Foundation

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Bezos Earth Fund

Inspired by nature. Driven by innovation. | Built on the belief that Earth is the best planet in the solar system, Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sánchez Bezos have...

Bezos Earth Fund logo

Bezos Earth Fund

Inspired by nature. Driven by innovation. | Built on the belief that Earth is the best planet in the solar system, Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sánchez Bezos have made a $10 billion commitment to protect and restore the natural world.

General information

Firm type

Foundation

Year founded

2020

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Washington

Corporate office

Washington, D.C., United States

Principals

Jeff Bezos

Founder

Andrew Steer

CEO

Lauren Sánchez

Vice Chair

Sector focus

ClimateTechEnergy Transition & RenewablesAgriTech & FoodTechConservationBiodiversityInfrastructure

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at the Bezos Earth Fund?

The Bezos Earth Fund does not make investments — it makes grants. CEO Andrew Steer leads grantmaking strategy, with oversight from founder Jeff Bezos and Vice Chair Lauren Sánchez. The fund's board approves major allocations.

How does the Bezos Earth Fund source its grant recipients?

The fund issues open calls for proposals on its website and also proactively identifies partners through relationships with environmental organizations, Indigenous groups, and academic institutions. It prioritizes scalable, measurable impact and often co-funds with other philanthropies.

Is the Bezos Earth Fund structured as a single family office or a foundation?

It is classified as a charitable foundation under U.S. tax law. It does not manage assets for family wealth or invest for financial returns. The $10 billion commitment is a philanthropic pledge, not a pool of capital seeking yield.

What investment stages does the Bezos Earth Fund target?

The fund does not target investment stages. It grants to nonprofit organizations, research institutions, and community groups at any stage — from early-stage pilot projects to large-scale, established initiatives.

Which sectors does the Bezos Earth Fund explicitly avoid?

The fund does not fund fossil fuel projects, nuclear energy, or military applications. It avoids for-profit enterprises, as it is a grantmaking foundation. Within climate, it has not emphasized carbon capture compared to other philanthropies (per the fund's public materials).

How is the Bezos Earth Fund related to Jeff Bezos's other entities?

The Bezos Earth Fund is legally separate from Amazon, Blue Origin, and the Bezos Family Foundation. Jeff Bezos announced the fund independently in 2020, and it is staffed by a dedicated team. Lauren Sánchez's role as Vice Chair links it to Bezos's personal philanthropic vision.

Does the Bezos Earth Fund maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?

The fund itself is the philanthropic structure. It does not have separate foundations or donor-advised funds. All $10 billion is committed through a single entity, with grants disbursed directly from the fund's assets.

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