The Climate Center
The Climate Center is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advocates for state climate policy through coalition building, legislative lobbying, and policy research on fossil fuel phase-out, clean energy, and carbon drawdown.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSanta Rosa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Climate Center does
The Climate Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit climate advocacy organization headquartered in Santa Rosa, California. Founded in 2001 (rebranded in 2019 from Center for Climate Protection), the organization focuses on advancing California state climate policy through coalition building, legislative advocacy, policy research, and community organizing. It serves California residents and communities, businesses, and policymakers, with programs spanning fossil fuel phase-out, clean energy, community energy resilience, and carbon drawdown. The organization's core "product" is policy advocacy — it does not sell commercial products or services but produces policy research reports, bill tracking, webinars, and the annual California Climate Policy Summit convening 400+ stakeholders.
The organization's revenue model is based on individual donations (long-tail, supported by bi-weekly newsletter and action alerts) and a Business Network membership program for corporate supporters. There is no commercial pricing for products or services. Its distribution channels are its website (theclimatecenter.org), email newsletters, social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram), webinars, and direct advocacy to the California legislature and regulatory bodies. The organization leverages a coalition of 49+ partner organizations and 1,500+ active community members to amplify its policy influence, with notable legislative wins including a lead role in Cap and Trade reauthorization through 2045 and the $170 million California Energy Commission Community Energy Resilience investment program established in 2022.
The organization is led by CEO Ellie Cohen (retiring June 30, 2026), with key staff including Chief Program Officer Barry Vesser (joined 2005), Communications Director Ryan Schleeter (joined 2021), Legislative Manager Allison Hilliard (joined January 2025), and Community Energy Resilience Policy Manager Pooja Agarwal (joined July 2025). As an independent nonprofit with no parent company, The Climate Center relies on donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships for funding and has no private equity, venture capital, or institutional investor ownership.
The Climate Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Climate Center
- Legal name
- The Climate Center
- Website
- https://theclimatecenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Climate Center is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advocates for state climate policy through coalition building, legislative lobbying, and policy research on fossil fuel phase-out, clean energy, and carbon drawdown.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Climate Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Policy Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPAIAMAD), Carbon Neutrality/Claims Strategy & Communications (claims substantiation, greenwashing risk) (EUABAKAK)
Keywords
Where The Climate Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Rosa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Climate Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and contributions: Individual donations from supporters who receive bi-weekly newsletters and action alerts
- Business Network membership: Business Network membership program for companies supporting climate action
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Climate Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Climate Center is a nonprofit climate advocacy organization that drives California-focused climate policy through research, coalition building, legislative advocacy, and grassroots mobilization. It conducts policy research and analysis on issues including Cap and Trade reform, fossil fuel phase-out, community energy resilience, and carbon drawdown, while organizing supporters to take action on specific legislation. The organization also convenes stakeholders through an annual Climate Policy Summit, webinars, and a Business Network membership program for companies supporting climate action.
Product overview
The Climate Center is a policy advocacy organization focused on climate action in California, not a commercial product company. It does not offer software products, platforms, or technology services. Its offerings consist of advocacy campaigns (Climate-Safe California), policy research and reports (Cap and Invest analysis, Water's Edge tax reports), legislative bill tracking, community energy resilience initiatives, webinars, and events. The organization does not maintain a product portfolio in the traditional technology sense.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Business Network Membership
- California Climate Policy Summit
Quantifiable outcome
- Virtual power plants could save California ratepayers $550 million per year
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Climate Center
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Climate Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Climate Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Environment CaliforniacoreCo-sponsoring legislation SB 913 and AB 1975 with The Climate Center to establish grid utilization metrics or create market pathways for distributed clean energy resources. Joint advocacy for the Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) program.
- 49 Environmental and Industry OrganizationscoreCoalition of 49 environmental and industry organizations submitted letter to California's Senate and Assembly Budget Committees advocating for restored funding for the DSGS program. Organizations urging legislature to restore at least $75 million in the 2026 budget.
- 30+ Organizations endorsing Water's Edge ReportcoreOver 30 organizations joined to endorse The Climate Center's report on the Water's Edge tax loophole and recommendations to eliminate fossil fuel corporations' access to this tax avoidance scheme.
- California Environmental VoterscoreLead bill sponsor partner for the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (SB 684 and AB 1243), working with The Climate Center on this top priority legislation.
- Center for Biological DiversitycoreLead bill sponsor partner for the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act, collaborating on climate disaster recovery and polluter accountability legislation.
