Environmental Defense Action Fund
Environmental Defense Action Fund is a public charity based in New York, NY. The organization describes itself as the advocacy partner of Environmental Defense Fund, building political power to protect the environment and the health of American families through climate campaigns, legislative advocacy, and community engagement.
Environmental Defense Action Fund at a glance
In short: Environmental Defense Action Fund gave $9.4M across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $669K), mostly in District of Columbia. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,372,485
- -21.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -44.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $669,463
- +40.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $11,130,168
- -28.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (4 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (99% 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 Environmental Defense Action Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: 257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212) 505-2100
Website: https://edfaction.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Environmental Defense Action Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was EDF Action Votes Inc ($9.0M). Together the top 10 received $9.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 104 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization says its State Affairs program operates in 10 states representing 40% of the U.S. population. Its website also describes activity in over a dozen states. In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC; listed recipients were also based in New York, Washington, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Environmental Defense Action Fund open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 14 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $932K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $22K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $618K (2021) to $11.9M (2024). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $9.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EDF Action Votes Inc Washington, DC | Public & Government Affairs | $9,000,000 |
| Clean Energy for America Inc Washington, DC | Public & Government Affairs | $110,000 |
| The Partnership Project Action Fund Washington, DC | Public & Government Affairs | $100,000 |
| Taxpayers for Common Sense Action Washington, DC | Public & Government Affairs | $25,000 |
| Clean Energy Business Network LLC Washington, DC | Public & Government Affairs | $23,485 |
| Neo Philanthropy Inc New York, NY | Public & Government Affairs | $20,000 |
| No on 2117 Committee Seattle, WA | Public & Government Affairs | $20,000 |
| Texas Campaign for the Environment Austin, TX | Public & Government Affairs | $20,000 |
| NM Native Vote Albuquerque, NM | Methane Advocacy Support | $15,000 |
| Arizona Technology Council Phoenix, AZ | Public & Government Affairs | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Environmental Defense Action Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The organization’s FAQ identifies Environmental Defense Action Fund as a 501(c)(4) and says donations are not tax-deductible.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $11,130,168 | $24,647,599 | $25,215,948 | $9,372,485 | 14 | $466,918 |
| 2024 | $15,550,134 | $32,711,189 | $27,019,957 | $11,933,200 | 25 | $312,458 |
| 2023 | $6,517,593 | $19,958,140 | $18,745,301 | $5,159,317 | 27 | $118,573 |
| 2022 | $6,474,489 | $29,024,607 | $29,722,209 | $2,463,000 | 19 | $1,376 |
| 2021 | $5,843,832 | $19,598,592 | $20,571,776 | $617,798 | 19 | $978 |
| 2020 | $7,551,039 | $26,957,552 | $27,373,946 | $2,321,010 | 21 | $1,830 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to advocate for legislation and policies that protect the environment. Its 2024 filing describes work defending federal clean-energy and clean-transportation tax incentives; advancing state policies on electricity markets, clean energy, methane, water, and groundwater; and advocating on fisheries, aquaculture, and agricultural conservation.
The 2025 grants show support for organizations involved in public and government affairs, methane advocacy, clean-energy policy, and environmental campaigning. For example, Clean Energy for America says its mission is to engage clean-energy workers and advance the clean-energy movement. The Partnership Project Action Fund says it helps the environmental community collaborate on environmental protection. Texas Campaign for the Environment describes its work as grassroots organizing to shift corporate and government policy, while the No on 2117 Committee says it advocates against policies that would threaten Washington State climate policy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the fund reported 14 grants totaling $9,372,485. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $9,000,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest grant was $9,000,000 to EDF Action Votes Inc. for public and government affairs. Other notable grants included $110,000 to Clean Energy for America Inc. and $100,000 to The Partnership Project Action Fund, both for public and government affairs; $20,000 each to NEO Philanthropy Inc., No on 2117 Committee, and Texas Campaign for the Environment, also for public and government affairs; and $15,000 to NM Native Vote for methane advocacy support.
