Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust

Private foundation · Grantmaker Appleton, WI EIN: 27-6039148

BETTY LEWIS ENVIRONMENTAL is a private foundation based in Appleton, Wisconsin. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations working in areas including conservation, wildlife, trails, gardens, and environmental protection.

Key facts about Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust

In short: Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust gave $142K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), top state New York. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
27-6039148
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$141,787
Grants made (2025)
36
Average grant
$3,939
Median grant
$3,939
New grantees (estimate)
0% first-time grantees (0 of 36, 2025)
Total assets
$2,836,321
Primary geography
New York (32% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
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. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.8M

+0.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$142K

+6.5% YoY

Grant Count

36

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$4K

+6.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $168K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust open to new grantees?

0%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 0 of 36 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count

  • 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 own mission is not stated in the available information. Its grants support organizations whose work includes natural-resource and wildlife conservation, environmental protection, trails, and connecting people with nature. For example, Conservation Corps describes its mission as engaging young people in service, leadership development, and environmental stewardship. The Finger Lakes Trail Conference says it builds and promotes trails and stewards the outdoor legacy for future generations. The Environmental Defense Fund describes its work as finding practical solutions to environmental problems, while the Trust for Public Land says it creates parks and protects land for people.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 36 grants totaling $141,787. Grants ranged from $2,532 to $5,908, with a median of $3,938. Listed grants included $5,908 each to Conservation Corps and several Minnesota conservation organizations, including Martin County Conservation Club, Martin County Pheasants Forever, Minnesota Master Naturalist Endowment Fund, and Friends of Windom Wetland District. Other examples include $5,064 to Cornell Botanic Gardens and $5,064 to Cornell Ornithology Lab, and $3,939 to the Environmental Defense Fund and African Wildlife Foundation.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (32%), Minnesota (29%), and the District of Columbia (14%). California received 7% and Virginia 6%.

Grant Distribution by State

11states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.

Cities

WashingtonIthacaNew YorkSan FranciscoArlingtonFairmontCharlestownChaskaDuluthHarpers FerryLa GrandeLowellMorrisMt MorrisNew FieldRockvilleSalt Lake CitySherburnSt. PaulWindom

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K36 grants2020 36 grants2021 36 grants2022 37 grants2023 36 grants2024 36 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $133K (2024) to $158K (2022). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $142K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Martin Cty Conservation Club: $6KMartin Cty Conservation Club$6KConservation Corps: $6KConservation Corps$6KMartin Cty Pheasants Forever: $6KMartin Cty Pheasants Forever$6KMinnesota Master Naturalist End FD: $6KMinnesota Master NaturalistEnd FD$6KFriends of Windom Wetland District: $6KFriends of Windom WetlandDistrict$6KFox Lake Conservation League Inc: $6KFox Lake Conservation LeagueInc$6KCornell Botanic Gardens: $5KCornell Botanic Gardens$5KCornell Ornithology Lab: $5KCornell Ornithology Lab$5KFinger Lakes Land Trust: $5KFinger Lakes Land Trust$5KCommon Field Inc: $5KCommon Field Inc$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Martin Cty Conservation Club ($6K). Together the top 10 received $56K.

Grant Size Distribution

181 grants across all recorded years

181<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 181 grants of 181 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Martin Cty Conservation Club Fairmont, MNGeneral$5,908
Conservation Corps St. Paul, MNGeneral$5,908
Martin Cty Pheasants Forever Fairmont, MNGeneral$5,908
Minnesota Master Naturalist End FD Morris, MNGeneral$5,908
Friends of Windom Wetland District Windom, MNGeneral$5,908
Fox Lake Conservation League Inc Sherburn, MNGeneral$5,907
Cornell Botanic Gardens Ithaca, NYBotanic Gardens$5,064
Cornell Ornithology Lab Ithaca, NYOrinthology Lab$5,064
Finger Lakes Land Trust Ithaca, NYGeneral$5,064
Common Field Inc New Field, NYGeneral$5,064

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grant total
2025 $2,836,321 $191,585 $188,454 $141,787
2024 $2,833,190 $185,931 $177,649 $133,169
2023 $2,824,908 $152,361 $185,412 $144,264
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,836,321$2,833,190$2,824,908
Revenue$191,585$185,931$152,361
Expenses$188,454$177,649$185,412
Qualifying Distributions$163,091$154,101$164,014
Net Investment Income$169,900$164,633$131,684
Distributable Amount$168,006$162,719$153,374

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust's only listed officer is Thrivent Trust Company, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (compensated).

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Thrivent Trust Company

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    10 hrs/week

    $39K (2020) → $39K (2025)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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

Thrivent Trust Company — Trustee: $39KThrivent Trust CompanyTrustee$39K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $39K, to Thrivent Trust Company (Trustee).

Contact

Mailing address: C/O Thrivent Trust Co PO Box 2817, Appleton, WI 54912-2817
Phone: (920) 628-5418

Frequently asked questions about Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust

How much does Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust give each year?

Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust gave $142K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $133K across 36 grants.

What is Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust's typical grant size?

Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $3,939, and its average grant was $3,939, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust give grants?

Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust's top state is New York, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Minnesota (29%) and District of Columbia (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (7 grants), Ithaca, NY (4 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and San Francisco, CA (3 grants).

Does Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust give general operating support?

Yes: 94% of Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (34 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust's largest grantees?

Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Martin Cty Conservation Club ($5,908), Conservation Corps ($5,908) and Martin Cty Pheasants Forever ($5,908), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust?

Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $163K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $168K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust fund?

The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its grants support organizations whose work includes natural-resource and wildlife conservation, environmental protection, trails, and connecting people with nature. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust?

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 Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust's EIN?

Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6039148. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does Betty Lewis Environmental Charitable Trust 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.

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