People's Climate Innovation Center

What People's Climate Innovation Center does

People's Climate Innovation Center (PCIC), also styled "Climate Innovation," is a U.S. nonprofit organization headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area (Oakland, CA) that supports community-driven approaches to climate resilience and environmental justice. Founded in 2022 with an active headcount of approximately 20, the organization operates a portfolio of core programs and partnerships: the National Association of Climate Resilience Planners (NACRP, launched 2017), Young Black Climate Leaders (YBCL, launched 2020), and Young Climate Leaders of Color (YCLC, launched 2022). It also runs consulting and convening initiatives including the Partners Advancing Climate Equity Program (PACE), Community Climate Shift (CCS), Currents, the Climate Equity Convening, Social Change Ecosystem Mapping services, and Capacity Building for Local Government. The organization serves frontline communities — primarily Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian/Pacific Islander populations disproportionately impacted by climate change — as well as local governments, philanthropic funders, and youth climate leaders ages 18-32.

The organization's core technology is the Community-Driven Climate Resilience Planning (CDCRP) Framework, a systematic approach to community-based climate planning that enables communities to design and lead their own solutions rather than receiving top-down plans. Supporting tools include the VISION | POWER | SOLUTIONS (VPS) virtual training series, the Spectrum of Community Engagement to Ownership tool (developed with partner Facilitating Power), and a Social Change Ecosystem Mapping methodology. NACRP functions as a national network of trained facilitators, with a formal certification program and a Community-Driven Planning Fund providing grants of up to $30,000 per quarter.

PCIC's revenue model is overwhelmingly grant- and philanthropic-funded. Confirmed income includes a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy grant (January 2024) for the Supporting Equitable Building Performance project, foundation grants, individual donations, and modest program/training fees such as $100 per VPS session. Youth grants are tiered ($2K seed, $6K water, $8K grow). Approximately 40% of the 2024 operating budget was reinvested directly to program participants, and over $1 million was regranted to community partners in 2024 through CCS. The organization is governed independently with no parent company and operates nationally across the U.S., with deep partnerships spanning NAACP, Race Forward, Greenlining Institute, Climate Justice Alliance, the Institute for Market Transformation, the California Strategic Growth Council, and others.

Name

People's Climate Innovation Center

Legal name

People's Climate Innovation Center

Website

https://climateinnovation.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

People's Climate Innovation Center is a U.S. nonprofit that supports community-driven climate solutions through capacity-building programs (NACRP, YBCL, YCLC), convenings, and consulting, serving frontline BIPOC communities, local governments, and youth climate leaders nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Justice and Environmental Capacity Building Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• Climate resilience planning
• Community climate solutions
• Youth climate leadership
• Environmental justice capacity
• Frontline community organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Philanthropy: Primary revenue stream from foundation grants and philanthropic donations. The organization receives funding from government grants (e.g., Department of Energy $5M grant for SEBP), foundation support, and charitable contributions. In 2024, nearly 40% of operating budget was reinvested to program participants.
2. Program Fees and Training Services: Revenue from capacity building programs, consultation services, and training. VISION | POWER | SOLUTIONS series charges $100 per session registration. NACRP facilitator certification and training programs generate fees.
3. Donations and Individual Contributions: Individual donations through the organization's website and mailing list engagement. Donate page available for public contributions to support program activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

People's Climate Innovation Center supports community-driven approaches and solutions that address complex climate challenges by empowering communities to design and lead their own social and climate justice solutions. The organization delivers core programs (NACRP network, YBCL, YCLC), partnership-based convenings (Community Climate Shift, Currents, PACE), and consultation services (Social Change Ecosystem Mapping, capacity building for local government, program design for just transition philanthropy) to advance equitable climate resilience planning.

Product overview

People's Climate Innovation Center is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of capacity-building programs and consulting services focused on community-driven climate solutions. The Core Programs include the National Association of Climate Resilience Planners (NACRP) network, the Young Black Climate Leaders (YBCL) program, and the Young Climate Leaders of Color (YCLC) program. Consulting & Advising services include Social Change Ecosystem Mapping, Capacity Building for Local Government, and Program Design for Just Transition Philanthropy. Partnership & Collaboration programs include the Partners Advancing Climate Equity Program (PACE), Climate Equity Convening, Community Climate Shift, and Currents. These programs work together to advance community-driven climate resilience planning, build capacity among frontline communities, and shift resources toward climate justice solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Young Black Climate Leaders (YBCL): Core program supporting young Black climate leaders through Dream Lab events, trainings, scholarships, and a youth-directed fund focused on racial and environmental justice.
• Young Climate Leaders of Color (YCLC)
• National Association of Climate Resilience Planners (NACRP)
• Community Climate Shift (CCS)
• Partners Advancing Climate Equity Program (PACE)
• Currents
• Climate Equity Convening

Products and services

• National Association of Climate Resilience Planners (NACRP) A national network of community-driven planning facilitators, grassroots organizers, and multi-sector partners that fosters effective community-driven racial and climate justice solutions through training, peer learning, referrals, and capacity-building. Includes the VISION | POWER | SOLUTIONS virtual series, Facilitator Certification Program, and Community-Driven Planning Fund.
• Young Black Climate Leaders (YBCL) A program supporting young Black leaders (ages 18-28) to advocate for and transform their communities toward racial and environmental justice. Includes Dream Lab events, YBCL scholarship, and the Youth Futures Fund.
• Young Climate Leaders of Color (YCLC) A national network of young leaders of color (ages 18-32) learning, growing, and advancing climate justice work. Provides resources, coaching, and funding through the YCLC Fund.
• Partners Advancing Climate Equity Program (PACE)