The organization says it monitors grantees through written reports, site visits, or periodic communications and correspondence. Monitoring may include issuing installments after milestones and objectives are met and requiring a final report.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Coddy Johnson as co-chair and Frank Loy as chair emeritus. Directors listed on that filing are Abby Leigh, Becky Edwards, Carl Ferenbach, Charles J. Hamilton Jr., Chrissy Armstrong, Clara Pratte, Jeffrey P. Williams, and Joanne Witty. The organization’s website identifies David Kieve as president, Fred Krupp as executive director, and Amanda Leland as managing director.
Environmental Defense Action Fund is led by Frederic D. Krupp, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 29 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Frederic D. Krupp
Executive Director
Executive Director → President Edf, 2022
President Edf → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Kieve
President
On filings since 2022
36 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Leland
Managing Director
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abby Leigh
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carl Ferenbach
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles J. Hamilton Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey P. Williams
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joanne Witty
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John C. Kerr
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jon Powers
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kirsten J. Feldman
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard H. Davis
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Ford Dorsey
Director
Co-Chairman → Co-Chair, 2021
Co-Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Mandel
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas F. Darden II
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thais Lopez Vogel Esq.
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
The Honorable Thomas H. Kean
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clara Pratte
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Powell
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chrissy Armstrong
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neal Kemkar
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Becky Edwards
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Sall
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lise Strickler
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Coddy Johnson
Co-Chair
Director → Co-Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank E Loy
Chair Emeritus
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Johnson
Co-Chair
Director → Co-Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
N. Louis Mkanganwi
CFO & Treasurer
Deputy CFO & CFO → Chief Financial Officer, 2023
Chief Financial Officer → CFO & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronora M. Pawelko
Secretary
Senior Director, Senior Cnsl-Pol Law & Secretary → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
16 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Elizabeth B. Strickler (2020–2024) — Co-Chair
- Former: Ashley Lough (2023–2024) — Director, Board, Ext Rel & Secretary · Filing note: Thru 10/2023
- Former: Gary Rappeport (2020–2023) — Director · Filing note: Thru 523
- Former: Joe Bonfiglio SEE SCH O (2020–2022) — President Edf Action Fund
- Former: William O'Brien (2020–2022) — Chief Financial Officer · Filing note: Thru 322
- Former: Honorable Thomas H Kean (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jerome Ringo (2020) — Director · Filing note: Thru 520
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.
Frequently asked questions about Environmental Defense Action Fund
How much does Environmental Defense Action Fund give each year?
Environmental Defense Action Fund gave $9.4M across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $11.9M across 25 grants.
What is Environmental Defense Action Fund's typical grant size?
Environmental Defense Action Fund's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $669,463, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Environmental Defense Action Fund that year got $14K on average.
Where does Environmental Defense Action Fund give grants?
Environmental Defense Action Fund gives mostly in District of Columbia: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (6 grants).
Does Environmental Defense Action Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Environmental Defense Action Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public & Government Affairs" (12 grants).
Who are Environmental Defense Action Fund's largest grantees?
Environmental Defense Action Fund's largest 2025 grantees include EDF Action Votes Inc ($9,000,000), Clean Energy for America Inc ($110,000) and The Partnership Project Action Fund ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Environmental Defense Action Fund?
Environmental Defense Action Fund reported $11.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $24.6M.
What does Environmental Defense Action Fund fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to advocate for legislation and policies that protect the environment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Environmental Defense Action Fund?
Environmental Defense Action Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check edfaction.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Environmental Defense Action Fund's EIN?
Environmental Defense Action Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-0080500. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Environmental Defense Action Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Environmental Defense Action Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/environmental-defense-action-fund-morg_aa7ee51c4cab447ea041823ee2506d0f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_900080500_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Environmental Defense Action Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/environmental-defense-action-fund-morg_aa7ee51c4cab447ea041823ee2506d0f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Environmental Defense Action Fund'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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