Rachel's Network Inc
Rachel’s Network Inc is a Washington, DC-based public charity, formed in 1999, that supports women leaders working for a healthier, safer, and more just world. Its programs combine grantmaking with leadership development, education, and relationship-building for women environmental leaders and funders.
Rachel's Network Inc at a glance
In short: Rachel's Network Inc gave $150K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), top state Illinois. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $150,000
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,000
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,910,217
- +2.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (13% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Rachel's Network Inc
- Review Cycle
- December 31, 2026, listed for the Catalyst Award.
- Deadline
- December 31, 2026, listed for the Catalyst Award.
- Next open deadline
- December 31, 2026 (Catalyst Award)
- Contact
Mailing address: 1250 24Th St Nw 610, Washington, DC 20037
Phone: (202) 659-0846
Website: https://rachelsnetwork.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Rachel's Network Inc
Catalyst Award
Rachel's Network Inc
Amount
Varies by year; ~$1 million total distributed across awardees and finalists
Deadline
Expected ~December
Based on past cycles
Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award - Organizational Grant
Rachel's Network Inc
Amount
US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award - Personal Grant
Rachel's Network Inc
Amount
US $15,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Rachel's Network Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Urban Growers Collective ($10K). Together the top 10 received $100K.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 61 grants of 62 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Catalyst Award’s stated geographic scope is national, for US-based organizations. Rachel’s Network’s 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple locations, including Illinois, the District of Columbia, Texas, Washington, New Mexico, Maryland, Virginia, Alaska, Massachusetts, New York, and Guam.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Rachel's Network Inc open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 $44K (2021) to $353K (2023). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $150K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Growers Collective Chicago, IL | Catalyst Award | $10,000 |
| Black in Marine Science Spokane, WA | Catalyst Award | $10,000 |
| Children's Environmental Health Network Washington, DC | Catalyst Award | $10,000 |
| Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network Albuquerque, NM | Catalyst Award | $10,000 |
| The Chisholm Legacy Project Baltimore, MD | Catalyst Award | $10,000 |
| Bayou City Waterkeeper Houston, TX | Catalyst Award | $10,000 |
| Conservation International Arlington, VA | Catalyst Award | $10,000 |
| Aleut Community of St Paul Island St. Paul, AK | Catalyst Award | $10,000 |
| Boston Farms Community Land Trust Roxbury, MA | Catalyst Award | $10,000 |
| Tri-State Transportation Campaign New York, NY | Catalyst Award | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,910,217 | $2,193,936 | $1,785,562 | $150,000 | 15 | $62,880 |
| 2024 | $1,861,917 | $1,564,200 | $1,811,532 | $175,043 | 15 | $64,480 |
| 2023 | $1,750,004 | $1,880,544 | $2,110,881 | $353,321 | 17 | $48,179 |
| 2022 | $1,967,132 | $1,794,963 | $1,686,282 | $90,000 | 9 | $37,331 |
| 2021 | $2,076,347 | $1,486,003 | $1,073,077 | $44,475 | 6 | $52,545 |
| 2020 | $1,698,936 | $1,182,597 | $1,115,405 | $114,179 | 7 | $17,237 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Rachel’s Network’s stated mission is to promote women as agents of change dedicated to stewardship of the earth. Its programs aim to cultivate leadership, philanthropic knowledge, and understanding of critical issues. The organization prioritizes women of color in environmental leadership and describes its work as addressing racial inequality in environmental funding.
Its 2025 grants supported organizations working on a range of environmental and community issues. For example, Urban Growers Collective says its work addresses inequities and structural racism in the food system through urban agriculture. Bayou City Waterkeeper says it protects Houston-area waters and communities through legal action, community science, and grassroots policy. Black in Marine Science says its mission is to celebrate, educate, and amplify while building an inclusive community that addresses underrepresentation in the field. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not Rachel’s Network’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Rachel’s Network reported 15 grants totaling $150,000. Each listed grant was $10,000. The organization’s filing says grant funds are sent unrestricted for grantees to use as they see fit, with communication encouraged before, during, and after distribution.
