11th Hour Project
The 11th Hour Project is the grantmaking and impact investing program of the Schmidt Family Foundation, deploying philanthropic capital across nine interconnected programs covering climate, regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, human rights, Indigenous communities, youth nature access, and emerging strategies in journalism and civic engagement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What 11th Hour Project does
The 11th Hour Project is a philanthropic grantmaking foundation and impact investor, operating as the primary programmatic arm of the Schmidt Family Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 2006 by Wendy and Eric Schmidt. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California with 11-50 employees, the organization deploys patient capital across nine interconnected programs: Ag Tech, Emerging Strategies, Energy, Food & Agriculture, Human Rights, Minerals + Materials, Impact Investing, Indigenous Communities, and N2 (nature access for youth). Its core activities are grants to aligned non-profits, movements, and Indigenous-led organizations, complemented by program-related investments in early-stage companies addressing social and environmental problems.
The organization does not develop or sell proprietary technology products. Instead, its 'technology stack' is a network-based grantmaking and impact investing platform that has financed 60+ portfolio entities across renewable energy (BlocPower, PosiGen, Navajost Power, SunCulture, Energicity, Allume Energy), regenerative agriculture (Cairnspring Mills, Cream Co Meats, Common Market, Iroquois Valley Farmland, MadCapital, Potlikker Capital), marine technology (Natel Energy, Subnero), circular materials (NOTPLA, Ecovative, Refiberd, Dispatch Goods, Circulate Capital), community development finance (HOPE Credit Union, Inclusiv, Lakota Federal Credit Union, Native American Bank), and climate justice (Afterglow Climate Justice Fund, Generation IM, DBL Partners III, Better Ventures Fund II, Powerhouse Ventures).
The business model is philanthropic rather than commercial. Revenue derives from the Schmidt Family Foundation endowment rather than from sales of goods or services, and there is no pricing model, go-to-market motion, or recurring commercial revenue. Distribution occurs through grant cycles and impact investment deals rather than commercial channels. Operating geographies span the United States, Sub-Saharan Africa, Haiti, and global marine initiatives. Financial statements are not publicly disclosed, and there is no fundraising from external donors or institutional limited partners.
11th Hour Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 11th Hour Project
- Legal name
- 11th Hour Project
- Website
- https://11thhourproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The 11th Hour Project is the grantmaking and impact investing program of the Schmidt Family Foundation, deploying philanthropic capital across nine interconnected programs covering climate, regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, human rights, Indigenous communities, youth nature access, and emerging strategies in journalism and civic engagement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
11th Hour Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropic Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
Keywords
Where 11th Hour Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
11th Hour Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Marketing channels4 records
11th Hour Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The 11th Hour Project is the grantmaking and impact investing program of the Schmidt Family Foundation. It disburses philanthropic grants and makes debt and equity impact investments in nonprofits and early-stage companies working on renewable energy, resilient food systems, healthy oceans, human rights, Indigenous communities, and youth access to nature. The organization functions as a capital provider rather than a seller of goods or services, operating nine interconnected programmatic focus areas that collectively address climate and social justice issues.
Product overview
The 11th Hour Project is a grantmaking and impact investing program of the Schmidt Family Foundation focused on restoring a balanced relationship between people and planet. The organization operates as a unified portfolio of nine interconnected programmatic areas—Ag Tech, Emerging Strategies, Energy, Food & Agriculture, Human Rights, Minerals + Materials, Impact Investing, Indigenous Communities, and N2—that work collaboratively toward environmental and social justice goals. Each program represents a distinct grantmaking focus area, with Impact Investing providing complementary capital (debt and equity) to align with the foundation's programmatic priorities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ag Tech Program
Companies that use 11th Hour Project
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
11th Hour Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
11th Hour Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Schmidt Family Foundationcore
- Schmidt Marine Technology Partnerscore
- Schmidt Ocean Instituteminor
- ReMain Nantucketminor
- 11th Hour Racingminor
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
11th Hour Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rockefeller Brothers Fund: Private foundation with a dedicated Sustainable Development program focusing on climate, regenerative agriculture, and just transition — comparable programmatic depth, family-funder structure, and grantmaking + impact investing hybrid model.
- Kresge Foundation: Large private foundation with Environment and Climate programs supporting equitable climate action, just energy transition, and resilient cities — directly comparable in mission framing and climate justice grantmaking.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies: Large-scale philanthropic vehicle with significant climate and energy grantmaking (Beyond Carbon initiative, coal phase-out) — directly comparable in challenging fossil fuel development and accelerating clean energy transitions.
- Barr Foundation: Private foundation with a Climate program focused on U.S. decarbonization, energy policy, and Indigenous climate leadership — directly comparable to 11th Hour Project's Energy and Indigenous Communities programs.
- William and Flora Hewlett Foundation: Major private foundation with a substantial Environment program focused on climate, energy, and land conservation — directly comparable in scale, programmatic breadth, and grantmaking approach to 11th Hour Project's environmental work.
- Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation: Large private foundation with a major Environment and Climate Solutions grantmaking program, including oceans, lands, and wildlands work — closely overlapping 11th Hour Project's environmental and oceans focus, with similarly mission-driven capital deployment.
- The David and Lucile Packard Foundation: Major private foundation with a substantial Climate and Land program supporting ocean conservation, land conservation, and clean energy — overlapping 11th Hour Project's focus on oceans, energy, and ecosystems.
Broad incumbents
- MacArthur Foundation: One of the largest US private foundations, with a Climate Solutions portfolio focused on accelerating the transition off fossil fuels — operates at a larger scale with broader mandate, but directly comparable in climate grantmaking focus.
Regional players
- Patagonia (corporate giving): Corporate environmental giving vehicle (now Holdfast Collective and Patagonia Purpose Trust, $1B+ annual commitment) funding grassroots climate and land protection — comparable in environmental grantmaking focus but differs in corporate-funder structure versus 11th Hour Project's family foundation model.
Others
- Schmidt Family Foundation: The 11th Hour Project's parent foundation and shared governance vehicle; included as the directly adjacent enabling organization that provides funding, infrastructure, and strategic direction to 11th Hour Project.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
11th Hour Project social profiles
Digital presence11th Hour Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
11th Hour Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
11th Hour Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
11th Hour Project 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 11th Hour Project
What does 11th Hour Project do?
The 11th Hour Project is the grantmaking and impact investing program of the Schmidt Family Foundation. It disburses philanthropic grants and makes debt and equity impact investments in nonprofits and early-stage companies working on renewable energy, resilient food systems, healthy oceans, human rights, Indigenous communities, and youth access to nature. The organization functions as a capital provider rather than a seller of goods or services, operating nine interconnected programmatic focus areas that collectively address climate and social justice issues.
Is 11th Hour Project a public or private company?
11th Hour Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was 11th Hour Project founded?
11th Hour Project was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 11th Hour Project based?
11th Hour Project is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
Who are 11th Hour Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Kresge Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Barr Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. MacArthur Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. Patagonia (corporate giving) is listed as a regional player. Schmidt Family Foundation is listed as an others.
Does 11th Hour Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for 11th Hour Project.
What industry is 11th Hour Project in?
11th Hour Project's product category is Philanthropic Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAH, International Grantmaking & Development Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8600.