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.
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
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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
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 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest 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 |
| APPALACHIAN VOICES BOONE, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BAY NATURE INSTITUTE BERKELEY, CA | RESTRICTED SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CLIMATE RIDE MISSOULA, MT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $31,092 |
| CORP OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS COFAM SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTENATURE IN THE CIT SAN FRANCISCO, CA | RESTRICTED SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| GLIDE FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY SAN FRANCISCO, CA | RESTRICTED SUPPORT | $139,640 |
| HAIGHT ASHBURY FOOD PROGRAM SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| ISLAND CONSERVATION SANTA CRUZ, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
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 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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in March Conservation Fund'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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