The Sand County Foundation Inc
The Sand County Foundation is a public charity based in Madison, Wisconsin. Its work centers on helping landowners and managers use conservation-minded practices to protect soil and water, support wildlife habitat, and maintain productive farms and ranches.
The Sand County Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Sand County Foundation Inc gave $788K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $41K), top state District of Columbia. 79% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $788,156
- -86.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +46.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,482
- -90.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $13,721,514
- +6.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 79% first-time grantees (15 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (42% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Sand County Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its grants and contracts may not be used for indirect costs, overhead, or expenses not directly related to the project. Funds may not be used for legal actions, land acquisitions, endowments, lobbying, electioneering, or building construction.
- Contact
Mailing address: 44 E Mifflin Street 1005, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 663-4605
Website: https://sandcountyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Sand County Foundation Inc
Who The Sand County Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Farmland Trust ($334K). Together the top 10 received $710K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
78 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 78 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as national. Its Leopold Conservation Awards are presented in 28 states. The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in DC (42%), Wisconsin (32%), Iowa (13%), Maryland (6%), and New York (2%).
The foundation’s farmer-led groups project operates in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, according to its website.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Sand County Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
79%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 19 grantees (79%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $47K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $14K repeat.
- 21% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2019) to $5.8M (2024). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $788K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Farmland Trust Washington, DC | Involvement in RCPP Farmer Led Project | $333,630 |
| Dubuque Soil & Water Conservation District Epworth, IA | Involvement in RCPP Farmer Led Project | $101,340 |
| Sauk County LRE Baraboo, WI | Involvement in RCPP Farmer Led Project | $85,924 |
| Green County Land and Water Conservation Monroe, WI | Involvement in RCPP Farmer Led Project | $66,932 |
| Environmental Policy Innovation Center College Park, MD | Project Support | $44,244 |
| Level-Vu Acres LLC Campbellsport, WI | Incentive Payment, SCF Project | $22,115 |
| National Audubon Society New York, NY | Grant, Involvement in SCF Project | $17,023 |
| GBJF Enterprises LLC Campbellsport, WI | Incentive Payment, SCF Project | $14,924 |
| Pollack-Vu Dairy LLC Ripon, WI | Incentive Payment, SCF Project | $14,110 |
| Kerwin Hill Farm LLC Norwich, VT | Leopold Conservation Award Recipient | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $13,721,514 | $4,164,829 | $4,900,884 | $788,156 | 19 | $456,454 |
| 2024 | $12,918,510 | $4,052,645 | $9,563,434 | $5,781,546 | 13 | $315,897 |
| 2023 | $17,485,614 | $7,327,567 | $7,536,098 | $1,100,209 | 14 | $297,380 |
| 2022 | $16,718,946 | $9,598,224 | $6,579,675 | $762,686 | 23 | $221,023 |
| 2021 | $15,482,706 | $6,154,396 | $3,741,399 | $86,000 | 9 | $291,493 |
| 2020 | $12,263,056 | $3,323,113 | $2,988,662 | $60,000 | 6 | $197,142 |
| 2019 | $10,254,986 | $2,153,007 | $2,828,358 | $50,000 | 5 | $162,887 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission stated on the foundation’s 2025 filing is to inspire and empower more landowners and managers to care for land ethically, sustaining water resources, building healthy soil, enhancing wildlife habitat, and supporting outdoor recreation.
The foundation’s agricultural conservation program demonstrates land management practices intended to protect soil and water while supporting the long-term profitability and resilience of farms and ranches. Its website describes work with farmers and ranchers on research and demonstrations, including cover cropping, managed grazing, and pollinator habitat. Its conservation policy initiative supports ecosystem-scale species conservation models, access to safe drinking water, and data technology for ecosystem restoration.
The Leopold Conservation Award recognizes farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners for conservation achievements on working land. The foundation says the awards are presented with American Farmland Trust in 28 states and come with $10,000.
Grants listed for 2025 show support for conservation projects and organizations. Among the grantees, American Farmland Trust describes its mission as protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land. The Environmental Policy Innovation Center describes itself as a national nonprofit working to improve the speed of environmental progress through policy. National Audubon Society says it works toward a future where birds thrive across the Americas, and Driftless Area Land Conservancy describes work to protect and restore southwest Wisconsin’s natural and agricultural landscape.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 19 grants totaling $788,156. Grant amounts ranged from $5,270 to $333,630, with a median of $10,000.
