Avalon Nature Preserve Inc
Avalon Nature Preserve Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Stony Brook, New York. The organization operates as a private foundation dedicated to preserving and maintaining a natural landscape while making it accessible to the public. The preserve encompasses 216 acres of Long Island's north shore, with 140 acres open to public exploration.
Key facts about Avalon Nature Preserve Inc
- EIN
- 75-3165488
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $470,980
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- Average grant
- $8,886
- Median grant
- $500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (12 of 53, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Avalon Nature Preserve Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Avalon Nature Preserve Inc's 53 itemized 2025 grants were New York (96%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), Stony Brook, NY (4 grants) and St James, NY (3 grants). 98% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Avalon Nature Preserve Inc open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 53 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $209 first-time, $515 repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Avalon Nature Preserve Inc
- How to evaluate Avalon Nature Preserve Inc as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Avalon Nature Preserve Inc with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$471K
+44.4% YoY
Grant Count
53
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+44.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Avalon Nature Preserve was established to celebrate the life of Paul Simons, a local outdoor enthusiast and native Long Islander who died in 1996. The Paul Simons Foundation created the organization to honor his love of nature and the outdoors.
The organization operates around three core pillars:
Protect: Avalon has permanently protected 216 vital acres featuring meadows, woodlands, and shoreline that serve as essential habitats for local watershed, flora, and fauna protection.
Restore: As stewards of the ecologically diverse landscape, the organization is committed to habitat restoration through innovative management techniques and collaboration with scientific communities to nurture and heal local ecosystems.
Inspire: The organization aims to inspire visitors to foster connections to the natural world through community outreach and youth programs for children of all ages.
Program Areas:
- Preservation and maintenance of the nature preserve, including protection and restoration of the ecological and historical heritage
- Agricultural programming through Birdsfoot Farm, which follows regenerative practices and celebrates the interconnectedness between natural ecosystems and conservation agriculture
- Outdoor education, nature programs, and lecture series
Grantmaking
Avalon Nature Preserve functions as a grantmaking foundation. Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing for fiscal year 2024, the organization distributed $326,105 in grants. Typical grant awards range from $40 to $159,500.
Ready to take the next step with Avalon Nature Preserve Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization's primary geographic focus is Long Island's north shore in Stony Brook, New York. Grantmaking activities extend to New York, the District of Columbia, and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 53 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024 (ending June 2024):
- Total Revenue: $16,067,123
- Total Expenses: $6,299,262
- Net Income: $9,767,861
- Total Assets: $55,912,209
- Total Liabilities: $215,000
- Total Giving: $326,105
Organization Status:
- Tax-exempt since April 2005
- EIN: 75-3165488
- Employees: 20 (as of 2024)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
249 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Village of Head of the Harbor ($185,000), Stony Brook Foundation ($159,500), The Safina Center ($27,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VILLAGE OF HEAD OF THE HARBOR St James, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $185,000 |
| STONY BROOK FOUNDATION Stony Brook, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $159,500 |
| THE SAFINA CENTER Setauket, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $27,500 |
| WESTERN SUFFOLK BOCES Huntington Station, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| PECONIC LAND TRUST Southampton, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $22,910 |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY East Hampton, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,276 |
| SAVE THE SOUND New Haven, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| SWEETBRIAR NATURE CENTER Smithtown, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FRANK MELVILLE MEMORIAL PARK Setauket NY, NY | MAINTAINING THE PRESERVE FOR VISITORS TO ENJOY THROUGHOUT ALL SEASONS. | $2,500 |
| WARD MELVILLE HERITAGE ORGANIZATION Stony Brook, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Gaffney | Director | 0.05 | — |
| Victoria Gerard | Director | 0.05 | — |
| Gregg Eisenstein | Director | 0.05 | — |
| John Casey | Director | 0.05 | — |
| Paul Randall | Director | 0.05 | — |
| Charles Munch | Director | 0.05 | — |
| Michael Strozier | Director | 0.05 | — |
| Katharine Griffiths | President | 40 | $353,189 |
| Elizabeth Williamson | Secretary/Treasurer | 30 | $185,214 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The preserve is open year-round for public enjoyment and can be accessed via Shep Jones Lane off North Country Road (Route 25A), Tuesday through Sunday. The organization maintains designated parking lots along Shep Jones Lane and provides an Avalon Nature Preserve App available through the Apple App Store for visitor access and information.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Avalon Nature Preserve Inc fund?
Avalon Nature Preserve was established to celebrate the life of Paul Simons, a local outdoor enthusiast and native Long Islander who died in 1996. The Paul Simons Foundation created the organization to honor his love of nature and the outdoors. The organization operates around three core pillars: **Protect:** Avalon has permanently protected 216 vital acres featuring meadows, woodlands, and shoreline that serve as essential habitats for local watershed, flora, and fauna protection. **Restore:**…
How do I apply for a grant from Avalon Nature Preserve Inc?
Avalon Nature Preserve functions as a grantmaking foundation. Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing for fiscal year 2024, the organization distributed $326,105 in grants. Typical grant awards range from $40 to $159,500. The organization's grant-making focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services, primarily in New York, the District of Columbia, and Maryland.
Where does Avalon Nature Preserve Inc make grants?
The organization's primary geographic focus is Long Island's north shore in Stony Brook, New York. Grantmaking activities extend to New York, the District of Columbia, and Maryland.
What size grants does Avalon Nature Preserve Inc award?
In 2025, Avalon Nature Preserve Inc awarded 53 grants totaling $471K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Avalon Nature Preserve Inc's EIN?
Avalon Nature Preserve Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-3165488. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Avalon Nature Preserve Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Cigna Group Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$127.2M
Grants
4,075
Total Given
$14.1M
Chubb Charitable Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$74.9M
Grants
3,719
Total Given
$6.3M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The Ojc Fund
Brooklyn, NY
Assets
$46.1M
Grants
3,410
Total Given
$386.1M
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Simons Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
American Express Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$48.9M
Grants
1,495
Total Given
$23.2M
Equitable Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$112.4M
Grants
1,453
Total Given
$5.5M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$891.5M
Grants
1,153
Total Given
$275.0M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
Verizon Foundation
Basking Ridge, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
More Funders in New York
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.