Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth
The Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth is a private foundation based in Renton, Washington. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations for purposes including environmental conservation, climate change research and mitigation, church operations, public health, food security, and public broadcasting.
Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth at a glance
In short: Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth gave $115K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), top state Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $114,742
- +11.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,375
- +5.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $191
- Total assets
- $3,440,976
- +18.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (35% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. No application materials or other application process are stated.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5110 Ne 25Th Street, Renton, WA 98059-3781
Phone: (213) 361-1302
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Nature Conservancy ($40K). Together the top 10 received $114K.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 69 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, recipients in Virginia received 35% of grant dollars, Massachusetts 26%, Washington 20%, California 18%, and Missouri 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth gives
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 83% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $19K (2020) to $160K (2022). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $115K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | Support for environmental conservation | $40,000 |
| MA Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | Climate change mitigation research and field work | $30,000 |
| Luskin Center for Innovation Los Angeles, CA | Support for climate change mitigation research and field work | $20,000 |
| Aldersgate United Methodist Church Bellevue, WA | Support for ministries of the church and other operations | $16,000 |
| Issaquah Alps Trails Club Issaquah, WA | Support for conservation and outdoor education | $6,000 |
| Missouri River Bird Observatory Arrow Rock, MO | Support for conservation research and education | $1,000 |
| LA LGBT Center Los Angeles, CA | Support for public health | $268 |
| Yellowstone Forever Bozeman, MT | Support for educational programming products and services associated with public access and benefit at Yellowstone National Park | $262 |
| Northwest Harvest Seattle, WA | Support for food security | $262 |
| King Seattle, WA | Support for public broadcasting | $120 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,440,976 | $470,906 | $116,518 | $114,742 | 18 | $116,518 | $114,422 | $140,441 |
| 2024 | $2,916,699 | $422,436 | $103,458 | $102,647 | 17 | $103,128 | $69,695 | $119,864 |
| 2023 | $2,252,341 | $298,144 | $24,853 | $24,500 | 11 | $24,853 | $23,742 | $89,900 |
| 2022 | $1,516,365 | $283,940 | $160,757 | $159,800 | 10 | $160,757 | $18,581 | $70,941 |
| 2021 | $1,770,454 | $507,508 | $28,985 | $25,905 | 13 | $28,985 | $64,499 | $61,455 |
| 2020 | $1,147,943 | $479,829 | $31,941 | $19,125 | 4 | — | $219,771 | $30,829 |
| 2019 | $393,285 | $382,016 | — | — | — | — | — | $5,289 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth reported a distributable amount of $140K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for environmental conservation, climate change mitigation research and field work, church ministries and operations, conservation and outdoor education, public health, food security, public information, and public broadcasting.
The Nature Conservancy describes its mission as conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. The Missouri River Bird Observatory describes its work as conserving birds, other wildlife, and their habitats through science, education, and advocacy. Yellowstone Forever says it provides grants and in-kind support to Yellowstone National Park through philanthropic and educational initiatives. The Mozilla Foundation says it works to protect and improve the internet as a public resource. The SETI Institute describes its mission as exploring, understanding, and explaining the origin and nature of life in the universe and the evolution of intelligence.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 18 grants totaling $114,742. Grants ranged from $50 to $40,000, with a median of $191.
Its largest reported grants included $40,000 to The Nature Conservancy for environmental conservation, $30,000 to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for climate change mitigation research and field work, $20,000 to the Luskin Center for Innovation for climate change mitigation research and field work, $16,000 to Aldersgate United Methodist Church for church ministries and other operations, and $6,000 to Issaquah Alps Trails Club for conservation and outdoor education. Other listed recipients included the Missouri River Bird Observatory ($1,000), LA LGBT Center ($268), Yellowstone Forever ($262), Northwest Harvest ($262), KING ($120), Mozilla Foundation ($120), KCTS ($120), and SETI Institute ($120).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Peter C Coffee as President and Treasurer and Carolyn S Major as Vice President and Secretary.
Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth is led by Peter C Coffee, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Peter C Coffee
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
18 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn S Major
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2019
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth
How much does Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth give each year?
Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth gave $115K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $103K across 17 grants.
What is Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth's typical grant size?
Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth's median grant in 2025 was $191, and its average grant was $6,375, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth give grants?
Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth's top state is Virginia, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (26%) and Washington (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (5 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for public broadcasting" (4 grants).
Who are Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth's largest grantees?
Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth's largest 2025 grantees include The Nature Conservancy ($40,000), MA Institute of Technology ($30,000) and Luskin Center for Innovation ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth?
Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $117K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $140K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth's EIN?
Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3793235. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 26, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/foundation-for-intelligent-life-on-earth-morg_d63aac9af2e2492fb5aa4f8c7bd98b0a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_843793235_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/foundation-for-intelligent-life-on-earth-morg_d63aac9af2e2492fb5aa4f8c7bd98b0a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth'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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