- Campaign for a Safe and Healthy CaliforniacorePartner organization for the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act coalition, working to make Big Oil pay for climate destruction costs.
- Advanced Energy UnitedcoreCo-sponsor of AB 740 (Harabedian) virtual power plants legislation, working with The Climate Center to accelerate distributed energy resources.
- MCE (Marin Clean Energy)minorEvent sponsor for the 2026 California Legislation webinar on clean energy bills, supporting The Climate Center's policy education efforts.
- Peninsula Clean EnergyminorEvent sponsor for the 2026 California Legislation webinar, supporting clean energy policy advocacy.
- River City BankminorEvent sponsor supporting The Climate Center's clean energy legislation webinar.
- SunrunminorEvent sponsor for The Climate Center's virtual power plants and clean energy webinar series.
- People, Food, and Land FoundationminorCo-sponsor of SB 279 (McNerney) composting legislation, supporting natural climate solutions.
- California Alliance for Community CompostingminorCo-sponsor partner for composting and carbon drawdown legislation.
- The Utility Reform Network (TURN)minorPartner in clean energy affordability advocacy, with staff attorney Matthew Freedman speaking at The Climate Center events.
- Environmental Working GroupminorCo-sponsor of SB 868 (Wiener) balcony solar legislation, working with Bernadette Del Chiaro on solar policy.
- Californians for Local Affordable Solar & StorageminorPartner organization with Executive Director Derek Chernow participating in The Climate Center's clean energy webinars.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Climate Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sierra Club: Largest U.S. grassroots environmental organization with broad California advocacy presence. Operates overlapping mission (climate, clean energy) but as part of a much wider portfolio spanning many states and issues.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Large, well-resourced environmental advocacy organization operating across climate, energy, and conservation with much larger budget and staff. Operates in the same climate-policy space but at national/international scale rather than California-focused.
- Earthjustice: National environmental law organization active in California climate litigation and policy. Adjacent mission and frequent coalition partner for advocacy campaigns.
- Union of Concerned Scientists: National science-based advocacy organization with climate and clean-energy policy programs. Comparable mission and policy-research-plus-advocacy model, though national in scope.
Direct peers
- 350.org: Global climate-movement nonprofit built on grassroots mobilization and digital campaigns. Directly comparable climate-focused advocacy and supporter-driven GTM, though broader geographic reach.
- Center for Biological Diversity: National nonprofit using advocacy and litigation for environmental protection, partnered with The Climate Center as lead sponsor on polluter accountability legislation. Comparable mission and California-active.
- California Environmental Voters: State-based environmental political advocacy group partnering as lead bill sponsor on the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (SB 684/AB 1243). Comparable scale and direct Sacramento legislative focus.
- Citizens' Climate Lobby: Nonpartisan climate advocacy organization mobilizing volunteer citizens to lobby for climate legislation. Comparable grassroots-and-policy-advoacy model; in California, volunteers regularly lobby Sacramento on overlapping bills.
- Environment California: State-level environmental advocacy organization actively co-sponsoring SB 913 and AB 1975 with The Climate Center. Directly comparable mission (California clean energy advocacy) and similar coalition-driven GTM model.
Emerging players
- Environmental & Energy Study Institute (EESI): Nonpartisan nonprofit focused on climate and clean-energy policy education for Congress and stakeholders. Adjacent policy-advocacy orientation though federal rather than California-specific.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Climate Center social profiles
Digital presenceThe Climate Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Climate Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Climate Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Climate Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Climate Center
What does The Climate Center do?
The Climate Center is a nonprofit climate advocacy organization that drives California-focused climate policy through research, coalition building, legislative advocacy, and grassroots mobilization. It conducts policy research and analysis on issues including Cap and Trade reform, fossil fuel phase-out, community energy resilience, and carbon drawdown, while organizing supporters to take action on specific legislation. The organization also convenes stakeholders through an annual Climate Policy Summit, webinars, and a Business Network membership program for companies supporting climate action.
Is The Climate Center a public or private company?
The Climate Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Climate Center founded?
The Climate Center was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Climate Center based?
The Climate Center is headquartered in Santa Rosa, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Climate Center make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and contributions are the primary driver. The others are business Network membership.
Who are The Climate Center's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Earthjustice and Union of Concerned Scientists. Direct peers are 350.org, Center for Biological Diversity, California Environmental Voters, Citizens' Climate Lobby and Environment California. Environmental & Energy Study Institute (EESI) is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Climate Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Climate Center.
What industry is The Climate Center in?
The Climate Center's product category is Climate Policy Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAF, Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation, with a secondary code of BPAIAMAD, Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8600.