The Conservation Fund is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Founded in 1985, the organization specializes in acquiring and protecting at-risk land with high conservation value across all 50 states. The Conservation Fund operates as a conservation real estate organization, purchasing priority natural lands, cultural and historic sites, and working landscapes including forests, farms, and ranches to provide time for permanent conservation to be achieved by long-term partners.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$919.4M
+5.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$20.4M
-54.6% YoY
Grant Count
156
-1.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$131K
-54.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Conservation Fund is in the business of conservation, creating innovative solutions that drive nature-based action for climate protection, sustainable economies, and vibrant communities.
Founding Philosophy: The organization was founded on the principle that environmental protection and economic vitality are mutually reinforcing strategies. The Conservation Fund believes that economic growth without environmental protection is unsustainable, and environmental protection without economic growth is equally unsustainable.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Climate solutions and climate resilience
- Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
- Sustaining working forests and farms
- Supporting strong, prosperous communities
- Enabling the clean energy economy
- Rural economic development
- Access to fresh and healthy food
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Conservation Fund works across all 50 states in the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Revenue: $373 million
- Expenses: $356 million
- Total Assets: $919 million
- Total Liabilities: $438 million
Previous Year Data (2023):
- Total Revenues: $327,435,060
- Total Expenses: $309,335,935
- Total Assets: $874,252,941
Historical Context: Since its founding in 1985, The Conservation Fund has conserved more than 9 million acres across all 50 states with a total appraised value exceeding $8.4 billion through over 3,800 separate transactions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $919,448,710 | $874,252,941 | $858,023,270 |
| Revenue | $373,233,308 | $327,435,060 | $302,251,881 |
| Expenses | $356,216,753 | $309,335,935 | $304,598,275 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $4,528,349 | $5,223,365 | $-4,125,270 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit
CF: Faith & Food Coalitions Grant
THE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Creating New Economies Fund (CNEF) Grant
THE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Saginaw Bay WIN Grants
THE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include City of Atlanta ($5,000,000), Mainspring Conservation Trust Inc ($2,030,227), Land Trust for Louisiana ($1,055,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CITY OF ATLANTA ATLANTA, GA | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES;SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $5,000,000 |
| MAINSPRING CONSERVATION TRUST INC FRANKLIN, NC | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES;SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $2,030,227 |
| LAND TRUST FOR LOUISIANA HAMMOND, LA | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES;SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $1,055,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN WAUSAU, WI | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES;SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $1,000,000 |
| STATE OF MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ANNAPOLIS, MD | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES;SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $987,299 |
| US NAVY WASHINGTON, DC | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES;SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $986,299 |
| CONGAREE LAND TRUST COLUMBIA, SC | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES;SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $810,000 |
| VA DEPT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES RICHMOND, VA | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES;SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $714,500 |
| PRESERVATION VIRGINIA RICHMOND, VA | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES;SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $568,590 |
| STATE OF DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRO DOVER, DE | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES;SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President and CEO: Lawrence A. Selzer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL TISHMAN | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| PAUL E HAGEN | VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| JULIE G BARKER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| GREGORY A BEARD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DAVID P BOZEMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| INGRID C BURKE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| TODD C CARTER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| J STOREY CHARBONNET | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CHARLES A CHERINGTON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KIMBERLEE R CORNETT | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| LUIS A DE LA GARZA | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JENNIFER L HERNANDEZ | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| G WILSON HUGHES | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 9/19/24) | 2 | — |
| SHAMEEK KONAR | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JILL L LONG THOMPSON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| THRUSTON B MORTON III | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KEVYN D ORR | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| C PORTER SCHUTT III | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 9/19/24) | 2 | — |
| JAY F WAGLEY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| RICHARD W WAGNER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMES WHITEHURST | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| LAWRENCE A SELZER | CEO & PRESIDENT | 36.5 | $740,139 |
| JOHN S GILBERT | EVP & CFO | 36.5 | $466,450 |
| MONICA A GARRISON | SVP & TREASURER | 31.5 | $308,170 |
| MARGARET A MCCANTS | BOARD SEC & CON ACQ DIRECTOR | 37.5 | $164,284 |
| DEAN H CANNON | EVP & GENERAL COUNSEL | 36.5 | $476,430 |
| MATTHEW S SEXTON | SVP CONSERVATION ACQUISITION | 37.5 | $329,653 |
| BLAINE T PHILLIPS JR | SVP CON ACQ (UNTIL 6/30/24) | 37.5 | $212,261 |
| MARK W ELSBREE | SVP CONSERVATION ACQUISITION | 37.5 | $329,313 |
| EVAN H SMITH | SVP CONSERVATION VENTURES | 37.5 | $320,060 |
| CHRISTOPHER D BELL | DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL | 37.5 | $274,399 |
| ERIK J MEYERS | VP CLIMATE AND WATER SUSTAINABILITY | 37.5 | $273,050 |
| ELIZABETH PALMER | VP OF HUMAN RESOURCES | 37.5 | $309,633 |
| KELLY M REED | SVP GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | 37.5 | $327,445 |
| BRIAN J DANGLER | SVP & DIRECTOR OF WORKING FOREST FUND | 37.5 | $308,194 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit fund?
**Mission:** The Conservation Fund is in the business of conservation, creating innovative solutions that drive nature-based action for climate protection, sustainable economies, and vibrant communities. **Founding Philosophy:** The organization was founded on the principle that environmental protection and economic vitality are mutually reinforcing strategies. The Conservation Fund believes that economic growth without environmental protection is unsustainable, and environmental protection wit…
Where does The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit make grants?
The Conservation Fund works across all 50 states in the United States.
What size grants does The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit award?
In 2024, The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit awarded 156 grants totaling $20.4M — an average of about $131K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit's EIN?
The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1388917. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit'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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