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed almost $190,000 to over 25 members/member organizations of NACRP
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ElevatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in climate and energy equity work. PCIC collaborated with Elevate on the Justice40 Accelerator program, providing federal funding readiness assessment and training to inaugural cohort members.
• Local Government CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Just Transition Philanthropy program design. LGC is a core partner in the PACE program supporting California frontline environmental justice leaders.
• The Solutions ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner in Justice40 Accelerator program. PCIC led application and review process and provided technical assistance and evaluation in coordination with The Solutions Project, Elevate, Groundswell, and Partnership for Southern Equity.
• Climate Justice AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovement partner working on climate solutions. Listed as partner organization supporting frontline communities.
• NAACPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric civil rights organization partnership for climate equity work. Listed as partner supporting frontline communities and climate justice initiatives.
• Kapwa ConsultingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-convened Climate Equity Convening (Sounding the Call) and leads Currents initiative collaboration with Climate Innovation, Facilitating Power, USDN, Race Forward, and NRDC's SPARCC. Testimonial from Founder Desiree Williams-Rajee praising CI's collaborative approach.
• Race ForwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization advancing racial justice. Partner in Currents initiative, Climate Equity Convening, and YCLC program design. Advising on youth leadership programs.
• Greenlining InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PACE program alongside California Strategic Growth Council, Local Government Commission, Climate Resolve, and Urban Permaculture Institute. Focus on advancing equitable climate solutions.
• Facilitating PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of Spectrum of Community Engagement to Ownership tool. Co-convened Climate Equity Convening, leads Currents initiative collaboration, and partnered on VPS series with NACRP.
• Institute for Market Transformation (IMT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with PCIC to support National Building Performance Standards Coalition. Together created Community Climate Shift parallel effort calling for $100M in philanthropic support.
• California Strategic Growth CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership for PACE program. SGC programs fund frontline community capacity building across California.
• Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of urban sustainability directors. Partner in Currents initiative working to improve government and community collaboration for climate solutions.
• NRDC's SPARCCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Currents initiative bringing together national thought leaders to improve government and community collaboration for authentic partnership and power shifting.
• Movement Strategy CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovement infrastructure organization. Listed as partner supporting vibrant movements across the country.
• PODERcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Francisco-based community organization. Local partner for CCS Convening hosting site visits showcasing community resilience work including affordable housing, building decarbonization, and community gardens.
• The Chisholm Legacy ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovement organization listed as partner supporting frontline communities.
• Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental justice organization listed as partner working on climate solutions.
• West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental justice organization listed as partner supporting frontline communities.
• Partnership for Southern EquitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Justice40 Accelerator core team working to support frontline community-based organizations in building capacity for government funding.
• Climate ResolvecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia-based climate organization and PACE program partner supporting frontline environmental justice leaders.
• Urban Permaculture InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPACE program partner providing permaculture expertise for California frontline community capacity building.
• GroundswellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore team partner in Justice40 Accelerator providing federal funding readiness support to frontline organizations.
• Zero Cities ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPCIC led social change mapping process for this project helping cities develop actionable and equitable roadmaps to achieve zero net carbon building sector by 2050. Engaged eleven leading cities.
• California Equitable Housing Electrification Program (CEHEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPCIC provided social change ecosystem mapping for CEHEP cohort of California cities to help pass building decarb policies by identifying key anchor CBOs.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Race Forward: National organization advancing racial justice and partner in Currents initiative, Climate Equity Convening, and YCLC program design. Operates in adjacent space of racial equity-centered organizing and policy advocacy.
• The Solutions Project: Core partner in Justice40 Accelerator program and climate justice funder. Both organizations advance community-driven climate solutions with shared focus on BIPOC leadership and movement building.
• Grassroots Global Justice Alliance: National alliance of frontline community organizations working on climate, racial, and economic justice. Operates parallel model of grassroots leader development and movement infrastructure building.
• Greenlining Institute: California-based partner in PACE program advancing equitable climate solutions. Both organizations center racial equity in climate work and operate capacity-building programs for frontline communities.
• Movement Strategy Center: Movement infrastructure organization listed as a core PCIC partner supporting vibrant movements across the country. Both organizations build capacity for frontline community organizing with shared racial justice framing.
• Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN): Environmental justice organization listed as PCIC partner working on climate solutions. Both organizations center Asian/Pacific Islander and BIPOC frontline community leadership in climate advocacy.
• Climate Justice Alliance: Movement partner working on climate solutions with shared focus on frontline community leadership and just transition. Both organizations are listed partners in PCIC's climate justice ecosystem.
• Facilitating Power: Developer of the Spectrum of Community Engagement to Ownership tool adopted by PCIC. Co-convened Climate Equity Convening and leads Currents initiative collaboration with shared focus on community-driven planning facilitation.
• Movement for Black Lives: National racial justice movement coalition intersecting with PCIC's work on Black climate leadership. Operates parallel ecosystem of Black-led organizing infrastructure that intersects with PCIC's YBCL and racial equity priorities.
• West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP): Environmental justice organization listed as PCIC partner supporting frontline communities in Oakland. Both organizations operate community-driven environmental health and climate justice programs in the Bay Area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ClimateInnov8
• Facebookfacebook.com/climateinnov8
• Instagraminstagram.com/climateinnov8
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climateinnov8

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 People's Climate Innovation Center