What SilverLining does

SilverLining is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit research and policy organization founded in 2019 that works to ensure society has sufficient information and options to address near-term climate risks. Its mission centers on advancing independent science, transparent data, and effective decision-making for atmospheric safety and security, with particular focus on solar radiation modification (SRM) research, marine cloud brightening, and governance frameworks for emerging atmospheric interventions.

The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs. SOAR (Scaled Observations for Atmospheric Resilience), including SOAR-MARINE, leverages commercial ships and aircraft in public-private partnerships to scale global atmospheric observations, with Maersk, OceansX, NOAA, and the University of Washington as core partners. The STAR (Stratospheric Aerosol Research) Program studies stratospheric aerosol effects, and the HOPE (High-altitude Observing Platform Explorer) is a navigable high-altitude balloon platform that completed its first flight on August 19, 2024, reaching 58,000 feet with stratospheric particle measurement instruments. The Marine Cloud Brightening Program, run jointly with the University of Washington, investigates how clouds respond to aerosols and their cooling effects. The organization also produces policy briefs with partners including the Atlantic Council and the Rainey Center, and advocates for expanded U.S. federal climate science investment, recommending a $2.6B annual increase in its 2023 roadmap report.

SilverLining is funded entirely by philanthropic donations and grants, with named core funders including the Quadrature Climate Foundation and the 2040 Foundation. It operates with 1-10 employees from its Washington, D.C. headquarters and distributes its outputs (research reports, policy briefs, Paper Cuts summaries, TED Talks, and digital interactive roadmaps) without charge to advance its mission. Kelly Wanser serves as Executive Director, Sarah Schubert as Head of SOAR Marine Operations, and Jean-François Lamarque as Chief Climate Scientist. The organization has been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2025.

Name

SilverLining

Legal name

Silver Lining, LLC

Website

https://silverlining.ngo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SilverLining is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 2019 that advances independent atmospheric science and policy on near-term climate risks, including solar radiation modification, operating programs in stratospheric research, marine observations, and high-altitude balloon platforms for governments, scientists, and policymakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations and Grants: SilverLining is funded by philanthropic organizations and individuals focused on climate change, including Quadrature Climate Foundation, 2040 Foundation, and others. The organization accepts donations to support critical efforts on Earth system safety and security.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SilverLining is a nonprofit research and policy organization that advances independent science, transparent data, and effective decision-making for atmospheric safety. It operates a portfolio of interconnected research programs covering stratospheric aerosol research, marine cloud brightening, and a global network of atmospheric observations on commercial ships, alongside policy advocacy and an interactive research roadmap.

Product overview

SilverLining is a nonprofit research and policy organization (not a software company) offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on ensuring a safe and secure atmosphere through Earth system research and climate intervention assessment. Its core offerings include the Safe Earth System Research Initiative, the SOAR (Scaled Observations for Atmospheric Resilience) program including SOAR-MARINE for marine observations, the STAR (STratospheric Aerosol Research) Program, the Marine Cloud Brightening Program for cloud aerosol research, the HOPE (High-altitude Observing Platform Explorer) balloon observation system, Cloud Computing partnerships for research infrastructure, U.S. and International Policy advocacy, an Interactive Roadmap for Research, and Paper Cuts research summaries. These programs work together to advance independent science, transparent data, and effective decision-making for atmospheric protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOAR: Scaled Observations for Atmospheric Resilience - leveraging commercial ships and aircraft for global atmospheric observations
• STAR Program
• HOPE
• SOAR-MARINE

