Foundations that fund environmental groups in California
These 25 foundations made grants to environmental groups in California in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment Inc
- $1,025,000 to Resources Legacy Fund, Sacramento: California land-sea connection
- $1,025,000 to Resources Legacy Fund, Sacramento: California land-sea connection
- $1,025,000 to Resources Legacy Fund, Sacramento: California land-sea connection
How to apply: Refer to the foundation's website, www.campbellfoundation.org, for guidance.
Deadlines: Ongoing
Restrictions: Refer to the foundation's website, www.campbellfoundation.org, for guidance.
The Schmidt Family Foundation
- $3,175,000 to Sogorea Te Land Trust, Oakland: Supporting indigenous communities' land stewardship, self-determination, and cultural...
- $2,000,000 to Apparel Impact Institute, Oakland: Advancing sustainable materials
- $1,150,000 to Earthjustice, San Francisco: Supporting indigenous communities' land stewardship, self-determination, and cultural...
How to apply: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Deadlines: Online process, please see details at: https://tsffoundation.org/. Https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Restrictions: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund
- $70,000 to Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, Calabasas: Teach
- $65,000 to Urban Adamah, Berkeley: Youth and family programs
- $60,000 to Greenbelt Alliance, San Francisco: Bay area climate resilience implementation
How to apply: After reviewing the fund's current priorities and limitations, interested applicants should submit an initial letter of inquiry for review. Applicants who receive a favorable response to their initial inquiry will be invited to submit a formal proposal with supporting materials...
Deadlines: There are no deadlines for submission; applications all year
Restrictions: Organizations must qualify under the provisions of internal revenue code section 501(c)(3).
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- $500,000 to Climate Justice Alliance, Los Angeles: 79088 general operating support for the climate justice alliance
- $456,804 to Trust for Public Land, San Francisco: 80845 increasing park equity in newark, n.j., neighborhoods and expanding green-space...
- $300,000 to Digdeep Right To Water Project, Los Angeles: 81699 providing a general operating support grant for digdeep, 2024-2026
How to apply: Most of rwjf's grants are made through targeted grant programs and funding partnerships. Rwjf's funding priorities and calls for proposals are described on www.rwjf.org.
Deadlines: No deadlines, except when foundation issues a call for proposal (cfp) or request for proposal (rfp).
Restrictions: Rwjf is dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. We are a national philanthropy that advances transformative systems...
Weeden Foundation
- $25,000 to California Water Impact Network, Los Angeles: Grant
- $25,000 to Smith River Alliance, Crescent City: Grant
- $20,000 to Water Climate Trust, Redding: Grant
How to apply: The Weeden Foundation uses an online application system for our grantmaking process. See guidelines for Grant Applications https://weedenfoundation.org/applications/
Deadlines: See guidelines for Grant Applications https://weedenfoundation.org/applications/
Restrictions: See guidelines for Grant Applications https://weedenfoundation.org/applications/
Arcus Foundation
- $210,003 to People Resources and Conservation Foundation, Los Angeles: Support to establish community-based orangutan and gibbon habitat conservation.
- $200,000 to International Rivers Network, Oakland: Support for challenging the construction of a dam to protect chimpanzees and community...
- $150,000 to International Rivers Network, Oakland: Support to strengthen biodiversity commitments and practices for greater protection of...
How to apply: Statement 24
Deadlines: Statement 24
Restrictions: Statement 24
Park Foundation Inc
- $100,000 to Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, Calabasas: Project support
- $80,000 to Multiplier, San Francisco: Project support
- $80,000 to Redford Center Inc, San Francisco: Project support
How to apply: Written request identifying organzation and purpose of funds
Deadlines: Quarterly deadlines - vary year to year date is first friday of every quarter
The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation
- $400,000 to Water Foundation, Sacramento: To Advance a Resilient Water Future through the Water Table and Texas Wellspring
- $60,000 to Sierra Club Foundation, Oakland: To expand clean energy and increase grassroots participation in electricity...
