Avalon Nature Preserve Inc
Avalon Nature Preserve Inc is a private foundation based in Stony Brook, New York. It owns, operates, and maintains a 216-acre preserve on Long Island’s north shore; 140 acres are open to the public. Its work includes protecting and restoring the preserve’s natural and historical heritage and inspiring connections to the natural world.
Avalon Nature Preserve Inc at a glance
In short: Avalon Nature Preserve Inc gave $471K across 53 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in New York. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $470,980
- +44.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,886
- +44.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $55,624,972
- -0.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (12 of 53, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Avalon Nature Preserve Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 Harbor Road, Stony Brook, NY 11790
Phone: (631) 689-0619
Website: https://avalonnaturepreserve.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Avalon Nature Preserve Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Village of Head of the Harbor ($185K). Together the top 10 received $450K.
Grant Size Distribution
249 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 241 grants of 249 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 2% to Connecticut, and 1% to Washington, DC. Massachusetts and California each accounted for 0% as reported in the filing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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 grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $198K (2023) to $471K (2025). In 2025 it made 53 grants totaling $471K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,624,972 | $6,631,987 | $6,784,502 | $470,980 | 53 | $10,668,262 | $243,538 |
| 2024 | $55,912,209 | $16,067,123 | $6,299,262 | $326,105 | 53 | $11,636,584 | $257,791 |
| 2023 | $46,132,493 | $8,829,498 | $5,751,089 | $198,154 | 51 | $8,141,476 | $100,515 |
| 2022 | $43,010,885 | $9,560,636 | $6,570,765 | $334,217 | 45 | $7,745,528 | $2,021 |
| 2021 | $39,975,672 | $8,154,651 | $4,313,696 | $345,005 | 47 | — | $939 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its mission as preserving and maintaining the nature preserve, protecting and restoring its ecological and historical heritage, and inspiring present and future generations to connect with the natural world. It also describes an agricultural program at Birdsfoot Farm that follows regenerative practices, along with outdoor education, nature programs, and a lecture series.
Its 2025 grants included support for local organizations and organizations working in conservation, education, animal care, and other areas. For example, Peconic Land Trust describes its mission as conserving Long Island’s working farms, natural lands, and heritage. Save the Sound says it works to protect and improve the land, air, and water of the Long Island Sound region. Stony Brook Foundation says it advances the mission and goals of SUNY Stony Brook by facilitating and managing philanthropic gifts.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 53 grants totaling $470,980. Awards ranged from $42 to $185,000, with a median grant of $500. The largest awards included $185,000 to the Village of Head of the Harbor and $159,500 to Stony Brook Foundation, both for general support. Other notable grants were $27,500 to The Safina Center, $25,000 to Western Suffolk BOCES, and $22,910 to Peconic Land Trust, each for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Katharine Griffiths as president and Elizabeth Williamson as secretary/treasurer. Directors listed are Robert Gaffney, Victoria Gerard, Gregg Eisenstein, John Casey, Paul Randall, Charles Munch, and Michael Strozier.
Avalon Nature Preserve Inc is led by Katharine Griffiths, President on every filing since 2021; 2 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Katharine Griffiths
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$292K (2021) → $353K (2025)
Charles Munch
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gregg Eisenstein
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Casey
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Strozier
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Randall
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Gaffney
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Gerard
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Williamson
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
30 hrs/week
$153K (2021) → $185K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $353K, to Katharine Griffiths (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Avalon Nature Preserve Inc
How much does Avalon Nature Preserve Inc give each year?
Avalon Nature Preserve Inc gave $471K across 53 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $326K across 53 grants.
What is Avalon Nature Preserve Inc's typical grant size?
Avalon Nature Preserve Inc's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $8,886, across 53 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Avalon Nature Preserve Inc that year got $1K on average.
Where does Avalon Nature Preserve Inc give grants?
Avalon Nature Preserve Inc gives mostly in New York: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. 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).
Does Avalon Nature Preserve Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of Avalon Nature Preserve Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (52 of 53) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Avalon Nature Preserve Inc's largest grantees?
Avalon Nature Preserve Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Village of Head of the Harbor ($185,000), Stony Brook Foundation ($159,500) and The Safina Center ($27,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Avalon Nature Preserve Inc?
Avalon Nature Preserve Inc reported $55.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $6.6M.
What does Avalon Nature Preserve Inc fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its mission as preserving and maintaining the nature preserve, protecting and restoring its ecological and historical heritage, and inspiring present and future generations to connect with the natural world. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Avalon Nature Preserve Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Avalon Nature Preserve Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Avalon Nature Preserve Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Avalon Nature Preserve Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/avalon-nature-preserve-inc-morg_f4fc6d3fc8e14045b1221d7d01dc86ae
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_753165488_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Avalon Nature Preserve Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/avalon-nature-preserve-inc-morg_f4fc6d3fc8e14045b1221d7d01dc86ae},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Avalon Nature Preserve Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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