Nature Defense Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HEALDSBURG, CA. IRS filing data is available for 2020. In 2020, it awarded 18 grants totaling $591K. Net investment income was $930K.
Financial Overview
From 2020 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$591K
Grant Count
18
Avg Grant Size
$33K
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nature Defense Foundation reported a distributable amount of $450K for 2020 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Nature Defense Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Nature Defense Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HEALDSBURG, CA. IRS filing data is available for 2020. In 2020, it awarded 18 grants totaling $591K. Net investment income was $930K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | — |
| Revenue | $993,725 |
| Expenses | $706,964 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — |
| Net Investment Income | $930,022 |
| Distributable Amount | $450,450 |
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 2020
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2020 grants, the largest include Sindisa Sanctuary ($433,525), Return to Freedom Inc ($70,000), Generation Awakening ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| RETURN TO FREEDOM INC LOMPOC, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $70,000 |
| SINDISA SANCTUARY HEALDSBURG, CA | SUPPORT ANIMAL SANCTUARY | $433,525 |
| FOUR PAWS INTERNATIONAL BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ANIMAL RECOVERY MISSION MIAMI BEACH, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| SPCA INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK, NY | GENERALSUPPORT | $5,000 |
| THE WHALE SANCTUARY PROJECT KANAB, UT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION TOLUCA LAKE, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| SHADOW'S FUND LOMPOC, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| PEACEFUL VALLEY DONKEY MILES, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| SAVE THE REDWOODS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2020 IRS filing
From 2020 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARAH M SHAW | PRES. & DIRE | 15 | — |
| BRIAN GAINSFORD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| EMILY FOX HARRISON | SEC. & DIREC | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nature Defense Foundation?
Nature Defense Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HEALDSBURG, CA. It holds — in total assets as of 2020.
Where does Nature Defense Foundation operate?
Nature Defense Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Utah.
What size grants does Nature Defense Foundation award?
In 2020, Nature Defense Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $591K — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Nature Defense Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, Nature Defense Foundation reported a distributable amount of $450K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Nature Defense Foundation's EIN?
Nature Defense Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5062500. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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