Conservation remains a major focus of foundations, with many funders giving in this area. Some funders are laser focused on the Amazon, others are trying to protect local American farm land from development. As always, competition for funding is stiff, but the wide array of funders in space ensures funding opportunities for local, national or global organizations. Moreover, generous new funders keep arriving on the scene, and this is a funding area in rapid flux.
We are tracking what conservation funders are doing and our learning is captured in this guide. All the profiles of funders and program officers in the guide are updated regularly.
FUNDERS
ADAMS LEGACY FOUNDATION
Small funder mainly focused on California. Funds innovative efforts around the intersection of nature and education, art and architecture, and conservation, among others. The application process is open to all, and the foundation puts few restrictions on how its grants can be used.
ALCOA FOUNDATION
Alcoa gives to a mix of conservation, environmental education, recycling, and sustainability projects. Proposals channel through the local Alcoa offices.
BAUMAN FOUNDATION
Progressive funder that mainly supports advocacy and policy work, and has a keen interest in the nexus between environmental issues and human health, as well as making changes on a systemic level. Doesn't accept unsolicited proposals.
BAY & PAUL FOUNDATIONS
Conservation and the environment is a primary focus here; grants go nationally for research, to preserve or repair biodiversity, and emphasize culturally significant natural heritage.
S.D. BECHTEL, JR. FOUNDATION
Bechtel has been a huge supporter of parks at the state and national level in recent years, and there's going to be some serious grantmaking happening in the next six years as this foundation spends down its assets (mostly among current grantees) by 2020.
BLUE MOON FUND
Blue Moon is the environmental conservation arm of the former W. Alton Jones Foundation. The funder focuses on mitigating climate change through a variety of programs and funding. Does not accept unsolicited proposals.
BRAINERD FOUNDATION
Brainerd strictly funds environmental work in the Pacific Northwest, and is in spend down mode through 2020. It's focused on three initiatives: inspiring the next generation of Northwest conservation philanthropists, strengthening the next generation of Northwest conservation leadership, and investing in conservation advocacy.
PETER AND CARMEN LUCIA BUCK FOUNDATION
This foundation funds conservation in Upstate New York, the Hudson River Valley, and throughout Connecticut. While the foundation is very regional in its giving, there's a multi-billion dollar fortune waiting in the wings.
MARGARET A. CARGILL FOUNDATION
The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation has a major program in conservation. Subprograms are mostly place-based, with an emphasis on marine habitats and forests. Grantees include initiatives in Canada, the Pacific islands, and Asia, among other locales.
COLCOM FOUNDATION
Founded in 1996 by a conservationist whose overriding concern was overpopulation’s impacts on the environment, Colcom supports organizations whose goal is fewer people living in the United States. But the foundation also supports many environmental organizations, mainly in Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh area.
CORNELL DOUGLAS FOUNDATION
A small foundation that funds projects and efforts around environmental health and justice, land conservation, sustainability of resources, mountaintop removal mining, and watershed protection. It accepts proposals year round.
DALIO FOUNDATION
Ray Dalio is one of the richest people in the hedge fund business. His philanthropy has really ramped up in recent years, and he has a keen interest in the environment. He's also signed the Giving Pledge. The Dalio Explore Fund supports environmental research projects.
DOMINION FOUNDATION
This foundation funds environmental stewardship in the states in which it works and serves. It focuses on preserving and supporting wildlife and their habitats, particularly those that are water-related. It also funnels funds into higher education efforts around conservation.
DORIS DUKE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Doris Duke funds conservation work, but much of it is through the lens of climate change, land conservation, wildlife, energy development, and environmental stewardship. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted, but unsolicited letters of inquiry are.
ECOLAB FOUNDATION
Ecolab Foundation is a hearty supporter of environmental conservation programs, particularly those that have a community education component. In order to qualify for a grant, your program must serve in an Ecolab region.
FOUNDATION FOR DEEP ECOLOGY
Interested specifically in biodiversity and wildness, ecological agriculture, and globalization and megatechnology, the foundation gives to activist and progressive conservation projects in South America, and also publishes books and supports the “intellectual infrastructure” of the environmental movement.
GEORGIA-PACIFIC FOUNDATION
The philanthropic arm of the paper manufacturer makes conservation grants under its broader environmental focus; unique in that all grants are for general operating support.
BERNARD F. AND ALVA B. GIMBEL FOUNDATION
Started with the wealth of the family’s department store fortune, Gimbel gives mostly to big national environmental groups working on a range of issues. Some specific focus areas include reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency, ensuring access to clean air and water, and restoring the health of the oceans.
HELMSLEY CHARITABLE TRUST
Helmsley gives in four key locations, with grants going to a mix of large, global organizations and smaller, local groups. Emphasis is on marine protection and fisheries, and protection of land and movement building in the priority regions. Does not accept unsolicited proposals.
HEWLETT FOUNDATION
This foundation aims to conserve the North American West, expand clean energy, and address climate change. it favors policy and advocacy work.
KENDEDA FUND
Kendeda funds conservation, climate change, and sustainable living projects, with an emphasis on building broad support. It preferscommunity-based solutions, and aims to fill the gaps that are left by other funders. Doesn't accept unsolicited proposals.
KINGFISHER FOUNDATION
The mission here is to restore and protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity through sound management of fisheries and real-world policy that serves fishers, consumers and the environment.
LAZAR FOUNDATION
This is an active environmental funder in the Pacific Northwest, giving almost a million a year to conservation, biodiversity, and strengthening the environmental movement in regional states. Grants go to both local groups and national outfits doing local work.
LINDEN CONSERVATION TRUST
The philanthropic project of former Goldman Sachs partner Larry Linden, its focus is on market-based approaches that can provide long-term financing, mostly for land protection.
