Climate Science Alliance

What Climate Science Alliance does

Climate Science Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Diego, California, with a mission to accelerate community-driven, nature-based solutions to climate change by directing resources, visibility, and support to local efforts. The organization serves Southern California tribal nations (including the Rincon, Pala, Pauma, La Jolla, Cahuilla, and Manzanita bands), K-12 youth, community organizations, and binational partners across the US-Mexico border in Baja California. It operates through three program pillars — Building Resilience, Building Capacity, and Building Community — delivered via interconnected programs including Climate Kids (youth education), Stewardship Pathways (tribal stewardship training), Hear Our Names (Indigenous knowledge integration), the Climate Art Fellowship and traveling exhibits, the San Diego Climate Summit and Southwestern Tribal Climate Change Summit, and the Giving Program (a regranting mechanism funding community-led projects). Research initiatives include the co-led Collaborative of Native Nations for Climate Transformation and Stewardship (CNNCTS) with San Diego State University, the Indigenous Fire/Forestry/Fuels Crew, the MAATHAAW documentary, and Spatial Decision Support for Fire Management.

The organization functions as a fiscal project of the California Wildlife Foundation, which serves as its 501(c)(3) sponsor. Its revenue model is exclusively nonprofit: donations and charitable contributions (online, mail, PayPal, Venmo), foundation grants (e.g., $300,000 from The Conrad Prebys Foundation in September 2024), corporate sponsorships, and regranting through the Giving Program. In the 2025 Giving Cycle alone, $620,000+ was deployed across 18 climate projects, training 4,000+ people and stewarding 7,000+ acres. Since 2015 the organization reports engagement with 200,000+ community members and 400+ partner organizations, with cumulative regranting of $1.3M+ to organizations, $300K to technical advisors and fellows, and $145K to small projects since 2023. The go-to-market motion is community-led: convening tribal nations, foundations, researchers, and youth through summits, trainings, working groups (Tribal and Binational), and direct grantmaking, amplified by a digital presence across website, blog, newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Leadership includes Executive Director Dr. Amber Pairis (former California Assistant Secretary for Climate Change) and a team of directors spanning development, operations, community resilience, and programs, supported by an advisory board of tribal leaders, climate scientists, and academic partners.

Name

Climate Science Alliance

Legal name

Climate Science Alliance

Website

https://www.climatesciencealliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Climate Science Alliance works to safeguard natural and human communities by conducting research based activities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Nonprofit and Climate Adaptation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Forestry (800)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAF

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAGAH

Environmental Education & Outreach

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAGAD

Forestry & Reforestation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPADALAD

Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

Keywords

• Climate adaptation services
• Tribal stewardship programs
• Youth climate education
• Community regranting programs
• Indigenous knowledge integration

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The Climate Science Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that raises funds through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and charitable contributions to support community-led climate projects.
2. Giving Program Grants: The organization administers a giving program that mobilizes funding to organizations, providing large grants for community-centered organizations, small to medium grants for projects, fellowships, and professional development scholarships.
3. Fiscal Sponsorship: California Wildlife Foundation serves as the fiscal sponsor, handling donations and grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Climate Science Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers community-driven, nature-based climate solutions through a portfolio of named programs: Climate Kids (youth climate education through science, storytelling, and art), Hear Our Names (Indigenous knowledge integration via community events and signage), Stewardship Pathways (Tribal stewardship training in fire management and native plant propagation), the Giving Program (regranting to locally-led climate projects), and Climate Summits (annual San Diego and biennial Southwestern Tribal convenings). It also operates research initiatives such as the Collaborative of Native Nations for Climate Transformation and Stewardship (CNNCTS) and the Indigenous Fire, Forestry, and Fuels Crew, and supports cross-border US-Mexico collaboration through a Binational Working Group.

Product overview

The Climate Science Alliance is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected climate-focused programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Climate Kids (youth education through science, storytelling, and art with sub-programs for San Diego, Mexico, and Tribal communities), Hear Our Names (Indigenous knowledge integration through interactive signage and events), Stewardship Pathways (Tribal workforce training in land stewardship and fire management), Art + Community Initiative (climate art fellowship and traveling shows), Climate Summits (annual San Diego Summit and biennial Tribal Summit), and the Giving Program (regranting climate solutions). Research initiatives include CNNCTS (Indigenous-led stewardship), the Indigenous Fire/Forestry/Fuels Crew, and various ecological projects covering coastal resilience, drought response, and forest conservation. Working Groups on Tribal and Binational topics facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration. The organization functions as a climate alliance rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Climate Kids: A series of community level collaborative projects that provide youth education on climate change through science activities, storytelling, and art
• San Diego Climate Summit
• Southwestern Tribal Climate Change Summit
• Stewardship Pathways
• Hear Our Names
• Art + Community Initiative
• Giving Program
• Collaborative of Native Nations for Climate Transformation and Stewardship (CNNCTS)
• Tribal Working Group
• Binational Working Group

Products and services

• Climate Kids
• Hear Our Names
• Stewardship Pathways
• Climate Art Fellowship
• San Diego Climate Summit
• Southwestern Tribal Climate Change Summit
• Giving Program
• Collaborative of Native Nations for Climate Transformation and Stewardship (CNNCTS)
• MAATHAAW: The Fire Within Us
• Tribal Working Group
• Binational Working Group

