The Holocene Foundation
The Holocene Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Its 2024 filing is marked as a final return and states that the foundation was terminated on July 12, 2024, so it appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
Key facts about The Holocene Foundation
In short: The Holocene Foundation gave $60.2M across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $2.1M), mostly in Rhode Island. 4% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 82-3905017
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $60,184,675
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- Average grant
- $2,149,453
- Median grant
- $100,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation stated that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$60.2M
+1580.7% YoY
Grant Count
28
+3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.1M
+1520.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Holocene Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Holocene Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 28 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $100K; repeat grants $2.2M. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 93% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1662% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations working on conservation and public lands, climate and clean energy, wildlife protection, outdoor recreation, and freshwater restoration. These are descriptions of grantees’ work, not stated priorities of the foundation.
For example, Conservation Lands Foundation says its mission is to protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy, and partnerships. Climate Solutions says it works to accelerate clean energy solutions to the climate crisis. The Mountaineers says it helps people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $60,184,675. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $56,403,675, with a median of $100,000. The largest reported grant was $56,403,675 to CHABOT FAMILY DAF - VANGUARD in Warwick, Rhode Island, for general operating funds. The filing states that the foundation transferred its assets to Vanguard Charitable Fund - Christian Chabot Donor, Angela Chabot Donor.
Other notable 2024 grants included $400,000 each to Conservation Lands Foundation and Earthjustice; $350,000 to The Nature Conservancy; $300,000 each to Climate Solutions and The Conservation Alliance; and $250,000 each to Conservation Northwest and The Mountaineers. Each was listed for general operating funds.
Other 2024 grants included $200,000 to Defenders of Wildlife; $150,000 each to Environmental Defense Fund and NRDC; $150,000 to Outdoor Alliance; and $50,000 each to Washington Water Trust and The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust.
How to Apply
The foundation stated that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. This policy is from its final filing and is not presented as a current application opportunity.
Ready to take the next step with The Holocene Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The reported share of 2024 grant dollars by recipient state was Rhode Island 94%, Washington 4%, the District of Columbia 1%, Colorado 1%, and Oregon 1%. These percentages are reported as provided. The Rhode Island share includes the large grant to CHABOT FAMILY DAF - VANGUARD.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2020) to $60.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $60.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chabot Family DAF - Vanguard ($56.4M). Together the top 10 received $59.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
122 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 122 (31%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chabot Family DAF - Vanguard Warwick, RI | General Operating Funds | $56,403,675 |
| Conservation Lands Foundation Durango, CO | General Operating Funds | $400,000 |
| Earthjustice Seattle, WA | General Operating Funds | $400,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Seattle, WA | General Operating Funds | $350,000 |
| Climate Solutions Seattle, WA | General Operating Funds | $300,000 |
| The Conservation Alliance Bend, OR | General Operating Funds | $300,000 |
| Conservation Northwest Seattle, WA | General Operating Funds | $250,000 |
| The Mountaineers Seattle, WA | General Operating Funds | $250,000 |
| Defenders of Wildlife Washington, DC | General Operating Funds | $200,000 |
| Trust for Public Land Seattle, WA | General Operating Funds | $200,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that, as of October 31, 2024, all assets—$289,915 in cash and $56,113,760 in exchange-traded funds—had been transferred to Vanguard Charitable Fund - Christian Chabot Donor, Angela Chabot Donor.
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $61,517,041 | $1,818,980 | $4,070,806 | $3,786,000 |
| 2023 | $58,979,862 | $1,355,353 | $3,892,532 | $3,581,000 |
| 2024 | — | $1,404,196 | $60,384,058 | $60,184,675 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $58,979,862 | $61,517,041 |
| Revenue | $1,404,196 | $1,355,353 | $1,818,980 |
| Expenses | $60,384,058 | $3,892,532 | $4,070,806 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $60,198,270 | $3,602,940 | $3,800,268 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,218,873 | $1,115,307 | $1,547,611 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,974,679 | $3,329,249 | $3,452,967 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christian Chabot as president and Angela Chabot as secretary.
The Holocene Foundation is led by Christian Chabot, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christian Chabot
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Chabot
Secretary
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 4111 E Madison Street 108, Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: (206) 233-7000
Frequently asked questions about The Holocene Foundation
How much does The Holocene Foundation give each year?
The Holocene Foundation gave $60.2M across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.6M across 27 grants.
What is The Holocene Foundation's typical grant size?
The Holocene Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $2,149,453, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Holocene Foundation that year got $100K on average.
Where does The Holocene Foundation give grants?
The Holocene Foundation gives mostly in Rhode Island: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (16 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Holocene Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Holocene Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Holocene Foundation's largest grantees?
The Holocene Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Chabot Family DAF - Vanguard ($56,403,675), Conservation Lands Foundation ($400,000) and Earthjustice ($400,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does The Holocene Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations working on conservation and public lands, climate and clean energy, wildlife protection, outdoor recreation, and freshwater restoration. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Holocene Foundation?
The foundation stated that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Holocene Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Holocene Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Holocene Foundation's EIN?
The Holocene Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3905017. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Holocene 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.
Here's the math on researching The Holocene Foundation by hand.
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