The Knobloch Family Foundation
The Knobloch Family Foundation is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) spend-down foundation established in 1997. The foundation is committed to making grants that understand and sustain the natural world, working with a network of conservation partners. The foundation maintains offices in Fairfield, Connecticut and Wilmington, Delaware.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$163.2M
-2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$23.5M
-9.8% YoY
Grant Count
77
-36.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$306K
+41.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Knobloch Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is inspired by Theodore Roosevelt's philosophy on natural resource stewardship: "The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets, which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value."
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on:
- Conservation of natural ecosystems
- Environmental conservation
- Natural and land resources
- Education
- Health initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts proposals by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports conservation initiatives across numerous states in the United States, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The foundation also funds international conservation projects, including work in Canada.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $163,168,766
- Total Revenues: $20,124,362
- Total Expenses: $24,850,928
The foundation operates with zero employees on staff.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $163,168,766 | $167,844,107 | $171,799,391 |
| Revenue | $20,124,362 | $23,070,417 | $23,034,692 |
| Expenses | $24,850,928 | $27,025,701 | $17,877,826 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $24,211,253 | $26,107,328 | $17,109,380 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,636,136 | $8,011,809 | $4,220,256 |
| Distributable Amount | $10,501,973 | $10,095,353 | $10,206,012 |
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
103 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Nature Conservancy ($3,000,000), Nature Conservancy ($1,350,800), Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF CANADIAN NATURE INC BUFFALO, NY | McIntyre Ranch Conservation Easement Alberta, Canada | $885,000 |
| ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER INC HOUSTON, TX | Middle Armand Bayou Protection Project | $750,000 |
| COASTAL PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY HOUSTON, TX | Blackwell Ranch conservation easement | $185,000 |
| COMMON OUTDOOR GROUND LARAMIE, WY | Conservation support fund | $2,500 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE JACKSON, WY | General & Unrestricted | $600,000 |
| CORNELL LABORATORY OF ORNITHOLOGY ITHACA, NY | Identifying and validating land conservation priority areas for shoebirds in Texas | $104,279 |
| DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING OMAHA, NE | Schwab Charitable EKR Fund | $500,000 |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ATLANTA INC ATLANTA, GA | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| FRIENDS OF BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL INC NEW YORK, NY | Birds Canada - Stemming the loss of grasslands in Canada by supporting biodiverse production systems | $373,223 |
| GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ATLANTA, GA | Crockford Pigeon McCloud fund | $115,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a board of trustees that includes:
- Carla Knobloch
- Eleanor Knobloch Ratchford
- Emily C Knobloch
- Stevens Sharkey
The board members serve without compensation. Nicole Korfanta serves as Executive Director.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carla Knobloch | Dir, VP | 1 | — |
| Emily Knobloch | Sec, Dir | 1 | — |
| Eleanor Ratchford | Treas, Dir | 1 | — |
| Stevens Sharkey | Dir, Pres, Chair | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Knobloch Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is inspired by Theodore Roosevelt's philosophy on natural resource stewardship: "The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets, which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value." The foundation focuses its grantmaking on: • Conservation of natural ecosystems • Environmental conservation • Natural and land resources • Education • Health initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from The Knobloch Family Foundation?
The foundation accepts proposals by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications. In 2024, the foundation made grants totaling approximately $13.8 million across multiple conservation projects, including: • Open Space Institute Land Trust: $1,000,000 (Riverforks Acquisition South Carolina Fund) • American Friends of Canadian Nature: $885,000 (McIntyre Ranch Conservation Easement Alberta, Canada) • Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: $857,500 (North Platte River Conservation Easement)…
Where does The Knobloch Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports conservation initiatives across numerous states in the United States, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The foundation also funds international conservation projects, including work in Canada.
What size grants does The Knobloch Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Knobloch Family Foundation awarded 77 grants totaling $23.5M — an average of about $306K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Knobloch Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Knobloch Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Knobloch Family Foundation's EIN?
The Knobloch Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0538135. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Knobloch Family Foundation'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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