What Shockwave Foundation does

Shockwave Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation founded in 2020 by Paul Traina with a stated 20-year, $50M capital commitment dedicated to climate resilience and adaptation solutions, with an explicit emphasis on food and water security. Headquartered in San Francisco, the foundation operates through two principal funding mechanisms: targeted philanthropic grantmaking directed to locally-led NGOs in Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda) and Central & South America (Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru), and impact investments in U.S.-based companies and funds advancing climate-resilient technologies, energy transition, regenerative agriculture, and water systems. Its grantee portfolio includes Water for People, WaterAid, Self Help Africa, BASEflow, Semilla Nueva, KickStart, Africa Sand Dam Foundation, CRS/Blue Harvest, Pacific Institute, Saha Global, Nuru, TNC's Resilient Watersheds program, and the GRP RAIN Challenge.

The foundation supplements direct capital deployment with field-building resources, including publicly shared grantmaking templates (application, due diligence, and reporting templates) and co-developed guidance briefs. The most prominent example is the practical guide for NGOs on strengthening climate-resilient WASH systems launched at World Water Week 2025 with Osprey Foundation and Aguaconsult. Shockwave is also an active participant in multi-funder networks including the WASH Funders Group and the Adaptation and Resilience Collaborative for Funders (ARC, convened by ClimateWorks Foundation). The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and differentiates itself in a market where, by its own framing, less than 10% of climate philanthropy is directed to adaptation and resilience.

Operationally, the foundation reports portfolio-level outcomes including more than 5 million people with lasting access to water services through Water for People systems, 60,000 farmers reached and 2 million people with improved nutrition via Semilla Nueva, 215,000+ people with restored water access and 91 million liters of groundwater conserved by BASEflow, and a 400% increase in household earnings through KickStart irrigation technologies. Leadership transitioned in August 2025 when Dr. Jennifer Wegbreit, previously Chief Operating Officer and a co-creator of the foundation's mission, was appointed CEO.

Name

Shockwave Foundation

Legal name

Shockwave Foundation

Website

https://shockwave.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shockwave Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation deploying catalytic grantmaking and impact investments to advance climate resilience, with an emphasis on food and water security in Africa and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Resilience Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD)

Keywords

• Climate resilience philanthropy
• Climate adaptation funding
• Impact investing
• Food and water security
• Grantmaking foundations

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

Operations, Personnel, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shockwave Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that invests in climate resilience and adaptation solutions for food and water security. It operates through targeted philanthropic grantmaking to NGOs in Africa and Central & South America, mission-driven impact investments in U.S. early-stage climate technology companies, and strategic partnerships with peer funders and aligned organizations to co-fund and field-build the climate resilience sector.

Product overview

Shockwave Foundation is a climate resilience philanthropy organization operating a platform of interconnected grantmaking, impact investment, and strategic partnership offerings. The foundation makes targeted philanthropic grants to organizations in Africa and Central & South America, deploys impact investments into U.S.-based climate technology ventures, and collaborates with peer funders through strategic partnerships. Their approach combines catalytic funding with field-building resources, including publicly shared grantmaking templates and co-developed guidance briefs, to accelerate scalable climate solutions across food and water security systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Philanthropic Grantmaking Core grantmaking program of the foundation: provides catalytic, flexible, trust-based philanthropic grants to nonprofit organizations working on climate adaptation, water security, and food security, with grants primarily directed to locally-led NGOs in Africa and Central & South America. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
• Impact Investments Mission-driven investment program deploying capital into U.S.-based early-stage companies and funds advancing resilient technologies, water technology, regenerative agriculture, clean energy, and sustainable food and water systems. Includes direct investments and fund investments (LP relationships) such as Buoyant Ventures, Horizon Environment and Climate Solutions, and Burnt Island Ventures.
• Strategic Partnerships Structured collaboration program with peer foundations and aligned funders, including co-funding of grantees, joint research and field-building initiatives, participation in multi-funder platforms, and engagement in networks such as the WASH Funders Group, the Adaptation and Resilience Collaborative for Funders (ARC), and the Redwoods Collective.
• Climate Resilience Guidance Briefs Practical guidance documents co-developed with partners (Osprey Foundation, Aguaconsult) that support NGOs and funders in strengthening climate-resilient water and sanitation systems, including real-world case studies from Malawi, Uganda, and Peru.
• Public Grantmaking Resources Publicly shared templates and tools — including application templates, due diligence report templates, interim and final partner report templates, and branding materials — provided to prospective and current grantees to increase transparency and capacity across the climate resilience field.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 5 million people have lasting access to water services through Water for People's climate-resilient systems
• +7 more outcomes

