Ncasi Foundation
NCASI Foundation is a public charity based in Cary, North Carolina. Established in 2000 and relaunched in 2019, it is a supporting organization for the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. (NCASI), operating to further NCASI’s charitable purposes through work that can be shared publicly.
Ncasi Foundation at a glance
In short: Ncasi Foundation gave $1.8M across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $117K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,760,591
- +62.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $117,373
- +29.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $65,418
- Total assets
- $1,210,347
- -24.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Ncasi Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for extramural research at this time. It works with NCASI staff, member companies, and external partners to identify sponsored research opportunities. For proposals suited to the Foundation, it assesses sponsor and partner requirements and may serve as the contracting organization when a 501(c)(3) is required. Projects must have a scope of work and a publicly shareable outcome or product that supports an NCASI goal; the Foundation says it does not operate solely as a pass-through entity.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1513 Walnut Street Suite 200, Cary, NC 27511
Phone: (919) 941-6400
Website: https://ncasifoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Ncasi Foundation
Who Ncasi Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Inc ($866K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 44 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes its work as supporting environmental and forestry-related research throughout the United States and Canada. The PSAE Phase I RFP has national scope. In 2025, 53% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 12% to Maine, 5% each to Massachusetts and New York, and 4% to Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ncasi Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $290K (2020) to $1.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Inc Cary, NC | Retained structures forestry experiment (manipulating retained structures to improve wildlife value),technical work to improve the science and risk assessment processes in national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) reviews,biodiversity in natural and managed early seral forests of southern Oregon,develop a carbon and water calculator for sfi lands,developing a pacific marten habitat connectivity model for lassen national forest (CA)forest carnivore dispersal and prey (martens & fishers) (influence of forest management on biodiversity)(slash pile small mammal sampling)pollinator researchblack-backed woodpecker demographic rates in an understudied habitat: unburned conifer forestintensive forest management avian diversity and abundance | $865,862 |
| Office of Research Aministration University of Maine Orono, ME | Collaborative at-risk species projects with the U.S. fish & wildlife service | $203,638 |
| University of Massachusetts Hadley, MA | A Unified Approach to Evolving Fia's Estimation Capacity. | $87,729 |
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY | Collaborative at-risk species projects with the U.S. fish & wildlife service | $85,083 |
| Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | Support the Programs of Oregon State University | $79,197 |
| West Virginia University Research Corporation Morgantown, WV | Collaborative at-risk species projects with the U.S. fish & wildlife service | $76,970 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | A Unified Approach to Evolving Fia's Estimation Capacity. | $72,326 |
| Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | A Unified Approach to Evolving Fia's Estimation Capacity. | $65,418 |
| Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS | A Unified Approach to Evolving Fia's Estimation Capacity. | $54,608 |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SD | A Unified Approach to Evolving Fia's Estimation Capacity. | $53,689 |
Ready to take the next step with Ncasi Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990 (a public charity).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,210,347 | $2,146,693 | $1,878,360 | $1,760,591 | 15 | $20,143 |
| 2024 | $1,596,542 | $1,109,424 | $1,269,348 | $1,085,228 | 12 | $6,151 |
| 2023 | $1,469,945 | $1,729,336 | $1,465,840 | $1,262,976 | 5 | $519 |
| 2022 | $1,033,944 | $882,862 | $967,864 | $951,565 | 6 | $81 |
| 2021 | $793,650 | $861,754 | $672,749 | $664,756 | 6 | $60 |
| 2020 | $548,987 | $662,814 | $378,927 | $290,014 | 2 | $195 |
| 2019 | $179,395 | $166,650 | $2,005 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to support environmental science and data to promote the sustainable use of earth’s resources, inform regulatory policy, educate, and carry out NCASI’s charitable activities. Its projects include work on biodiversity and at-risk species, forestry and forest inventory, sustainability, air, and risk assessment and human health.
Its 2025 grants included research on wildlife habitat and biodiversity, at-risk species, forest resource estimation, and air-quality standards. The Foundation also describes projects on forest health, invasive species, and climate-related threats.
Grantees include universities and research, conservation, and other organizations. For example, the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement describes its mission as providing technical information and scientific research to the forest products industry to help it achieve environmental goals. American Conservation Experience says it provides environmental service opportunities to help restore public lands. West Virginia University describes its research corporation as supporting university research and helping develop and manage inventions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 15 grants totaling $1,760,591. Grants ranged from $10,612 to $865,862, with a median grant of $65,418.
The largest reported grant was $865,862 to the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement for a portfolio of projects, including retained-structure forestry research, air-quality standards work, biodiversity research, and a carbon and water calculator. Other large grants included $203,638 to the University of Maine for collaborative at-risk species projects with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; $87,729 to the University of Massachusetts for a unified approach to evolving FIA’s estimation capacity; and $85,083 to Cornell University for collaborative at-risk species projects with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
The Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis program have partnered on the Partnership for Small Area Estimation (PSAE). The partnership has released a Phase I RFP seeking research on national forest inventory-based small area estimation, including methods combining remote sensing with inventory data to improve estimates for small areas or time periods.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Suzanne Cuthbert as chairman; Tammerah Garren as treasurer; Ann Bartuska, Nina Butler, Tom Fox, Heidi Erickson, and Maria Janowiak as board members; Vipin Varma as president/CEO; and Susan McCord as secretary/director, NCASI.
The Foundation’s website identifies Angela Sexton as senior manager and Darren Miller, PhD, as director of research programs.
Ncasi Foundation is led by Vipin Varma, President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2024); none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Vipin Varma
President & CEO
Incoming President & CEO → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Cuthbert
Chairman
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan McCord
Secretary, Director & Ncasi
Secretary → Secretary, Director & Ncasi Foundation, 2023
Secretary, Director & Ncasi Foundation → Secretary, Director & Ncasi, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nina Butler
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tammerah Garren
Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2020
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Bartuska
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Fox
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Erickson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Janowiak
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Dirk Krouskop (2019–2024) — Outgoing President & CEO
- Former: Traylor Champion (2021–2023) — Chairman
- Former: Becky Humphries (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Thomas Stigers (2019–2020) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Ncasi Foundation
How much does Ncasi Foundation give each year?
Ncasi Foundation gave $1.8M across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 12 grants.
What is Ncasi Foundation's typical grant size?
Ncasi Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $65,418, and its average grant was $117,373, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Ncasi Foundation give grants?
Ncasi Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maine (12%).
Does Ncasi Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Ncasi Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "A Unified Approach to Evolving Fia's Estimation Capacity." (8 grants).
Who are Ncasi Foundation's largest grantees?
Ncasi Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Inc ($865,862), Office of Research Aministration University of Maine ($203,638) and University of Massachusetts ($87,729), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ncasi Foundation?
Ncasi Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.1M.
What does Ncasi Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to support environmental science and data to promote the sustainable use of earth’s resources, inform regulatory policy, educate, and carry out NCASI’s charitable activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ncasi Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for extramural research at this time. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ncasi Foundation's EIN?
Ncasi Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1745612. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Ncasi Foundation 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 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 9, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ncasi Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ncasi Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ncasi-foundation-morg_2d881b18bdd041a18a1fcba8faf5f242
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311745612_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ncasi Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ncasi-foundation-morg_2d881b18bdd041a18a1fcba8faf5f242},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Ncasi Foundation'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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