MARISLA FOUNDATION
This foundation's Environment Program focuses on the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable ecosystem management with a special interest in marine resources conservation. It funds efforts in western North America, Chile, and the western Pacific. It also supports the search for solutions to health threats caused by toxic chemicals.
MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION
This Minnesota-based foundation gives support to restore and protect floodplains and wetlands of the Mississippi. McKnight works in the 10-state region in the river corridor and internationally, with a focus on clean energy, water, and agriculture.
RICHARD KING MELLON FOUNDATION
This Pennsylvania foundation started by the founder of Mellon Bank is devoted almost entirely to conservation in Southwestern Pennsylvania. But its level of grantmaking is on par with national funders.
MOORE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Works in Bahamas, Colorado, New York, North Carolina to establish new nature preserves, launch new forest management initiatives, enact new programs to conserve and restore threatened water ways, and preserve open-space.
GORDON AND BETTY MOORE FOUNDATION
One of the leading funders of environmental conservation worldwide that seeks to create lasting change in how land, freshwater, and coastal marine ecosystems are managed. Mostly interested in the Amazon Basin region and the San Francisco Bay Area.
CHARLES STEWART MOTT FOUNDATION
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a large, Michigan-based funder that makes millions in environmental grants annually, with a big focus on freshwater conservation, sustainable development, and clean energy.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
National Geographic is a long-time leading supporter of wildlife and conservation powerhouse. There is a lot of diverse funding available here, but applicants need to be able to demonstrate a proven history of success in their field.
PACKARD FOUNDATION
Most of Packard's conservation funding is focused on the United States, with a big emphasis on the American West and also the agricultural sector. This deep-pocketed funder spreads grants quite widely.
PATAGONIA
Patagonia grants funds to nonprofits making efforts to conserve and protect natural landscapes and wildlife. Small organizations that mobilize average citizens and press for public-policy change are what it likes the best.
PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS
While Pew is probably better known for its oceans work in green circles, land conservation remains a big focus. Pew is no longer a grantmaking foundation, but still ends up giving large amounts to partners in conservation causes.
REI
REI’s approach to giving is very decentralized, and requires a close connection with local store employees. But for small, local organizations doing work in trails, parks, or waterways, developing a relationship with REI could present a prime opportunity for an ongoing boost in funding.
DAVID ROCKEFELLER FUND
Strong interest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy conservation and sustainability. Grants are on the small side, but flow steadily. It gives on the local, state, and national levels.
RUMPHIUS FOUNDATION
Rumphius is a small environmental funder, making only a couple of grants a year at this point, but is looking to build its resources with donations. It’s also notably accessible.
SALL FAMILY FOUNDATION
This foundation gives heavily for the environment, but for the most part it’s been very limited to a few grantees. However, it plans to give away the majority of its wealth, and new grantees have emerged in recent years.
SECUNDA FAMILY FOUNDATION
Bloomberg co-founder Thomas Secunda and his wife Cindy have a strong interest in environmental conservation and have been upping their giving in this area in recent years.
QUIMBY FAMILY FOUNDATION
Funds efforts in Maine that support land restoration, as well as the development and beautification of nature trails, boating routes, parks, and programs for youth, including classroom workshops and summer camps.
ROBERT W. WOODRUFF FOUNDATION
The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation has several interests, including supporting large-scale conservation and natural resource stewardship efforts in the Atlanta metro area, and throughout Georgia.
THRESHOLD FOUNDATION
This foundation provides support to organizations that are working to mitigate climate change, especially at the policy level. It also prefers funding unique efforts that might otherwise be passed over.
TOSA FOUNDATION
Funding for conservation is one of the priorities of this foundation, founded by John and Tashia Morgridge, with a big emphasis on conservation ventures that are located in the American West and involve public enjoyment of the outdoors.
TURNER FOUNDATION
The Turner Foundation gives a large number of small-to-medium-sized grants to a diverse range of environmental work.
UPS FOUNDATION
This foundation is particularly interested in reforestation and conservation, carbon reduction efforts, and environmental research and education, with an emphasis on its tree-planting initiative.
WALLACE GENETIC FOUNDATION
Very farming-focused. Priorities include land and water conservation and sustainable and chemical-free farming methods and food-distribution systems. It's particularly interested in long-term ideas to benefit the country and world.
WALT DISNEY COMPANY
This fund "supports the study of wildlife; the protection of habitats; the development of community conservation and education programs in critical ecosystems; and experiences that connect kids to nature across the globe."
WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION
Walton has become one of the biggest environmental funders in the U.S. While it mainly funds marine and river conservation, it gives a smaller number of grants to a range of other environmental groups, including for land conservation and ecology education.
WELLS FARGO
Wells Fargo is interested in sustainable agriculture and forestry, water quality, land conservation and support for building healthy urban ecosystems--as well as clean technology.
WILBURFORCE FOUNDATION
Wilburforce is all about conservation in Western North America. They support work in a dozen priority regions (although not in California), with programs in conservation science, law and policy, and organizational capacity building.
WILLIAM PENN FOUNDATION
Penn Foundation supports work to protect and restore the Delaware watershed, which is where the Philadelphia metro area lies. It's interested in scientific research, policy development, restoration projects, and advocacy efforts to mobilize the public.
WYSS FOUNDATION
The Wyss Foundation keeps a steady lookout for land areas in the American West that need protecting and coalitions of nonprofit and private—or public-sector advocates working to protect them. It offers support that runs, more often than not, into hundreds of thousands of dollars in recurring gifts per annum.
NATASHA AND DIRK ZIFF FOUNDATION
The Natasha & Dirk Ziff Foundation has no website or staff, and gave out less than $500,000 in 2013. But the Ziffs control a multi-billion fortune and have contributed to environmental organizations at times.