Among the 2025 recipients were Urban Growers Collective in Chicago, Children’s Environmental Health Network in Washington, DC, Bayou City Waterkeeper in Houston, Black in Marine Science in Spokane, and the Chisholm Legacy Project in Baltimore; each received $10,000. Other listed recipients included Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network, Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, Boston Farms Community Land Trust, Conservation International, Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, Rio Grande International Study Center, and Tri-State Transportation Campaign, each at $10,000.
The Catalyst Award, launched in 2019, provides women environmental leaders of color with a $15,000 personal award and, if applicable, a $10,000 grant to an affiliated organization, along with leadership services and public recognition. Rachel’s Network reported recognizing six awardees and six finalists in 2025. Its website describes the award as intended for women of color, with priority for those at the midpoint of their careers; applicants may apply or nominate someone. The website says former Catalyst Awardees select recipients, with applications also reviewed by an advisory group. It does not specify application materials or restrictions beyond the stated eligibility.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rakefet Kasdin as chair, Molly Ross as vice chair, Josie Gabel as treasurer, and Florence Liddell as secretary. Directors listed are Martha Davis, Barbara Gonzalez-McIntosh, Tacy Hahn, Annel Hernandez, Maria Kolby-Wolfe, and Alice Liddell.
Rachel's Network Inc is led by Fern Shepard, President on every filing since 2020; 5 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Fern Shepard
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $166K (2025)
Rakefet Kasdin
Chair
Chair → Board Chair, 2024
Board Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hannan Sheikh
Finance Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$101K (2024) → $106K (2025)
Jamie Boese
Program Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$103K (2024) → $106K (2025)
Shreya Durvasula
Catalyst Program Director
Program Director → Catalyst Program Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$101K (2024) → $106K (2025)
Sarah Walker
Membership & Development Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$106K (2025)
Barbara Gonzalez-McIntosh
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elena Marszalek
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha Davis
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alice Liddell
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tacy Hahn
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Annel Hernandez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Autumn Saxton-Ross
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Kolby-Wolfe
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nikki Traylor-Knowles
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Necochea
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Florence Liddell
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Molly Ross
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Josie Gabel
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Ann Hunter-Welborn (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Lisa Holmes (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Jan Montgomery (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Kimberly Milligan (2024) — Director
- Former: Rossie Pope-Meyer (2024) — Director
- Former: Rosamond Pope-Meyer (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Kim Milligan (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Anna Lawson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Janet Miller (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kim Bendheim (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Marcia Angle (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Diane Lewis (2021) — Director
- Former: Jane Gray (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $166K, to Fern Shepard (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Rachel's Network Inc
How much does Rachel's Network Inc give each year?
Rachel's Network Inc gave $150K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $175K across 15 grants.
What is Rachel's Network Inc's typical grant size?
Rachel's Network Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,000, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rachel's Network Inc that year got $10K on average.
Where does Rachel's Network Inc give grants?
Rachel's Network Inc's top state is Illinois, with 13% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were District of Columbia (13%) and Texas (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Rachel's Network Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Rachel's Network Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Catalyst Award" (15 grants).
Who are Rachel's Network Inc's largest grantees?
Rachel's Network Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Urban Growers Collective ($10,000), Black in Marine Science ($10,000) and Children's Environmental Health Network ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Rachel's Network Inc?
Rachel's Network Inc reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.2M.
What does Rachel's Network Inc fund?
Rachel’s Network’s stated mission is to promote women as agents of change dedicated to stewardship of the earth. Its programs aim to cultivate leadership, philanthropic knowledge, and understanding of critical issues. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rachel's Network Inc?
Rachel's Network Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check rachelsnetwork.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Rachel's Network Inc's EIN?
Rachel's Network Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1644905. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rachel's Network Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rachel-s-network-inc-morg_42d13613162c4724938f8bff762dad39
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311644905_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rachel's Network Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rachel-s-network-inc-morg_42d13613162c4724938f8bff762dad39},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Rachel's Network Inc'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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