Goldman Environmental Foundation
The Goldman Environmental Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1989 and based in San Francisco, California (160 Pacific Avenue, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94111). The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since July 1989.
Key facts about Goldman Environmental Foundation
- EIN
- 94-3094857
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,247,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- Average grant
- $103,917
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $129,015,356
- Primary geography
- California (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Goldman Environmental Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Goldman Environmental Foundation's 12 itemized 2024 grants were California (97%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (10 grants). 67% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
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.
Next steps with Goldman Environmental Foundation
- How to evaluate Goldman Environmental Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$129.0M
+3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-1.8% YoY
Grant Count
12
+33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$104K
-26.3% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to award the Goldman Environmental Prize, which honors grassroots environmental activists from around the world for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk.
The foundation defines "grassroots" leaders as those involved in local efforts where positive change is created through community or citizen participation. Through recognizing individual environmental leaders, the foundation seeks to inspire ordinary people to take extraordinary actions to protect the natural world.
Grantmaking
The foundation provides technical support to current and former prize winners, including:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Goldman Environmental Prize operates globally, with winners selected from all six inhabited continents. To date, 98 countries have been represented among prize winners.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 12 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Revenue: $9.68 million
- Total Expenses: $8.78 million
- Net Income: $895,142
- Total Assets: $129 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.68 million
As of 2023:
- Total Revenue: $4.85 million
- Total Expenses: $8.80 million
- Total Assets: $124.54 million
- Number of Employees: 11
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $129,015,356 | $124,539,347 | $116,662,541 |
| Revenue | $9,679,869 | $4,854,913 | $1,956,609 |
| Expenses | $8,784,727 | $8,801,352 | $7,052,770 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,849,664 | $7,896,051 | $6,655,899 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,088,217 | $4,304,375 | $1,627,044 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,152,458 | $5,906,122 | $6,067,495 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Marcel Gomez ($200,000), Murrawah M P Johnson ($200,000), Aalok Shukla ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MARCEL GOMEZ San Francisco, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT | $200,000 |
| MURRAWAH M P JOHNSON San Francisco, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT | $200,000 |
| AALOK SHUKLA San Francisco, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT | $200,000 |
| MARIA TERESA VICENTE GIMENEZ San Francisco, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT | $200,000 |
| ANDREA VIDAURRE San Francisco, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT | $200,000 |
| NONHLE MBUTHUMA FORSLUND San Francisco, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT | $100,000 |
| SINEGUGU ZUKULU San Francisco, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT | $100,000 |
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Goldman | President | 2 | — |
| Susan Gelman | Vice President & Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Jennifer Goldman Wallis | Vice President & Secretary | 2 | — |
| G Michael Sutton | Ed, Asst. Sec. & Asst. Treasurer | 37.5 | $372,579 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize winners were announced, including recipients from the United States, Peru, Tunisia, Albania, and Mongolia. The foundation announced that the 2026 Goldman Prize winners will be announced on Monday, April 20.
The Goldman Environmental PrizeThe foundation has highlighted the range of benefits provided to prize winners, including financial support, media recognition, access to a global network of environmental leaders, and defense and security support.
The Goldman Environmental PrizeContact Information
General Inquiries:
- Email: info@goldmanprize.org
- Phone: +1 (415) 249-5800
Media Inquiries:
- Email: pr@goldmanprize.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Goldman Environmental Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to award the Goldman Environmental Prize, which honors grassroots environmental activists from around the world for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk. The foundation defines "grassroots" leaders as those involved in local efforts where positive change is created through community or citizen participation. Through recognizing individual environmental leaders, the foundation seeks to i…
How do I apply for a grant from Goldman Environmental Foundation?
**Prize Structure:** • Approximately 6 prizes awarded annually to regions around the world • One prize awarded annually to an individual in each of the six inhabited continents • 233 awards given to date across 98 countries represented • $32 million awarded in prize funding to date **Support Beyond Prize Awards:** The foundation provides technical support to current and former prize winners, including: • Assistance with ongoing defense challenges • Support for furthering environmental work and …
Where does Goldman Environmental Foundation make grants?
The Goldman Environmental Prize operates globally, with winners selected from all six inhabited continents. To date, 98 countries have been represented among prize winners.
What size grants does Goldman Environmental Foundation award?
In 2024, Goldman Environmental Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $104K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Goldman Environmental Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Goldman Environmental Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.