$100 million from Ben and Lucy Walton supercharges global debt-for-climate swaps
Ben and Lucy Walton, through their Denver-based ZOMA Foundation, have made headlines with a bold $100 million commitment to a new Private Credit Enhancement Facility, crafted in partnership with Enosis Capital.
This innovative move is part of their larger goal to accelerate climate financing and make sovereign “debt-for-nature” and “debt-for-climate” swaps more attractive to investors and more affordable for countries.
These specialized transactions can help governments refinance debt, freeing up money for urgent conservation, renewable energy, and resilience initiatives—a strategy expected to unlock over $1 billion in guarantees by 2030, according to both Bloomberg and Enosis Capital.
The Walton-backed facility will aggregate private and philanthropic capital to support upcoming deals, addressing a long-standing barrier in the debt-swap market: the need for reliable access to guarantees and insurance.
The initiative is housed within the broader Debt for Nature Coalition, which has ambitious plans to double the number of implemented conversions and unlock over $3 billion in new funding by 2030.
Founding members include leading nonprofits such as The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, the Pew Charitable Trusts, Rewild, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and WWF.
Private credit solutions are central to these efforts, helping countries in the Global South convert unsustainable debt burdens into long-term investments in natural resources and climate resilience.
This blend of pragmatism and innovation defines Ben Walton’s approach to philanthropy and investment.
Through ZOMA Lab’s twin arms—philanthropic Zoma Foundation and investment-focused Zoma Capital—Ben and Lucy have prioritized systemic solutions in Colorado, Chile, and beyond.
Their grantmaking, amplified by Chile-based Fundación Viento Sur, centers on early childhood development, perinatal mental health, and rural economic growth.
On the investment side, Zoma Capital backs climate and water initiatives, while Zoma Foundation recently partnered with Maycomb Capital to launch an outcomes-based financing fund in Colorado, designed to make public money deliver measurable results—a strategy closely aligned with their credit enhancement work.
Ben Walton, father, designer, investor, and philanthropist, is known for his strategic partnerships that address critical challenges in the communities he loves—Colorado and Chile.
His leadership has brought organizations such as City Year to Denver, launched innovation accelerators with Techstars, and created workforce initiatives like the SyncUp Colorado Workforce Design Challenge.
Internationally, he’s a founding partner in Enduring Earth, a nonprofit coalition that has mobilized nearly $4 billion for large-scale conservation and local economic development through inventive financial models.
Previously, the chairman of Walton Enterprises, Ben, has served on several boards, including City Year Denver, Children’s Hospital Colorado, the Crystal Bridges Museum, and education-focused nonprofits.
His academic background spans psychology, economics, and environmental design, with degrees from Georgetown University and the University of Colorado.
For the Waltons, unlocking the cost of risk in climate finance has a systemic impact.
Their $100 million bet is more than philanthropy—it’s an attempt to shift how quickly and effectively countries can respond to the dual pressures of debt and climate change, moving from hope to action for millions in vulnerable regions worldwide.