Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative
ND-GAIN is the University of Notre Dame's free, open-source climate adaptation research initiative, producing data-driven vulnerability and readiness tools for 185 countries and 278 U.S. cities, serving governments, international organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersNotre Dame, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative does
The Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN) is a research program within the University of Notre Dame's Environmental Change Initiative (ND-ECI) that produces free, open-source decision-support tools for climate adaptation. Its flagship product, the Country Index, ranks 185 countries annually using two decades of data across 45 indicators, measuring vulnerability across six sectors (food, water, health, ecosystem services, human habitat, infrastructure) and readiness to adapt. ND-GAIN also operates the U.S. Urban Adaptation Assessment (UAA), covering 278 U.S. cities and Puerto Rico at subcity granularity, and the Global Urban Climate Assessment (GUCA), a 12-city pilot using remote sensing and secondary data to measure urban climate resilience. Beyond quantitative tools, ND-GAIN publishes Adaptation Briefs documenting case-based evidence of successful adaptation interventions across 14+ countries.
The organization does not operate on a commercial revenue model. All tools are freely accessible via gain.nd.edu and distributed as downloadable datasets, with no pricing tiers or paywalls. Funding is sourced from private philanthropy and institutional grants, including identified support from the Kresge Foundation for the UAA. The program is led by Director Danielle Wood, with a small core staff of approximately 6 and broader research leverage from 60+ Notre Dame faculty across multiple disciplines. Customers and users span governments, international organizations (World Bank, IMF, UNDP, UNFCCC, UNICEF), NGOs (Catholic Relief Services, Oxfam), corporations, and academic institutions across 100+ countries.
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative
- Legal name
- Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative
- Website
- https://gain.nd.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ND-GAIN is the University of Notre Dame's free, open-source climate adaptation research initiative, producing data-driven vulnerability and readiness tools for 185 countries and 278 U.S. cities, serving governments, international organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Risk Analytics
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adaptation & Resilience Planning Platforms (CAPEX Prioritization, Cost–Benefit, NBS) (EUABALAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD), Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPAIAMAD)
Keywords
Where Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Notre Dame
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Funding: Private philanthropy supports the organization's sustainability model. Gifts of all sizes are directed to faculty research, graduate and postdoctoral fellowships, undergraduate research experiences, and other purposes.
- Institutional Grants: Funded by foundations such as the Kresge Foundation for specific tools like the Urban Adaptation Assessment. Research collaborations with academic and governmental partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free access to all tools and resources |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ND-GAIN develops and publishes free, open-source climate adaptation decision-support tools that rank 185 countries and major cities on climate vulnerability and readiness. Its flagship Country Index synthesizes 45 indicators across six life-supporting sectors (food, water, health, ecosystem services, human habitat, and infrastructure) over 20 years of data, while the U.S. Urban Adaptation Assessment and Global Urban Climate Assessment extend this analysis to the city and sub-city level. Adaptation Briefs provide case-based evidence of successful climate adaptation interventions across 14+ countries.
Product overview
ND-GAIN offers a suite of free, open-source climate adaptation decision-support tools rather than a unified platform. The flagship tool is the Country Index, which ranks 185 countries by climate vulnerability and readiness using 45 indicators. City-level analysis is provided through the U.S. Urban Adaptation Assessment (278 U.S. cities) and the Global Urban Climate Assessment pilot (12 international cities). The Adaptation Briefs provide case-based examples of successful interventions. All tools are designed to help governments, NGOs, corporations, and investors prioritize climate adaptation investments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Country Index Free and open-source ranking tool that uses two decades of data across 45 indicators to rank 185 countries annually based upon their vulnerability and readiness to successfully adapt to climate change. Vulnerability is evaluated across six life-supporting sectors: food, water, health, ecosystem services, human habitat, and infrastructure.
- U.S. Urban Adaptation Assessment (UAA) Interactive database measuring climate risks and social vulnerabilities at the city and subcity level for 278 U.S. cities and Puerto Rico. Covers climate hazards including flooding, extreme heat, extreme cold, drought, and sea-level rise, with data downloadable as CSV datasets.
- Global Urban Climate Assessment (GUCA) Pilot decision-support tool tracking the progress of climate vulnerability and resilience in cities around the world. Uses both remote sensing (ECMWF ERA5-Land data) and secondary data to provide the first assessment tool across multiple global cities on consistent resilience measures. Currently in 12-city pilot phase.
- Adaptation Briefs Free and open-access collection of case studies showcasing successful climate adaptation interventions. Selected based on time frame, location, and evidence-based outcomes. Includes briefs for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Colombia, Ecuador, Estonia, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Mozambique, New Zealand, Somalia, South Sudan, and the United States.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2.5 million views of ND-GAIN tools over 12 years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship, core and major.
- Dublin City University (DCU)minorInternational research exchange program focused on water policy and climate adaptation. Students from DCU and Notre Dame worked together on climate adaptation research in the St. Joseph River Basin.
- World BankflagshipIntegrates ND-GAIN vulnerability and readiness scores into Climate Risk Country Profiles within the Climate Change Knowledge Portal. ND-GAIN data is used alongside projected physical climate changes for policy assessment.
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)flagshipApplies Country Index data as key indicators for macroeconomic risk assessment, evaluating how climate change affects national budgets, debt sustainability, and economic growth.
- UN Development Programme (UNDP)flagshipIntegrates Country Index climate vulnerability rankings into country profiles related to the Climate Promise initiative, the world's largest offer of support to countries on national climate pledges.
