BAND Foundation
BAND Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in conservation, journalism, and epilepsy care, among other areas reflected in the grants’ stated purposes.
BAND Foundation at a glance
In short: BAND Foundation gave $7.2M across 49 grants in 2024 (avg $147K), top state California. 12% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,220,536
- +7.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 49
- -2.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $147,358
- +9.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $133,000
- Total assets
- $147,837,595
- +11.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (5 of 43, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (21% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to BAND Foundation
- 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: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who BAND Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Wildlife Conservation Network Inc ($725K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $3.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
231 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 96 grants of 231 (42%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were California (21%), New York (13%), the District of Columbia (12%), Vermont (9%), and Wyoming (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is BAND Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 43 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $75K; repeat grants $180K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $150K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.3M (2020) to $7.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 49 grants totaling $7.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maliasili Initiatives Inc Essex Junction, VT | Maliasili Conservation Fund | $500,000 |
| Austin Peay State University Foundation Clarksville, TN | Southeastern Grasslands Institute | $350,000 |
| Guardian Org Foundation Washington, DC | Age of Extinction | $350,000 |
| The Wyldlife Fund Buffalo, WY | Pooled Migration Fund | $300,000 |
| Wildlife Conservation Network Inc San Francisco, CA | Lion Recovery Fund | $300,000 |
| VOX Media LLC Pittsburgh, PA | Expenditure Responsibility Grant | $285,283 |
| Bat Conservation International Inc Austin, TX | Agave Restoration Initiative | $250,000 |
| Wildlife Conservation Network Inc San Francisco, CA | Pangolin Crisis Fund | $250,000 |
| Xerces Society Inc Portland, OR | Firefly Atlas Initiative | $250,000 |
| Amref Health Africa Inc New York, NY | Enhancing Epilepsy Care in Africa | $202,013 |
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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 | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $147,837,595 | $23,273,660 | $7,995,500 | $7,220,536 | 49 | $7,407,488 | $19,741,527 | $7,363,803 |
| 2023 | $132,559,220 | $15,252,124 | $7,663,169 | $6,732,856 | 50 | $6,936,011 | $11,366,822 | $6,945,711 |
| 2022 | $124,970,265 | $2,638,466 | $7,639,128 | $7,136,669 | 49 | $7,217,049 | $2,968,934 | $6,514,335 |
| 2021 | $129,970,927 | $7,679,222 | $6,523,817 | $5,917,450 | 45 | $6,003,036 | $8,524,405 | $7,263,433 |
| 2020 | $128,815,522 | $24,635,070 | $5,718,467 | $5,307,955 | 38 | — | $16,428,002 | $5,935,028 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, BAND Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available filing information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants included projects in conservation, such as the Maliasili Conservation Fund, Southeastern Grasslands Institute, and Lion Recovery Fund; an epilepsy-care project in Africa; and journalism and public-discourse work.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Maliasili Initiatives says its mission is to accelerate community-based conservation through local organizations. Wildlife Conservation Network says it connects conservationists and supporters and deploys resources to the field. The Wyldlife Fund says it works to advance Wyoming wildlife habitat, research, and education. Guardian.org Foundation says it supports independent journalism and public discourse.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 49 grants totaling $7,220,536. Grants ranged from $20,000 to $500,000, with a median grant of $133,000.
The largest grants included $500,000 to Maliasili Initiatives for the Maliasili Conservation Fund; $350,000 to Austin Peay State University Foundation for the Southeastern Grasslands Institute; $350,000 to Guardian Org Foundation for Age of Extinction; $300,000 to The Wyldlife Fund for the Pooled Migration Fund; and $300,000 to Wildlife Conservation Network for the Lion Recovery Fund. Other notable grants included $250,000 to Bat Conservation International for the Agave Restoration Initiative, $250,000 to Xerces Society for the Firefly Atlas Initiative, and $202,013 to Amref Health Africa for Enhancing Epilepsy Care in Africa.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Burks B Lapham as chair and director; Gardiner O Lapham as director; Nicholas P Lapham as treasurer, director, and president; and Clark Mitchell as director and secretary.
BAND Foundation is led by Nicholas P Lapham, Treasurer, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nicholas P Lapham
Treasurer, Director & President
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Burks B Lapham
Chair & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clark Mitchell
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gardiner O Lapham
Director
On filings since 2020
5 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.
Frequently asked questions about BAND Foundation
How much does BAND Foundation give each year?
BAND Foundation gave $7.2M across 49 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.7M across 50 grants.
What is BAND Foundation's typical grant size?
BAND Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $133,000, and its average grant was $147,358, across 49 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from BAND Foundation that year got $75K on average.
Where does BAND Foundation give grants?
BAND Foundation's top state is California, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (13%) and District of Columbia (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants), San Francisco, CA (5 grants) and Essex Junction, VT (3 grants).
Does BAND Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 10% of BAND Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 49) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are BAND Foundation's largest grantees?
BAND Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Wildlife Conservation Network Inc ($725,000 across 4 grants), Maliasili Initiatives Inc ($675,000 across 3 grants) and Austin Peay State University Foundation ($350,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is BAND Foundation?
BAND Foundation reported $147.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does BAND Foundation fund?
The available filing information does not state a mission for the foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from BAND Foundation?
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 BAND Foundation's EIN?
BAND Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3289963. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does BAND Foundation 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in BAND Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). BAND Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/band-foundation-morg_55683ce00bd542c787264660a9be6c97
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_473289963_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{BAND Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/band-foundation-morg_55683ce00bd542c787264660a9be6c97},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 BAND Foundation'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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