Products and services

• Safe Earth System Research Initiative A research initiative advancing open science and innovation for the safety, security, and governance of the atmosphere and climate in a world of increasing extremes and active interventions. Targeted at policymakers, scientific communities, and government agencies.
• Global Atmosphere Observations (SOAR) A program leveraging commercial ships and aircraft in innovative public-private partnerships to rapidly scale global observations of the atmosphere to support science and innovation for a safe and secure future.
• Stratospheric Aerosol Research (STAR) Program A program to improve understanding of stratospheric aerosol effects on the atmosphere and Earth system, focused on solar radiation modification research.
• Cloud-Aerosol Interactions (Marine Cloud Brightening Program) A program studying how clouds respond to particles (aerosols) in the atmosphere and their cooling effects, including research on marine cloud brightening approaches.
• High-altitude Observing Platform Explorer (HOPE) A navigable, high-altitude, long-duration balloon platform with instruments for stratospheric observations, developed using standard materials to expand measurements of the stratosphere and increase accessibility of high-altitude research.
• Cloud Computing Program A program partnering with cloud providers to expand cloud capacity and access for Earth system research.
• U.S. and International Policy Advocacy Policy advocacy promoting a national research effort on Earth system risks and interventions, and public sector investments, open science, and international research cooperation.
• Paper Cuts Research Summaries A series of plain-language summaries breaking down timely, peer-reviewed research advancing understanding of the atmosphere and Earth system.

Quantifiable outcome

• Development of interactive 5-year research roadmap for near-term climate risk and intervention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilverLining partners with NOAA on atmospheric observations, stratospheric research, and Earth system science. NOAA provides critical data and information on the atmosphere and ocean to support public safety and economic resilience. The partnership includes SOAR program collaboration with NOAA's world-leading instrument and scientific capabilities.
• University of WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Marine Cloud Brightening Program and atmospheric research. Collaboration includes CRESST (Collaborative Research in Earth System Science and Technology) research cruise, SOAR-MARINE program, and joint development of observation platforms.
• Rainey Center (Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored policy brief 'Protecting American Weather Sovereignty' addressing the need for monitoring and attribution systems to detect and assess atmospheric interventions for national security.
• Atlantic CouncilkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint issue brief 'Accelerating Earth System Intervention Research to Improve Global Security' examining SRM approaches, research needs, risks and benefits, governance options, and global security issues.
• MaerskcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SOAR-MARINE program leveraging commercial ships for global network of marine atmospheric observations.
• OceansXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SOAR-MARINE program for expanding atmospheric observations using commercial shipping platforms.
• SRIsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on Earth system science and atmospheric research initiatives.
• University of Central FloridasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on atmospheric science and Earth system research.
• NASAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on atmospheric observations, including aircraft flights providing data on stratospheric climate interventions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Resources Institute: Global research nonprofit that produces independent analysis and policy guidance on climate, energy, and environmental issues, closely comparable in mission, scale, and policy-advocacy approach to SilverLining.
• Clean Air Task Force: Atmospheric and climate-focused nonprofit that combines rigorous scientific research with policy advocacy, directly comparable to SilverLining's atmospheric science and policy mandate.
• Climate Central: Nonprofit that conducts and communicates climate and atmospheric science to policymakers, media, and the public, comparable in its science-to-policy and public engagement model.
• Union of Concerned Scientists: Independent science advocacy nonprofit working on climate, energy, and security issues, directly comparable as an independent, science-driven policy intermediary.

Broad incumbents

• Environmental Defense Fund: Large, established environmental nonprofit with broad climate, energy, and atmospheric portfolios, comparable in advocacy-and-science model though operating at significantly larger scale.
• National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR): Federally funded research center dedicated to atmospheric and Earth system science, comparable in atmospheric research focus though operating as a much larger established institution.
• The Nature Conservancy: Large environmental nonprofit with climate and atmospheric science programs, comparable as a science-and-policy nonprofit though focused on conservation and operating at a far larger scale.

Emerging players

• Stardust Solutions: SRM-focused company pursuing stratospheric aerosol deployment, directly comparable in solar radiation modification focus but operating from a deployment-oriented (rather than independent research) posture.
• Degrees Initiative: Nonprofit that funds and supports SRM research in the Global South, closely comparable in mission to build independent science for responsible SRM evaluation.

Others

• Atlantic Council: International affairs think tank that co-authored policy briefs with SilverLining, comparable as a partner institution in atmospheric and climate security policy analysis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxI7XXmq合理性合理
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silverlining

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 SilverLining