The Cedar Tree Foundation is a private family foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, established in the mid-1990s by the late Dr. David H. Smith, a pediatrician and entrepreneur. The foundation was formally established in 1994 in Delaware and became tax-exempt in 2005. Dr. Smith founded the organization based on his belief in "the power of individuals and organizations to make significant changes in the world." The foundation continues to reflect this philosophy through its environmental grantmaking and programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$85.9M
-0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.2M
-25.3% YoY
Grant Count
119
+13.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$77K
-34.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cedar Tree Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Cedar Tree Foundation supports environmental change through grantmaking and fellowship programs. The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Sustainable agriculture
- Environmental education
- Environmental health
- Environmental justice
- Conservation
- Civic engagement
The foundation gives particular consideration to proposals demonstrating strong elements of environmental justice and conservation.
Grantmaking
The Cedar Tree Foundation operates two primary programs:
Grant Range
$25,000 to $200,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations throughout the United States, with a focus on Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $85,860,491
- Total Revenue: $8,467,224
- Total Expenses: $12,792,191
- Total Liabilities: $15,400,000
- Total Giving: $9,205,505
As of 2023:
- Annual Giving: $9,318,134
- Made 105 awards
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $85,860,491 | $86,624,071 | $86,446,972 |
| Revenue | $8,467,224 | $2,048,968 | $4,072,972 |
| Expenses | $12,792,191 | $15,352,773 | $10,718,006 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,131,613 | $13,468,777 | $8,905,763 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,373,841 | $1,502,766 | $3,820,432 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,045,149 | $4,186,930 | $5,065,631 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Cedar Tree Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center for Environmental Health ($250,000), All Souls Church Unitarian ($200,000), Conservatory Lab Charter School Foundation ($160,000).
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sophia Kolehmainen - Executive Director (compensation: $204,579 as of 2024)
The foundation employs 4 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOAN M SMITH | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| ANDREA L SMITH | VICE PRESIDENT | 5 | $8,000 |
| KRISTIN LEADER | CLERK | 5 | $8,000 |
| RACHEL ALTERNATIVE | BOARD MEMBER | 5 | — |
| JENNIFER L SMITH | TREASURER | 5 | $8,500 |
| SOPHIA KOLEHMAINEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $204,579 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced the 2025 Rooted in Justice grant program, with applications opening in early September 2025 and awards to be announced in April 2026. The foundation has also announced a scholarship opportunity for Delaware youth through a partnership with the Delaware Tribe.
2025 Rooted in Justice - Cedar Tree FoundationThe foundation has evolved in recent years from traditional grantmaking to incorporate participatory grantmaking models and has increasingly prioritized racial equity, particularly supporting organizations led by people of color working in communities of color.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cedar Tree Foundation fund?
The Cedar Tree Foundation supports environmental change through grantmaking and fellowship programs. The foundation's primary focus areas include: • Sustainable agriculture • Environmental education • Environmental health • Environmental justice • Conservation • Civic engagement The foundation gives particular consideration to proposals demonstrating strong elements of environmental justice and conservation.
How do I apply for a grant from Cedar Tree Foundation?
The Cedar Tree Foundation operates two primary programs: **David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship Program** • Supports conservation research fellows through partnerships with organizations like the Society for Conservation Biology **Cedar Tree Foundation Grant Program** • Rooted in Justice Program (primary current initiative) • Open for new applications in 2025-2026 • Application cycle opens early September; awards announced in April • Uses participatory grantmaking model with outside …
Where does Cedar Tree Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations throughout the United States, with a focus on Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and New York.
What size grants does Cedar Tree Foundation award?
In 2024, Cedar Tree Foundation awarded 119 grants totaling $9.2M — an average of about $77K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cedar Tree Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cedar Tree Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cedar Tree Foundation's EIN?
Cedar Tree Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3601934. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cedar Tree Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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