Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife is a Washington, DC-based public charity focused on protecting species and the habitats on which they depend. Founded in 1947, it describes its work as protecting and restoring America’s wildlife at risk of extinction.
Defenders of Wildlife at a glance
In short: Defenders of Wildlife gave $394K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), top state North Carolina. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $394,210
- +34.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,772
- +15.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,000
- Total assets
- $65,453,645
- +11.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (10 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (35% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Defenders of Wildlife
- Contact
Mailing address: 1130 17Th Street Nw, Washington, DC 20036-4604
Phone: (202) 682-9400
Website: https://defenders.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Defenders of Wildlife funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was County of Dare ($120K). Together the top 10 received $295K.
Grant Size Distribution
127 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 119 grants of 127 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in North Carolina (35%), Montana (25%) and Arizona (23%). Other leading recipient states were Colorado (5%) and Massachusetts (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Defenders of Wildlife open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 20 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 40% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $292K (2024) to $1.6M (2021). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $394K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| County of Dare Manteo, NC | To re-fence to Dare County Transfer Station on Cub Road in Manns Harbor, NC. | $120,114 |
| Aris Land & Livestock LLC New River, AZ | To assit with costs associated with efforts to avoid livestock depredation by wolves on allotment(s) on the Gila National Forest during spring/summer 2025 grazing season | $24,000 |
| The Blackfoot Challenge Inc Ovando, MT | To assist with costs associated with the purchase of a 20ft shipping container for bear attractant containment on a location with a history of conflict with grizzly bears; To assist with costs associated with your Livestock Loss Prevention program | $22,000 |
| Southern Plains Land Trust Centennial, CO | Toward hiring contract labor to install wildlife-friendly, bison fencing for new acres of habitat acquired for the bison conservation herd of the Southern Plains Land Trust. | $21,186 |
| City of Hamilton Hamilton, MT | 14 bear-resistant trash enclosures to the city of Hamilton, Montana. | $20,110 |
| Tom Miner Basin Association Emigrant, MT | To assist with costs associated with Livestock Loss Prevention Program and Bear Ranger Program. | $19,000 |
| KCK Investments LLC Mesa, AZ | To assist with costs associated with efforts to prevent wildlife depredation by wolves on Centerfire allotment in Gila National Forest during the Winter/Spring 2025 grazing season | $18,000 |
| White Mountain Apache Tribe Whiteriver, AZ | To further the Tribe's conservation goals to coexist with the Mexican gray wolves by funding range riders who will work with the tribe's Game and Fish Department and in coordination with tribal range managers and livestock associations to reduce wolf-livestock conflict. | $18,000 |
| Beaver Institute Inc Southampton, MA | To assist with costs associated with your BeaverCorps program | $17,500 |
| Rocky Mountain Front Ranchlands Group Valier, MT | To assist with costs associated with efforts to facilitate the Montana state subcommmittee of the Conflict Reduction Consortium and for a range rider to reduce wolf-livestock conflict on the Rocky Mountain Front | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Defenders of Wildlife?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,453,645 | $48,550,195 | $38,303,168 | $394,210 | 21 | $6,741,096 |
| 2024 | $58,479,065 | $36,052,170 | $35,168,532 | $292,224 | 18 | $486,995 |
| 2023 | $50,165,827 | $35,880,686 | $37,549,970 | $544,829 | 32 | $-585,538 |
| 2022 | $48,630,491 | $42,802,063 | $37,955,460 | $436,804 | 27 | $223,366 |
| 2021 | $50,399,132 | $43,244,805 | $39,734,648 | $1,585,131 | 29 | $2,503,282 |
| 2020 | $48,337,572 | $34,498,515 | $34,353,507 | $1,139,477 | 20 | $385,734 |
| 2019 | $44,366,480 | $33,422,742 | $32,802,517 | $1,081,639 | 24 | $486,855 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Defenders of Wildlife states that its mission is to protect species and the habitats on which they depend, while preserving the health of the nation’s biodiversity. Its 2023 filing describes programs for conserving imperiled biodiversity in North America and mobilizing a broader constituency for wildlife conservation.
