Oak Spring Garden Foundation
Oak Spring Garden Foundation is a private foundation based in Upperville, Virginia. It supports scholarship and public dialogue on the history and future of plants, gardens, and landscapes, and the importance of plants for human well-being.
Oak Spring Garden Foundation at a glance
In short: Oak Spring Garden Foundation gave $193K across 80 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), top state California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $193,425
- +41.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 80
- -3.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,418
- +46.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,600
- Total assets
- $312,272,683
- +5.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (10% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Oak Spring Garden Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 1776 Loughborough Lane, Upperville, VA 20184
Phone: (540) 592-3159
Website: https://www.osgf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Oak Spring Garden Foundation
Eliza Moore Fellowship Grant
Oak Spring Garden Foundation
Amount
US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Plant Conservation Biology Fellowship Grant
Oak Spring Garden Foundation
Amount
US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Plant Science Research Fellowship Grant
Oak Spring Garden Foundation
Amount
US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Oak Spring Garden Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Juliane Shibata Arts LLC ($2K). Together the top 5 received $6K.
Organizations only. It also paid 75 grants to individuals ($187,175), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
279 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 279 grants of 279 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports grant recipients in several states, including California, New Hampshire, Illinois, and New York. It does not establish a geographic focus for the foundation.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 80 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Oak Spring Garden Foundation gives
- Giving grew 89% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $79K (2020) to $193K (2024). In 2024 it made 80 grants totaling $193K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 47 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $164,575 |
| Juliane Shibata Arts LLC Northfield, MN | 2024 Interdisciplinary Residency | $2,000 |
| Stephanie Sin-Yun Shih DBA Thisissh Los Angeles, CA | 2024 Interdisciplinary Residency | $2,000 |
| Richard Vanderplas DBA Edenopolis L New York, NY | Culinary Residency 2024 | $1,600 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation reported 80 grants in 2024, 83 in 2023, and 57 in 2022.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $312,272,683 | $27,807,008 | $12,401,296 | $193,425 | 80 | $10,159,740 | $25,721,117 |
| 2023 | $295,388,979 | $5,780,293 | $11,822,114 | $136,624 | 83 | $10,037,011 | $4,138,046 |
| 2022 | $269,149,968 | $5,436,061 | $11,246,354 | $122,721 | 57 | $8,083,017 | $2,924,344 |
| 2021 | $320,424,904 | $24,563,668 | $9,959,325 | $102,234 | 35 | $9,211,051 | $22,508,208 |
| 2020 | $299,222,622 | $7,460,765 | $9,720,814 | $79,148 | 24 | — | $6,105,210 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to perpetuate and share Rachel (“Bunny”) Lambert Mellon’s residence, garden, estate, and Oak Spring Garden Library in service of the public interest. It aims to inspire and facilitate scholarship and public dialogue on plants, garden and landscape culture, and plants’ importance to human well-being. Its stated guiding principles are theory and practice, underrepresented voices, and interdisciplinarity.
The foundation’s programs include fellowships for early-career artists, scholars, and practitioners working in areas such as artistic practice, bibliographic study, plant science, and plant conservation biology. Its residencies welcome people working on creative projects connected to plants, landscapes, gardens, the natural world, or humankind’s place in it. Its 2024 filing also describes direct charitable activities involving garden and building upkeep, conservation and library operations, and emerging leaders and local outreach.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 80 grants totaling $193,425. The median grant was $1,600; individual grants ranged from $150 to $15,000. The largest reported award was a $15,000 grant to an individual recipient for a plant conservation and plant science research sabbatical program. Other examples include $10,175 to an individual recipient for the Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence, and $10,000 individual-recipient awards for the Stacy Lloyd Fellowship for Bibliographic Studies, the an individual recipient Biology Fellowship, and a Plant Science Research Fellowship.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website also describes application-based fellowships and residencies. The 2027 program application cycle is closed; the website states that 2028 applications are scheduled to open February 14, 2027, through May 31, 2027. Fellowships are for early-career practitioners and include a $10,000 individual grant and a required two-to-five-week stay on site. Residencies are open to practitioners at different career stages and include smaller individual grants. Applications are reviewed by foundation staff, alumni, and external selection committees, with applicants scored on work samples, potential, and connection to the foundation’s mission.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Peter Crane as president; Stephanie Murdaugh as treasurer; W. Taylor Reveley III, JD, as chairman; and Lewis W. Bernard, Dorothy Robinson, JD, Rebecca Duseau, Michael Donoghue, Marcia Marsh, Julia Reidhead, and Lisa Hess as board members.
Oak Spring Garden Foundation is led by Peter Crane, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Peter Crane
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$567K (2020) → $613K (2024)
W. Taylor Reveley III JD
Chairman
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Murdaugh
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$96K (2023) → $116K (2024)
Dorothy Robinson JD
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lewis W. Bernard
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Duseau
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julia Reidhead
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcia Marsh
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Donoghue
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Hess
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Tony Willis (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Thomas E. Lovejoy PhD (2020–2021) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $613K, to Peter Crane (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Oak Spring Garden Foundation
How much does Oak Spring Garden Foundation give each year?
Oak Spring Garden Foundation gave $193K across 80 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $137K across 83 grants.
What is Oak Spring Garden Foundation's typical grant size?
Oak Spring Garden Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,600, and its average grant was $2,418, across 80 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Oak Spring Garden Foundation give grants?
Oak Spring Garden Foundation's top state is California, with 10% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Hampshire (10%) and Illinois (9%).
Does Oak Spring Garden Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 80 grants with a stated purpose on Oak Spring Garden Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "2024 Interdisciplinary Residency" (27 grants), "2024 Perennial Residency Program" (14 grants) and "2024 Winter Perennial Residency Session" (9 grants).
Who are Oak Spring Garden Foundation's largest grantees?
Oak Spring Garden Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Juliane Shibata Arts LLC ($2,000), Stephanie Sin-Yun Shih DBA Thisissh ($2,000) and Richard Vanderplas DBA Edenopolis L ($1,600), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 75 grants to individuals ($187,175), which are not listed by name. Together they received 3% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Oak Spring Garden Foundation?
Oak Spring Garden Foundation reported $312.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $27.8M.
What does Oak Spring Garden Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to perpetuate and share Rachel (“Bunny”) Lambert Mellon’s residence, garden, estate, and Oak Spring Garden Library in service of the public interest. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Oak Spring Garden Foundation?
Oak Spring Garden Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check osgf.org for any change to that policy.
What is Oak Spring Garden Foundation's EIN?
Oak Spring Garden Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1672141. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Oak Spring Garden 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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