Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust)
Climate & Energy · Run by Evergreen Climate Innovations (nonprofit) · Chicago, IL
Every field is checked against a primary source where we can. How we verify.
The facts
All fields verified Jul 22, 2026- Terms model
- Equity for cashInvests cash in your company and takes equity (an ownership stake) in return.
- Investment
- typically $200,000-$300,000
- Equity taken
- Not publishedNonprofit impact investor (501vc Investment Fund), not a cohort accelerator. 501vc page now states typical investments of $200,000-$300,000 into pre-seed/seed climate startups in the 16-state Greater Midwest (IA, IL, IN, WI, MI, MN, KS, MO, OH, TN, KY, ND, SD, CO, NE, western PA). Fall 2026 cycle open, deadline Aug 17, 2026; fall and spring cycles each run an approximately five-month investment process. Instrument type not specified. Opportunities page also lists sponsor awards (U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Award, Nicor Gas Illinois Innovator Award), amounts not published.
- Program length
- Not published
- Format
- Remote
- Location
- Chicago, IL
- Cohorts per year
- 2
- Cohort size
- Not published
- Stage focus
- pre-seed / seed
- Sub-vertical
- Midwest climate tech seed investing
- Demographic focus
- Not published
- Backers
- philanthropic funders (501vc model)
- Notable alumni
- Not published
Terms notes: Nonprofit impact investor (501vc Investment Fund), not a cohort accelerator. 501vc page now states typical investments of $200,000-$300,000 into pre-seed/seed climate startups in the 16-state Greater Midwest (IA, IL, IN, WI, MI, MN, KS, MO, OH, TN, KY, ND, SD, CO, NE, western PA). Fall 2026 cycle open, deadline Aug 17, 2026; fall and spring cycles each run an approximately five-month investment process. Instrument type not specified. Opportunities page also lists sponsor awards (U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Award, Nicor Gas Illinois Innovator Award), amounts not published.
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Terms in plain English
Evergreen Climate Innovations is a nonprofit impact investor with application windows, not a cohort accelerator, so there is no program curriculum or demo day attached to the money. Through its 501vc Investment Fund it typically invests $200,000 to $300,000 in pre-seed and seed climate startups; the specific investment instrument is not specified on its site. Applications run in fall and spring cycles that each kick off an approximately five-month investment process. It also lists sponsor awards such as the U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Award and the Nicor Gas Illinois Innovator Award, with amounts not published.
Who this is actually for
Pre-seed and seed climate tech founders based in Evergreen's 16-state Greater Midwest footprint: IA, IL, IN, WI, MI, MN, KS, MO, OH, TN, KY, ND, SD, CO, NE, and western PA. If your company is outside that region you are not eligible. Fits founders looking for an early institutional check and Midwest network rather than a structured accelerator program.
Application windows
Fall 2026 Investment Cycle: Applications close Aug 17, 2026.
Verified date not recordedSourceSpring 2027 Investment Cycle (dates not yet posted): Timing expected, exact dates not yet confirmed.
Verified date not recorded
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Sources
Everything above was checked against these, verified Jul 22, 2026.