Allen Family Philanthropies has released a Request for Proposals titled “Accelerating NCS in the United States” to support the advancement of Natural Climate Solutions (NCS). The foundation is inviting nonprofit organizations across the United States to propose projects that tackle implementation barriers in NCS using science and technology. This initiative stems from a growing recognition that although NCS represent some of the most readily deployable climate mitigation strategies with widespread support, several barriers—technical, economic, social, and regulatory—are impeding widespread adoption. Recent findings underscore the need for science and technology-driven solutions to accelerate the impact of these climate strategies.
This funding opportunity prioritizes collaborative, multidisciplinary teams comprising scientists, practitioners, and key stakeholders such as landowners and state land managers. Projects must be based in the United States and are expected to co-develop, test, and deploy generalizable science and technology solutions addressing barriers identified in recent NCS literature. These barriers include material inputs, finance, markets, adverse impacts, knowledge gaps, social behavior, legal frameworks, and institutional constraints. Solutions that demonstrate scalability and broad applicability across geographies, stakeholder groups, or NCS pathways are especially encouraged.
Allen Family Philanthropies will fund 6 to 7 projects with a total budget of $10 million. Each project may last up to three years. The foundation will accept Letters of Interest (LOIs) beginning November 12, 2025. LOIs are reviewed on a rolling basis, and selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. The LOI phase closes January 15, 2026, with full proposals due by March 10, 2026. Award announcements are expected in early Q3 of 2026. All proposals must be submitted through the foundation’s online portal, Fluxx, which includes template forms and a user guide.
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, public and private colleges and universities, state or local government units, and federally or state-recognized tribal entities. All proposed efforts must be conducted within the United States. Fiscal sponsorship is acceptable for entities that do not yet have 501(c)(3) status. Projects that are already underway may apply, provided the funding will catalyze additional impact.
While indirect costs are not allowed as a percentage of the budget, the foundation supports activity-based budgeting. Proposals may include monitoring and evaluation costs, capital expenditures (on a case-by-case basis for public charities), and co-funding allocations. Projects with commercialization potential will be considered if they align with the program goals. A webinar for interested applicants will take place on December 9, 2025, to offer additional insights and guidance for submission.
Priority given to multidisciplinary teams; co-funding increases competitiveness; embed solutions in existing NCS projects; articulate study design.
