What Creatives for Climate does

Creatives for Climate is a Netherlands-based nonprofit foundation (Creatives for Climate Stichting, KVK 86336134) founded in 2019 and headquartered in Amsterdam at 232 De Entree. It operates a global network of more than 6,000 creative professionals across 90+ countries, alongside an extended reach of approximately 60,000 change-makers, with the mission of aligning creative influence with climate science and reshaping the advertising and communications industry's role in the climate transition. The organization was launched at a sold-out summit at Patagonia HQ in Amsterdam and has since built an interconnected product portfolio anchored by four offerings: (1) the Creative Climate Hub, a free digital community platform analogous to a climate-focused LinkedIn for resource sharing, networking, jobs, and event discovery; (2) the Lead on Climate Supporting Membership, a paid €300/year tier providing certified courses, masterclasses, mentorship, and leadership pathways; (3) the Ethical Agency Alliance, a UN-recognized coalition of agencies in 10+ countries that sign MOUs committing to fossil fuel client bans, anti-greenwash standards, and the UN-backed Serviced Emissions framework; and (4) Brief for Better, a free matchmaking service connecting brands with vetted fossil-free agencies, monetized via a percentage of matched project fees. The supporting product layer consists of open-access toolkits (Creative Integrity Playbook, Anti-Greenwash Guide, GreenSHOUTING Guide, Greenwash Swatch), co-developed with partners including B Lab, ClientEarth, Oxford Net Zero, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and Planet Tracker, distributed in multiple languages and reaching millions of cumulative impressions.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit construct: philanthropic grants from KR Foundation, the European Climate Foundation, the European Union (CERV and Creative Europe programmes), and The Carmack Collective form the institutional revenue base; recurring membership fees (€300/year Lead on Climate), community crowdfunding, paid creative partnerships with climate NGOs (Oxfam, Greenpeace, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, Purpose Disruptors), and transaction-fee reinvestment from Brief for Better matchmaking provide diversified streams. The organization is also an accredited UNFCCC Race to Zero Accelerator, and its Creative Integrity Playbook is included in the COP30 Final Action Agenda. GTM is community-led and event-driven: growth is fueled by annual summits, regional meet-ups (20+ in two years across roughly 1,000 attendees), Earth Month activations across 8 cities, and high-visibility launches at Cannes Lions, COP28/COP30, New York Climate Week, and SXSW. The customer base spans four primary segments — individual creative professionals, professional creative leaders, ethical agencies, and brand/client organizations — with secondary segments including climate NGOs and mainstream corporates seeking to mitigate greenwashing risk. As of the most recent data, the organization runs on a four-to-six-person core team and is publicly pursuing a €50,000 crowdfund by January 2026 to bridge a short-term funding gap, with a stated 2026 growth target to scale into a €500,000 organization.

Name

Creatives for Climate

Legal name

Creatives for Climate Stichting

Website

https://creativesforclimate.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Creatives for Climate is an Amsterdam-based nonprofit operating a global network of 6,000+ creative professionals across 90+ countries, mobilizing the creative and communications industries for climate action through education, ethical agency standards, and brand-agency matchmaking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Communications and Sustainability Creative Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (54143), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Cause/Sustainability & Purpose-Driven Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creative & Brand Campaign Development (BPAFAAAB), Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Community Environmental & Sustainability Events (Earth Day, Clean-Up Festivals) (MPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Climate communication training
• Ethical creative agencies
• Anti-greenwash toolkits
• Sustainability creative network
• Climate action nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Supporting Membership (Lead on Climate): Annual paid membership at €300/year offering access to certified courses, masterclasses, mentorship, leadership pathways, and portfolio visibility tools. The membership is positioned as the leading industry credential for creative climate communications professionals. The organization aims to grow membership from ~130 to 500 supporting members.
2. Community Crowdfunding: Community donations and crowdfunded campaigns. The organization ran a €50,000 crowdfund by January 2026 to close a short-term funding gap and stabilize the team. Donation tiers include oat flatwhites (€30), typeface family coordination (€250), team lunch (€500), and partial Cannes Lions pass (€1,500).
3. Brief for Better Matchmaking Commission: A percentage of every ethical brief matched via the Ethical Agency Alliance is reinvested back into the movement. The matchmaking itself is free for brands; the sustainability model involves reinvesting a portion of matched project fees into the nonprofit's operations.
4. Grants and Philanthropic Funding: Multi-stage grant funding from mission-aligned donors and foundations. The organization is pursuing larger 2026 funding to grow into a €500k organization. Past funders include KR Foundation, European Climate Foundation, European Union, and The Carmack Collective.
5. Creative Partnerships (Paid): Paid partnerships with climate organizations to launch research, calls to action, or creative challenges through learning events, activations, or content partnerships targeting the 25,000-strong follower base. These partnerships help fund climate action work and offer climate organizations new creative reach.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Creatives for Climate is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes the global creative industry for climate action. It operates a digital community platform (Creative Climate Hub) that connects over 6,000 creative professionals across 90+ countries, while offering free anti-greenwash toolkits, a paid annual membership, an Ethical Agency Alliance coalition, and a Brief for Better matchmaking service connecting brands with vetted climate-responsible agencies.