The largest listed grants included $333,630 to American Farmland Trust for involvement in an RCPP farmer-led project; $101,340 to Dubuque Soil & Water Conservation District for involvement in an RCPP farmer-led project; $85,924 to Sauk County LRE for the same purpose; and $66,932 to Green County Land and Water Conservation for the same purpose. Other listed grants included $44,244 to Environmental Policy Innovation Center for project support, $17,023 to National Audubon Society for involvement in an SCF project, and $8,561 to Driftless Area Land Conservancy.
The foundation’s website describes its farmer-led group work as supporting locally designed financial incentives and technical assistance for conservation practices. It reports securing a $13.8 million USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Regional Conservation Partnership Program award in 2023; that award is program funding received by the foundation, distinct from the grants it gave.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Homer Buell, chairman; David Hanson, vice-chairman; Nancy DeLong, secretary; Tom Zale, treasurer; Kevin McAleese, president and CEO; and directors Jimmy Bramblett, Dick Cates, John Duncan, Tom Foley, and Brent Haglund.
The Sand County Foundation Inc is led by Kevin McAleese, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; 5 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kevin McAleese
President & CEO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$158K (2019) → $200K (2025)
Homer Buell
Chairman
Treasurer → Treasurer & Chairman, 2024
Treasurer & Chairman → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brent Haglund
Director
Chief Scientific Officer → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$121K (2019) → $5K (2025)
John Duncan
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynne Sherrod
Director
Chairman → Chair, 2024
Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Scarlett
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nita Vail
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Foley
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dick Cates
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jimmy Bramblett
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bob Perschel
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Warner
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rod Snyder
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stan Temple
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Victor Harris
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Schellpfeffer
Vice President - External Relations
Vice President External Relations → Vice President - External Relations, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$127K (2019) → $140K (2025)
Lance Irving
Vice President - Leopold Conservation Award
Leopold Conservation Award Program Director → Leopold Conservation Award, 2023
Leopold Conservation Award → Vice President - Leopold Conservation Award, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$114K (2019) → $132K (2025)
Heidi Peterson
Vice President - Agricultural Research & Conservat
Vice President Agricultural Conservation & Research → Vice President - Agricultural Research & Conservation, 2024
Vice President - Agricultural Research & Conservation → Vice President - Agricultural Research & Conservat, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$131K (2020) → $170K (2025)
David Hanson
Vice Chairman
Vice Chairman & Secretary → Vice Chairman, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Delong
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Zale
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Edward Warner (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Stanley Temple PhD (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Thomas Zale (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Blair Calvert Fitzsimons (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Richard Cates PhD (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Timothy Male PhD (2020–2023) — Executive Director - Epic
- Former: Chris Schellpfeffer (2023) — Vice President External Relations
- Former: Maureen O'Reilly Cunningham (2023) — Chief Strat Officer & Director of Water - Epic
- Former: Kevin Conrad (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Tina Buford (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Kemper Durand (2020–2022) — Water Quality Partnerships Director
- Former: Reed Coleman (2019–2020) — Chairman Emeritus
- Former: Ya-Wei Li (2019–2020) — Director of Biodiversity - Epic
- Former: Bruce Knight (2019) — Director
- Former: Ingrid Burke PhD (2019) — Director
- Former: Tim Male PhD (2019) — Executive Director - Epic
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $200K, to Kevin McAleese (President & CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Sand County Foundation Inc
How much does The Sand County Foundation Inc give each year?
The Sand County Foundation Inc gave $788K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $5.8M across 13 grants.
What is The Sand County Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Sand County Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $41,482, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sand County Foundation Inc that year got $47K on average.
Where does The Sand County Foundation Inc give grants?
The Sand County Foundation Inc's top state is District of Columbia, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Wisconsin (32%) and Iowa (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Campbellsport, WI (2 grants).
Does The Sand County Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on The Sand County Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Incentive Payment, SCF Project" (6 grants), "Leopold Conservation Award Recipient" (5 grants) and "Involvement in RCPP Farmer Led Project" (4 grants).
Who are The Sand County Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Sand County Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include American Farmland Trust ($333,630), Dubuque Soil & Water Conservation District ($101,340) and Sauk County LRE ($85,924), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Sand County Foundation Inc?
The Sand County Foundation Inc reported $13.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.2M.
What does The Sand County Foundation Inc fund?
The mission stated on the foundation’s 2025 filing is to inspire and empower more landowners and managers to care for land ethically, sustaining water resources, building healthy soil, enhancing wildlife habitat, and supporting outdoor recreation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sand County Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sand County Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Sand County Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6089450. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Sand County Foundation Inc 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 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 29, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Sand County Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sand-county-foundation-inc-morg_d564d485aff04267a8ef65a7a8d9653c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_396089450_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sand County Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sand-county-foundation-inc-morg_d564d485aff04267a8ef65a7a8d9653c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Sand County Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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