Quantifiable outcome
- The first 20 students from 13 countries graduated as part of the Three Cairns Climate Program for the Global South in 2025
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Three Cairns Group
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Three Cairns Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Three Cairns Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Allied Climate Partners (ACP)coreAllied Climate Partners is a philanthropic investment organization launched at COP28 that works to increase the pipeline of bankable climate-related projects and businesses in emerging economies. ACP identifies and supports local investment managers, aggregates early-stage equity, and partners with governments, public and private organizations, developers and local communities to help early-stage innovators source and deploy catalytic capital for mitigation and adaptation solutions.
- Global Carbon Market Utility (GCMU)coreGCMU creates infrastructure to increase the voluntary carbon market's credibility and efficiency, providing basic market utility functions including audits, verification and dispute resolution. The GCMU is led by a Governing Council made up of representatives from civil society, academia and leading subject matter experts.
- Allied Talent Partners (ATP)coreAllied Talent Partners is developing a marketplace to connect high-quality local and global talent with climate-related projects in EMDEs. Initially centered around Africa, the marketplace focuses on climate-related efforts including project-based work, infrastructure, platform businesses, utilities, governmental bodies, NGOs, donor agencies and consulting firms.
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)flagshipEDF is one of the world's leading international nonprofit organizations creating transformational solutions to environmental problems by linking science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members, EDF works across more than 30 countries. Three Cairns Group supports EDF as part of their climate strategy.
- Columbia Business SchoolflagshipThe Three Cairns Fellowship at Columbia Business School supports MBA and EMBA students who complete semester- or year-long projects in areas where business and climate change connect. The program offers resources for applicants addressing sustainability and climate change through markets and business knowledge.
- Yale School of the EnvironmentflagshipThe Three Cairns Climate Program for the Global South offers financial and non-financial support to students from developing economies pursuing master's degrees at the Yale School of the Environment, expanding access to advanced education and training for climate practitioners.
- Columbia Climate SchoolcoreThree Cairns Group collaborates with Columbia Climate School to support climate research, policy development, technological solutions, and strategic communications. Their support has helped secure additional funding and establish new climate-focused initiatives.
- Yale Planetary SolutionscoreYale Planetary Solutions (YPS) is a university-wide initiative that accelerates climate and sustainability action by leveraging Yale's expertise, research, and innovation. Three Cairns Group supports YPS's programs including grants, doctoral fellowships, and student project awards.
- Congestion Pricing NowcoreNYC Congestion Pricing Plan delivers cleaner air, better transit, and less congested streets for New York City. Three Cairns Group has supported a range of strategies to help ensure its successful implementation, recognizing the profound impact this policy can have on daily lives and the broader region.
- WE ACT for Environmental JusticecoreThree Cairns Group supports WE ACT's place-based adaptation and community resilience efforts as part of their people-centric approach to climate action.
- Natural Areas ConservancycoreThree Cairns Group supports the Natural Areas Conservancy's efforts to advance the care of urban natural areas in New York City and across the nation through innovative research, partnership, and advocacy.
- The Nature ConservancycoreThree Cairns Group supports The Nature Conservancy's place-based adaptation and community resilience initiatives as part of their climate strategy.
- World BankflagshipThe World Bank named Mark Gallogly, co-founder of Three Cairns Group, among 15 leading CEOs and Chairs to join the Private Sector Investment Lab, a core group charged with developing solutions to address barriers to private sector investment in emerging markets.
- Allied Climate Partners Launch PartnerscoreAllied Climate Partners launched at COP28 with support from Three Cairns Group, Climate Policy Initiative, and Allied Climate Partners, with analytical support from Wood Mackenzie.
- ActivatecoreActivate is a talent program supported by Three Cairns Group to build the pipeline of climate talent in business, technology, and public sectors.
- GFA (Global First Advisory)coreGFA is a talent initiative supported by Three Cairns Group focused on building climate leadership capacity.
- Green Biz GroupcoreGreen Biz Group is supported by Three Cairns Group as part of their talent development initiatives to build climate leaders.
