Goldman Environmental Foundation
The Goldman Environmental Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. It primarily administers the Goldman Environmental Prize, which recognizes individuals for sustained efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, including grassroots leaders working through community participation.
Goldman Environmental Foundation at a glance
In short: Goldman Environmental Foundation gave $1.2M across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $104K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,247,000
- -1.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $103,917
- -26.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $129,015,356
- +3.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Goldman Environmental Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The filing identifies the Executive Director as the contact for the process. Nominations come from a pre-selected group that includes environmental organizations and a confidential panel of more than 150 experts from more than 70 nations. Prize winners are selected for recent achievements that have enhanced the environment and inspired others; the Prize is not awarded posthumously or for lifetime achievement.
- Review Cycle
- The filing says nominations are received in spring, winners are selected in winter, and awards are made in spring.
- Deadline
- The filing says nominations are received in spring, winners are selected in winter, and awards are made in spring.
- Contact
Application contact: Executive Director
Mailing address: 160 Pacific Ave Ste 200, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (415) 249-5800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Goldman Environmental Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Front Line Defenders USA Foundation ($20K). Together the top 4 received $45K.
Organizations only. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($1,202,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 34 grants of 51 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Prize recognizes leaders from six inhabited continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, and South & Central America. In filing year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 2% to New York, and 1% to Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Goldman Environmental Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 128% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2024) to $1.5M (2022). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 8 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,202,500 |
| Front Line Defenders USA Foundation New York, NY | To Provide Urgenct Support Grants to Prize Winners | $20,000 |
| Environmental Defenders Collaborative Boulder, CO | General support for grantmaking to pws regarding defense and security | $15,000 |
| T Deete San Francisco, CA | Hardship award in wake of severe flooding in northern thailand | $4,750 |
| A Munduruku San Francisco, CA | Hardship award in wake of severe flooding in northern thailand | $4,750 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $129,015,356 | $9,679,869 | $8,784,727 | $1,247,000 | 12 | $7,849,664 | $9,088,217 | $6,152,458 |
| 2023 | $124,539,347 | $4,854,913 | $8,801,352 | $1,269,759 | 9 | $7,896,051 | $4,304,375 | $5,906,122 |
| 2022 | $116,662,541 | $1,956,609 | $7,052,770 | $1,525,000 | 10 | $6,655,899 | $1,627,044 | $6,067,495 |
| 2021 | $147,724,392 | $9,511,560 | $7,496,657 | $1,426,615 | 13 | $6,478,708 | $8,922,311 | $7,026,762 |
| 2020 | $138,699,531 | $5,569,955 | $6,359,842 | $1,300,000 | 7 | — | $5,221,653 | $6,233,528 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Goldman Environmental Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to recognize grassroots environmental leaders and inspire others to take action to protect the natural world. The Prize recognizes individuals for significant environmental achievements across six inhabited continental regions. The Foundation describes grassroots leaders as people involved in local efforts where positive change comes through community or citizen participation.
The Foundation’s website says its grantmaking program supports past Prize winners in continuing grassroots environmental work. Its 2024 filing lists grants for general support for environmental achievement, urgent support grants for Prize winners, grantmaking related to defenders’ security, and hardship assistance. The filing also reports hardship awards connected with severe flooding in northern Thailand and medical expenses.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 12 grants totaling $1,247,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $200,000, with a median of $100,000. The largest listed grants were five grants of $200,000 and two grants of $100,000 to individual recipients in California, each for general support for environmental achievement. Other listed grants included $20,000 to Front Line Defenders USA Foundation for urgent support grants to Prize winners and $15,000 to Environmental Defenders Collaborative for general support for grantmaking related to defenders’ defense and security.
The Foundation’s website describes its Grantmaking program as supporting past Prize winners. The Foundation’s filing says it receives Prize nominations from a pre-selected group of environmental experts and organizations around the world, and that it does not accept unsolicited nominations. The process described is for Prize nominations, not an open grant application process.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing are John Goldman, President; Susan Gelman, Vice President and Treasurer; Jennifer Goldman Wallis, Vice President and Secretary; and G. Michael Sutton, Executive Director, Assistant Secretary, and Assistant Treasurer.
Goldman Environmental Foundation is led by G. Michael Sutton, Executive Director, Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer on every filing since 2020; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
G. Michael Sutton
Executive Director, Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$304K (2020) → $373K (2024)
John Goldman
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Gelman
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Goldman Wallis
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jennifer Goldman (2020–2021) — Vice President & Secretary
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 $373K, to G Michael Sutton (Ed, Asst. Sec. & Asst. Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about Goldman Environmental Foundation
How much does Goldman Environmental Foundation give each year?
Goldman Environmental Foundation gave $1.2M across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 9 grants.
What is Goldman Environmental Foundation's typical grant size?
Goldman Environmental Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $103,917, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Goldman Environmental Foundation give grants?
Goldman Environmental Foundation gives mostly in California: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Goldman Environmental Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of Goldman Environmental Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Goldman Environmental Foundation's largest grantees?
Goldman Environmental Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Front Line Defenders USA Foundation ($20,000), Environmental Defenders Collaborative ($15,000) and T Deete ($4,750), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($1,202,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 3% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Goldman Environmental Foundation?
Goldman Environmental Foundation reported $129.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Goldman Environmental Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to recognize grassroots environmental leaders and inspire others to take action to protect the natural world. The Prize recognizes individuals for significant environmental achievements across six inhabited continental regions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Goldman Environmental Foundation?
The filing identifies the Executive Director as the contact for the process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Goldman Environmental Foundation's EIN?
Goldman Environmental Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3094857. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Goldman Environmental Foundation 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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