March Conservation Fund
March Conservation Fund is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California, established in 1994 and granted tax-exempt status in 1996. The organization operates as a grantmaking foundation dedicated to conservation and environmental protection efforts.
Key facts about March Conservation Fund
- EIN
- 68-0339625
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,830,754
- Grants made (2024)
- 79
- Average grant
- $61,149
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (10 of 79, 2024)
- Total assets
- $77,909,269
- Primary geography
- California (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who March Conservation Fund funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for March Conservation Fund's 79 itemized 2024 grants were California (49%), New York (17%) and Virginia (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (30 grants), New York, NY (4 grants), Santa Cruz, CA (4 grants) and Warrenton, VA (2 grants). 72% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Restricted Support" (22 grants).
Is March Conservation Fund open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 79 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $68K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 80% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 97% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with March Conservation Fund
- How to evaluate March Conservation Fund as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to March Conservation Fund with AI
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$77.9M
+4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.8M
+25.6% YoY
Grant Count
79
+17.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$61K
+6.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, March Conservation Fund reported a distributable amount of $4.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to expand protected areas, support ecological research, and empower the public to become stewards and advocates for the natural world. The fund believes that the complexity of environmental issues facing the 21st century demands an equally intricate and diverse array of solutions.
Primary funding areas include environmental conservation, with support directed toward organizations dedicated to conservation and environmental protection, ecological education, and fostering connections between people and the natural world.
Grantmaking
March Conservation Fund distributes grants through two primary mechanisms: general support and restricted support.
Grant Range
$100 to $603,416
Ready to take the next step with March Conservation Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports conservation efforts across the United States and internationally. Primary funding regions include California, Virginia, and New York, with additional support extending to other states and international locations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 79 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $74,862,610
- Total revenue: $5,846,830
- Total expenses: $4,134,929
- Total giving: $3,985,427
Historical Growth:
- Total assets have grown from $6.7 million in 2011 to $74.9 million as of 2024
- Annual giving has grown from $2.1 million in 2020 to $3.8 million in 2023
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $77,909,269 | $74,862,610 | $73,200,709 |
| Revenue | $8,138,671 | $5,846,830 | $25,260,063 |
| Expenses | $5,092,012 | $4,134,929 | $3,685,773 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,953,630 | $3,985,427 | $3,558,555 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,212,776 | $1,505,080 | $1,343,156 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,723,833 | $4,099,072 | $3,384,222 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
330 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include American Bird Conservancy ($594,981), Wildlife Conservation Network ($550,000), Point Blue Conservation Science ($452,640).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY The Plains, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT $573,41; RESTRICTED SUPPORT $21,568 | $594,981 |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK San Francisco, CA | RESTRICTED SUPPORT | $550,000 |
| POINT BLUE CONSERVATION SCIENCE Petaluma, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT $1,300; RESTRICTED SUPPORT $451,340 | $452,640 |
| FRIENDS OF BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $360,248 |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY Ithaca, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $348,266 |
| RAINFOREST TRUST Warrenton, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $225,000 |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE Warwick, RI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY San Francisco, CA | RESTRICTED SUPPORT | $139,640 |
| JOCOTOCO CONSERVATION FOUNDATION Baltimore, MD | RESTRICTED SUPPORT | $121,000 |
| UC SANTA CRUZ FOUNDATION Santa Cruz, CA | RESTRICTED SUPPORT | $102,400 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ivan A. Samuels – President (32 hours/week, $30,000 compensation)
- Laurel M. Samuels – Director (10 hours/week)
- Sidney P. Samuels – Chief Financial Officer (20 hours/week)
- Brent M. Samuels – Secretary (32 hours/week, $24,000 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel M Samuels | Director | 10 | — |
| Ivan a Samuels | President | 32 | $30,000 |
| Sidney P Samuels | CFO | 20 | — |
| Brent M Samuels | Secretary | 32 | $24,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 1016 Lincoln Boulevard, Suite 1, San Francisco, CA 94129-1721
Phone: (415) 290-5779
Website: www.marchconservationfund.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does March Conservation Fund fund?
The foundation's mission is to expand protected areas, support ecological research, and empower the public to become stewards and advocates for the natural world. The fund believes that the complexity of environmental issues facing the 21st century demands an equally intricate and diverse array of solutions. Primary funding areas include environmental conservation, with support directed toward organizations dedicated to conservation and environmental protection, ecological education, and foster…
How do I apply for a grant from March Conservation Fund?
March Conservation Fund distributes grants through two primary mechanisms: general support and restricted support. **Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2023): $3,985,427 • Grants awarded (2023): 104 grants • Grant range: $100 to $603,416 • Median grant amount: $81,141 • Giving rate: 5.4% **Grant Programs:** • General Support: averaging $31,388 across 68 recipients • Restricted Support: averaging $86,281 across 30 recipients Recent notable grants include $603,416 to American Bird Conservancy, $42…
Where does March Conservation Fund make grants?
The foundation supports conservation efforts across the United States and internationally. Primary funding regions include California, Virginia, and New York, with additional support extending to other states and international locations.
What size grants does March Conservation Fund award?
In 2024, March Conservation Fund awarded 79 grants totaling $4.8M — an average of about $61K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is March Conservation Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, March Conservation Fund reported a distributable amount of $4.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is March Conservation Fund's EIN?
March Conservation Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0339625. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.