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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Monell Chemical Senses Center ($1,750,000), Wildlife Conservation Society ($1,000,000), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN-SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| ATLANTIC SALMON FEDERATION CALAIS, ME | $37,500 FOR GENERAL PURPOSES AND $12,500 FOR WORK IN GREENLAND | $50,000 |
| ATLANTIC SALMON TRUST | GENERAL PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| BERMUDA INSTITUTE OF OCEAN SCIENCES | GENERAL PURPOSES | $150,000 |
| BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES EAST BOOTHBAY, ME | FOR RECRUITMENT AND/OR RESEARCH PURPOSES | $250,000 |
| BLACK ROCK FOREST CONSORTIUM CORNWALL, NY | GENERAL PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| BONEFISH AND TARPON TRUST MIAMI, FL | $75,000 FOR FUNDING RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTS OF TOXINS PRODUCED BY HARMFUL ALGAE AND THE RELATED IMPACT ON LOCAL FISHERIES AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THEM; $100,000 FOR GENERAL PURPOSES | $175,000 |
| CAPE ELEUTHERA FOUNDATION INC PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL PURPOSES OF THE ISLAND SCHOOL | $50,000 |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION ANNAPOLIS, MD | $50,000 FOR GENERAL PURPOSES; $75,000 SECOND AND FINAL INSTALLMENT FOR RECRUITMENT AND HIRE OF A COASTAL RESOURCE SCIENTIST | $125,000 |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE FORT COLLINS, CO | FOR APPLICATION TO RESEARCH ON GLOBAL TEMPERATURE AND ATLANTIC HURRICANES | $50,000 |
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\Frequently Asked Questions
What does The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation fund?
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 add…
How do I apply for a grant from The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation?
**Grant Size & Range:** Most grants range from $10,000 to $700,000, with typical awards between $15,000 and $1,750,000. **Grant Types:** The foundation makes grants for research and operational support to nonprofit charitable organizations in the USA, including universities, educational and scientific institutions, and conservation NGOs. The scope of funded projects ranges from local to international. **Application Process:** As of March 1, 2021, the foundation no longer accepts unsolicited let…
Where does The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation make 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.
What size grants does The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation award?
In 2024, The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $8.9M — an average of about $213K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation's EIN?
The G Unger Vetlesen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1982695. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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