Lily Pad Fund for Nature
Lily Pad Fund for Nature is a private foundation, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $62K. Net investment income was $109K.
Lily Pad Fund for Nature at a glance
In short: Lily Pad Fund for Nature gave $62K across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $61,870
- +72.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- +200.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,312
- -42.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,218
- Total assets
- $2,297,045
- +2.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (65% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Lily Pad Fund for Nature funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves ($40K). Together the top 5 received $62K.
Grant Size Distribution
9 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 9 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Lily Pad Fund for Nature gives
- In 2024 it paid out 62% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $31K (2022) to $62K (2024). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $62K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves Dekalb, IL | General & Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| Wildlife Conservation Network Inc San Francisco, CA | Andean Cat partner fund | $5,435 |
| Wildlife Conservation Network Inc San Francisco, CA | Cheetah live guard dog -Botswana | $5,435 |
| Sky Island Alliance Tucson, AZ | Funding for Path of Panther fencing | $5,000 |
| The Stewardship Network Ann Arbor, MI | funds to establish a tool lending program for TSN Clusters which includes purchase of tools, setting up tracking and distribution of the tools, and administration costs | $5,000 |
| Prairie Enthusiasts Inc Viroqua, WI | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lily Pad Fund for Nature?
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 | $2,297,045 | $133,694 | $78,397 | $61,870 | 6 | $77,101 | $108,544 | $125,210 |
| 2023 | $2,241,748 | $46,455 | $50,596 | $35,800 | 2 | $49,683 | $53,677 | $106,187 |
| 2022 | $2,245,889 | $1,482,057 | $46,169 | $30,800 | 1 | $46,169 | $26,095 | $60,985 |
| 2021 | $810,001 | $810,001 | — | — | — | — | $1 | $2,875 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lily Pad Fund for Nature reported a distributable amount of $125K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Lily Pad Fund for Nature is led by Mark Ballering, Director & President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark Ballering
Director & President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennell Ballering
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eva Ballering
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Lily Pad Fund for Nature
How much does Lily Pad Fund for Nature give each year?
Lily Pad Fund for Nature gave $62K across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $36K across 2 grants.
What is Lily Pad Fund for Nature's typical grant size?
Lily Pad Fund for Nature's median grant in 2024 was $5,218, and its average grant was $10,312, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lily Pad Fund for Nature give grants?
Lily Pad Fund for Nature gives mostly in Illinois: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (18%) and Arizona (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Lily Pad Fund for Nature give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of Lily Pad Fund for Nature's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lily Pad Fund for Nature's largest grantees?
Lily Pad Fund for Nature's largest 2024 grantees include Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves ($40,000), Wildlife Conservation Network Inc ($10,870 across 2 grants) and Sky Island Alliance ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lily Pad Fund for Nature?
Lily Pad Fund for Nature reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $77K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $125K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Lily Pad Fund for Nature's EIN?
Lily Pad Fund for Nature's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3117427. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Lily Pad Fund for Nature funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lily Pad Fund for Nature's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common
Oak Lodge Foundation
Aspen, CO
Oak Lodge Foundation supports preselected tax-exempt public charities, with 2024 grants reported as general support across conservation, environmental education, humanitarian aid, and related areas. Its 11 grants ranged from $3,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000, and primarily went to organizations in Illinois, Colorado, and Wisconsin. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$2.3M
Grants
11
Total Given
$146K
Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory
Cumming, GA
The Cumming, Georgia-based Arthur L. & Elaine V. Johnson Foundation funds guide dogs and other task-trained assistance animals for people with disabilities, as well as wildlife and natural-resource conservation; no geographic limit for grants is stated. In 2025, grants ranged from $9,000 to $350,714, with a median of $25,097. Applications are submitted online; organizations without a grant in the past three years must first submit an initial inquiry and receive approval to apply.
Assets
$10.2M
Grants
31
Total Given
$1.5M
The Rose and David Dortort Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The Rose and David Dortort Foundation supports organizations in areas including environment, animal welfare, health, arts, education, religion, and civic engagement, with most 2025 grant dollars going to California. Its 35 grants ranged from $5,000 to $45,000, with a median of $10,000; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$13.7M
Grants
35
Total Given
$535K
Bobolink Foundation
Chicago, IL
Bobolink Foundation funds biodiversity conservation, including protecting natural areas, coastal and community-based conservation, education, and wildlife and landscapes in the Americas. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $7 million, with a median of $30,000, and went primarily to organizations in Virginia, Texas, Illinois, Maryland, and Georgia, as well as conservation work across the Americas. It does not accept unsolicited requests and funds only preselected organizations.
Assets
$263.2M
Grants
44
Total Given
$19.8M
Minduf Foundation
Oakland, CA
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$254K
The Wendy Obernauer Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
—
Grants
5
Total Given
$1.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Delaware
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Lily Pad Fund for Nature'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.
Lily Pad Fund for Nature down — hundreds of funders to go?