Ahimsa Foundation logo

Ahimsa Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker South Windham, ME EIN: 04-2749858 Website

Ahimsa Foundation is a public charity based in South Windham, Maine, formed in 1982. It supports organizations involved in the care and protection of animals and related activities, including charities working on animal and environmentally related causes.

Key facts about Ahimsa Foundation

In short: Ahimsa Foundation gave $828K across 62 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), top state New York. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

EIN
04-2749858
Latest 990 filing
Form 990 filing, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$828,276
Grants made (2024)
62
Average grant
$13,359
Median grant
$10,000
New grantees (estimate)
11% first-time grantees (7 of 62, 2024)
Total assets
$25,732,005
Primary geography
New York (21% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing

Total Assets

$25.7M

+12.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$828K

-8.8% YoY

Grant Count

62

-7.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$13K

-1.4% YoY

Is Ahimsa Foundation open to new grantees?

11%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 7 of 62 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $14K. How we count

Medians: $8K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 84% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−10%). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s stated mission is “to support organizations involved in the care and protection of animals and related activities.” Its 2024 filing describes support for charities focused on animals and environmentally related causes.

Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of work. New England Wildlife Center describes its mission as promoting positive values, behaviors, and policies toward wildlife and the environment through education, research, medical treatment, and wildlife rehabilitation. City Critters describes work rescuing and placing stray and abandoned animals, promoting spay/neuter, and educating the public. Equine Advocates describes work rescuing and protecting equines and operating a sanctuary; Equine Rescue describes care, rehabilitation, and adoption services for horses; and the Horse Protection Association of Florida describes housing and rehabilitating horses and assisting with cruelty investigations. Wildlife Alliance describes its work as protecting forests and wildlife in tropical Asia.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 62 grants totaling $828,276. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $80,000, with a median of $10,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s 2024 grants went to organizations in multiple states. The largest shares of grant dollars went to New York (21%), Massachusetts (17%), Maine (12%), Florida (9%), and California (8%).

Grant Distribution by State

28states

Share of all 62 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

New YorkGainesvilleFort CollinsLos AngelesBoulderEau ClairePortlandAlbanyAuburnBloomingburgBrightonBrocktonBuzzards BayCape NeddickChathamFremontGrayslakeHampton BaysHullKendalia

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M76 grants202063 grants202167 grants202267 grants202362 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals: $80KMaine State Society for theProtection of Animals$80KNew England Wildlife Center: $60KNew England Wildlife Center$60KHomecoming Farm Inc: $35KHomecoming Farm Inc$35KCity Critters Inc: $32KCity Critters Inc$32KEquine Advocates Inc: $25KEquine Advocates Inc$25KWildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation: $25KWildlife Rescue &Rehabilitation$25KElephant Aid International: $19KElephant Aid International$19KEquine Rescue Inc: $18KEquine Rescue Inc$18KHorse Protection Association of Florida: $18KHorse Protection Associationof Florida$18KIronwood Pig Sanctuary (The Mary C Schanz Foundation): $16KIronwood Pig Sanctuary (TheMary C Schanz Foundation)$16K

Grant Size Distribution

335 grants across all recorded years

328<$50K7$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
MAINE STATE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS Windham, MESUPPORT FOR ANIMALS$80,000
NEW ENGLAND WILDLIFE CENTER Weymouth, MASUPPORT FOR ANIMALS$60,000
HOMECOMING FARM INC Brockton, MASUPPORT FOR ANIMALS$35,000
CITY CRITTERS INC New York, NYSUPPORT FOR ANIMALS$32,000
EQUINE ADVOCATES INC Chatham, NYSUPPORT FOR ANIMALS$25,000
WILDLIFE RESCUE & REHABILITATION Kendalia, TXSUPPORT FOR ANIMALS$25,000
ELEPHANT AID INTERNATIONAL Attapulgus, GASUPPORT FOR ANIMALS$19,000
EQUINE RESCUE INC Bloomingburg, NYSUPPORT FOR ANIMALS$18,000
HORSE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA Micanopy, FLSUPPORT FOR ANIMALS$18,000
IRONWOOD PIG SANCTUARY (THE MARY C SCHANZ FOUNDATION) Tucson, AZSUPPORT FOR ANIMALS$16,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $25,732,005 $1,040,393 $1,240,735 $828,276
2023 $22,924,376 $903,513 $1,210,046 $908,000
2022 $20,625,393 $195,836 $1,282,410 $976,000

