High Meadows Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, established in 2007. The foundation invests in and supports forward-thinking nonprofit organizations to create and deploy innovative yet practical solutions to address complex environmental and societal issues of the 21st century.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$888K
-64.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.7M
-8.6% YoY
Grant Count
14
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$550K
-2.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, High Meadows Foundation reported a distributable amount of $75K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is driven to help forward-thinking organizations and people fulfill their mission by investing in and supporting practical yet innovative solutions to address the complex environmental and societal issues of the 21st century.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Environment — Sound environmental stewardship of the planet; management and conservation of non-working farmland in northern New England
- Education — Education and fellowships related to the work of organizations the foundation supports; science teachers; environmental education; community and school gardens
- Business/Society — Development of a 21st century social contract; addressing disruptions caused by technology, globalization, and intergenerational differences
- Other — Preservation and enhancement of the art of the book beyond the content of its pages
The foundation recognizes that private philanthropy will be called upon to cushion those whose lives will have been disrupted by technology, globalization, and intergenerational differences.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $30,000 to $3,000,000.
How to Apply
** The foundation does not accept unsolicited fund solicitations. However, the foundation is happy to answer questions related to work in progress and inquiries from organizations wishing to collaborate.
Ready to take the next step with High Meadows Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds work in:
- New Jersey
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Northern New England (particularly Vermont, based on recent grant announcements)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Assets: $887,625
- Total Revenue: $6,478,259
- Total Expenses: $7,729,849
- Total Giving: $7,696,887
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $887,625 | $2,466,263 | $2,257,912 |
| Revenue | $6,478,259 | $12,035,020 | $5,743,779 |
| Expenses | $7,729,849 | $8,548,726 | $10,501,313 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,697,387 | $8,473,200 | $10,401,019 |
| Net Investment Income | $407,980 | $3,537,866 | $3,124,605 |
| Distributable Amount | $75,167 | $148,568 | $214,780 |
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
112 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Environmental Defense Fund ($3,000,000), Trustees of Princeton University ($986,200), Caf America ($750,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CAF AMERICA ALEXANDRIA, VA | PAYMENT TO CARRY ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $750,000 |
| CLIMATE CENTRAL INC PRINCETON, NJ | PAYMENT TO CARRY ON CHARITABLE ACITITIES | $250,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND NEW YORK, NY | PAYMENT FOR CONTINUING SUPPORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH | $3,000,000 |
| EVERGREEN CLIMATE INNOVATIONS CHICAGO, IL | PAYMENT TO CARRY ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $100,000 |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE, MA | PAYMENT FOR CONTINUING SUPPORT OF THE BAKER LIBRARY | $500,000 |
| HIGH MEADOWS INSTITUTE BOSTON, MA | PAYMENT TO CARRY ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $750,000 |
| LET'S GROW KIDS MIDDLEBURY, VT | PAYMENT TO CARRY ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $300,000 |
| PRIME COALITION INC CAMBRIDGE, MA | PAYMENT TO CARRY ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $100,000 |
| THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY WASHINGTON, DC | PAYMENT TO CARRY ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $250,000 |
| TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRINCETON, NJ | PAYMENT TO SUPPORT ANNUAL GIVING FUND | $110,687 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Carl Ferenbach is listed as a contact for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARL FERENBACH | TRUSTEE | 40 | — |
| JEFFREY BERENSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DANIEL P CARBONNEAU | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JANE BROCK-WILSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LYNNE BALL | SECRETARY / TREASURER | 25 | — |
| ELIZABETH BANKOWSKI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting watershed resilience and forest ecosystem health projects, particularly in Vermont:
High Meadows Fund releases RFP for building resilience in VT\u2019s watershedsDedicated $240,000 to building resilience in Vermont's watersheds
High Meadows Fund Dedicates $240,000 to Building Resilience in Vermont\u2019\Announced $249,000 in grants to build resilience in Vermont watersheds
High Meadows Fund Dedicates $240,000 to Building Resilience in Vermont\u2019\Released RFP for building resilience in Vermont's watersheds
High Meadows Fund Dedicates $240,000 to Building Resilience in Vermont\u2019\Supported resiliency projects across six watersheds
High Meadows Fund Supports Resiliency Projects In Six WatershedsAwarded grants to improve forest ecosystem health and integrity
High Meadows Fund Awards Grants to Improve Forest Ecosystem Health and Integrity\uFEFF\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does High Meadows Foundation fund?
The foundation is driven to help forward-thinking organizations and people fulfill their mission by investing in and supporting practical yet innovative solutions to address the complex environmental and societal issues of the 21st century. Primary funding focus areas include: • **Environment** — Sound environmental stewardship of the planet; management and conservation of non-working farmland in northern New England • **Education** — Education and fellowships related to the work of organizatio…
How do I apply for a grant from High Meadows Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $30,000 to $3,000,000. **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited fund solicitations. However, the foundation is happy to answer questions related to work in progress and inquiries from organizations wishing to collaborate. **Grantmaking Philosophy:** The foundation values collaboration and relationships built with grantees, the intellectual and analytical rigor of the programs it supports, and thoughtful consideration of outco…
Where does High Meadows Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds work in: • New Jersey • Massachusetts • New York • Northern New England (particularly Vermont, based on recent grant announcements)
What size grants does High Meadows Foundation award?
In 2024, High Meadows Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $7.7M — an average of about $550K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is High Meadows Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, High Meadows Foundation reported a distributable amount of $75K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is High Meadows Foundation's EIN?
High Meadows Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8521462. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in High Meadows Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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