Quantifiable outcome

• Partnered with 400+ organizations since 2015
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• KRS Environmental ConsultingmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Partners on Stewardship Pathways training exploring how Tribal forestry and new technology work together to protect the environment. Collaboration on virtual sessions and training programs.
• San Diego State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads the Collaborative of Native Nations for Climate Transformation and Stewardship (CNNCTS) with Climate Science Alliance. Also hosts the Center for Community Energy and Environmental Justice (CCEEJ) as an EPA/DOE-supported Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Center covering California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands.
• National Forest FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides support for tribal stewardship training events and programs hosted by Climate Science Alliance.
• Pauma Band of Luiseño IndianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey tribal partner in climate stewardship initiatives, hosting training events and collaborating on tribal resilience projects.
• Condor Visual MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduces climate documentaries including MAATHAAW: The Fire Within Us (feature-length documentary on cultural relationships with fire) and supports Hear Our Names project with video production.
• California Sea GrantmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on coastal resilience initiatives including Sharing the Coast project for San Diego-Baja California Region, sea level rise education, and climate adaptation planning.
• Desert Research Institute (DRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts Indigenous Climate Stewardship Lead position (Tenaya Wood-Luna) in collaborative role. DRI works on Great Basin Tribal Alliance, EPA's Region 9 Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Centers, and California Nevada Adaptation Program.
• California Wildlife FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes as fiscal sponsor for Climate Science Alliance. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law (Federal EIN 68-0234744).
• California State Coastal ConservancysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporter of Hear Our Names initiative, providing funding and partnership for Indigenous plant knowledge documentation.
• Marigold FundsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative partner on climate art fellowship programs and Hear Our Names initiative.
• University of California San DiegomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Hear Our Names through Cleland Lab and Natural Reserve System. Collaborates on climate stewardship education and coastal programs.
• Native Coast Action NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creates coastal co-stewardship training and events. Founded by Teresa Romero to assist West Coast Indigenous communities build capacity for cultural and traditional ecological initiatives.
• California Indian Basketweavers AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts cultural gatherings including the Neh'atem Yuchiwiva Cahuilla Fall Basket Weaving Gathering.
• Cahuilla Band of IndiansmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of cultural basket weaving gatherings and tribal resilience events.
• Coastal Roots FarmsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Regenerate coastal roots eco-performance festival and community events.
• Pala Band of Mission IndianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Climate Kids-Tribes in 2017; expanded to tribes across Southwestern US. Partner in tribal youth education and climate programming.
• La Jolla Band of Luiseño IndiansmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped 2019 Climate Adaptation Plan addressing natural resources, infrastructure, health, and community.
• Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay NationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Manzanita Tribal Resilience Project supporting climate adaptation and land conservation.
• California Department of Food and AgriculturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Resilient Roots project elevating local agriculture's role in climate solutions.
• Binational Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking group advancing climate science through binational collaboration connecting researchers, stakeholders, and communities throughout Baja California Peninsula and surrounding regions.
• Tribal Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking group providing climate collaboration for lands and cultures of Southern California Tribes through mutual education, environmental programs, and traditional knowledges.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Indigenous Climate Action: Indigenous-led climate justice organization working on community-driven climate solutions, traditional knowledge integration, and policy advocacy. Highly comparable to Climate Science Alliance's model of Indigenous-led, community-driven climate adaptation.
• Honor the Earth: Indigenous-led nonprofit focused on environmental and cultural preservation, community organizing, and grantmaking to Native-led initiatives. Closely mirrors CSA's regranting and Indigenous-centered climate/community work.
• Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples: Native-led foundation providing grants and capacity-building to Indigenous communities for environmental, cultural, and community resilience. Directly comparable regranting and community-driven model.
• The Cultural Conservancy: Indigenous-led organization stewarding land, seed, water, and cultural resources through community-driven programs. Comparable in integrating traditional ecological knowledge with conservation practice.
• Cultural Survival: Indigenous advocacy organization supporting Indigenous peoples' rights, lands, and self-determination, including environmental and climate work. Comparable in tribal/Indigenous partnership approach to climate and land.
• Native American Rights Fund: Major Indigenous legal and advocacy organization that includes tribal sovereignty, land, and natural resource protection. Comparable in mission to support tribal nations' self-determination and climate resilience.
• Grassroots International: Fund intermediary regranting to Indigenous and social movement-led organizations globally for climate, food sovereignty, and human rights. Comparable community-driven regranting model.
• Native Coast Action Network: Indigenous-led nonprofit co-creating coastal co-stewardship and traditional ecological knowledge programs on the West Coast. Directly comparable as a partner organization doing the same type of Indigenous-led coastal climate work.

Broad incumbents

• Earth Island Institute: Established environmental nonprofit incubator supporting dozens of independent projects across climate, conservation, and Indigenous issues. Broader portfolio but overlapping in incubating mission-driven environmental projects.
• Sierra Club Foundation: Large environmental foundation funding climate, conservation, and environmental justice initiatives including tribal/Indigenous work. Comparable as a climate funder, though vastly larger and broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFW_3olup6-m2RShTRrbjFQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/climatesciencealliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climate-science-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/climatesciencealliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Climate Science Alliance