Ashden
Ashden is a UK-based climate charity founded in 2001 that accelerates climate solutions through awards, campaigns, toolkits, and policy advocacy, serving UK local authorities, schools, and Global South climate innovators with grants, learning networks, and policy influence.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ashden does
Ashden is a London-based climate change charity founded in 2001 by Sarah Butler-Sloss and registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (charity number 1104153). The organization operates with 11-50 employees from its headquarters in central London and exists to accelerate climate solutions through a portfolio of programs spanning awards, campaigns, toolkits, and policy advocacy. Core programs include the annual Ashden Awards (granting up to £25,000 to climate pioneers from the UK and Global South), the Let's Go Zero national campaign engaging 8,700+ UK schools toward zero carbon by 2030, the Climate Change Co-Benefits Toolkit for local authorities, and international programming covering Thriving Forests, clean energy investment, and the Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access (THEA) initiative.
Ashden's technology footprint is light and centered on program delivery rather than software products: the Co-Benefits Toolkit (8,000+ downloads, embedded in 100+ local authority climate plans) and the Learning Out Loud digital platform are the principal digital assets, with no disclosed APIs, integrations, or proprietary AI/ML components. Distribution is achieved through a mix of self-serve digital channels (school signups, toolkit downloads) and direct engagement with 80+ UK local and regional authorities alongside Global South partners.
Revenue is generated through a diversified charity model: individual donations and regular giving, corporate partnerships (including award category sponsorship), grants from trusts and foundations, and a paid consultancy line serving UK councils. Notable revenue signals include the £175,000 Thriving Forests programme for seven organizations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America in 2025, and the £3.5m five-year Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN) partnership. Ashden's strategic emphasis for the 2025-30 cycle is on driving systemic change rather than purely showcasing solutions, and its recommendations have been adopted in UK government strategies including the Warm Homes Plan, Local Power Plan, and Education Estates Strategy.
Ashden firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ashden
- Legal name
- Ashden
- Website
- https://ashden.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ashden is a UK-based climate charity founded in 2001 that accelerates climate solutions through awards, campaigns, toolkits, and policy advocacy, serving UK local authorities, schools, and Global South climate innovators with grants, learning networks, and policy influence.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ashden industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Solutions Charity / Sustainability Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD) (EUABAKAH)
Keywords
Where Ashden is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ashden business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Giving: Ashden operates as a registered charity (number 1104153) funded by individual donors, regular giving programs, and public donations.
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partnerships provide funding and support for Ashden's programs and awards. Companies can sponsor specific award categories.
- Trusts and Foundations: Major funders include trusts and foundations that support specific programs such as the Thriving Forests programme and various award categories.
- Consultancy Services: Ashden offers consultancy services to councils and organizations seeking to develop high-impact climate action, rooted in their deep knowledge of tried and tested climate solutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Ashden Awards grant for climate pioneers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Ashden product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ashden is a London-based climate solutions charity that accelerates innovative climate solutions through annual Ashden Awards (grants up to £25,000 plus publicity and investor introductions), the Let's Go Zero national schools campaign, the Climate Change Co-Benefits Toolkit for councils, regional learning networks, paid consultancy services for local authorities, and policy advocacy work targeting UK government climate strategies. Core activities span both UK local-authority support and Global South climate innovator programmes in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Product overview
Ashden is a climate change charity operating as a unified programme rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organisation delivers climate impact primarily through its award programmes, campaigns, and toolkits. Core offerings include The Ashden Awards (annual awards showcasing climate pioneers), the Let's Go Zero schools campaign, the Climate Change Co-Benefits Toolkit for local authorities, International Climate Solutions programmes, UK Climate Solutions initiatives, and Learning Networks for councils and communities. The organisation does not offer technology products per se but provides programmes, resources, and platforms for climate action.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Ashden Awards Annual awards programme showcasing extraordinary climate solutions from the UK and Global South; winners receive grants up to £25,000 plus publicity and connections to investors, funders and media. Designed for climate innovators, NGOs and social enterprises developing inclusive climate solutions.
- Let's Go Zero National campaign for UK schools, colleges and nurseries to be zero carbon by 2030; provides free guidance, resources and tailored Climate Action Advisors to enrolled schools.
- Climate Change Co-Benefits Toolkit Digital toolkit co-developed with local-authority staff to help councillors, politicians, finance directors and department heads make the case for climate investment by demonstrating co-benefits; downloaded 8,000+ times and adopted in 100+ local-authority climate action plans.
- International Climate Solutions programmes International programmes covering Thriving Forests, Powering Clean Energy Investment, and Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access, supporting climate pioneers across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
- UK Climate Solutions programmes Programmes supporting UK climate action across retrofit, low-carbon community energy, nature and adaptation, and climate-engagement-and-inclusion initiatives.
- Learning Networks Regional learning hubs connecting councils, communities and businesses across the UK to share climate-action insights and best practices.
