Billionaire Michael Bloomberg channeled at least $33.2 million to environmental organizations working to shut down fossil fuel operations during 2024, according to a research report published by the Capital Research Center. The report, part of the center's "Enemies of Energy" series, analyzed tax filings from Bloomberg Philanthropies to track the former New York City mayor's funding of what the report calls "anti-energy NGOs." Bloomberg, whose net worth Forbes estimated at $109.4 billion as of March 2026, has pledged to spend $1 billion on efforts to close coal and gas plants.
The 2024 IRS filing from Bloomberg Philanthropies shows $24.2 million went to five major environmental groups: Earthjustice received $8.5 million, the Environmental Defense Fund got $6 million, Rocky Mountain Institute received $4.7 million, World Resources Institute was granted $4.3 million, and the Natural Resources Defense Council received $767,000. Bloomberg also sent $9 million to pass-through organizations that fund environmental groups, including $8 million to the U.S. Energy Foundation and $1 million to the Windward Fund. The filing reveals an additional $20.4 million grant approved for the Environmental Defense Fund that's designated for future payment, suggesting Bloomberg's 2025 contributions could exceed the 2024 total.
The report describes Bloomberg as "perhaps the world's single largest funder of climate activism," quoting a September 2023 New York Times assessment that called him "an expensive thorn in the side of the fossil fuel industry." According to the Capital Research Center report, Bloomberg announced in September 2023 that he had already spent $500 million attempting to shut down coal and gas plants and planned to spend another $500 million on the same effort. The report notes that Bloomberg left public office 10 years before these statements, positioning his foundation as his primary vehicle for climate-related giving.
The report frames Bloomberg's giving pattern as part of a broader network of wealthy donors funding organizations that oppose fossil fuel development. By routing money through both direct grants to advocacy groups and pass-through donor organizations, the report suggests Bloomberg is building infrastructure to sustain long-term campaigns against coal, oil, and natural gas operations. The five groups receiving the largest grants—Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Rocky Mountain Institute, World Resources Institute, and Natural Resources Defense Council—are characterized in the report as organizations that use litigation, policy advocacy, and research to challenge energy projects. The dual funding strategy, combining immediate grants with approved future payments, indicates Bloomberg intends to maintain or increase his financial support for these groups.
The report positions Bloomberg's pledged $1 billion as a multi-year commitment that will continue shaping energy policy debates through 2026 and beyond. With $33.2 million distributed in 2024 alone and another $20.4 million already approved for payment, Bloomberg Philanthropies appears on track to fulfill that billion-dollar promise. The report suggests future IRS filings will reveal whether Bloomberg accelerates his giving or maintains steady annual contributions to environmental organizations working to phase out fossil fuels.