The 2025 grants show support for work including wildlife conflict prevention, habitat and fencing projects, and conservation-related programs. For example, the Southern Plains Land Trust describes its mission as creating and protecting a network of shortgrass prairie preserves for native animals and plants. The Beaver Institute says it works to resolve beaver-human conflicts humanely and with a science-based approach. The Wildlife Restoration Foundation says it supports partners working to improve park wildlife population viability and create safe wildlife corridors.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Defenders of Wildlife reported 21 grants totaling $394,210. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $120,114, with a median of $13,000. The organization states in its 2023 filing that it enters into written grant agreements with grantees that include financial and programmatic accomplishment reporting requirements.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $120,114 to the County of Dare for re-fencing at the Dare County Transfer Station in North Carolina; $24,000 to Aris Land & Livestock LLC to help avoid wolf depredation on livestock in New Mexico; and $22,000 to The Blackfoot Challenge for bear-attractant containment and its livestock-loss-prevention program in Montana. Other grants included $21,186 to Southern Plains Land Trust for wildlife-friendly bison fencing, $20,110 to the City of Hamilton for bear-resistant trash enclosures, and $18,000 to the White Mountain Apache Tribe for range riders working to reduce wolf-livestock conflict.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Mark Caylor, Chair; John Donovan, Vice Chair; Sheryl Sachs, Treasurer; and Susan Alexander, Secretary. Directors listed include Mitra Amestoy, Sylvia Baca, Whitfield Bailey, Don Barry, Dinah Bear and Kim O’Keefe Beck.
Defenders of Wildlife is led by Jamie Rappaport Clark, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; 21 of 43 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jamie Rappaport Clark
President & CEO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$482K (2019) → $821K (2025)
Andrew Bowman
President & CEO
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$204K (2025)
Mark Caylor
Chair
Treasurer → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Beth Beetham
Director & Legislative Affairs
Director & Leglislative Affairs → Director & Legislative Affairs, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$122K (2022) → $144K (2025)
Desiree Sorenson-Groves
Senior Director & Land Conservation
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$141K (2025)
Caroline Gable
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Dayton
Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2020
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim O' Keefe Beck
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Whitfield Bailey
Director
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dinah Bear
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Don Barry
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sylvia Baca
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry Root
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Sisk
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Morgan
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Donaher
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Fischman
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anita Keefe
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jaime Pinkham
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Hanauer
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mitra Amestoy
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Selva
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brandace J Swimeley
Vice President & Integrated Marketing
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$179K (2019) → $248K (2025)
Elizabeth C Nichols
Vice President, Finance & CFO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$167K (2019) → $205K (2025)
James Laurence Stofan
Senior Vice President & Operations
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$248K (2019) → $238K (2025)
Julia Adams
Vice President & Conservation Law
Managing Attorney → Vice President & Conservation Law, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$114K (2019) → $189K (2025)
Michael P Senatore
Senior Vice President & Conservation Programs
Vice President & Conservation Law → Vice President, Conservation Law & Policy, 2021
Vice President, Conservation Law & Policy → Senior Vice President & Conservation Programs, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$152K (2019) → $252K (2025)
Robert L Dewey
Vice President & Government Relations
Vice President, Gov Relations & External Affairs → Vice President & Government Relations, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$160K (2019) → $199K (2025)
Shawn P Cantrell
Vice President, Species Conservation & Coexistence
Vice President & Field Conservation → Vice President, Species Conservation & Coexistence, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$138K (2019) → $182K (2025)
Thu Pham
Chief of Staff
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$151K (2020) → $202K (2025)
Matt Braughler
Vice President & Development
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$208K (2022) → $273K (2025)
Laura Sheehan
Senior Vice President & External Affairs
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$156K (2024) → $257K (2025)
David Anderson
Interim Senior Vice President & Ops
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$104K (2025)
Jane Davenport McClintock
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$126K (2024) → $142K (2025)
Lindsay D Rosa
Vice President, Conservation Research & Innovation
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$158K (2024) → $166K (2025)
Sharon Morris-Smith
Vice President & Human Resources
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$176K (2024) → $181K (2025)
Alejandra Goyenechea
Senior Int'l Counsel
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$148K (2025)
Andrew Miller
CFO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$93K (2025)
Lisa Marie Saltzburg
Senior Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$141K (2025)
Sheryl Sachs
Treasurer
Director → Vice Chair, 2020
Vice Chair → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Donovan
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Alexander
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alicia Washkevich
COO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (27)
- Former: Caroline Gabel (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Gaby Chavarria (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Andrew P Carter (2024) — Director & Conservation Policy
- Former: Cherie Wasoff (2024) — Director of Philanthropy
- Former: James Luerssen (2024) — Director & Gift Planning
- Former: Rachel S Brittin (2021–2023) — Vice President & Communications
- Former: Ruth Renee Stone (2021–2023) — Senior Vice President, Conservation & General Counsel
- Former: Anthony Pegues (2023) — Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Former: Elizabeth W Moloney (2023) — Senior Director of Philanthropy
- Former: Monica Goldberg (2023) — Vice President & Landscape Conservation
- Former: Robert Dreher (2019–2022) — Senior Vice President, Conservation & General Counsel
- Former: Jacob Malcom (2020–2022) — Director Ctr for Conservation Innovation
- Former: Jason Rylander (2021–2022) — Senior Esa Counsel
- Former: Angie MacDonald (2022) — Vice President & Human Resources
- Former: James Hecker (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Judith Posnikoff (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Keith Harper (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Julie Hong (2020–2021) — Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice
- Former: Kimberly Delfino (2019–2020) — Director & California Program
- Former: Mark Salvo (2019–2020) — Vice President & Landscape Conservation
- Former: Nina Fascione (2019–2020) — Vice President & Philanthropy
- Former: Cassie Carroll (2020) — Director
- Former: Jared Saylor (2019) — Vice President & Communications
- Former: Katherine Carroll (2019) — Director
- Former: Loretta Stadler (2019) — Director
- Former: Mari Snyder Johnson (2019) — Director
- Former: Robert Wiygul (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $821K, to Jamie Rappaport Clark (President and CEO (to 7/24)). 21 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Defenders of Wildlife
How much does Defenders of Wildlife give each year?