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

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Osprey FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop guidance briefs and practical resources for NGOs and funders working to strengthen climate-resilient water and sanitation systems, including case studies from Malawi, Uganda, and Peru.
• AguaconsultcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped practical guidance briefs for implementing climate-resilient WASH systems, including 'Strengthening the Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation Systems: A Practical Guide for NGOs' launched at World Water Week 2025.
• Africa Sand Dam FoundationcoreOthersASDF designs and builds sand dams and complementary water infrastructure that harvest and store rainwater below ground to irrigate crops, strengthen food security, and build resilient livelihoods.
• BASEflowcoreOthersBASEflow combats water scarcity by strengthening government and community systems that monitor, manage, and sustainably develop groundwater resources in Malawi.
• CRS/Blue HarvestcoreOthersCatholic Relief Services' Blue Harvest Program strengthens water security and rural livelihoods in Central America's coffee-growing regions through watershed restoration and climate-smart farming.
• GRP RAIN ChallengecoreOthersGlobal Resilience Partnership's RAIN Challenge identifies early-stage, climate-resilient agricultural innovations in East Africa and helps scale them into sustainable businesses.
• KickStartcoreOthersKickStart works with smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa to increase incomes and adapt to climate change by designing, developing, and distributing irrigation tools.
• NurucoreOthersNuru partners with local leaders in conflict-affected regions to strengthen livelihoods and market systems, helping farmers thrive while building pathways to peace.
• Pacific InstitutecoreOthersGlobal water think tank combining science-based research, policy leadership, and cross-sector collaboration to advance solutions to pressing water challenges.
• Saha GlobalcoreOthersNonprofit water service provider designing and delivering a utility-grade model to ensure exclusive safe water consumption in last-mile communities across Ghana.
• Self Help AfricacoreOthersAddresses interconnected drivers of rural poverty and climate vulnerability through integrated solutions improving livelihoods, food and water security, and long-term resilience in Malawi.
• Semilla NuevacoreOthersDevelops biofortified, climate-resilient maize seeds that decrease malnutrition, improve farmer income, and withstand climate shocks in Guatemala and El Salvador.
• The Nature Conservancy: Resilient Watersheds ProgramcoreOthersTNC's Resilient Watersheds program conserves freshwater ecosystems and helps communities adapt to climate change by mainstreaming nature-based solutions in the water sector.
• WaterAidcoreOthersTransforms lives through sustainable and safe water, sanitation and hygiene by working with local partners to strengthen WASH systems in Ethiopia.
• Water for PeoplecoreOthersWorks across Latin America, Asia, and Africa to address the global water crisis, partnering with local governments, businesses, and communities for clean water access.
• Agroecology FundminorOthersMulti-donor fund supporting agroecological practices and policies, promoting economic well-being of small farmers and mitigating climate change through sustainable agriculture.
• Root CapitalminorOthersInvests in growth of agricultural enterprises supporting smallholder farmers, providing financing and advisory services for climate-smart and regenerative practices.
• Tailwind FuturesminorOthersStrategic investment firm focused on resilience technologies, creating products and services that predict, prevent, mitigate and enable recovery from climate impacts.
• WASH Funders GroupcoreOthersNetwork of funders working to expand access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Members share learning, align strategies, and grow philanthropic investment in WASH worldwide.
• Adaptation and Resilience Collaborative for Funders (ARC)coreOthersConvened by ClimateWorks Foundation, ARC brings together more than 70 foundations engaged in shared learning to advance philanthropy's role in addressing climate risks and impacts.
• Redwoods CollectiveminorOthersCommunity that equips philanthropic advisors and professionals with climate education, vetted funding opportunities, and trusted diligence to move money to proven climate solutions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ClimateWorks Foundation: ClimateWorks Foundation is a major climate philanthropy platform that funds global networks and convenes funders across mitigation and adaptation. It is Shockwave's most direct analog as both a grantmaker operating globally and the convener of the Adaptation and Resilience Collaborative (ARC), in which Shockwave participates.
• Wyss Foundation: The Wyss Foundation funds large-scale conservation and climate resilience initiatives globally. It is comparable to Shockwave as a private foundation making bold, long-horizon bets on environmental and climate solutions, including nature-based approaches and locally-led work.
• Good Energies Foundation: Good Energies Foundation has historically funded climate, energy, and sustainability solutions through grants and investments. It is comparable to Shockwave as a private foundation deploying capital across climate mitigation and adaptation with a long-term horizon.
• Sequoia Climate Fund: Sequoia Climate Fund deploys philanthropic capital to fight climate change through grants and investments. It is comparable to Shockwave as a venture-backed climate philanthropy combining grantmaking and impact investing in climate solutions.
• The Barr Foundation: The Barr Foundation funds climate, arts, and education, with a strong emphasis on climate mitigation and adaptation in the U.S. It is comparable to Shockwave as a U.S.-based private foundation deploying patient capital into climate solutions and field-building collaborations.
• Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation: The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation funds climate, biodiversity, and indigenous rights. It is comparable to Shockwave as a private foundation focused on environmental grantmaking and climate resilience, including protection of vulnerable ecosystems and communities.
• Open Philanthropy: Open Philanthropy is a large-scale funder with significant climate change grantmaking across mitigation and adaptation, including funding catalytic climate solutions. Comparable to Shockwave in operating a science-driven, high-leverage grantmaking model targeting climate resilience and emerging technologies.

Broad incumbents

• Emerson Collective: Emerson Collective is a large impact-oriented philanthropy investing across climate, education, and immigration. It overlaps with Shockwave through climate grantmaking and impact investing, though it operates across a much broader portfolio of causes and assets.
• The Schmidt Family Foundation: The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Family Foundation supports climate, AI, and science causes with multi-billion dollar scale. It is comparable to Shockwave as a tech-founder-led family foundation engaged in climate philanthropy and ocean/climate science, though at much larger scale.
• Bezos Earth Fund: The Bezos Earth Fund is a $10B climate philanthropy focused on nature protection, food systems, and decarbonization. While primarily mitigation-oriented and at far greater scale, it is comparable to Shockwave as a major climate funder addressing food and water systems through grants and partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shockwavefound

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Shockwave Foundation