The mission of the Packard Foundation is to provide the nation's most promising early-career scientists and engineers with the freedom and funding to explore new frontiers in their fields. This effort reflects David Packard's recognition of the importance of robust university-based science and engineering programs, rooted in his understanding of the crucial role these disciplines played in the success of the Hewlett-Packard Company.
This grant program aims to foster innovative climate solutions by providing support to global climate leaders, allowing them the freedom to develop and pursue their unique strategies to combat climate change. It challenges the conventional philanthropic model by directly funding individuals rather than prescribing solutions, with a particular emphasis on those proposals that demonstrate creativity, potential for significant impact, and boldness. The program notably includes providing unrestricted funding to awardees of Climate Breakthrough, assisting them in executing groundbreaking strategies to markedly lower greenhouse gas emissions from their current trajectories.