Ballmer Family Launches Rainier Climate Group to Address Global Climate Crisis

Connie, Steve, and Sam Ballmer are pleased to announce the launch of a new climate philanthropy, Rainier Climate Group. 

Since stepping into the climate change space in 2022, the family has contributed just over $1 billion to climate initiatives globally. Rainier Climate Group will build on these initial efforts through expanded philanthropic investments in new and existing strategies to address the global climate crisis. The family is excited to welcome Tom Steinbach to serve as the inaugural President of the newly formed organization. Find Tom's bio at the end of this page.

Rainier Climate Group will focus on supporting strategies that operate at the speed and scale needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, aiming for net zero emissions globally by 2050 and even earlier in wealthy nations. 

“We have learned in our first two years of giving that philanthropy has a unique and crucial role in advancing solutions to the climate crisis at the necessary speed. It will take immense focus and scale to address the magnitude of the issue,” said Sam Ballmer. “We are thrilled Tom Steinbach will lead Rainier Climate Group as we expand our support of the organizations and strategies aimed at solving the problem.”   

Tom Steinbach brings a wealth of experience in climate philanthropy to Rainier Climate Group. His most recent role was as the Executive Director of Tempest Advisors and the Sea Change Foundation, where he led a team of philanthropy experts dedicated to addressing climate change in the United States and internationally. Tom will be transitioning from this role to lead Rainier Climate Group in the coming months. 

“While the devastating impacts of climate change on people and the planet are increasingly apparent, this is a problem we can solve together. It will take hard work, ingenuity, and collaboration – all things humanity excels at delivering when we put our minds to it,” said Tom Steinbach. 

In addition to launching the Rainier Climate Group, the Ballmer family will continue supporting the critical work of the Ballmer Philanthropy Group, which has invested $6.4 billion since 2015 in economic mobility in the United States, as well as USAFacts, which works to ensure all Americans have access to clear, accurate information about government spending.  

Rainier Climate Group will not accept unsolicited grant applications. A list of previous climate commitments can be found on the Ballmer Group website. 

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Tom Steinbach joins Rainier Climate Group as its inaugural president

In October 2024, Tom Steinbach, a seasoned leader in climate philanthropy, will become President of the Rainier Climate Group. This new climate philanthropy, established by the Ballmer family, aims to build on the climate funding they have undertaken over the past few years. The Rainier Climate Group will focus on supporting philanthropic strategies that operate at the speed and scale needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, aiming to achieve net zero emissions globally by 2050 and even earlier in wealthy nations. 

Tom is an expert in developing and implementing philanthropic strategies to address complex social and environmental challenges globally. His career in climate philanthropy began in 2007. Over the past eight years, Tom has served as the Executive Director of Tempest Advisors and the Sea Change Foundation, where he led a team of philanthropy experts focused on addressing climate change in the United States and internationally. 

Prior to joining Tempest Advisors and the Sea Change Foundation, Tom was Environment Program Director at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, where he led a team of grantmakers seeking to address climate change, conserve the North American West, and solve environmental problems facing disadvantaged communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Formerly, Tom was Executive Director of Greenbelt Alliance, a land conservation and urban planning nonprofit, where he spearheaded conservation projects and worked to transform growth management policies. In earlier positions, Tom led conservation policy efforts at the Appalachian Mountain Club – the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the U.S. He has also worked on hazardous waste issues for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy and economic analysis for the U.S. Congressional Budget Office. 

Tom serves as Climate Lead board chair, Flora Family Foundation board vice chair, and formerly served as Climate Funder Table chair.