Foundations of Success Inc
Fos amplifies the collective impact of the global conservation community by providing practitioners with the skills and tools needed to be more effective and efficient in their efforts to foster thriving ecosystems, conserve natural resources, and advance human well-being. We help teams overcome obstacles to learning and collaboration by promoting a common framework for the planning and management of conservation projects. Collaborating directly with conservation teams, we strengthen skills and provide the tools needed for teams to be more strategic, efficient, and effective. Across the world, we bring together conservation practitioners, funders, and educators to share lessons and ask tough questions. The result is a more innovative and disciplined conservation community prepared to take on the threats to our planet.
Foundations of Success Inc at a glance
In short: Foundations of Success Inc gave $23K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $22,500
- -95.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- -75.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,500
- -80.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $22,500
- Total assets
- $2,793,772
- +0.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Foundations of Success Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Nature Conservancy ($23K).
Grant Size Distribution
9 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 4 grants of 9 (44%).
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2021) to $457K (2023). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $23K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | Miradi organizational subscription and support of the conservation coaches network (CCNET) for fy24 | $22,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,793,772 | $3,095,063 | $2,848,792 | $22,500 | 1 | $59,235 |
| 2023 | $2,779,600 | $4,136,680 | $4,188,630 | $457,280 | 4 | $94,530 |
| 2022 | $4,288,120 | $3,699,093 | $3,615,721 | $437,106 | 4 | $8,337 |
| 2021 | $3,526,490 | $2,845,123 | $2,514,649 | $5,000 | Total only | $3,595 |
| 2020 | $2,434,238 | $2,896,897 | $2,461,150 | — | — | $9,249 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Foundations of Success Inc
Based on IRS filings
Foundations of Success Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Bethesda, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $23K. Net investment income was $59K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Foundations of Success Inc is led by Niklaus Salafsky, Executive Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; 7 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Niklaus Salafsky
Executive Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$169K (2020) → $208K (2024)
Bernd Cordes
Chair
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Stem
Program Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $132K (2024)
Amanda B. Jorgenson
Managing Coordinator
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $138K (2024)
Arlyne Johnson
Board Member
Board Member & Senior Program Officer → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Marcia Brown
Senior Program Officer
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$109K (2020) → $136K (2024)
Kari Stiles
Senior Program Officer
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$105K (2021) → $137K (2024)
Vinaya Swaminathan
Senior Program Officer
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$111K (2022) → $121K (2024)
Ashleigh Baker
Board Member & Program Officer
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$94K (2023) → $105K (2024)
Anne Savage
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie Cockman
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Langholz
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ilke Tilders
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shawn Peabody
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Judy Boshoven (2023) — Senior Program Officer
- Former: John Robinson (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Thomas Lovejoy (2020–2021) — Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $208K, to Niklaus Salafsky (Exec. Director/Secretary). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Foundations of Success Inc
How much does Foundations of Success Inc give each year?
Foundations of Success Inc gave $23K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $457K across 4 grants.
How large is Foundations of Success Inc?
Foundations of Success Inc reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.1M.
What is Foundations of Success Inc?
Foundations of Success Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Bethesda, MD. It holds $2.8M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Foundations of Success Inc operate?
Foundations of Success Inc has awarded grants in New York, Virginia.
What is Foundations of Success Inc's EIN?
Foundations of Success Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5561272. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Foundations of Success Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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