Energy Foundation China

Name

Energy Foundation China

Legal name

The Energy Foundation

Website

https://efchina.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Renewable Energy & Clean Tech Access (Off-grid, Energy Poverty Solutions) (BPAGALAE)

Keywords

• Climate grantmaking
• Clean energy funding
• Low-carbon policy research
• Environmental policy advocacy
• Carbon transition support

Headquarters

HQ city

北京市

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: Energy Foundation China is funded by leading global foundations including the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, Children's Investment Fund Foundation UK, Climate Imperative Foundation, Global Methane Hub, and Clean Cooling Collaborative. As a U.S. 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the foundation receives charitable donations and uses these funds to provide grants to organizations working on climate change and sustainable energy in China.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Energy Foundation China is a non-profit grantmaking organization that funds NGOs, policy research groups, academic institutions, and industry associations in China. It operates nine program areas focused on clean power, low-carbon cities, transportation, industry, and environmental management. The foundation is registered as a U.S. 501(c)(3) and was founded in 1999.

Product overview

Energy Foundation China operates as a unified grantmaking organization offering multiple program areas rather than a traditional product portfolio. The organization delivers its mission through nine distinct program areas: Clean Power, Industry, Transportation, Low Carbon Cities, Low Carbon Economic Growth, Environmental Management, Strategic Communications, Strategy and Planning, and International Cooperation. Each program funds research, pilot projects, and capacity building initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support China's transition to a low-carbon economy. The organization also publishes reports and facilitates knowledge exchange, but does not offer technology products or software services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clean Power Program

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Tsinghua UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor academic partner including the Institute of Carbon Neutrality (ICON) and the Center for Climate Communication and Risk Governance at Tsinghua School of Journalism and Communication. Collaboration on research reports including 'Technology Outlook on Wind and Solar Power toward China's Carbon Neutrality Goal' and climate communication research.
• Chinese Academy for Environmental PlanningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government-affiliated research institution that has produced numerous reports with Energy Foundation support on air quality improvement, climate change strategies, and environmental planning for China's 14th Five-Year Plan.
• Center for Climate Communication and Risk Governance at Tsinghua UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in June 2022 under a Memorandum of Understanding between Tsinghua University and Energy Foundation, committed to advancing climate communications disciplines. Produced reports including 'Climate Narratives for the Chinese Public: Six Segments and Narrative' and 'Engaging China's Generation Z: Research on Life Values and Climate Communication'.
• Shanghai New Energy Vehicle Public Data Collecting, Monitoring and Research CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner that published reports on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Shanghai and policy recommendations for the 14th Five-Year Plan with Energy Foundation support.
• Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner that jointly released research on Guangzhou's sustainable transportation system development pathway with support from Energy Foundation China.
• China Sustainable Transportation CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner that produced reports on bicycle-friendly cities evaluation and low-carbon transportation with Energy Foundation support.
• Shanxi Coshare Innovation Institute of Energy and EnvironmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that released climate communication toolkits for Shanxi province's key industries and enterprises with Energy Foundation support.
• Renmin University of ChinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner that published research on China's coal-fired power low-carbon transition development pathway with Energy Foundation support.
• Nanjing University and Tsinghua UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research partners that published assessment of low-carbon environmental co-benefits of intermittent new energy investments in China.
• International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScott Vaughan serves as Senior Fellow at IISD and is Board Chair of Energy Foundation, representing a key institutional partnership.
• Rockefeller Brothers FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShenyu G. Belsky serves as China Program Director and is a Board member of Energy Foundation, representing a key institutional partnership.
• Chatham House - Royal Institute of International AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernice Lee serves as Hoffmann Distinguished Fellow at Chatham House and is a Board member of Energy Foundation, representing a key institutional partnership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization working on climate, energy, and sustainability. EFC's CEO previously led WRI's China office, and WRI operates comparable climate-and-energy research and convening functions globally.
• Bloomberg Philanthropies: Large philanthropic vehicle funding significant climate and clean-energy initiatives (e.g., Beyond Carbon, Coal Asset Transition). Comparable as a high-budget grantmaker in climate and energy policy, though with broader thematic coverage than EFC.

Direct peers

• Climate Imperative Foundation: Climate-focused grantmaker that funds Energy Foundation China and pursues aligned goals on energy transition and decarbonization. Highly comparable as a fellow climate grantmaking foundation with policy-advocacy objectives.
• William and Flora Hewlett Foundation: A core funder of Energy Foundation China and a peer in the international climate-and-environment grantmaking space. Comparable as a large, mission-driven private foundation funding climate, energy, and environmental policy research.
• Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF): Major international climate and development funder that explicitly supports Energy Foundation China's work. CIFF operates a similar grantmaking model focused on climate, energy, and sustainability outcomes globally, including in China.
• Rockefeller Brothers Fund: Private foundation with a China-focused climate and sustainable development program; senior staff serve on Energy Foundation's board. Operates a comparable grantmaking model on energy transition and climate policy.
• Clean Cooling Collaborative: A funder of Energy Foundation China focused on clean cooling and climate-related initiatives. Operates as a comparable thematic climate grantmaking initiative.
• ClimateWorks Foundation: A leading global climate philanthropy aggregator and grantmaker. ClimateWorks is both a direct peer (founding-style climate grantmaker funding policy and decarbonization work) and a key funder of Energy Foundation China, making it a highly comparable entity in mission, scope, and operating model.
• David and Lucile Packard Foundation: Key funder of Energy Foundation China with a long-running climate and conservation portfolio. Operates a comparable private-foundation grantmaking model supporting environmental and energy policy work.

Emerging players

• Climate Action Tracker: Independent scientific analysis body tracking government climate action and emissions pledges. Comparable as a research-and-policy organization producing climate analysis used by funders and policymakers, though it does not itself grant funds.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/energy-foundation-china

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Energy Foundation China