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)flagshipPolicy briefings and National Adaptation Plans cite Country Index rankings. ND-GAIN data informs decisions on the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD).
- UN Global CompactcoreND-GAIN served as official technical partner for 'The Business Case for Responsible Corporate Adaptation' report, jointly developed with UN Environment Programme and UNFCCC secretariat.
- UNICEFmajorCross-references ND-GAIN country rankings to highlight humanitarian needs in their Humanitarian Action for Children reports.
- Catholic Relief Services (CRS)coreND-GAIN has provided in-kind counsel to help prioritize CRS' global strategies. Analyzed food, water and health risk in CRS' 98 countries of operation. Completed country analyses for Burundi and Bangladesh to inform CRS programs.
- OxfammajorReferences ND-GAIN data in identifying vulnerable regions and advocating for fair distribution of climate adaptation finance from organizations like the UN.
- Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative (ND-ECI)coreND-GAIN is a program within ND-ECI, which has over 60 faculty across several disciplines pursuing environmental research solutions.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)majorImplementation partner for the Maldives water security project alongside Maldives Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, and Maldives Meteorological Service.
- European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)majorGUCA research uses ECMWF's ERA5-Land precipitation dataset for its fine resolution and inclusion of surface water data. Reanalysis data combines historical weather observations from satellites, weather balloons, and weather stations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Climate Central: Climate Central is a US-based climate science research and communications nonprofit producing sea-level rise, coastal flood, and climate impact analyses for media, governments, and NGOs. Comparable to ND-GAIN as a research-driven organization turning climate data into public decision-support tools.
- Climate Analytics: Climate Analytics is a nonprofit climate science and policy institute producing global analysis on adaptation, mitigation, and 1.5°C-aligned pathways. Comparable to ND-GAIN as a mission-driven provider of country-level climate vulnerability data and policy briefings used by governments and multilaterals.
- Acclimatise: Acclimatise is a specialist climate risk and adaptation consultancy producing city and sectoral vulnerability assessments for governments and investors. Comparable to ND-GAIN in producing adaptation-focused decision support, though Acclimatise sells bespoke services rather than free open data.
Emerging players
- XDI (Cross Dependency Initiative): XDI is a commercial climate risk analytics firm providing physical climate risk and damage analytics for infrastructure, real estate, and government portfolios. Comparable to ND-GAIN in producing comparable city- and country-level climate risk rankings, but oriented toward commercial enterprise buyers.
- Carbon Brief: Carbon Brief is a UK-based climate science and policy website covering national climate vulnerability and adaptation stories globally. Comparable to ND-GAIN as a communications-oriented channel that translates country-level climate data for policy and public audiences.
Broad incumbents
- CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): CDP runs the global disclosure system for environmental data from cities, companies, and investors, and is deeply embedded in ESG workflows. Comparable to ND-GAIN as a provider of standardized climate/environmental data that governments and financial institutions rely on.
- Jupiter Intelligence: Jupiter Intelligence is a commercial climate risk analytics provider delivering physical risk scores for assets, portfolios, and cities to insurers and corporates. Comparable to ND-GAIN's UAA in producing city- and asset-level physical climate vulnerability data, but sold as enterprise software.
- Climate Policy Initiative: Climate Policy Initiative is a deep climate finance data and policy organization publishing State and Trends of Adaptation Finance reports that explicitly cite ND-GAIN scores. Comparable as a heavyweight climate data provider for finance ministries, MDBs, and adaptation funders.
- World Resources Institute (Climate Watch): WRI's Climate Watch platform provides open-access country-level climate and emissions data widely used by policymakers and researchers. Comparable to ND-GAIN as a free global climate data platform for country indicators, though WRI's focus skews more toward mitigation than adaptation readiness.
- MSCI Climate (formerly Carbon Delta / Four Twenty Seven): MSCI Climate provides physical and transition climate risk data for investment portfolios, building on assets acquired from Four Twenty Seven. Comparable to ND-GAIN's physical climate risk work at city/country level but oriented toward institutional investor workflows.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative social profiles
Digital presenceNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative 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 Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative
What does Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative do?
ND-GAIN develops and publishes free, open-source climate adaptation decision-support tools that rank 185 countries and major cities on climate vulnerability and readiness. Its flagship Country Index synthesizes 45 indicators across six life-supporting sectors (food, water, health, ecosystem services, human habitat, and infrastructure) over 20 years of data, while the U.S. Urban Adaptation Assessment and Global Urban Climate Assessment extend this analysis to the city and sub-city level. Adaptation Briefs provide case-based evidence of successful climate adaptation interventions across 14+ countries.
Is Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative a public or private company?
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative founded?
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative based?
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative is headquartered in Notre Dame, United States, in the North America region.
How does Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Funding is the primary driver. The others are institutional Grants.
Who are Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Climate Central, Climate Analytics and Acclimatise. Emerging players are XDI (Cross Dependency Initiative) and Carbon Brief. Broad incumbents are CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), Jupiter Intelligence, Climate Policy Initiative, World Resources Institute (Climate Watch) and MSCI Climate (formerly Carbon Delta / Four Twenty Seven).
Does Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative have an API?
No public API is recorded for Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative.
What industry is Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative in?
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative's product category is Climate Risk Analytics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABALAH, Adaptation & Resilience Planning Platforms (CAPEX Prioritization, Cost–Benefit, NBS), with a secondary code of BPAGAGAF, Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation. Its NAICS code is 541620 and its SIC code is 7372.