- $20,000 to Amazon Watch, Oakland: To protect the rainforest and advance the rights of indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin
How to apply: Grant inquiries and grant funding requests are made through the Foundation's website, www.cgmf.org.
Restrictions: The Foundation accepts grant requests that focus on the following initiatives: water, clean energy, sustainability science, shale sustainability, and land conservation.
The Gamble Foundation C/O Lj Trust Company LLC
- $60,000 to Tribal Eco Restoration Alliance, Potter Valley: General purpose
- $60,000 to Earth Island Institute, Berkeley: General purpose
- $50,000 to Sustainable Conservation, San Francisco: General purpose
How to apply: Letter of request
Deadlines: No
Restrictions: Charitable organizations
The Kresge Foundation
- $725,000 to Climate Justice Alliance, Los Angeles: General operating support
- $400,000 to Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc, Calabasas: Project support grant to deepen capacity, collaboration, and alignment in the field of...
- $350,590 to Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc, Calabasas: Project support grant for the climate change, health & equity initiative peer-learning...
How to apply: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Deadlines: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Restrictions: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Mary A Crocker Trust
- $25,000 to Earth Island Institute, Berkeley: Environmental education
- $20,000 to Center for Land-Based Learning, Woodland: Environmental education
- $20,000 to Sustainable Marin, Tiburon: Environmental education
How to apply: Per trust's standard form, include complete background and budget data
Deadlines: Applications are accepted at all times
Restrictions: No restrictions, however primary emphasis is placed in the bay area.
Wells Fargo Foundation
- $500,000 to Grid Alternatives, Emeryville: Clean energy access for environmental and economic justice communities
- $225,000 to The Trust for Public Land, San Francisco: India basin shoreline park & los angeles green schoolyrds initiative
- $50,000 to The Trust for Public Land, San Francisco: India basin shoreline park & los angeles green schoolyrds initiative
How to apply: https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate-responsibility/community-giving/grant-process/
Deadlines: Applications are accepted from february 1 through october 1.
Restrictions: https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate-responsibility/community-giving/grant-process/
Wilburforce Foundation C/O Lisa Weinstein
- $100,000 to Resources Legacy Fund, Sacramento: Environmental - beitc: indigenous leadership in the collaborative management of bears...
- $75,000 to Earthjustice, San Francisco: Environmental - defending key habitat and species in the yellowstone to yukon region 2024
- $50,000 to Resources Legacy Fund, Sacramento: Environmental - beitc: inter-tribal resource and management planning for the bears ears...
How to apply: See foundation's website at wilburforce.org for grant guidelines
Deadlines: See foundation's website at wilburforce.org for grant guidelines
Restrictions: See foundation's website at wilburforce.org for grant guidelines
Ann Jackson Family Foundation
- $50,000 to Community Environmental Council, Santa Barbara: General operating support
- $50,000 to Project for Resilient Communities, Santa Barbara: General operating support
- $25,000 to Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara: General operating support
How to apply: Applications should be in letter form and be accompanied by photocopies of the most current federal and state ruling letters showing the applicant to be an organization declared to be a public charity under internal revenue section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3). The application should...
Restrictions: Awards are made in the sole and absolute discretion of the foundation trustees to public charities which foster religious, charitable, educational and scientific purposes and to organizations which promote the prevention of cruelty to...
The Mccune Foundation
- $30,000 to Community Environmental Council, Santa Barbara: Central coast climate justice network (cccjn)
- $25,000 to Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc, Calabasas: Californians for pesticide reform
- $20,000 to Leading From Within, Santa Barbara: Leading for community impact
How to apply: Two-page letter of inquiry and copy of irs tax-exempt status letter
Deadlines: January and july
Restrictions: Grants are limited to organizations with 501(c)3 status operating in santa barbara and ventura counties, california and areas of interest to the board. Grants are made for projects that mobilize residents for economic and social justice...
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc
- $400,000 to Resources Legacy Fund, Sacramento: For its project, earth insight
- $250,000 to Multiplier, San Francisco: For its special initiative on offshore wind project
- $150,000 to Pachamama Alliance, San Francisco: For its project the global alliance for the rights of nature
Walter and Elise Haas Fund
- $100,000 to Urban Adamah, Berkeley: One year of general operating support for this community garden that engages and feeds...
