The Henry David Thoreau Foundation is a charitable trust and private foundation based in Somerville, Massachusetts. Founded in 1949, the organization propels environmental leadership across disciplines through scholarships and grants that support undergraduate students and professors in pursuing environmental studies and action.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.4M
+5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$318K
+5.2% YoY
Grant Count
27
+3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+1.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $594K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation serves as a catalyst to action by investing in the future of the planet through scholarships and grants that encourage, support, and sustain the work of young environmental leaders.
Primary funding areas:
- Undergraduate scholarships for Massachusetts high school seniors pursuing environmental studies
- Faculty grants to support visionary programs at U.S. colleges and universities
- Environmental leadership development across interdisciplinary fields
Since 1999, the Foundation has provided more than $7 million to support environmental work. The organization emphasizes community-based conservation that recognizes culture's central role in human interaction with the physical environment and positions local, diverse community groups at the center of efforts to address environmental injustices and restoration.
Grantmaking
The Foundation awards four-year scholarships to outstanding Massachusetts high school seniors. As of the most recent information, more than thirty Thoreau Scholars are currently earning undergraduate degrees, and nearly two hundred alumni are working around the world on environmental challenges.
Review Cycle
February 1st
How to Apply
for Undergraduate Scholarships:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily funds in Massachusetts for its undergraduate scholarship program, targeting high school seniors. Faculty grants support programs at U.S. colleges and universities. Alumni scholars work around the world on local and global environmental challenges.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets (2023): $11.76 million
Annual Activity (2023):
- Total revenues: $470,123
- Total expenses: $655,400
- Investment income and dividends: $343,713
- Total distributions: $615,000
IRS Status: 501(c)(3) organization; required to file IRS Form 990-PF; IRS ruling year 1949
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,426,374 | $11,755,025 | $11,082,608 |
| Revenue | $351,948 | $470,123 | $1,251,303 |
| Expenses | $696,839 | $655,400 | $659,217 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $648,047 | $614,942 | $601,914 |
| Net Investment Income | $357,549 | $436,346 | $1,215,624 |
| Distributable Amount | $593,630 | $552,432 | $563,512 |
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
134 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cornell University ($40,000), Savannah State University ($40,000), University of Vermont Foundation ($38,300).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMHERST COLLEGE AMHERST, MA | SCHOLARSHIP | $6,500 |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHICA, NY | GRANT | $40,000 |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE HANOVER, NH | SCHOLARSHIP | $25,885 |
| HARVARD COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE, MA | SCHOLARSHIP | $26,000 |
| MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY CASTINE, ME | SCHOLARSHIP | $6,500 |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CAMBRIDGE, MA | SCHOLARSHIP | $6,500 |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | SCHOLARSHIP | $6,500 |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY EVANSTON, IL | SCHOLARSHIP | $6,500 |
| RICE UNIVERSITY HOUSTON, TX | SCHOLARSHIP | $6,500 |
| SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SAVANNAH, GA | GRANT | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Staff:
Jennifer P. Galvin – President. Dr. Galvin has been with the Foundation since its earliest days. She holds a Doctor of Science in environmental health from Harvard School of Public Health, a Master of Public Health in environmental epidemiology from Yale, and a Bachelor of Science in aquatic biology from Brown. She is also founder of reelblue, LLC and an internationally recognized filmmaker connecting art with science.
Jackie Miller – Senior Administrator. Previously worked for fifteen years with a national literacy program.
Board of Trustees:
- John R. Galvin – Treasurer & Trustee
- Jennifer P. Galvin – President, Secretary, Trustee & Executive
- Scott Ellis – Trustee
- Marilee Jones – Scholarship Committee
- David R. Magnussen – Scholarship Committee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN R GALVIN | TREASURER & TRUSTEE | 30 | — |
| JENNIFER P GALVIN | PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TRUSTEE & EXECU | 30 | — |
| MARILEE JONES | SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTE | 2 | — |
| DAVID R MAGNUSSEN | SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTE | 2 | — |
| SCOTT ELLIS | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Address: Henry David Thoreau Foundation 265 Medford Street, Suite 102 Somerville, Massachusetts 02143
Phone: 617.666.6900 Fax: 617.666.0345 Email: jackie@thoreauscholar.org
Website: thoreauscholar.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation serves as a catalyst to action by investing in the future of the planet through scholarships and grants that encourage, support, and sustain the work of young environmental leaders. **Primary funding areas:** • Undergraduate scholarships for Massachusetts high school seniors pursuing environmental studies • Faculty grants to support visionary programs at U.S. colleges and universities • Environmental leadership development across interdisciplinary fields Since 1999, the Foundatio…
How do I apply for a grant from Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 26-27 grants in 2023 • Grant median: $6,500 • Grant maximum: $40,000 • Total distributions (2023): $615,000 **Recent Faculty Grant Recipients:** • University of Vermont: Fellowship for Restoration Ecologies and Cultures (2022, 2023, 2024) • University of New Hampshire: UNH Climate Action Clinic (2022, 2023, 2024) • College of the Atlantic: $39,873 (2023) **Scholarship Program:** The Foundation awards four-year scholarships to outstanding Massachusetts high school seni…
Where does Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc make grants?
The Foundation primarily funds in Massachusetts for its undergraduate scholarship program, targeting high school seniors. Faculty grants support programs at U.S. colleges and universities. Alumni scholars work around the world on local and global environmental challenges.
What size grants does Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc awarded 27 grants totaling $318K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $594K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc's EIN?
Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2077934. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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