ANNOUNCING
the
Cool Effect
Catalyst
A $1M award to accelerate carbon project development
True to our mission of supporting the highest quality carbon projects around the globe, Cool Effect is excited to announce that we will provide up to $1,000,000 in financing to a project or projects that match our criteria of Carbon Done Correctly.
The project will use the funding to make ends meet or to bridge the gap between launch and the issuance of credits. We are open to all credit types who agree to use this funding as a way to catalyze a new project or as an investment for growth.
How does it work?
- From September 22, 2025 – July 01, 2026, Cool Effect will accept applications for this award.
- All submissions will be evaluated against our criteria for Carbon Done Correctly.
- In Q4 of 2026, the projects selected will be notified and announced.
- Terms of payment will be negotiated at the time of the award with funding to start in early 2027.
- If your project is selected, Cool Effect intends to represent your project to our buyers and donors once your credits issue.
- The project will use the funding for development and return credits to Cool Effect at a later date.
What is the criteria?
- Your project must be a verified carbon project that has or will issue credits as part of the Voluntary Carbon Market.
- Your project must issue or intend to issue credits via one of the CCP approved carbon crediting programs (listed here).
- All credit types will be considered; reduction or removal, NBS or technology-based credits are all eligible.
- Your selected methodology must be recently published or updated since January 2022.
- Share a detailed project plan, research plan or PDD and a timeline to issuance.
- Project must disclose how funding from the award will be used.
Additional terms and conditions will apply for award issuance
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Cool Effect have a preference for larger projects?
- We will consider projects of all shapes and sizes.
- Understanding that we can submit multiple projects, are there restrictions on how many awards one applicant is eligible to receive?
- There are no restrictions on the number of projects that can be awarded per project developer.
- Up to what credit year vintage is the Catalyst interested in purchasing credits (i.e. through 20XX)?
- Cool Effect will consider credits from any vintage. Our priority is supporting projects that have a gap in funding and will have a positive impact on the atmosphere via high integrity credits.
- What are the implications if under delivery should occur? Will the Catalyst require insurance coverage?
- Insurance coverage would not be required. We do have a clause in all contracts that we will renegotiate terms if issuance is delayed by over 60 days; however, our intent as a nonprofit has always been to find a solution that is best for the project and any committed buyer. We have faced this scenario many times and have solved this with a variety of options including waiting out the delay, covering any shortfall with future issuances, and looking for similar credits from other projects.
- Does Cool Effect have a preference for projects that have Indigenous or community leadership?
- We look for projects that are proven to be transformative to local communities and believe that any carbon project should engage the community where it is located regardless of project type. Beyond this, we do not have an explicit preference for indigenous or community leadership.