Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature
The Fund for Wild Nature is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in New York, NY, operating as a private foundation. Established in 1982, the organization has nearly 40 years of experience in conservation funding. The Fund operates with minimal overhead and an all-volunteer board of committed environmental activists.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3M
-11.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$456K
-31.9% YoY
Grant Count
10
-80.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$46K
+247.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature reported a distributable amount of $218K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Fund for Wild Nature invests in bold grassroots organizations and innovative conservation efforts that meet emerging needs for protecting biodiversity and wilderness.
Primary Focus: The organization provides small grants for North American campaigns to save native species and wild ecosystems, with particular emphasis on actions designed to defend threatened wilderness and biological diversity. The Fund's board is rooted in biocentrism and believes that native species and healthy ecosystems are too essential to be sacrificed.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $250,000.
Ready to take the next step with Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund supports North American conservation campaigns, with particular emphasis on grassroots efforts across the continent.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $3.25 million (as of most recent filing)
Annual Giving: $455,500 in total giving
Revenue: $93,278 (2023)
Expenses: $696,680 (2023)
Total Assets: $3.66 million (2023)
Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
Funding Model: The Fund has no endowment, so its ability to support wild nature defense depends on recent donations. The organization's success relies upon the success of the groups it funds and generous donors who invest in the Fund for Wild Nature.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,251,774 | $3,659,240 | $4,266,017 |
| Revenue | $71,317 | $93,278 | $206,877 |
| Expenses | $482,148 | $696,687 | $312,260 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $463,685 | $676,865 | $287,300 |
| Net Investment Income | $53,654 | $74,766 | $186,555 |
| Distributable Amount | $217,778 | $209,736 | $222,647 |
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
165 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Natural History Institute ($212,500), Hatch ($125,000), The Pad Project ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY INC TUCSON, AZ | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| COLORADO PLATEAU FOUNDATION FLAGSTAFF, AZ | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| HATCH BOZEMAN, MT | GENERAL PURPOSE | $125,000 |
| LAUNCH PAD TEEN CENTER PRESCOTT, AZ | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| NATURAL HISTORY INSTITUTE PRESCOTT, AZ | GENERAL | $212,500 |
| PRESCOTT FILM SOCIETY PRESCOTT, AZ | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| WOLF CONSERVATION CENTER SOUTH SALEM, NY | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| WILDERNESS WATCH MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| THE PAD PROJECT LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| GLOBAL GREENGRANTS FUND BOULDER, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Fund is governed by an all-volunteer board of committed environmental activists. The board collectively raises money, sends bi-annual appeals, and produces an Annual Report.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TYSON FITZMORRIS | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| MICHAELA CARTER | DIRECTOR/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Phone: (858) FOR-WILD
Email: fwn@fundwildnature.org
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since March 2021
EIN: 83-2043292
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature fund?
**Mission:** The Fund for Wild Nature invests in bold grassroots organizations and innovative conservation efforts that meet emerging needs for protecting biodiversity and wilderness. **Primary Focus:** The organization provides small grants for North American campaigns to save native species and wild ecosystems, with particular emphasis on actions designed to defend threatened wilderness and biological diversity. The Fund's board is rooted in biocentrism and believes that native species and he…
How do I apply for a grant from Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature?
**Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $250,000. **Grantee Profile:** The Fund supports small groups that demonstrate effectiveness in conservation work. Notable early grantees include Rainforest Action Network and the Center for Biological Diversity, which have grown into major national and international conservation organizations. The Fund also supports long-term local efforts such as the Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project and Los Padres Forest Watch. The organization actively …
Where does Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature make grants?
The Fund supports North American conservation campaigns, with particular emphasis on grassroots efforts across the continent.
What size grants does Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature award?
In 2024, Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature awarded 10 grants totaling $456K — an average of about $46K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature reported a distributable amount of $218K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature's EIN?
Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2043292. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Network for Good
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$96.2M
Grants
4,733
Total Given
$216.2M
Tides Foundation
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
Impactassetsinc
BETHESDA, MD
Assets
$3.0B
Grants
2,733
Total Given
$580.1M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Ge Aerospace Foundation
NORWALK, CT
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
2,467
Total Given
$15.3M
Texas Instruments Foundation
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$73.0M
Grants
4,484
Total Given
$22.6M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Gwydion Fund for Wild Nature on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities