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Ahimsa Foundation

SOUTH WINDHAM, ME EIN: 04-2749858 Website

There are multiple organizations operating under the Ahimsa Foundation name. The primary grantmaking foundation is based in South Windham, Maine, and operates with a Boston, Massachusetts office. It is a 501(c)(3) public charity established in 1982 that provides philanthropic support to animal welfare and environmentally related causes. A separate Ahimsa Foundation entity is based in Niwot, Colorado and operates as a private foundation with significantly larger assets.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · 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

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

Mission & Focus Areas

South Windham/Boston Entity: The foundation's mission is to support organizations involved in the care and protection of animals. It provides funding to charities that support animals and environmentally related causes, with particular emphasis on organizations that provide direct care to animals. The foundation specifically seeks to help smaller shelters and animal-serving nonprofits, filling a critical gap in funding for grassroots organizations.

Niwot, Colorado Entity: This entity focuses on philanthropy, voluntarism, grantmaking, private grantmaking, and food, agriculture, and nutrition causes.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

** $5,000–$30,000 (average approximately $14,400 per grant)

Invitation Only

** Invitation only; the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and proactively identifies organizations aligned with their mission

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

South Windham/Boston Entity: United States-based 501(c)(3) organizations only

Niwot, Colorado Entity: Primary focus areas include Georgia, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania

Grant Distribution by State

28states
+20 more states

Cities

ActonAlbanyAttapulgusAuburnBeavertonBemidjiBloomingburgBoulderBrightonBrocktonBrooklynBuzzards BayCanyan CountryCanyon CountryCape NeddickChathamChepachetCherry HillDayvilleEast Greenbush

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

South Windham/Boston Entity (as of December 2024):

  • Total Assets: $25,732,005
  • Total Revenue: $1,040,393
  • Total Expenses: $1,240,735
  • Investment Income and Dividends: $533,205
  • Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $507,188
  • Total Liabilities: $58,400
  • Charity Navigator Rating: 86% (Three-Star rating)

Niwot, Colorado Entity (as of December 2024):

  • Total Assets: $1,011,593,188
  • Total Revenue: $160,000,000
  • Total Expenses: $80,000,000
  • Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$568K$1M$2M$2M20202021202220232024
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

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$244K$488K$732K$976K76 grants202063 grants202167 grants202267 grants202362 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

MAINE STATE SOCIETY FOR …$80KNEW ENGLAND WILDLIFE CEN…$60KHOMECOMING FARM INC$35KCITY CRITTERS INC$32KEQUINE ADVOCATES INC$25KELEPHANT AID INTERNATIONAL$19KEQUINE RESCUE INC$18KHORSE PROTECTION ASSOCIA…$18KIRONWOOD PIG SANCTUARY (…$16KFIXNATION INC$15K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

243<$50K7$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

South Windham/Boston Entity:

  • Executive Administrator: Jen Bonnett
  • Secretary: John Graham, Esq.
  • Trustee: Katrina Bergman
  • Staff: 1 employee and 5 volunteers

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

CAROLYN HINKLEEXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR$55KKATE ITURRALDECHAIRMAN/TRUSTEE$500MERIS BICKFORDTREASURER/TRUSTEE$500CAROL AIRISTRUSTEE$500HOLLY STAVERTRUSTEE$500KATRINA BERGMANTRUSTEE$500

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
KATE ITURRALDECHAIRMAN/TRUSTEE1$500
MERIS BICKFORDTREASURER/TRUSTEE2$500
CAROL AIRISTRUSTEE1$500
HOLLY STAVERTRUSTEE1$500
KATRINA BERGMANTRUSTEE1$500
JOHN GRAHAMSECRETARY3
CAROLYN HINKLEEXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR10$55,380
JEN BONNETTEXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR11

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2025

The Niwot, Colorado-based Ahimsa Foundation affiliate provided $100 million in senior secured financing to Beyond Meat, Inc. in 2025, supporting the plant-based food company's operations and strategic initiatives.

Beyond Meat Secures $100 Million From Ahimsa Foods Affiliate

Contact Information

South Windham/Boston Entity:

Boston Office Address: 90 Canal Street, Boston, MA 02114-2018

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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