Children & Nature Network
To increase equitable access to nature so that children and the natural world can thrive. We do that by: 1) fostering belief that a connection to nature is critical to children's healthy development; 2) changing core systems that impact children's daily access to nature, such as muncipal government, public schools, etc.; 3) growing the movement to reconnect children with nature.
Children & Nature Network at a glance
In short: Children & Nature Network gave $380K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $48K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $380,000
- -59.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $47,500
- -54.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $4,414,760
- -35.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (30% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Children & Nature Network
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Children & Nature Network
Who Children & Nature Network funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Trust for Public Land ($113K). Together the top 8 received $380K.
Grant Size Distribution
36 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 36 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Children & Nature Network gives
- Giving grew 361% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $18K (2020) to $945K (2024). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $380K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trust for Public Land San Francisco, CA | Green Schoolyards | $112,500 |
| Massachusetts Audubon Society Lincoln, MA | Nature Access | $50,000 |
| Western Reserve Land Conservancy Moreland Hills, OH | Nature Access | $50,000 |
| Wilderness Louisville Fairdale, KY | Nature Access | $50,000 |
| Act Now Baltimore Ellicott City, MD | Nature Access | $50,000 |
| City of Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation Grand Rapids, MI | Nature Access | $50,000 |
| Detroit Public Schools Community District Detroit, MI | Nature Access | $10,000 |
| Seattle Parks Foundation Seattle, WA | Nature Access | $7,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,414,760 | $2,318,870 | $4,086,174 | $380,000 | 8 | $187,626 |
| 2024 | $6,841,478 | $3,700,822 | $4,662,217 | $945,000 | 9 | $203,186 |
| 2023 | $7,658,228 | $3,235,726 | $3,397,242 | $85,000 | 4 | $148,455 |
| 2022 | $7,666,685 | $1,720,790 | $3,575,889 | $82,500 | 5 | $88,179 |
| 2021 | $9,265,394 | $2,175,019 | $2,180,062 | $160,000 | 10 | $43,073 |
| 2020 | $9,799,958 | $10,355,552 | $1,492,952 | $18,000 | 3 | — |
About Children & Nature Network
Based on IRS filings
Children & Nature Network is a public charity focused on Education, based in Saint Paul, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $380K. Net investment income was $188K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Children & Nature Network is led by Sarah Milligan Toffler, CEO on every filing since 2024; 5 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sarah Milligan Toffler
CEO
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$177K (2024) → $176K (2025)
Jesus Aguirre
Chair
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniele Lyman Torres
Governance Chair
Director → Governance Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Priya Cook
Director of Green Schoolyards
Director → Director of Green Schoolyards, 2025
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$101K (2024) → $104K (2025)
Kim Moore Bailey
Director
Treasurer → Past Chair, 2024
Past Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Larson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mickey Fearn
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Moore
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hayden Brooks
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joel Pannell
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Passo
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachna Mohanty
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Kegle
COO
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$131K (2024) → $130K (2025)
Laura Mylan
Cso External Relations
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$136K (2024) → $135K (2025)
Monica Magee
Senior Vice President, Program Research & Policy
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$132K (2024) → $137K (2025)
Hannah Quimby
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hussein Mohsen
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phil Ginsburg
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Lisa Moore (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Nancy Herron (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Hanaa Hamdi (2022–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Jamie Ehrenberg (2024) — Senior Vice President, Development & Partnerships
- Former: Edward H. Kegle Jr. (2020–2023) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Sarah Milligan-Toffler (2020–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Amy Pertschuk (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Laura Turner Seydel (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Steve Nygren (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Julie Pierce Williams (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: David Hartwell (2020–2021) — Past Chair
- Former: David Orr (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Fran Mainella (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Gail Christopher (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jesse Sixkiller (2020–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Stephen J. Pont (2020–2021) — Director
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $176K, to Sarah Milligan Toffler (CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Children & Nature Network
How much does Children & Nature Network give each year?
Children & Nature Network gave $380K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $945K across 9 grants.
What is Children & Nature Network's typical grant size?
Children & Nature Network's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $47,500, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Children & Nature Network give grants?
Children & Nature Network's top state is California, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Michigan (16%) and Massachusetts (13%).
Does Children & Nature Network give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Children & Nature Network's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Nature Access" (7 grants).
Who are Children & Nature Network's largest grantees?
Children & Nature Network's largest 2025 grantees include Trust for Public Land ($112,500), Massachusetts Audubon Society ($50,000) and Western Reserve Land Conservancy ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Children & Nature Network?
Children & Nature Network reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.3M.
What is Children & Nature Network?
Children & Nature Network is a public charity focused on Education, based in Saint Paul, MN. It holds $4.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Children & Nature Network's EIN?
Children & Nature Network's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 14-1959018. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Children & Nature Network funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Children & Nature Network's focus areas in our free grants database
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Funders that support many of the same organizations
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The National Recreation Foundation funds youth outdoor recreation, physical activity, and nature-connection programs, especially those expanding access for young people facing barriers. It supports organizations across the country; 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $160,000, with a median of $20,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests; grants are by invitation only.
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The Outdoor Foundation funds community partnerships and programs that expand equitable access to outdoor recreation, support youth participation, and connect people with nature. Its 2024 grants ranged from $16,812 to $115,400, with a median of $25,000, and went to organizations in multiple states. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
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The Waterfall Foundation Inc
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The Waterfall Foundation supported 501(c)(3) organizations across varied charitable causes, with grants typically around $50,000 in 2025; its reported awards included recipients in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Georgia, and Illinois, though nearly all grant dollars went to Massachusetts because of a one-time asset transfer. The foundation filed to dissolve in April 2025, and the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
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W L Lyons Brown Foundation
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The W L Lyons Brown Foundation’s 2025 grants supported varied charitable work, with 66% of grant dollars going to Kentucky and 33% to Tennessee; its reported grants ranged from $2,000 to $11.38 million, with a median of $12,000, though totals included large distributions during dissolution. It gave only to preselected organizations, did not accept unsolicited requests, and its final filing indicates it has wound down and stopped grantmaking.
Assets
—
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REI Cooperative Action Fund
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The REI Cooperative Action Fund supports U.S. nonprofits expanding equitable access to the outdoors, connecting historically excluded communities with outdoor experiences, and advancing research on nature and health. In 2024, grants ranged from $9,342 to $386,438, with a median of $15,000; it funds organizations serving communities across the U.S. and does not accept unsolicited grant requests, though recommendations are considered.
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The Trust for Public Land
San Francisco, CA
The Trust for Public Land funds land conservation and projects that expand parks, schoolyards, and access to natural spaces, with awards nationwide. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,534 to $21.4 million, with a median of $54,895; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$432.7M
Grants
125
Total Given
$151.4M
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