In 2024, the foundation reported 62 grants; it reported 67 grants in each of 2023 and 2022.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$25,732,005$22,924,376$20,625,393
Revenue$1,040,393$903,513$195,836
Expenses$1,240,735$1,210,046$1,282,410
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$1,040,393$903,513$195,836
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Kate Iturralde as chairman/trustee; Meris Bickford as treasurer/trustee; Carol Airis, Holly Staver, and Katrina Bergman as trustees; John Graham as secretary; and Carolyn Hinkle and Jen Bonnett as executive administrators.

The filing states that three trustees were appointed by supported organizations: Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, City Critters, and New England Wildlife Center. The other trustees are appointed by the delegated representative of the Mitchell family, the foundation’s original donor.

Ahimsa Foundation is led by Kate Iturralde, Chairman & Trustee since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 6 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Kate Iturralde

    Chairman & Trustee

    Trustee → Chairman & Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $500 (2020) → $500 (2024)

  • Carol Airis

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $500 (2020) → $500 (2024)

  • Holly Staver

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $500 (2020) → $500 (2024)

  • Katrina Bergman

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $500 (2020) → $500 (2024)

  • Meris Bickford

    Treasurer & Trustee

    Trustee → Treasurer & Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $500 (2020) → $500 (2024)

  • Carolyn Hinkle

    Executive Administrator

    On filings since 2020

    10 hrs/week

    $53K (2020) → $55K (2024)

  • John Graham

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jen Bonnett

    Executive Administrator

    New on the 2024 filing

    11 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Carolyn Hinkle — Executive Administrator: $55KCarolyn HinkleExecutive Administrator$55KKate Iturralde — Chairman/Trustee: $500Kate IturraldeChairman/Trustee$500Meris Bickford — Treasurer/Trustee: $500Meris BickfordTreasurer/Trustee$500Carol Airis — Trustee: $500Carol AirisTrustee$500Holly Staver — Trustee: $500Holly StaverTrustee$500Katrina Bergman — Trustee: $500Katrina BergmanTrustee$500

Contact

Mailing address: Co Msspa PO Box 10, South Windham, ME 04082
Phone: (617) 704-3641
Website: https://ahimsarescuefoundation.org

Frequently asked questions about Ahimsa Foundation

How much does Ahimsa Foundation give each year?

Ahimsa Foundation gave $828K across 62 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $908K across 67 grants.

What is Ahimsa Foundation's typical grant size?

Ahimsa Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $13,359, across 62 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ahimsa Foundation that year got $9K on average.

Where does Ahimsa Foundation give grants?

Ahimsa Foundation's top state is New York, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. The next largest states were Massachusetts (17%) and Maine (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), Eau Claire, WI (2 grants), Gainesville, FL (2 grants) and Fort Collins, CO (2 grants).

Does Ahimsa Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 62 grants with a stated purpose on Ahimsa Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for Animals" (62 grants).

Who are Ahimsa Foundation's largest grantees?

Ahimsa Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals ($80,000), New England Wildlife Center ($60,000) and Homecoming Farm Inc ($35,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Ahimsa Foundation?

Ahimsa Foundation reported $25.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $1.0M.

What does Ahimsa Foundation fund?

The foundation’s stated mission is “to support organizations involved in the care and protection of animals and related activities.” Its 2024 filing describes support for charities focused on animals and environmentally related causes. Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of work. New England Wildlife Center describes its mission as promoting positive values, behaviors, and policies toward wildlife and the environment through education, research, medical treatment, and wildlife rehabilitation. …

How do I apply for a grant from Ahimsa Foundation?

In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 62 grants totaling $828,276. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $80,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest 2024 grants were $80,000 to Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, $60,000 to New England Wildlife Center, $35,000 to Homecoming Farm, and $32,000 to City Critters. Other notable awards included $25,000 each to Equine Advocates and Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, $19,000 to Elephant Aid International, and $18,000 each to Equine…

What is Ahimsa Foundation's EIN?

Ahimsa Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2749858. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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