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 Oct 1, 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. The 501vc page states typical investments of $200,000 to $300,000 into pre-seed and 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). Applications are considered on a rolling basis; the fall and spring application deadlines each start an approximately five-month investment cycle. The Fall 2026 deadline was Aug 17, 2026; the spring 2027 deadline is not yet posted. 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. The 501vc page states typical investments of $200,000 to $300,000 into pre-seed and 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). Applications are considered on a rolling basis; the fall and spring application deadlines each start an approximately five-month investment cycle. The Fall 2026 deadline was Aug 17, 2026; the spring 2027 deadline is not yet posted. 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.
Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) application deadlines
Frequently asked questions
- When is the next Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) application deadline?
- A specific application window for Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) is not yet published. Timing is expected but not confirmed.
- How much does Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) invest?
- Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) lists an investment of typically $200,000-$300,000.
- How much equity does Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) take?
- Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) does not publish the equity it takes, so we record it as not published.
- Where is Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) located and is it in person?
- Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) is based in Chicago, IL and runs a remote program.
- Is Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) still active?
- As of our last check on Oct 1, 2026, Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) is active.
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Sources
Everything above was checked against these, verified Oct 1, 2026.