{"id":16789,"date":"2025-01-03T09:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-03T17:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/\/?page_id=16789"},"modified":"2025-09-12T05:52:47","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T12:52:47","slug":"grants-for-conservation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-for-conservation","title":{"rendered":"Grants for Environmental Conservation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-container gb-block-container\"><div class=\"gb-container-inside\"><div class=\"gb-container-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\" style=\"min-height:151px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-90055\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/funding-guide-banner-blue-dots.png\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#c6e8f9\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-19ab819af7f69984827af98ea13b3f7d\" style=\"color:#484848;font-size:42px\">Environmental Conservation Grants<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"intro-box has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebeeeb\">Learn about grants for environmental conservation by browsing our curated list of top conservation funders below. Related funders may be found in the guides for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/fundraising-for-climate-change\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">climate change<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/marine-conservation-grants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">marine conservation<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-for-animals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> animals &amp; wildlife<\/a>. Members can also research environmental funding opportunities using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/grantfinder-search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>search tool <\/strong><\/a>for GrantFinder. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/membership\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Become a member.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-columns gb-layout-columns-1 one-column gb-background-auto gb-background-no-repeat\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bg-radiant-dots-shortest.png);background-position:50% 0%\"><div class=\"gb-layout-column-wrap gb-block-layout-column-gap-0 gb-is-responsive-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\" style=\"padding-top:20px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-columns gb-layout-columns-2 gb-2-col-wideright\" style=\"padding-top:60px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:6px;background-position:80% 0%\"><div class=\"gb-layout-column-wrap gb-block-layout-column-gap-2 gb-is-responsive-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column ip-gf-key-funders-box gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Key Funders<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list key-funders-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-b\/bezos-earth-fund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bezos Earth Fund<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/grants-b\/bloomberg-philanthropies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bloomberg Philanthropies<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant-places\/illinois-grants\/chicago-community-trust\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"145100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chicago Community Trust<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-g\/global-green-grants-fund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Global Greengrants Fund&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant-places\/north-carolina-grants\/foundation-for-the-carolinas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Foundation for the Carolinas<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/h-grants\/william-and-flora-hewlett-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-j\/robert-wood-johnson-foundation\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-j\/robert-wood-johnson-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robert Wood Johnson Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/k-grants\/kresge-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Kresge Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/m-grants\/macarthur-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/m-grants\/mcknight-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">McKnight Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant-places\/pennsylvania-grants\/richard-king-mellon-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Richard King Mellon Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/m-grants\/gordon-and-betty-moore-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-n\/network-for-good\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Network for Good<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/p-grants\/david-and-lucile-packard-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The David and Lucile Packard Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/rgrants\/rockefeller-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rockefeller Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-r\/rockefeller-philanthropy-advisors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/s-grants\/sea-change-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sea Change Foundation&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-s\/silicon-valley-community-foundation\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"136231\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Silicon Valley Community Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-t\/tides-foundation\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"136267\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tides Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-w\/walton-family-foundation\">Walton Family Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Funding trends for environmental conservation<\/strong><br><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While governmental funding dominates environmental conservation, philanthropy fills important gaps, backing research, resourcing grassroots groups, and more. Environmental grantmaking is on the rise, but only represents about 3.8% of all U.S. charitable giving in 2023, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu\/news-events\/news\/_news\/2024\/giving-usa-us-charitable-giving-totaled-557.16-billion-in-2023.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Giving USA<\/a>. As climate risks multiply, environmental conservation grants increasingly intersect with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/fundraising-for-climate-change\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">climate philanthropy<\/a>, as conservation groups evolve their work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Large private foundations and individual major donors still dominate the environmental funding landscape. That said, place-based private foundations offer crucial conservation investments focused on specific geographic areas. Community foundations are also important both for their local conservation efforts and in their role as hosts of donor-advised funds, through which many individual donors give for conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>History of environmental conservation philanthropy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Conservation philanthropy historically took a preservationist approach sometimes referred to as \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fortress_conservation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fortress conservation<\/a>\u201d or \u201cprotectionist\u201d conservation\u201d prioritized the creation of protected areas untouched by humans. This led to displacement of and even violence against Indigenous peoples in several areas. For the last few decades, funders have been moving to a more people-centered approach to conservation that acknowledges and includes Indigenous peoples and traditional land stewards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where are environmental conservation grants going?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Conservation grants have, in recent years, seen increasing collaboration between various organizations, often coordinated by intermediaries like <a href=\"https:\/\/climasolutions.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CLIMA Fund<\/a> and green groups that also act as regrantors, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.org\/en-us\/newsroom\/grant-program-accepting-apps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nature Conservancy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edf.