The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation
The G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation is a private foundation based in New York City, established in 1957. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and focuses on supporting research and operational initiatives in earth sciences, marine and ocean conservation, climate change, and wildlife management.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$47.2M
-11.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.9M
-3.8% YoY
Grant Count
42
-8.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$213K
+5.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational initiatives in New York, elsewhere in the USA, and throughout the world.
Primary funding interests include:
- Geophysics
- Climate studies and atmospheric sciences
- Wildlife management
- Marine biology and fisheries
- Oceanography
- Earth sciences research
The foundation also established the Vetlesen Prize in 1959, a biennial international science award for discoveries in the earth sciences. The foundation additionally supports public policy research, libraries, and cultural organizations, including those emphasizing Norwegian-American relations and maritime interests.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
& Range:** Most grants range from $10,000 to $700,000, with typical awards between $15,000 and $1,750,000.
Grant Types
How to Apply
** As of March 1, 2021, the foundation no longer accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry (LOI) or proposals. All grants are initiated internally by the foundation.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects in the USA and internationally, with a particular emphasis on developing countries in natural and earth sciences. Recent grant activity indicates support for institutions in New York, Florida, and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $47,176,066
- Total Revenues: $3,984,307
- Total Expenses: $9,964,892
- Total Giving: $8,925,000
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $53.2M
- Total Revenues: $9.77M
- Total Expenses: $10.2M
- Total Liabilities: $0
Staffing: The foundation operates with 1 employee.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $47,176,066 | $53,156,624 | $53,593,311 |
| Revenue | $3,984,307 | $9,767,382 | $2,130,696 |
| Expenses | $9,964,892 | $10,204,069 | $10,768,620 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,087,328 | $9,460,262 | $9,920,372 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,106,743 | $9,099,565 | $1,866,992 |
| Distributable Amount | $11,668,049 | $9,434,179 | $9,270,558 |
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
228 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMBROSE K MONELL | PRESIDENT & TREASURER | 10 | — |
| DR GARY K BEAUCHAMP | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MAURIZIO J MORELLO | EXEC V.P. & ASST. TREAS. | 10 | $159,233 |
| MAIA MONELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported notable marine research initiatives, including:
A gift to enhance global exploration in the Caribbean Sea through Rutgers University's Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences
RUCOOL Awarded Gift to Enhance Global Exploration in the ...Support for the Challenger Glider Mission through Rutgers University's Coastal Ocean Observation Lab (RUCOOL)
Challenger Glider Mission Receives Award from the G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation\Recognition from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for the foundation's support of oceanographic research
G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation Honored by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution\Related Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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