As the world races toward decarbonization, philanthropic funding has become a critical catalyst in energy transition and climate solutions, spanning fundamental research, technology development, policy innovation, and real-world deployment. This plenary session brings together distinguished leaders representing complementary approaches to energy and climate grantmaking across the research-to-implementation spectrum. Evan Michelson, Program Director for the Sloan Foundation's Energy and Environment program, Jenny Frankel-Reed, Senior Officer for the Gates Foundation's Agricultural Development team, and Laura Birx , Deputy Managing Director, Global Climate Strategies for Climate Lead, will focus on a strategic exploration of how leading funders navigate the complex energy transition and climate solutions landscape. From Sloan's influential interdisciplinary research on low-carbon energy systems and Gates' work on climate adaptation in agriculture, this conversation will illuminate how philanthropy is driving energy innovation and climate solutions.