Cool Effect Launches $1,000,000 Award to Accelerate Carbon Project Development

The Cool Effect Catalyst Will Provide Critical Early-Stage Funding to Support the Most Promising Carbon Projects in Scaling and Delivering Measurable Climate Impact

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cool Effect, a Bay Area nonprofit that supports the highest quality carbon projects around the globe, is announcing the launch of The Cool Effect Catalyst, a $1,000,000 award designed to accelerate carbon project development. The funding will be awarded to a project – or multiple projects – that meets the nonprofit’s criteria of Carbon Done Correctly, a benchmark achieved through a comprehensive vetting process involving scientific validation, on-site evaluations, and multiple phases of due diligence.

Too often, promising carbon projects fail to scale despite their proven potential to reduce or remove carbon emissions, simply because they lack the early-stage funding necessary to get off the ground. The Cool Effect Catalyst aims to close this critical gap by providing financial support to the selected project in return for credits at a later date.

“As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, The Cool Effect Catalyst reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting the world’s highest quality carbon projects,” said Jodi Manning, Chief Executive Officer of Cool Effect. “This milestone is about more than looking back. It’s about empowering the future of climate action. We’re thrilled to champion a deserving initiative and help it scale, creating real, measurable impact for our planet and its people.”

To be eligible for this award, entrants must be verified carbon projects that have issued or plan to issue credits within the Voluntary Carbon Market through one of the CCP-approved carbon crediting programs. All credit types will be considered, including reduction or removal credits and both nature-based and technology-based solutions. Projects submitted for consideration should utilize a methodology that has been published or updated since January 2022 and provide a detailed project plan, research plan, or Project Design Document (PDD) along with a clear timeline to credit issuance. Additionally, applicants must outline how funding from the award will be utilized to support their project. Additional terms and conditions will apply for award issuance.

“With the launch of The Cool Effect Catalyst, we’re addressing one of the most significant barriers to climate solutions: early-stage funding,” said Dee Lawrence, Co-Founder and Director of Cool Effect. “Too many scientifically sound projects never make it past the starting line due to lack of resources, and this award is designed to change that. We’re proud to accelerate a project that exemplifies Carbon Done Correctly and help bring its impact to life.”

Applications are open now through July 1, 2026. To learn more about eligibility requirements or submit an application for The Cool Effect Catalyst, please visit cooleffect.org/catalyst.

About Cool Effect^TM

Cool Effect is a San Francisco Bay Area 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to reducing carbon emissions around the world. Endorsed by 1% for the Planet, its mission is to educate and then inspire businesses and individuals to take measurable action against climate change by purchasing scientifically verified carbon credits from the world’s highest quality projects. It returns more than 90% of each donation directly to its project partners and, since its launch at the Paris COP in 2015, has helped projects receive over $84 million for over ten million tonnes of emission reductions. Like the Butterfly Effect, The Ripple Effect, and others, a single action can have global impact. To learn more, please visit cooleffect.org or follow Cool Effect on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.