Product overview

Creatives for Climate is a nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered on mobilizing the creative industry for climate action. The core offering is the Creative Climate Hub, a free global network platform connecting 6,000+ professionals, complemented by Lead on Climate, a paid professional membership providing certified courses and leadership pathways. The organization provides the Ethical Agency Alliance as a coalition framework for fossil-free agencies. Educational resources include the Creative Integrity Playbook (flagship COP30-aligned guide), Anti-Greenwash Guide (regulatory handbook), GreenSHOUTING Guide (sustainability communication), and Greenwash Swatch (visual identification toolkit). Brief for Better serves as a matchmaking service connecting brands with vetted ethical agencies. All offerings work together to build capacity, champion frontrunners, and connect climate organizations with creative talent.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Creative Climate Hub

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 million+ media impressions from Greenwash Swatch launch; 450,000+ reached through Anti-Greenwash Guide; 80,000+ reached through Creative Integrity Playbook; 2 million+ reached through GreenSHOUTING Guide
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and secondary.

• Eye Film MuseumminorOthers · 1 February 2025Eye Film Museum in Amsterdam hosted the Cinema for Climate Action event in February 2025 — C4C's largest event to date, bringing together 300+ creatives, policymakers, activists, and community leaders for an evening of climate storytelling.
• Art Directors Club Europe (ADCE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024C4C partnered with ADCE as part of the European Union's Green Futures initiative to run the Creative Express 2024 — a 3-day bootcamp in Lisbon bringing together 22 young creatives from 15 European countries to tackle greenwashing. ADCE is a co-host of the Ethical Agency Summit. The partnership also includes Creative Conscience, Glimpse Collective, and Art Disrupt.
• Oxfam InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2023Creatives for Climate partnered with Oxfam International to support the launch of their 'Hold the Line' film documenting human rights defenders and their 'Threats to Human Rights Defenders' research study. C4C designed, facilitated, and led the 'Shaping the Climate Justice Narrative' campaign including a live webinar with 250+ attendees and a social media campaign reaching 15,000+ individuals.
• Planet TrackercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Creatives for Climate partnered with think tank Planet Tracker to translate their research on greenwashing into the Greenwash Swatch toolkit — a paint swatch-format guide identifying shades of greenwashing. The swatch was downloaded 1,000+ times, reached 2 million people at Cannes Lions 2023, and was licensed under Creative Commons.
• Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Creatives for Climate partnered with the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative at COP28 to support adoption of a fossil fuel phase-out treaty and call out greenwashing. The campaign reached 70,000+ people, distributed 100 toolkits to leaders at COP28, and engaged 227 professionals and 13 creative agencies in collaborative action.
• WaterBear NetworksecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023WaterBear Network partnered with C4C as a platform for amplifying climate storytelling. VP Editorial Maria Correa found a values-aligned creative partner through the Ethical Agency Alliance and praised the partnership for delivering outstanding results.
• Greenpeace InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Creatives for Climate joined forces with Greenpeace International and 30+ non-profits to launch a creative call to action for banning fossil fuel advertising in Europe. The campaign generated creative assets, hosted a launch event with 100+ creatives, and organized an exhibition with 1,000+ attendees at New York Climate Week. The campaign contributed to 302,295 signatures on the European Citizen's Initiative, and France became the first European country to ban fossil fuel ads.
• Centre of Expertise for Creative Innovation (CoECI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with CoECI (running programs for 5 universities across the Netherlands) to develop university curricula that foster sustainable creative professionals. C4C was invited to help disrupt education programs to drive more climate action within the creative sector.
• Amsterdam University of Applied SciencessecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner university collaborating with C4C to develop and deliver climate-focused creative curricula to students, embedding C4C's toolkits and frameworks into formal higher education.
• Sustainable Media LabsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Academic partner collaborating with C4C on developing curricula and research around sustainable media and creative practices, integrating C4C's frameworks into academic programming.
• B LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreatives for Climate partnered with B Lab (global nonprofit transforming the economy, behind B Corp certification) and Nice and Serious to co-create the GreenSHOUTING Guide — a practical framework helping brands speak about sustainability with courage and integrity. B Lab's global B Corp community is both a beneficiary and promoter of C4C's ethical agency standards.
• Nice and SeriouscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNice and Serious (purpose-driven creative agency and Certified B Corp) served as the creative partner on the GreenSHOUTING Guide. Co-Founder Tom Tapper actively endorses the Ethical Agency Alliance and Brief for Better matchmaking service, amplifying C4C's reach within the agency community.
• Oxford Net ZerocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreatives for Climate works in partnership with Oxford Net Zero (University of Oxford) to advance the UN-backed Serviced Emissions framework. The Creative Integrity Playbook builds on this framework, and Oxford Net Zero's Head of Stakeholder Engagement endorses the Brief for Better matchmaking platform.
• Purpose DisruptorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreatives for Climate partnered with Purpose Disruptors to launch 'The Good Life Brief' campaign reimagining 2030 as a positive, exciting green future. The campaign generated 40+ creative assets exhibited at Tate Modern and COP28, with a 200-attendee kickoff meeting. Partnership expanded through 2025 Cinema for Climate Action event.
• Movies that MatterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMovies that Matter (artistic director Margje de Koning) partnered with C4C for Cinema for Climate Action at Eye Film Museum, contributing expertise in using cinema as a tool for social change and human rights storytelling.
• Freshly Ground StoriesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFreshly Ground Stories (founder Izzy Abidi) partnered with C4C for Cinema for Climate Action, contributing expertise in storytelling, humour, and community-building as a fuel for climate action.
• BadvertisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBadvertising (co-founded by Andrew Simms) partners with C4C on campaigns calling out deceptive fossil fuel advertising. Andrew Simms spoke at Cinema for Climate Action on the battle against misleading corporate advertising practices.
• Fossil Free Advertising NetherlandsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFossil Free Advertising Netherlands (led by Femke Sleegers) partners with C4C on campaigns for banning fossil fuel advertising. Martine Doppen celebrated the ban on fossil fuel ads in The Hague as a campaign victory at Cinema for Climate Action.

