High Meadows Foundation logo

High Meadows Foundation

BOSTON, MA EIN: 20-8521462 Website

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

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

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

13states
+5 more states

Cities

AlexandriaBostonBozemanBrattleboroCambridgeChicagoDavisDorchesterLincolnMiddleburyNew YorkPortlandPottstownPrincetonSeattleTellurideTownshendWashington

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
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$11M$16M$21M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

$0$5M$9M$14M$19M27 grants202037 grants202119 grants202215 grants202314 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND$3.0MTRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UN…$986KCAF AMERICA$750KHIGH MEADOWS INSTITUTE$750KHARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL$500KTRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UN…$400KLET'S GROW KIDS$300KCLIMATE CENTRAL INC$250KTHE WILDERNESS SOCIETY$250KTRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UN…$111K

Grant Size Distribution

112 grants across all recorded years

9<$50K6$50–100K34$100–250K32$250–500K19$500K–1M11$1–5M1$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

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

NameTitleHoursCompensation
CARL FERENBACHTRUSTEE40
JEFFREY BERENSONTRUSTEE1
DANIEL P CARBONNEAUTRUSTEE1
JANE BROCK-WILSONTRUSTEE1
LYNNE BALLSECRETARY / TREASURER25
ELIZABETH BANKOWSKITRUSTEE1

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 watersheds

Dedicated $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 Watersheds

Awarded 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

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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