Islands Fund
Islands Fund is a private foundation based in Boise, Idaho. In 2024, it gave $16,231,597 through 81 grants. Its grants included support for conservation and stewardship, education, youth programs, endowments, and a donor-advised fund.
Islands Fund at a glance
In short: Islands Fund gave $16.2M across 81 grants in 2024 (avg $200K), top state Washington. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $16,231,597
- +11.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 81
- +5.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $200,390
- +5.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $70,000
- Total assets
- $241,769,850
- +6.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (6 of 77, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Washington (42% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Islands Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6568 S Federal Way Pmb 104, Boise, ID 83716
Phone: (206) 931-6604
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Islands Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Seattle Foundation ($2.4M). Together the top 10 received $9.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($310,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
407 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 138 grants of 407 (34%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington (42%), Colorado (16%), Vermont (9%), California (7%), and Montana (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 81 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Islands Fund open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 77 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $45K; repeat grants $225K. How we count
Medians: $43K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $14.0M (2020) to $16.4M (2022). In 2024 it made 81 grants totaling $16.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Foundation Seattle, WA | Donor Advised Fund | $2,365,000 |
| Aloha Foundation Fairlee, VT | 5 Permanently Restricted Endowments | $1,370,000 |
| Nature Conservancy (CO) Boulder, CO | 777 Dakota Partnership Stewardship Endowment | $1,000,000 |
| Nature Conservancy (MT) Helena, MT | Northern Great Plains Land Protection and Grassbank 2.0 | $850,000 |
| Nature Conservancy (CO) Boulder, CO | Youth education and outreach, and southern high plains conservation | $830,000 |
| Future Generations University Franklin, WV | General Operations and Permanent Leadership Endowment | $800,000 |
| Nature Conservancy (WA) Seattle, WA | Conservation and Stewardship for Wa State | $600,000 |
| Colgate University Canajoharie, NY | Hudson scholarship fund and aizawa fund for overseas study (equal split) | $500,000 |
| Outdoorsforall Seattle, WA | Financial Aid and General Program Support | $500,000 |
| Yellowstone to Yukon | Private Lands Acquisition Fund | $500,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Islands Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $241,769,850 | $32,427,412 | $18,480,803 | $16,231,597 | 81 | $16,463,416 | $30,873,107 | $16,411,558 |
| 2023 | $227,823,241 | $18,804,847 | $15,982,926 | $14,600,000 | 77 | $14,821,240 | $13,456,559 | $14,538,157 |
| 2022 | $228,277,714 | $30,420,955 | $18,021,356 | $16,388,151 | 81 | $16,587,732 | $25,779,867 | $14,550,781 |
| 2021 | $219,157,832 | $26,464,404 | $17,333,655 | $15,557,050 | 82 | $15,728,290 | $22,168,717 | $16,350,831 |
| 2020 | $212,687,366 | $12,766,448 | $15,432,991 | $14,046,514 | 86 | — | $9,141,284 | $14,529,514 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Islands Fund reported a distributable amount of $16.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grant purposes and grantee descriptions show support for a range of activities. For example, the Big Sur Land Trust says its mission is to inspire love of the land and conservation of treasured landscapes. IslandWood describes hands-on learning experiences intended to foster lifelong learning and environmental and community stewardship. Hamlin Robinson School says it serves students with dyslexia and other language-based differences.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Islands Fund made 81 grants totaling $16,231,597. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $2,365,000, with a median grant of $70,000.
The largest listed grants included $2,365,000 to Seattle Foundation for a donor-advised fund; $1,370,000 to Aloha Foundation for five permanently restricted endowments; $1,000,000 to The Nature Conservancy in Colorado for the 777 Dakota Partnership Stewardship Endowment; and $850,000 to The Nature Conservancy in Montana for Northern Great Plains land protection and Grassbank 2.0. Other notable grants included $800,000 to Future Generations University for general operations and a permanent leadership endowment, and $600,000 to The Nature Conservancy in Washington for conservation and stewardship.
Among other 2024 recipients, Islands Fund gave $300,000 each to IslandWood and Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. IslandWood describes its work as hands-on learning at its outdoor learning center and in schools; Aspen Center for Environmental Studies says its mission is to inspire a lifelong commitment to the Earth through programming for all ages. Skagit Land Trust, which received $285,500, describes its work as conserving habitat, wetlands, agricultural and forest lands, open space, and shoreline in Skagit County.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists the following directors: Rick S Werner, George G Gulick, E Leeds Gulick, James Flaggert, Lydia Gulick, Shelby Luce, and Graeme Gulick.
Islands Fund's 2024 filing lists 7 officers; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James Flaggert
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $60K (2024)
E. Leeds Gulick
Director
Secretary & Director → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George G. Gulick
Director
Vice President & Director → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lydia Gulick
Director
Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick S. Werner
Director
Treasurer & Director → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelby Luce
Director
Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Graeme Gulick
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sarah R. Werner (2020–2023) — Director · Filing note: Resigned
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $60K, to James Flaggert (Director).
Frequently asked questions about Islands Fund
How much does Islands Fund give each year?
Islands Fund gave $16.2M across 81 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $14.6M across 77 grants.
What is Islands Fund's typical grant size?
Islands Fund's median grant in 2024 was $70,000, and its average grant was $200,390, across 81 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Islands Fund that year got $45K on average.
Where does Islands Fund give grants?
Islands Fund's top state is Washington, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Colorado (16%) and Vermont (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (21 grants), Boulder, CO (3 grants), Brooklyn, NY (3 grants) and Helena, MT (2 grants).
Does Islands Fund give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of Islands Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 81) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Islands Fund's largest grantees?
Islands Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Seattle Foundation ($2,365,000), Nature Conservancy (CO) ($1,830,000 across 2 grants) and Aloha Foundation ($1,370,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($310,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Islands Fund?
Islands Fund reported $241.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $16.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Islands Fund fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grant purposes and grantee descriptions show support for a range of activities. For example, the Big Sur Land Trust says its mission is to inspire love of the land and conservation of treasured landscapes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Islands Fund?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Islands Fund's EIN?
Islands Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1663838. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Islands Fund 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
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Islands Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Islands Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/islands-fund-morg_b99ded0088524edba7d35170f6479abb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911663838_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Islands Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/islands-fund-morg_b99ded0088524edba7d35170f6479abb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Islands Fund'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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