Scale indicators30 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Forum for the Future: International sustainability nonprofit working with business, government, and civil society on systemic change. A broader incumbent comparable to Creatives for Climate's nonprofit advocacy and training role, though with deeper corporate-program focus.
• Climate Group: International nonprofit working with businesses and governments to accelerate climate action, including the Under2 Coalition and EV100. Comparable as a peer nonprofit influencing climate policy and corporate commitments, though broader in scope than C4C's creative-industry focus.
• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Global nonprofit sustainability consultancy working with Fortune 500 companies on ESG, climate, and human rights. A broader incumbent offering sustainability advisory that competes for enterprise climate communications budgets.

Direct peers

• Ad Net Zero: UK-based advertising industry initiative mobilizing agencies and brands to reduce advertising's carbon footprint. Directly comparable as a creative-industry climate coalition with member agencies and toolkits, though UK-focused and industry-funded rather than nonprofit.
• Conscious Advertising Network: Global alliance of advertisers, agencies, and platforms tackling problematic advertising practices including climate greenwashing. Directly comparable as a creative-industry accountability coalition with manifesto commitments, similar in structure to Creatives for Climate's Ethical Agency Alliance.
• Badvertising: Campaign coalition calling for bans on fossil fuel advertising in the UK. Directly comparable as a partner-level peer working the same fossil-ad-ban thesis; Creatives for Climate co-hosts events with Badvertising co-founder Andrew Simms.
• Purpose Disruptors: A purpose-driven creative industry network focused on transforming advertising's role in society, including climate. Direct peer through shared membership and a partnership with Creatives for Climate on The Good Life Brief campaign and Cinema for Climate Action events.

Emerging players

• Futerra: Specialist creative agency focused exclusively on sustainability and climate communications, serving brands, NGOs, and foundations. A comparable agency-side peer in climate creative services and toolkits, including The Optimism Handbook and similar resources.
• B Lab: Global nonprofit network behind B Corp certification, certifying purpose-driven businesses including creative agencies. An adjacent player co-developing content with C4C (GreenSHOUTING Guide); overlaps in ethical-business standards for the creative industry.
• Do The Green Thing: Creative nonprofit using cultural campaigns to encourage sustainable living, founded by Andy Hobsbawm. A peer in using creative culture to drive climate behavior change, with overlapping event and content formats.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creatives-for-climate
• Instagraminstagram.com/creatives_for_climate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Creatives for Climate