UndauntedK12

UndauntedK12 is a national nonprofit established in 2020, focusing on climate and education. We help America’s K-12 public schools make an equitable transition to zero carbon emissions and prepare young people for a sustainable future in a changing climate. Our goal is to ensure every student has a safe, healthy, and resilient school environment.

We advance K-12 climate action through campaigns, storytelling, technical assistance, meetings, and direct collaboration with partners nationwide. Our work includes:

• Modern HVAC Campaign: A national effort to help schools replace fossil-fuel heating and cooling systems with ground-source heat pumps, improving indoor air quality and lowering operating costs.
• Energy Tax Credits for Schools Hub: Provides guidance and tools for school districts to access federal energy tax credits for modern energy technologies.
• Seal of Climate Literacy: A national campaign supporting states in creating a high school diploma endorsement that recognizes students’ climate science, civic engagement, and problem-solving abilities.
• Extreme Weather and Lost Learning Time: We track school closures caused by environmental events like heat waves, floods, wildfires, and hurricanes, providing this data and related tools to leaders and research teams.

We also publish resources such as “HVAC Choices for Student Health and Learning,” “Report on Climate Adaptation and Resilience at CA K-12 Schools,” and “Elective Pay Blueprint for District Leaders.” UndauntedK12 is exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501©(3).

Our mission is to support America’s K-12 public schools in making an equitable transition to zero carbon emissions while preparing young people to build a sustainable future in a rapidly changing climate.

We envision a future where every dollar spent on K-12 infrastructure helps build an equitable, zero-carbon, climate-resilient future. We also believe every education leader will recognize that a rapidly changing climate threatens their core mission, and every student will be prepared to build a sustainable future.

Our team is driven by a desire to activate the potential of America’s K-12 public school sector to address climate change. We believe this moment offers a chance for bipartisan action to address inequities, stimulate the economy, improve public infrastructure, and help America lead in the clean energy transition.

Our team has between 1 and 10 members. We cultivate a mission-driven and collaborative environment. Our team members share a vision to build an equitable, zero-carbon, climate-resilient future for schools and students, and we are not deterred by the scale of the challenge.

The team includes co-founders Jonathan Klein (CEO) and Sara Ross, along with program managers, a chief of staff, program directors, and a network and engagement manager. Some of our roles are remote, with certain positions having specific location preferences or residency requirements, and we expect periodic travel for in-person meetings.

We offer a competitive nonprofit salary, with ranges for specific roles from $80,000 to $120,000. We provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees. We also offer employer-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, including paid parental leave. Employees can participate in a 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company contribution. Our time off includes federal holidays, three weeks of paid time off, and a winter holiday break.