The Shared Earth Foundation
The Shared Earth Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1999 and based in Chestertown, Maryland. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation dedicated to environmental conservation and wildlife protection through strategic philanthropic support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$600K
-33.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.3M
+11.7% YoY
Grant Count
48
+4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
+7.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shared Earth Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation is committed to the principle that all creatures have an enduring claim to sustainable space on this planet. It believes that today's human beings have the responsibility to share Earth's resources with other creatures and future generations by limiting their adverse impact on the planet, and by enriching and protecting Earth's wildlife and the places they inhabit.
The Foundation funds organizations that:
- Promote protection and restoration of habitat for the broadest possible biodiversity
- Foster respect for other species and individual creatures
- Work to limit detrimental human impact on the planet
- Further the inherent right of all creatures to share the Earth
The Foundation looks to fund primarily, though not exclusively, small organizations. It provides both administrative and project funds, with possibility for renewal or continuation, in the US and abroad, to groups working in the natural and political worlds.
Grantmaking
The Foundation does not accept new partners or unsolicited applications. Interested organizations should contact the Foundation directly at sharedearthfdn(@)gmail.com (without parentheses).
Grant Range
approximately $70,100
Average Grant
approximately $70,100
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds organizations in the United States and abroad, with recent grantmaking activity noted in California, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Assets: $600,409
- Total Revenue: $2,991,356
- Total Expenses: $3,298,461
- Total Giving: $3,290,000
Previous Year (2023):
- Total Assets: $908,000
- Total Revenue: $1.55 million
- Total Expenses: $3.03 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since April 1999. EIN: 52-2151843. Form 990-PF filer.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $600,409 | $907,514 | $2,382,119 |
| Revenue | $2,991,356 | $1,554,350 | $1,128,593 |
| Expenses | $3,298,461 | $3,028,955 | $3,185,742 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,290,000 | $2,945,800 | $2,943,000 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | $1,065,112 |
| Distributable Amount | $30,560 | $63,894 | $190,943 |
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
231 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Defenders of Wildlife ($275,000), Bhutan Foundation ($220,000), Leap ($217,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABRAHAM FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR ELEPHANT CONSERVATION IN SRI LANKA. | $100,000 |
| AKASHINGA PHILADELPHIA, PA | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S NATURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS | $50,000 |
| ALIGHT MINNEAPOLIS, MN | TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S EFFORTS WITH THEIR HUMAN-CENTERED SERVICES & PROGRAMS. | $12,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR INTERNATIONAL REFORESTATION ATLANTA, GA | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR AIR, WHICH IS REFORESTING THE HIGHLANDS OF GUATEMALA, WORKING WITH LOCAL VILLAGERS AND LANDOWNERS. | $30,000 |
| ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND COTATI, CA | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS ORGANIZATION, WHICH ACTS AS LAWYER, ADVOCATE AND LEGISLATIVE MODEL FOR PROTECTIONS OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. | $50,000 |
| BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL AUSTIN, TX | SUPPORT FOR TWO BAT CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN RWANDA AND FIJI. | $40,000 |
| BAY JOURNAL MEDIA SEVEN VALLEYS, PA | SUPPORT TO THE FILM "THINKING LIKE A WATERSHED" ABOUT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BEFORE ANY HUMANS INTERFERED WITH ITS OPERATIONS AS A WATERSHED AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR STAFF & EXPANDED COVERAGE. | $85,000 |
| BHUTAN FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORTING THE FOUNDATION'S CONSERVATION, GOVERNANCE, CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS ON THE GROUND IN THE HIMALAYAN KINGDOM | $220,000 |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY MARITIME MUSEUM ST MICHAELS, MD | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO PRESERVE AND EXPLORE HISTORY, ENVIRONMENT & PEOPLE OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. | $200,000 |
| CHESAPEAKE CONSERVANCY ANNAPOLIS, MD | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL OF CONSERVING 100,000 ACRES OF LAND PER YEAR AS WELL AS PROVIDING FUNDS TO HELP WITH OPERATING COSTS. | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Caroline D Gabel: President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROLINE D GABEL | PRESIDENT | 20 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Shared Earth Foundation fund?
The Foundation is committed to the principle that all creatures have an enduring claim to sustainable space on this planet. It believes that today's human beings have the responsibility to share Earth's resources with other creatures and future generations by limiting their adverse impact on the planet, and by enriching and protecting Earth's wildlife and the places they inhabit. The Foundation funds organizations that: • Promote protection and restoration of habitat for the broadest possible b…
How do I apply for a grant from The Shared Earth Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 46 grants in 2024 • Made 42 grants in recent years • Typical award range: $4,000–$425,000 • Average grant size: approximately $70,100 • Median grant size: $50,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Defenders of Wildlife: $275,000 (for Wildlife Defense and Restoration Act support, Red Wolf Recovery Program in North Carolina) • The Bhutan Foundation: (amount listed but not fully visible in source) **Application Process:** The Foundation does not accept new partners or unsolici…
Where does The Shared Earth Foundation make grants?
The Foundation funds organizations in the United States and abroad, with recent grantmaking activity noted in California, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Shared Earth Foundation award?
In 2024, The Shared Earth Foundation awarded 48 grants totaling $3.3M — an average of about $69K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Shared Earth Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Shared Earth Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Shared Earth Foundation's EIN?
The Shared Earth Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2151843. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Shared Earth 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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