New Priorities Foundation
New Priorities Foundation is a private foundation based in Berkeley, California. Its 2023 filing lists grants to organizations in Washington, Montana, and California, supporting work that includes environmental conservation, climate, community food access, and social change.
New Priorities Foundation at a glance
In short: New Priorities Foundation gave $340K across 12 grants in 2023 (avg $28K), mostly in Washington. 25% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $340,000
- -27.7% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 12
- -25.0% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $28,333
- -3.5% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $12,316,500
- +11.6% vs 2022
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (54% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to New Priorities Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 127 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone: (510) 841-4123
Website: https://www.newpriorities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who New Priorities Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Inland Northwest Land Conservancy ($50K). Together the top 10 received $325K.
Grant Size Distribution
67 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 67 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, 54% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, 25% to Montana, and 21% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is New Priorities Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 3 of 12 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 75% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2020 to 2023 (−7%). Method
- In 2023 it paid out 69% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). 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 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $340K (2023) to $555K (2021). In 2023 it made 12 grants totaling $340K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Inland Northwest Land Conservancy Spokane, WA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Gonzaga University Spokane, WA | Gonzaga Center for Climate, Society & the Environment | $50,000 |
| Spokane Alliance United Spokane, WA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Common Good Montana Missoula, MT | General Support | $40,000 |
| Earthjustice San Francisco, CA | General Support | $30,000 |
| Garden City Harvest Missoula, MT | General Support | $25,000 |
| The Lands Council Spokane, WA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Earth Island Institute Berkeley, CA | CalCAN | $25,000 |
| Women's Voices for the Earth Missoula, MT | General Support | $20,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Spokane Spokane, WA | Healthy Food Access & Gardening | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $12,316,500 | $386,346 | $447,065 | $340,000 | 12 | $374,846 | $321,540 | $545,165 |
| 2022 | $11,032,754 | $602,347 | $593,438 | $470,000 | 16 | $503,500 | $533,329 | $574,478 |
| 2021 | $13,713,342 | $1,802,879 | $676,978 | $555,000 | 18 | $587,903 | $1,479,318 | $572,637 |
| 2020 | $11,994,683 | $1,076,093 | $460,886 | $366,350 | 21 | — | $1,014,362 | $499,104 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, New Priorities Foundation reported a distributable amount of $545K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state the foundation’s own mission. Its 2023 grants show support for organizations working on varied activities. For example, Earthjustice describes its mission as using law and partnership to protect health, places, and wildlife, advance clean energy, and combat climate change. The Lands Council says it works to preserve and revitalize Inland Northwest forests, water, and wildlife. Garden City Harvest describes its mission as creating a healthy community by planting seeds and growing together.
Other grantees describe work that includes advancing a just transition to healthy, resilient local economies (Movement Generation); serving and advocating for vulnerable people in Eastern Washington (Catholic Charities of Spokane); and supporting environmental initiatives (Earth Island Institute).
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation gave $340,000 through 12 grants. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $25,000.
Notable 2023 grants included $50,000 each to Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, Gonzaga University’s Center for Climate, Society & the Environment, and Spokane Alliance United; $40,000 to Common Good Montana; and $30,000 to Earthjustice. Other grants included $25,000 each to Garden City Harvest, The Lands Council, and Earth Island Institute; $20,000 to Women’s Voices for the Earth; and $10,000 each to Catholic Charities of Spokane and Movement Generation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2023 filing lists Nancy G Schaub as president and director; Anne Schaub Watson as secretary and director; David Schaub as treasurer and director; Tim Schaub as director; and Dion Griffin as CFO.
New Priorities Foundation is led by Nancy G Schaub, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Nancy G Schaub
President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Schaub Watson
Sect'y & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Schaub
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Schaub
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dion Griffin
CFO
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Benita Kline (2020) — Assistant Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "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 New Priorities Foundation
How much does New Priorities Foundation give each year?
New Priorities Foundation gave $340K across 12 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $470K across 16 grants.
What is New Priorities Foundation's typical grant size?
New Priorities Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $25,000, and its average grant was $28,333, across 12 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from New Priorities Foundation that year got $38K on average.
Where does New Priorities Foundation give grants?
New Priorities Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Montana (25%) and California (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Spokane, WA (5 grants) and Missoula, MT (3 grants).
Does New Priorities Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of New Priorities Foundation's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are New Priorities Foundation's largest grantees?
New Priorities Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include Inland Northwest Land Conservancy ($50,000), Gonzaga University ($50,000) and Spokane Alliance United ($50,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
How large is New Priorities Foundation?
New Priorities Foundation reported $12.3M in total assets on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $375K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $545K (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 does New Priorities Foundation fund?
The available information does not state the foundation’s own mission. Its 2023 grants show support for organizations working on varied activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from New Priorities Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is New Priorities Foundation's EIN?
New Priorities Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1805939. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Does New Priorities 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-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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