Granite Ridge Nature Institute

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chapel Hill, NC EIN: 84-1498559

Granite Ridge Nature Institute is a private foundation based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Its 2023 filing reports 17 grants totaling $39,660, supporting organizations working in areas including wildlife and habitat conservation, environmental protection, and animal welfare.

Granite Ridge Nature Institute at a glance

In short: Granite Ridge Nature Institute gave $40K across 17 grants in 2023 (avg $2K), top state California. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2023)
$39,660
Grants made (2023)
17
Average grant
$2,333
Median grant
$1,054
Primary geography
California (28% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Granite Ridge Nature Institute

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The 2022 filing stated that the foundation made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Because that filing is marked as the final return, this should not be taken as a current application policy.

Contact

Mailing address: 60 Meadow Run, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Granite Ridge Nature Institute funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2023

Wild Earth Guardians: $5KWild Earth Guardians$5KTurtle Island Restoration Network: $5KTurtle Island RestorationNetwork$5KOrangutan Foundation International: $5KOrangutan FoundationInternational$5KAfrican Parks Foundation of America: $5KAfrican Parks Foundation ofAmerica$5KBorn Free: $4KBorn Free$4KFriends of the Earth: $4KFriends of the Earth$4KBonobo Conservation Initiative: $4K across 2 grantsBonobo Conservation Initiative$4K · 2 grantsFriends of Bonobos: $3KFriends of Bonobos$3Kthe Oasis Sanctuary: $1Kthe Oasis Sanctuary$1KTriangle Land Conservation: $1KTriangle Land Conservation$1K

The largest 2023 recipient was Wild Earth Guardians ($5K). Together the top 10 received $37K.

Grant Size Distribution

17 grants across all recorded years

17<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 17 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2023 grants went to organizations in multiple states. California received 28% of grant dollars, New Mexico 14%, New York 13%, and North Carolina and Maryland 10% each. Listed recipients were also based in Arizona, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.

Cities

WashingtonDurhamSanta FeBensonIthacaLincolnLos AngelesMerrifieldNew YorkOlemaOrlandoSilver SpringsStanford

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10K$20K$30K$40K0 grants2021 0 grants2022 17 grants2023

In 2023 it made 17 grants totaling $40K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Wild Earth Guardians Santa Fe, NMRestoring and protecting the wild places of the American West.$5,000
Turtle Island Restoration Network Olema, CATo organize people in local communities around the world to protect marine wildlife and oceans and inland watersheds that sustain their support.$5,000
Orangutan Foundation International Los Angeles, CAConservation and understanding about orangutans and their natural habitat$5,000
African Parks Foundation of America New York, NYTakes on complete responsibility for the long term management of national parks and protected rehabilitation and areas in partnership with governments and communities.$5,000
Born Free Silver Springs, MDTo promote Compassionate Conservation to enhance the survival of threatened species in the wild while respecting the needs and safe-guarding the welfare of individual animals.$4,000
Friends of the Earth Merrifield, VATo collectively ensure environmental and social justice human dignity and respect for human rights and people's rights so as to secure sustainable societies.$4,000
Friends of Bonobos Durham, NCTo save and protect bonobos and their rainforest habitat through rescue sanctuary and rewilding with local communities to tackle root causes.$3,000
Bonobo Conservation Initiative Washington, DCTo protect bonobos and their tropical rainforest habitat and empower local communities in the Congo basin.$2,921
the Oasis Sanctuary Benson, AZSanctuary for pet parrots unplaceable in homes and protection of wild populations.$1,054
Bonobo Conservation Initiative Washington, DCTo support the protection and conservation of bonobos.$1,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying Distributions
2023—$2,682$42,772$39,66017$42,721
2022$40,090$-553$2,727——$2,715
2021$44,217$-1,549$18,051———

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The 2022 filing describes direct charitable activities involving field research and photographs on parrot habits, biology, and behavior, and research and educational work on pollinators and other arthropods in North Carolina using native plants.

Its 2023 grants included organizations whose stated missions include orangutan care, research, and public education; protecting marine wildlife and watersheds; and protecting bonobos and rainforest habitat. Other grantees described work on conservation in the American West, animal welfare, land conservation, and aid to vulnerable populations.

Grantmaking

In 2023, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $39,660. Grants ranged from $50 to $5,000, with a median of $1,054.

Notable 2023 grants included $5,000 each to WildEarth Guardians, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Orangutan Foundation International, and African Parks Foundation of America; $4,000 to Born Free and Friends of the Earth; and $3,000 to Friends of Bonobos. The 2023 filing also lists grants of $2,921 and $1,000 to Bonobo Conservation Initiative, and $1,000 each to Triangle Land Conservation and Nova Ukraine.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2023 filing lists Eugene A Monroe as president and Marilyn L Monroe as secretary treasurer.

Granite Ridge Nature Institute is led by Eugene A Monroe, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.

Officers on the 2023 filing

  • Eugene A Monroe

    President

    On filings since 2021

    10 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marilyn L Monroe

    Secretary Treasurer

    On filings since 2021

    30 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2023. "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 Granite Ridge Nature Institute

How much does Granite Ridge Nature Institute give each year?

Granite Ridge Nature Institute gave $40K across 17 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.

What is Granite Ridge Nature Institute's typical grant size?

Granite Ridge Nature Institute's median grant in 2023 was $1,054, and its average grant was $2,333, across 17 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Granite Ridge Nature Institute give grants?

Granite Ridge Nature Institute's top state is California, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Mexico (14%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants), Santa Fe, NM (2 grants) and Durham, NC (2 grants).

Does Granite Ridge Nature Institute give general operating support?

Not in 2023: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Granite Ridge Nature Institute's 2023 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Granite Ridge Nature Institute's largest grantees?

Granite Ridge Nature Institute's largest 2023 grantees include Wild Earth Guardians ($5,000), Turtle Island Restoration Network ($5,000) and Orangutan Foundation International ($5,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.

What does Granite Ridge Nature Institute fund?

The 2022 filing describes direct charitable activities involving field research and photographs on parrot habits, biology, and behavior, and research and educational work on pollinators and other arthropods in North Carolina using native plants. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Granite Ridge Nature Institute?

The 2022 filing stated that the foundation made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Granite Ridge Nature Institute's EIN?

Granite Ridge Nature Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1498559. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2023.

Does Granite Ridge Nature Institute 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 September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2023

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Granite Ridge Nature Institute'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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