Defenders of Wildlife gave $394K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $292K across 18 grants.
What is Defenders of Wildlife's typical grant size?
Defenders of Wildlife's median grant in 2025 was $13,000, and its average grant was $18,772, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Defenders of Wildlife that year got $23K on average.
Where does Defenders of Wildlife give grants?
Defenders of Wildlife's top state is North Carolina, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Montana (25%) and Arizona (23%).
Does Defenders of Wildlife give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Defenders of Wildlife's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Defenders of Wildlife's largest grantees?
Defenders of Wildlife's largest 2025 grantees include County of Dare ($120,114), Aris Land & Livestock LLC ($24,000) and The Blackfoot Challenge Inc ($22,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Defenders of Wildlife?
Defenders of Wildlife reported $65.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $48.6M.
What does Defenders of Wildlife fund?
Defenders of Wildlife states that its mission is to protect species and the habitats on which they depend, while preserving the health of the nation’s biodiversity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Defenders of Wildlife?
Defenders of Wildlife has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check defenders.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Defenders of Wildlife's EIN?
Defenders of Wildlife's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 53-0183181. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 25, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Defenders of Wildlife's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in District of Columbia
Patagoniaorg
Ventura, CA
PATAGONIAORG funds environmental organizations and projects addressing root causes of environmental problems, including place-based protection, environmental campaigns, and broader inclusion in the movement. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $5,174,555, with a median of $15,000, and funding was concentrated in Virginia and California, with grants also reported in Oregon and Colorado. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
—
Grants
425
Total Given
$13.2M
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Washington, DC
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation makes competitive grants for science-based projects that conserve or restore fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats; it does not fund advocacy or litigation. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $106,500, and it supports projects across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Applications are competitive and program-specific; whether pre-proposals are required varies by program.
Assets
$3.6B
Grants
1,286
Total Given
$464.4M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Natural Resources Defense Council Inc
New York, NY
NRDC funds organizations working on environmental advocacy, including climate, energy, pollution, conservation, and environmental justice efforts in the U.S. and internationally. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,500 to $2 million, with a median of $16,625; the profile does not state whether NRDC accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$657.2M
Grants
116
Total Given
$5.3M
Maine Community Foundation Inc
Ellsworth, ME
Maine Community Foundation supports nonprofits and communities in Maine through grants for areas such as community building, arts, land and water, housing, and equity, as well as scholarships. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of $17,500, though awards varied widely. The profile describes online applications for competitive grants but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$807.6M
Grants
1,161
Total Given
$57.6M
NCRC Community Development Fund Inc
Washington, DC
NCRC Community Development Fund supports affordable housing and homeownership, small businesses—especially minority-owned, women-owned, and low-income businesses—and certain nonprofit programs that provide capital or services to underserved communities. Its listed awards range from $5,000 to $50,000, though typical giving is not stated; it serves communities across the U.S., with some programs focused on Illinois. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$55.6M
Grants
2,666
Total Given
$149.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in District of Columbia
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Defenders of Wildlife funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/defenders-of-wildlife-morg_7f3557962fab4c5f8ef25167810c8fff
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_530183181_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Defenders of Wildlife funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/defenders-of-wildlife-morg_7f3557962fab4c5f8ef25167810c8fff},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Defenders of Wildlife'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.
Defenders of Wildlife down — hundreds of funders to go?