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Environmental Defense Fund<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Environmental funders increasingly support, as IP has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/home\/2024-6-25-tracking-green-regrantors-eight-major-conservation-regrantors-based-in-the-global-north\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>, Indigenous-led conservation efforts. Investments in conservation finance, such as the Nature Conservancy\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.org\/en-us\/what-we-do\/our-insights\/perspectives\/an-audacious-plan-to-save-the-worlds-oceans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation<\/a> and the World Wildlife Fund\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/pages\/wwf-impact-investing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">impact investing<\/a> initiative, have also increased. The <a href=\"https:\/\/rightsandresources.org\/clarifi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Community Land Rights and Conservation Finance Initiative<\/a>, new international funding mechanism, works to shift both public and private funds to support \u201cIndigenous Peoples\u2019, Afro-descendant peoples\u2019, and local communities\u2019 land rights, conservation, and sustainable management of their territories.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grantmaking for environmental conservation often intersects with funding for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/fundraising-for-climate-change\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">climate<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/grants-for-animals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">animals and wildlife<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/marine-conservation-grants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">marine and freshwater<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/find-a-grant\/sustainable-agriculture-grants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sustainable agriculture.<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<!-- Non-displaying inline paywall marker. Editors: please keep this code block. Position this block before the first full-width paragraph or just above the foundations list heading. -->\n<div id=\"ipInlineOffer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-container foundation-list paywall gb-block-container\"><div class=\"gb-container-inside\"><div class=\"gb-container-content\">\n<p>Environmental grants support a diverse array of nonprofits across the world. The majority of funding from U.S.-based foundations prioritizes large, established organizations, sometimes known as the \u201cbig greens,\u201d which include the National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, and the World Wide Fund for Nature. A growing ecosystem of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/home\/2023-6-8-the-growth-of-green-regrantors-tracking-an-evolving-ecosystem-of-funding-intermediaries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">environmental intermediaries<\/a> is increasing the number of grants to smaller and grassroots organizations. Conservation grants also fund research organizations and think tanks, as well as to support advocacy to change the conditions that threaten habitats and ecosystems.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, the majority of environmental grants from U.S. foundations invest in nonprofits in the state or region where the funder is based (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/369261149_Examining_Disparities_in_Environmental_Grantmaking_Where_the_Money_Goes?channel=doi&amp;linkId=64122c4e66f8522c38a8a3a5&amp;showFulltext=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yale School of the Environment<\/a>). As discussed above, global giving for the environment often occurs through U.S.-based intermediaries that regrant funds to local organizations in other parts of the world.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Gaps in funding for environmental conservation<\/strong><br><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While a growing number of grantmakers increase funding for Indigenous-led conservation efforts, this focus area remains severely underfunded. Examining grants from U.S. institutional funders from 2016 to 2020, International Funders for Indigenous Peoples found that only <a href=\"https:\/\/internationalfunders.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Funding-Trend-Analysis-on-Indigenous-Peoples-Philanthropy-_compressed.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">0.6%<\/a> of all giving benefited Indigenous peoples \u2013 on all issues, not only environmental conservation. Indigenous peoples account for <a href=\"https:\/\/internationalfunders.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Funding-Trend-Analysis-on-Indigenous-Peoples-Philanthropy-_compressed.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">6.2%<\/a> of the global population, have a moral claim to their lands, and could be leading the way on environmental conservation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A 2021 <a href=\"https:\/\/search.issuelab.org\/resource\/closing-the-gap-insights-from-the-field-to-close-the-2-7-billion-funding-gap-between-white-led-and-bipoc-led-environmental-and-conservation-organizations.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report<\/a> by InDEEP (Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Environmental Philanthropy) found a $2.7 billion funding gap between white-led and BIPOC-led environmental and conservation organizations in the years 2014 to 2018. Further in this vein, a 2023 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/369261149_Examining_Disparities_in_Environmental_Grantmaking_Where_the_Money_Goes?channel=doi&amp;linkId=64122c4e66f8522c38a8a3a5&amp;showFulltext=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report<\/a> from the Yale School of the Environment identified a gap in funding for BIPOC-led environmental organizations, as well as for organizations focused on environmental justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group modified-date-row is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f56a869c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><em>Published on <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:400;\" class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-01-03T09:45:00-08:00\">January 3, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px;width:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-columns gb-layout-columns-1 one-column gb-background-auto gb-background-no-repeat\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bg-radiant-dots-shortest.png);background-position:50% 0%\"><div class=\"gb-layout-column-wrap gb-block-layout-column-gap-0 gb-is-responsive-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\" style=\"padding-top:20px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-columns gb-layout-columns-2 gb-2-col-wideleft\" style=\"padding-top:60px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:6px;background-position:80% 0%\"><div class=\"gb-layout-column-wrap gb-block-layout-column-gap-4 gb-is-responsive-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-25180599d95e511ffa03116cedf5db8d\" style=\"color:#d79533\"><strong><strong>Additional Resources<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ega.org\/\"><strong>Environmental Grantmakers Association<\/strong><\/a> is a network of more than 200 foundations around the world that focuses on a range of environmental issues, including conservation and pollution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.org\/\"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature<\/strong> <\/a>is a global membership organization composed of both government and civil society organisations that has a wide array of conservation tools, issues briefs and publications available focused on the protection of the natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/climatenetwork.org\/\"><strong>Climate Action Network<\/strong><\/a> claims to be the world\u2019s largest network of civil society with a focus on addressing fossil fuels, including pollution mitigation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn about grants for environmental conservation by browsing our curated list of top conservation funders below. Related funders may be found in the guides for climate change, marine conservation and animals &amp; wildlife. Members can also research environmental funding opportunities using the search tool for GrantFinder. Become a member.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":470,"featured_media":0,"parent":13716,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":true,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-16789","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/470"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16789"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16789\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":224392,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16789\/revisions\/224392"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidephilanthropy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}