- Bvoices on the Frontlines (BOF)coreBof is supported by Three Cairns Group as part of their talent and communications efforts to increase awareness of climate issues.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Three Cairns Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Breakthrough Energy: Founded by Bill Gates, Breakthrough Energy combines climate-focused venture and growth investing with philanthropic grantmaking and policy advocacy across multiple vehicles (BEV, BE Bridge, Catalyst, Fellows). It is the closest functional analog to Three Cairns' integrated capital-plus-philanthropy model.
- ClimateWorks Foundation: Major climate-focused grantmaking foundation that deploys philanthropic capital globally to advance climate solutions, including direct investments in climate-aligned vehicles and partnerships with research and advocacy organizations. Closely comparable in philanthropic model and climate mandate to Three Cairns.
- Generation Investment Management: Founded by Al Gore and David Blood, Generation is a sustainable investment management firm applying long-horizon capital allocation to climate and equity outcomes. Comparable to Three Cairns in mission-driven investment approach and founder pedigree in sustainability.
- Quadrature Climate Foundation: Climate-focused grantmaking foundation that supports policy, communications, and deployment initiatives to accelerate decarbonization. Directly comparable to Three Cairns in grantmaking mandate, climate-only scope, and support of advocacy/communications/strategic interventions.
- Bezos Earth Fund: $10B+ climate-focused philanthropic fund deploying grants across nature, climate, and energy justice. Comparable as a large, founder-capital-backed philanthropic vehicle pursuing climate outcomes through grantmaking and initiative incubation, similar to Three Cairns in deploying private wealth for climate.
Emerging players
- Climate Policy Initiative: Global climate finance analysis and advisory organization that works with Three Cairns on the EMDE clean energy equity investment gap report. Comparable in focus on climate finance data/policy, though CPI is research-oriented rather than an investor or grantmaker.
- Khosla Ventures: Climate-focused venture capital firm that deploys early- and growth-stage capital into climate and clean energy startups. Comparable to Three Cairns' early-stage climate venture commitments and focus on transformative climate technologies.
- Clean Energy Ventures: Early-stage venture capital firm investing in climate tech founders developing transformative decarbonization solutions. Comparable to Three Cairns' early-stage climate venture commitments and focus on funding high-conviction climate innovation.
Broad incumbents
- Conservation International: Large established environmental organization with global programs spanning nature, climate, and policy advocacy, including place-based adaptation and community resilience work that Three Cairns also funds. Comparable as a broad-scope environmental mission-driven organization.
- Natural Resources Defense Council: Large environmental advocacy organization working on climate, energy, and sustainability policy across US and international markets. Comparable in mission-driven environmental advocacy mandate and policy influencing approach that Three Cairns supports through grants.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Three Cairns Group social profiles
Digital presenceThree Cairns Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Three Cairns Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Three Cairns Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Three Cairns Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments6 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Three Cairns Group
What does Three Cairns Group do?
Three Cairns Group is a mission-driven investment and philanthropic firm that deploys capital through direct investments in climate-focused businesses, commitments to climate-focused investment funds (early-stage venture capital through climate infrastructure), and philanthropic grants supporting climate policy advocacy, talent development, strategic communications, and strategic initiatives. It also incubates and supports platforms including Allied Climate Partners, Global Carbon Market Utility, and Allied Talent Partners.
Is Three Cairns Group a public or private company?
Three Cairns Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Three Cairns Group founded?
Three Cairns Group was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Three Cairns Group based?
Three Cairns Group is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Three Cairns Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Investment Returns are the primary driver. The others are philanthropic Grantmaking.
Who are Three Cairns Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Breakthrough Energy, ClimateWorks Foundation, Generation Investment Management, Quadrature Climate Foundation and Bezos Earth Fund. Emerging players are Climate Policy Initiative, Khosla Ventures and Clean Energy Ventures. Broad incumbents are Conservation International and Natural Resources Defense Council.
Does Three Cairns Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Three Cairns Group.
What industry is Three Cairns Group in?
Three Cairns Group's product category is Climate-Focused Investment and Philanthropy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAJAA, Climate / Clean Tech & Decarbonization Funds, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 6282.