Climate Cafe NYC

What Climate Cafe NYC does

Climate Cafe NYC is a volunteer-run community organization headquartered in New York City that runs free climate cafe listening circles — structured sessions of approximately 45 minutes facilitated by trained volunteers for 5-15 participants, followed by an activity or workshop. The organization positions itself as a response to climate anxiety, eco-grief, and activist burnout by combining emotional support with curation of local climate-action opportunities (direct action, art, policy, mutual aid, sustainable living) through an events calendar and a resources hub. Its core offerings are in-person listening circles, a volunteer program designed to seed new cafes at clubs, churches, and co-ops, an annual Climate Week NYC guide, and an email newsletter.

The technology stack is deliberately minimal: a Wix-hosted website (climatecafe.eco), event listings and RSVPs on lu.ma and Eventbrite, and an Instagram presence (@climatecafe.eco). There is no mobile app, no proprietary platform, no AI components, and no integrations beyond standard third-party event and social tools. Climate Imaginarium functions as a dedicated physical venue/community center for the organization. The organization relies on grassroots organizing and word-of-mouth referrals rather than paid marketing channels.

The business model is donation-based crowdfunding, with a suggested "$5 — the price of a coffee" contribution directed to climate organizations via Buy Me a Coffee and Open Collective, supplemented by a recently introduced membership tier. Events are free to attend and free coffee/snacks are provided. No paid B2B customers, institutional grants, or external equity funding are disclosed. The founder, Jonathan Kirsch (designated "Head Barista"), leads a small, unspecified volunteer team.

Name

Climate Cafe NYC

Legal name

Climate Cafe NYC

Website

https://climatecafe.eco

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Climate Cafe NYC is a volunteer-run NYC community organization that runs free listening circles for people experiencing climate anxiety, curates local climate-action events, and recruits volunteers to open new cafes across the city, funded by small donations and a membership tier.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Climate Organizing

akta.pro primary industry

Environment, Climate & Sustainability Congresses (THAHAJAH)

Keywords

• Community climate organizing
• Climate listening circles
• Environmental volunteer network
• Community event facilitation
• Grassroots climate action

Headquarters

HQ city

New York City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations (Crowdfunding): Climate Cafe is proudly crowdfunded, accepting donations through Buy Me a Coffee and Open Collective platforms. They frame donations as 'the price of a coffee' ($5 suggested donation to climate organizations). This represents their primary revenue stream supporting operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Climate Cafe NYC runs free, facilitated in-person listening circles ("climate cafes") for small groups of 5-15 participants to process climate-linked emotions such as anxiety, grief, and isolation. The organization also curates a local climate action calendar, recruits volunteers to launch new cafes in community venues, and publishes an annual Climate Week NYC guide connecting residents to climate organizing opportunities.

Product overview

Climate Cafe NYC is a community organization offering in-person climate cafe events (listening circles with trained facilitators), a curated climate action resources hub, volunteer program for expanding the cafe network, an annual Climate Week guide, and a newsletter. These offerings work together as a community support ecosystem to help New Yorkers face climate anxiety, access local organizing opportunities, and build community roots against the climate crisis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Climate Cafe Events (Listening Circles) Free, facilitated in-person listening circles where participants share climate-linked emotions (anxiety, grief, isolation) and connect to community support and climate action. Sessions run approximately 45 minutes plus an activity or workshop.
• Climate Action Resources (Curated Calendar) A curated hub of local climate organizing opportunities and events, helping NYC residents find entry points into direct action, art, policy, mutual aid, and sustainable living initiatives.
• Climate Cafe Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities enabling individuals and community organizations to launch or staff Climate Cafe listening circles, expanding the network of climate emotional support communities across NYC.
• Climate Week NYC Guide Annual curated guide highlighting Climate Week NYC events and partnership opportunities, offering community members curated climate action programming without corporate greenwashing.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Climate Tech CitiesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Listed as a 'Partner Guide' during Climate Week NYC, promoting their comprehensive guide to climate events in NYC. This represents mutual cross-promotion within the climate movement ecosystem.
• New York on EarthminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Listed as a 'Partner Guide' with their 'no-bullshit guide to climate' during Climate Week NYC. Represents mutual marketing collaboration within the NYC climate community.
• Ocean EventsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Listed as a 'Partner Guide' during Climate Week NYC with their ocean-focused event guide. Represents mutual cross-promotion partnership.
• RISE and Surfrider FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner for dune restoration volunteer event during Climate Week NYC. Climate Cafe promotes their volunteer opportunity as part of collaborative climate action.
• Climate ImaginariumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Climate Imaginarium appears to be Climate Cafe's dedicated venue/community center for hosting events. Mentioned as a location for Climate Week events including the 'Chase (EP) Release Party: A Climate Week Jam' and Climate Cafe sessions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunrise Movement: U.S. youth-led climate movement with local hubs and volunteer chapters. Comparable volunteer-driven growth and NYC presence, but oriented toward political action rather than emotional support.
• 350.org: Global climate movement organization coordinating local volunteer chapters and direct action. Comparable community-of-volunteers operating model, but operates at far larger scale and focuses on policy and direct action rather than emotional support.
• Citizens' Climate Lobby: Trains and supports volunteer climate advocates across U.S. chapters, including NYC. Comparable volunteer-led community model, but focuses on policy advocacy rather than emotional support and listening circles.
• Climate Reality Project: Trains volunteer climate leaders and runs community climate education events. Adjacent to Climate Cafe's community-event format but focused on training presenters rather than facilitated emotional circles.

Regional players

• Earth Guardians: Youth climate organization with local crews and community-based climate action, primarily U.S.-based. Comparable community-led action model and target audience overlap, though it is focused on youth organizing rather than adult climate anxiety.

Direct peers

• Climate Awakening: Organizes small-group climate conversations in living rooms and community spaces to move people from concern to action. Closely comparable format (small-facilitated groups, volunteer-led) and target audience (climate-concerned general public).
• Good Grief Network: U.S.-based nonprofit running peer-support programs (including 'Climate Cafes') for people processing eco-grief and climate anxiety. Directly comparable mission and audience, with a more developed curriculum and facilitator training model.
• The All We Can Save Project: Builds climate community through circles, reading groups, and conversations focused on climate emotion and action. Overlaps directly with Climate Cafe's mission of processing climate emotions and connecting to action.
• Climate Cafe (UK): The original Climate Cafe network founded in the UK, using the same listening-circle format for climate emotions. Closest peer because it shares the 'Climate Cafe' concept, methodology, and emotional-support positioning, even though it is a separate organization in a different geography.

Emerging players

• Work for Earth: Community platform for climate-curious people to find volunteer opportunities, mutual aid, and local organizing. Comparable audience and community-led GTM, though the delivery is digital rather than in-person facilitated circles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climate-cafe-nyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Climate Cafe NYC