- $50,000 to Sogorea Te Land Trust, Oakland: One year of general operating support for institutional shuumi land tax, part of an...
- $50,000 to Planting Justice, Oakland: One year of general operating support to empower people impacted by mass incarceration...
How to apply: Sample form available upon request
Gates Family Foundation
- $75,000 to Water Foundation, Sacramento: Project support
- $45,000 to Island Conservation, Santa Cruz: Unrestricted
- $15,000 to Peninsula Open Space Trust, Palo Alto: Unrestricted
How to apply: Capital grant applicants should use the common grant application available on the foundation's website: www.gatesfamilyfoundation.org. Please reference our website for more information about our initiated grant making.
Deadlines: Proposal deadlines: march 15 and september 15.
Restrictions: The foundation supports capital projects, which are typically building purchase, construction, expansion, renovation, and/or land acquisition, as well as other forms of initiated grant making for capital, program, operating and other...
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly A Cerami & A Dunne Fdn for World Health)
- $63,500 to Wildcoast, Del Mar: General fund
- $38,000 to The Human Nature Center, Ventura: General fund
- $20,000 to Common Vision, Berkeley: Sage garden project
How to apply: Letter stating the applicant's name, address, and detailed proposal including effects on local public health.
Deadlines: Rolling applications (no deadlines)
Hutton Foundation Dba Hutton Parker Foundation
- $15,000 to True Nature Society, Santa Barbara: Core/general operating support
- $15,000 to Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara: Core/general operating support
- $10,000 to Santa Barbara Audubon Society, Santa Barbara: Core/general operating support
How to apply: Organizations seeking grants should submit the information (see schedule o) as required on the copy of the application forms (grant application cover sheet) or (program related investment preliminary application) all applications are avilable on the website at...
Deadlines: Visit www.huttonfoundation.org for various deadlines.
Restrictions: Grants are limited to 501(c)(3)/509(a) public charities in california (see schedule o for continuation) (special consideration to orange, riverside and santa barbara counties) in the areas of education; health & human services; civic &...
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Inc
- $1,209,300 to The Trust for Public Land, San Francisco: To support the conservation finance initiative, a joint effort of trust for public land...
- $640,000 to Resources Legacy Fund, Sacramento: To share learning from the co-management of bears ears national monument
- $258,000 to Legacy Philanthropy Works, Santa Barbara: To support the launch of the conservation loan collaborative,a fund management platform...
How to apply: See part xiv, grants process statement
Deadlines: See part xiv, grants process statement
Restrictions: See part xiv, grants process statement
Sand Hill Foundation
- $125,000 to Save the Bay, Oakland: The campaign for save the bay
- $60,000 to Coastal Quest, Berkeley: For the charitable purpose of rise south city's climate resilience through community...
- $55,000 to Ten Strands, San Rafael: Environmental solutionary teacher fellowship 10.0
How to apply: Include verification of irc 501(c)(3) status, activities, references
Deadlines: Revolving
Restrictions: Public charities
Flora L Thornton Foundation
- $140,000 to Greenbelt Alliance, San Francisco: General support
- $60,000 to Sustainable Conservation, San Francisco: General support
- $50,000 to The Trust for Public Land, San Francisco: General support
How to apply: No specific form
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
- $100,000 to Vote Solar, Oakland: Program
- $100,000 to Sierra Club Foundation, Oakland: Program
- $75,000 to Water Foundation, Sacramento: Program
How to apply: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org to apply online
Deadlines: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org for more information
Restrictions: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org for more information
John and Marcia Goldman Foundation
- $100,000 to Peninsula Open Space Trust, Palo Alto: 2024 annual grant
- $50,000 to Earthjustice, San Francisco: Climate and energy program
- $50,000 to Trust for Public Land, San Francisco: India basin waterfront park initiative, specifically to support the first two years of...
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