- Ashden Consultancy Services Paid consultancy services offered to UK councils and organisations seeking to develop high-impact climate action, drawing on Ashden's evidence base of tried and tested climate solutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Networks supporting over 80 local and regional authorities for climate action
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Ashden
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ashden technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Ashden partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Better OrgcoreExternal DEI consultants who helped colleagues better understand the lived experiences of racially minoritised staff and the structural barriers embedded in everyday organisational processes.
- Common WealthcoreCollaborated on events and reports including producing recommendations for a Local Power Plan that works for communities.
- Power Up Energy Access CampaigncoreAshden is a key member of the Power Up energy access campaign, working to unlock greater investment in access to clean energy for people in the Global South.
- Global Platform for Action (GPA)corePartner in Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access (THEA), a global advocacy and research programme from UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, focused on refugee energy solutions.
- Global Refugee-led NetworkcorePartner in THEA programme working to empower displaced people through clean energy access and solutions.
- Chatham HousecorePartner in THEA programme bringing research and advocacy expertise on refugee energy poverty.
- Local Government Association (LGA)corePartner in adaptation learning networks, helping local authorities share information and implement tailored climate adaptation measures.
- Thames21coreLong-standing partnership with environmental charity Thames21 for nature-based flood defense solutions. Won 2023 Ashden Award for Local Nature Recoverers.
- Blueprint CoalitionminorAshden plays a prominent role in advocacy coalitions including Blueprint Coalition for policy influence.
- Warm this WinterminorCoalition of anti-poverty and environmental organisations working on energy efficiency and climate action, including Ashden.
- National Retrofit HubminorAshden plays a prominent role in advocacy coalitions including National Retrofit Hub for housing retrofit policy.
- Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN)minorA £3.5m five-year network aimed at translating policy on climate change into action on the ground with local communities.
- Alliance of Civil Society Organisations for Energy AccessminorCoalition partner for COP28 events focused on clean energy access in the Global South.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ashden competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Climate Group: International climate NGO that convenes governments, businesses and civil society and runs high-profile award and campaign programmes (e.g., RE100, EP100), closely comparable to Ashden's awards and council network model.
- Forum for the Future: UK-based sustainability charity running multi-stakeholder programmes, challenge prizes and learning networks; comparable to Ashden's mission of accelerating climate solutions and its combination of programmes, toolkits and convening power.
- Carbon Trust: Climate-focused organisation advising governments and businesses on decarbonisation strategy and running certification programmes; comparable to Ashden's consultancy work with councils and its UK climate-solutions portfolio.
- ClientEarth: Environmental law charity using litigation and advocacy to drive climate action; comparable to Ashden in being a UK-headquartered climate NGO that combines direct programmes with policy and legal advocacy.
- Green Alliance: UK environmental think tank producing policy analysis and convening leaders across climate, nature and resource policy; comparable to Ashden's UK policy advocacy footprint on Warm Homes and Local Power.
- Practical Action: International development charity working on energy access, climate resilience and community solutions in the Global South; comparable to Ashden's Thriving Forests and Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access programmes.
- UK100: Network of UK local authorities committed to clean energy and climate action; directly comparable to Ashden's 80+ council engagement and Co-Benefits Toolkit adoption in council climate plans.
Emerging players
- Climate Bonds Initiative: International NGO mobilising capital for climate solutions through green bonds and standards; comparable in its mission to scale climate finance but operating at the financial-market layer rather than direct community engagement.
- 10:10 Climate Action: Climate charity focused on community and school climate engagement; partially comparable to Ashden's Let's Go Zero schools campaign and community-energy programmes.
- Power for People: UK charity campaigning for community-owned renewable energy; comparable to Ashden's Local Power Plan and community-energy policy work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ashden social profiles
Digital presenceAshden financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ashden leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Ashden funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ashden 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 Ashden
What does Ashden do?
Ashden is a London-based climate solutions charity that accelerates innovative climate solutions through annual Ashden Awards (grants up to £25,000 plus publicity and investor introductions), the Let's Go Zero national schools campaign, the Climate Change Co-Benefits Toolkit for councils, regional learning networks, paid consultancy services for local authorities, and policy advocacy work targeting UK government climate strategies. Core activities span both UK local-authority support and Global South climate innovator programmes in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Is Ashden a public or private company?
Ashden is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ashden founded?
Ashden was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ashden based?
Ashden is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Ashden make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Giving is the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships, trusts and Foundations and consultancy Services.
Who are Ashden's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Climate Group, Forum for the Future, Carbon Trust, ClientEarth, Green Alliance, Practical Action and UK100. Emerging players are Climate Bonds Initiative, 10:10 Climate Action and Power for People.
Does Ashden have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ashden.
What industry is Ashden in?
Ashden's product category is Climate Solutions Charity / Sustainability Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAF, Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation, with a secondary code of BPADALAA, Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support. Its NAICS code is 54162.