The Biophilia Foundation Inc is a 501(c)(3) operating foundation established in 1999 and tax-exempt since March 2002. Based in Chester, Maryland, the foundation advances biodiversity conservation on private lands through systemic change, community engagement, and direct action. The organization operates programs and awards grants to conservation organizations working to protect and restore wildlife habitat.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.7M
-18.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$876K
+16.7% YoY
Grant Count
18
-5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
+23.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Biophilia Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $33K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Advancing biodiversity conservation on private lands by fostering systemic change through people, their communities, and direct action.
The foundation focuses on four primary focal areas:
- Private Land Conservation — Initiatives in often-overlooked areas where protection makes the greatest difference, complementing government and community-protected lands
- Watershed Restoration — Low-tech, process-based stream restoration efforts, particularly in the arid southwest where watersheds have experienced extensive degradation
- Restoration Economies — Development of a regenerative economic sector, including groundwork for carbon credit finance for dryland riparian restoration
- Conservation Policy — Funding initiatives that advance innovative environmental policy supporting wilderness, rewilding, restoration, and nature-based solutions
Grantmaking
First-time grants to organizations generally range from $5,000 to $25,000, though the foundation occasionally makes larger or multi-year grants to organizations with which it has longer-term partnerships.
Grant Range
s and Types:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses its giving on the United States with particular interest in the arid Southwest and the Chesapeake Bay region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,674,077
- Total Revenues: $1,058,828
- Total Expenses: $1,408,263
- Total Giving: $875,997
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $4,53M
- Total Revenues: $1.01M
- Total Expenses: $1.23M
- Total Liabilities: $7.96k
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,674,077 | $4,530,717 | $5,108,993 |
| Revenue | $1,058,828 | $1,007,525 | $2,089,392 |
| Expenses | $1,408,263 | $1,234,255 | $1,334,083 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,391,469 | $1,189,828 | $1,307,024 |
| Net Investment Income | $524,642 | $407,129 | $959,277 |
| Distributable Amount | $32,665 | $88,650 | $77,139 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Biophilia Foundation Inc
Biophilia Foundation Grants
THE BIOPHILIA FOUNDATION INC
Amount
US $5,000 - US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ejido Grant Program
THE BIOPHILIA FOUNDATION INC
Amount
US $5,000 - US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Riverscape Restoration Initiative Grant
THE BIOPHILIA FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Up to US $100,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rocky Mountain Wolf Project ($100,248), Wild Earth Society Dba Wildlands Network ($100,000), Colorado Nature League ($85,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHESAPEAKE WILDLIFE HERITAGE INC EASTON, MD | HABITAT/LAND CONSERVATION | $75,000 |
| COLORADO NATURE LEAGUE DENVER, CO | HABITAT/LAND CONSERVATION | $85,000 |
| THE WILD FOUNDATION BOULDER, CO | HABITAT/LAND CONSERVATION | $12,000 |
| NORTH AMERICAN ORCHID CONSERVATION CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | HABITAT/LAND CONSERVATION | $23,119 |
| PATAGONIA AREA RESOURCE ALLIANCE PATAGONIA, AZ | HABITAT/LAND CONSERVATION | $5,000 |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN WOLF PROJECT DURANGO, CO | HABITAT/LAND CONSERVATION | $100,248 |
| SAGELAND COLLABORATIVE SALT LAKE CITY, UT | HABITAT/LAND CONSERVATION | $80,000 |
| WILD EARTH SOCIETY DBA WILDLANDS NETWORK SALT LAKE CITY, UT | HABITAT/LAND CONSERVATION | $100,000 |
| YELLOWSTONE TO UINTAS CONNECTION MENDON, UT | HABITAT/LAND CONSERVATION | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN RIVERS INC WASHINGTON, DC | HABITAT/LAND CONSERVATION | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Richard Pritzlaff — Founder and Chair
Dr. Pritzlaff is a conservation biologist with extensive experience in wildlife habitat restoration. From 1993 to 2002, he raised funds and managed wildlife habitat restoration and conservation projects while working for Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage. During the mid-1990s, he substantially initiated the Maryland Department of Environment's Water Quality Linked-Deposit Loan Program through a demonstration project funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. He was appointed by the Governor to the Maryland Wetlands Restoration Steering Committee and served as a Project Manager for the Trust for Public Land in 2002-2003. Since 2004, he has served as full-time President of the Biophilia Foundation.
Dr. Pritzlaff holds a PhD from Prescott College, an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University, and a B.S. in Engineering Science from Vanderbilt University. He has served on the boards of Wildlands Network and Defenders of Wildlife, among other conservation organizations.
The foundation employs 3 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD G PRITZLAFF | CHAIRMAN | 5 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER B PUPKE | SECRETARY AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $70,118 |
| JENNIFER GOODEN | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 40 | $110,711 |
| GREG COSTELLO | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| HERB GROVER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DENNIS WHIGHAM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to expand its restoration work, with recent initiatives including:
2024 Riverscape Restoration RFP | Biophilia FoundationA new LTPBR (Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration) workforce report highlighting opportunities to develop the riverscape restoration workforce
2024 Riverscape Restoration RFP | Biophilia FoundationCommunity engagement projects, including a 'serious game' prompting community conversations in Sonora
Ongoing special projects including Carbon Credits for Riparian Restoration, the Pritzlaff Ranch, and the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Biophilia Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** Advancing biodiversity conservation on private lands by fostering systemic change through people, their communities, and direct action. The foundation focuses on four primary focal areas: • **Private Land Conservation** — Initiatives in often-overlooked areas where protection makes the greatest difference, complementing government and community-protected lands • **Watershed Restoration** — Low-tech, process-based stream restoration efforts, particularly in the arid southwest where …
How do I apply for a grant from The Biophilia Foundation Inc?
**Grant Sizes and Types:** First-time grants to organizations generally range from $5,000 to $25,000, though the foundation occasionally makes larger or multi-year grants to organizations with which it has longer-term partnerships. **Application Process:** The Biophilia Foundation seeks out potential grant recipients and does not maintain an open application process. Organizations may submit a one- to two-page letter of inquiry to Chris Pupke that includes: • Introduction to the organization an…
Where does The Biophilia Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation focuses its giving on the United States with particular interest in the arid Southwest and the Chesapeake Bay region.
What size grants does The Biophilia Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Biophilia Foundation Inc awarded 18 grants totaling $876K — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Biophilia Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Biophilia Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $33K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Biophilia Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Biophilia Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2199334. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Biophilia Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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