Environment & Animals Foundations & Grantmakers
1,895 grantmakers focused on environment & animals reported grants on their latest 990s. The 505 that made at least 5 grants gave $997.7M. The largest by giving are Palladium Foundation, Petsmart Charities Inc and Sierra Club Foundation. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Giving at a glance
Active grantmakers
1,895
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$997.7M
from the 505 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$25K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$65K
per grantmaker
Top 10 funders by annual giving
| # | Funder | Location | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palladium Foundation | Salt Lake City, UT | $65.6M | 97 |
| 2 | Petsmart Charities Inc | Phoenix, AZ | $48.1M | 655 |
| 3 | Sierra Club Foundation | Oakland, CA | $44.4M | 12 |
| 4 | Resources Legacy Fund | Sacramento, CA | $43.9M | 325 |
| 5 | Multiplier | San Francisco, CA | $35.8M | 83 |
| 6 | Ruby McKibben Foundation for the Protection of Animals | Houston, TX | $23.7M | 6 |
| 7 | The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | New York, NY | $21.8M | 538 |
| 8 | Bonneville Environmental Foundation | Portland, OR | $19.3M | 42 |
| 9 | Clean Future Forum Inc | Washington, DC | $18.8M | 13 |
| 10 | Deployus Inc | Boston, MA | $18.4M | 31 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 7 organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) are left out.
Where these funders are based
- California 265 · $239.9M
- New York 108 · $91.0M
- Florida 97 · $13.3M
- Texas 92 · $56.9M
- District of Columbia 91 · $111.2M
- Pennsylvania 70 · $5.0M
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2024).
Showing 505 grantmakers with 5+ grants on their latest 990, most giving first
Palladium Foundation
Salt Lake City, UT
Assets
$72.4M
Grants
97
Total Given
$65.6M
Petsmart Charities Inc
Phoenix, AZ
Assets
$96.8M
Grants
655
Total Given
$48.1M
Sierra Club Foundation
Oakland, CA
Assets
$191.6M
Grants
12
Total Given
$44.4M
Resources Legacy Fund
Sacramento, CA
Assets
$151.9M
Grants
325
Total Given
$43.9M
Multiplier
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$63.4M
Grants
83
Total Given
$35.8M
Ruby McKibben Foundation for the Protection of Animals
Houston, TX
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$23.7M
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
New York, NY
Assets
$724.8M
Grants
538
Total Given
$21.8M
Bonneville Environmental Foundation
Portland, OR
Assets
$68.8M
Grants
42
Total Given
$19.3M
Clean Future Forum Inc
Washington, DC
Assets
$20.0M
Grants
13
Total Given
$18.8M
Deployus Inc
Boston, MA
Assets
$18.3M
Grants
31
Total Given
$18.4M
National Network of Abortion Funds Inc
Beaverton, OR
Assets
$44.8M
Grants
97
Total Given
$18.3M
Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund
Washington, DC
Assets
$52.6M
Grants
93
Total Given
$17.3M
The Sunrise Project Inc
Wilmington, DE
Assets
$14.0M
Grants
75
Total Given
$17.3M
Massachusetts Service Alliance Inc
Boston, MA
Assets
$6.5M
Grants
45
Total Given
$16.0M
Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas
Dallas, TX
Assets
$91.2M
Grants
23
Total Given
$15.6M
The Recycling Partnership Inc
Washington, DC
Assets
$46.1M
Grants
113
Total Given
$15.5M
Best Friends Animal Society
Kanab, UT
Assets
$194.7M
Grants
418
Total Given
$14.3M
The Volgenau Foundation
McLean, VA
Assets
$166.2M
Grants
60
Total Given
$13.4M
Patagoniaorg
Ventura, CA
Assets
—
Grants
425
Total Given
$13.2M
Cleveland Zoological Society
Cleveland, OH
Assets
$41.6M
Grants
14
Total Given
$13.1M
Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils
Montgomery, AL
Assets
$3.9M
Grants
40
Total Given
$12.8M
National Arbor Day Foundation
Lincoln, NE
Assets
$136.3M
Grants
181
Total Given
$11.6M
Sustainable Markets Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$59.1M
Grants
48
Total Given
$11.5M
Activate Global Inc
Berkeley, CA
Assets
$25.5M
Grants
77
Total Given
$10.6M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Frequently asked questions
What are the largest environment & animals foundations?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are Palladium Foundation ($65.6M across 97 grants), Petsmart Charities Inc ($48.1M) and Sierra Club Foundation ($44.4M). Together the top 10 account for 34% of the $997.7M given by the 505 grantmakers focused on environment & animals that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical grant from these funders?
The typical grant is about $25K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $65K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
Where are these funders based?
Most are in California (265), New York (108) and Florida (97). Many foundations only fund near where they are based, so check each funder's giving geography before you apply.
How do I find which of these funders accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations like these from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.