The Great Island Foundation
The Great Island Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 grants supported organizations and projects focused on aquatic conservation, ecological restoration, forest conservation, and the transition to renewable energy.
The Great Island Foundation at a glance
In short: The Great Island Foundation gave $6.3M across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $1.3M), top state Florida. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,300,000
- +110.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5
- -28.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,260,000
- +194.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000,000
- Total assets
- $99,033,449
- +225.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Florida (48% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Great Island Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 115 East 69Th Street, New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 794-6060
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Great Island Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ocean Research & Conservation Association (Orca) ($3.0M). Together the top 5 received $6.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
127 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 127 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants included recipients in Florida, California, Washington, DC, and Texas, as well as a recipient listed without a location. The grants’ stated purposes included work concerning aquatic ecosystems, the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, and the Appalachians.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Great Island Foundation gives
- Giving grew 278% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 255% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2021) to $6.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $6.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Research & Conservation Association (Orca) Vero Beach, FL | Dedicated to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems and species sustain through science-based conservation action. | $3,000,000 |
| Blue Forest Finance Inc Sacramento, CA | To accelerate ecological restoration through conservation finance, enabling climate resilience for ecosystems and communities. | $1,500,000 |
| New Venture Fund Washington, DC | Alaska's tongass national forest: land, climate, and the future | $1,000,000 |
| The Stichting European Climate Foundation | Pie americas program - transition to renewables and phase out of coal, oil & gas | $750,000 |
| Rewild Austin, TX | Collaborating for Conservation and Climate in the Appalachians | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $99,033,449 | $83,108,364 | $9,086,603 | $6,300,000 | 5 | $6,300,000 | $9,671,820 | $2,472,588 |
| 2023 | $30,460,077 | $3,016,233 | $3,363,181 | $3,000,000 | 7 | $3,000,000 | $2,250,270 | $1,992,614 |
| 2022 | $32,098,117 | $1,016,055 | $2,334,305 | $1,800,000 | 16 | $1,800,000 | $619,166 | $2,055,729 |
| 2021 | $32,975,281 | $8,657,831 | $4,102,516 | $1,667,000 | 31 | $1,666,000 | $8,335,789 | $2,046,500 |
| 2020 | $26,444,180 | $1,767,837 | $2,721,647 | $1,953,000 | 68 | — | $1,549,972 | $1,742,819 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Great Island Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for protecting aquatic ecosystems and species, ecological restoration, conservation in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, and a program focused on transitioning to renewables and phasing out fossil fuels.
Among the organizations it supported, Blue Forest Finance describes itself as a nonprofit conservation finance organization bringing people, finance, and science together to restore and protect forests, watersheds, ecosystems, and communities. RE:WILD says it protects and restores the wild. New Venture Fund describes itself as a public charity providing fiscal sponsorship and administrative support to projects across a range of issue areas.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 5 grants totaling $6,300,000. Grant amounts ranged from $50,000 to $3,000,000, with a median grant of $1,000,000. Notable grants included $3,000,000 to Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) for aquatic ecosystem and species conservation; $1,500,000 to Blue Forest Finance for ecological restoration through conservation finance; $1,000,000 to New Venture Fund for “Alaska’s Tongass National Forest: Land, Climate, and the Future”; $750,000 to The Stichting European Climate Foundation for its “PIE Americas Program”; and $50,000 to RE:WILD for collaboration on conservation and climate in the Appalachians.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christian Nolen as president, Malcolm C Nolen as treasurer, and Eliot Nolen as secretary.
The Great Island Foundation is led by Christian Nolen, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christian Nolen
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eliot Nolen
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Malcolm C. Nolen
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Great Island Foundation
How much does The Great Island Foundation give each year?
The Great Island Foundation gave $6.3M across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.0M across 7 grants.
What is The Great Island Foundation's typical grant size?
The Great Island Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000,000, and its average grant was $1,260,000, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Great Island Foundation give grants?
The Great Island Foundation's top state is Florida, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (24%) and District of Columbia (16%).
Does The Great Island Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on The Great Island Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Great Island Foundation's largest grantees?
The Great Island Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Ocean Research & Conservation Association (Orca) ($3,000,000), Blue Forest Finance Inc ($1,500,000) and New Venture Fund ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Great Island Foundation?
The Great Island Foundation reported $99.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Great Island Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for protecting aquatic ecosystems and species, ecological restoration, conservation in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, and a program focused on transitioning to renewables and phasing out fossil fuels. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Great Island Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Great Island Foundation's EIN?
The Great Island Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4049061. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Great Island Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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