The Volgenau Foundation
The Volgenau Foundation is a private family foundation based in McLean, Virginia, established in 1994 by Ernst and Sara Volgenau. The foundation advances conservation, education, and classical music through strategic grantmaking and collaborative partnerships. Since its establishment, the foundation has invested more than $105 million to protect and restore the environment and support under-resourced communities.
Key facts about The Volgenau Foundation
- EIN
- 54-1738281
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $13,446,628
- Grants made (2024)
- 60
- Average grant
- $224,110
- Median grant
- $112,500
- Total assets
- $166,183,467
- Primary geography
- Virginia (35% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who The Volgenau Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Volgenau Foundation's 60 itemized 2024 grants were Virginia (35%), District of Columbia (14%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (12 grants), Bozeman, MT (6 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Silver Spring, MD (3 grants). 3% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$166.2M
+7.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.4M
+17.6% YoY
Grant Count
60
+17.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$224K
-0.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Volgenau Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The foundation's mission is to protect and restore the natural environment, support education of under-resourced communities, and strengthen appreciation of classical music.
Vision: The foundation envisions a world in which all living things have the resources to thrive within sustainable ecosystems, and culturally vibrant opportunities are accessible for all.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Marine, Freshwater, and Land Conservation
- Wildlife Protection, Co-existence, and Connectivity
- Education
- Classical Music
The foundation demonstrates conservation values through landscape restoration activities and makes Phillips Creek Farm available to local nonprofits for conservation, education, and fundraising programs. The foundation also fosters collaboration among conservation funders and is a co-founder (with The Land Family Foundation) of The Northern Virginia Environmental Funders Organization.
Grantmaking
Grant sizes typically range from $15,000 to $4,146,628. In the most recent fiscal year (2024), the foundation awarded approximately $13.4 million in total giving across multiple grants.
Grant Range
s typically range from $15,000 to $4,146,628. In the most recent fiscal year (2024), the foundation awarded approximately $13.4 million in total giving across multiple grants.
Ready to take the next step with The Volgenau Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across the United States, with particular activity in California, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The foundation's grantmaking extends to major cities including New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $166,183,467
- Total Revenues: $27,166,487
- Total Expenses: $15,502,864
- Staff: 5 employees
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $155,000,000
- Total Revenues: $40,600,000
- Total Expenses: $14,200,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $166,183,467 | $154,624,111 | $128,354,104 |
| Revenue | $27,166,487 | $40,626,183 | $24,507,878 |
| Expenses | $15,502,864 | $14,205,015 | $11,571,135 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $14,551,327 | $12,531,360 | $11,128,283 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,722,890 | $3,351,700 | $3,238,038 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,084,569 | $4,486,801 | $3,984,858 |
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
283 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Volgenau Climate Initiative ($4,146,628), Plastic Solutions Fund a Sponsored Project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advi ($500,000), Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative ($450,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VOLGENAU CLIMATE INITIATIVE MCLEAN, VA | 2 PAYMENTS TOWARD 2023 3-YEAR PLEDGE | $4,146,628 |
| PLASTIC SOLUTIONS FUND A SPONSORED PROJECT OF ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVI NEW YORK, NY | PLASTIC SOLUTIONS FUND | $500,000 |
| CENTER FOR LARGE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION BOZEMAN, MT | CATALYZING LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION AND CONNECTIVITY IN THE U.S. | $400,000 |
| GREATER YELLOWSTONE COALITION BOZEMAN, MT | PROTECTING THE ENGINE OF THE ECOSYSTEM: GREATER YELLOWSTONE WILDLIFE MIGRATIONS | $400,000 |
| NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, DC | PROTECTING NATIONAL PARK WILDLIFE | $400,000 |
| YELLOWSTONE TO YUKON CONSERVATION INITIATIVE BOZEMAN, MT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT - CONNECTING AND PROTECTING WILDLIFE HABITAT | $400,000 |
| NATUREBRIDGE- WEST COAST SAUSALITO, CA | NATUREBRIDGE ACCESS, GROWTH AND LEADERSHIP | $350,000 |
| APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY HARPERS FERRY, WV | PRESERVING A.T. LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY THROUGH COLLABORATIVE CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP | $300,000 |
| INDIGENOUS LED A PROJECT OF WILD FOUNDATION BOULDER, CO | RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF OUR COLLECTIVE PLANETARY CRISES: THE CASE FOR INDIGENOUS-LED CONSERVATION | $300,000 |
| LAND TRUST ALLIANCECBFN WASHINGTON, DC | TO ADVANCE NATURE-BASED CLIMATE SOLUTIONS THROUGH LAND CONSERVATION | $300,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Ernst Volgenau – Founder and President. Ernst grew up on a small farm in Western New York and attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1955. He earned a PhD in electrical engineering from UCLA and founded Systems Research and Applications Corporation (SRA) in 1978, which became a major information technology company serving the federal government.
Sara Volgenau – Co-founder. Sara grew up in Kentucky and studied elementary education at Morehead State University, working as a second grade teacher before meeting Ernst.
Andrea Pearl – Executive Director
Other Leadership: Lisa Volgenau, Lauren Volgenau-Knapp, and Jennifer Volgenau Wiley serve as directors and vice presidents.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERNST VOLGENAU | PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| LISA VOLGENAU | DIRECTOR AND VP, ENVIRONMENT | 20 | $72,683 |
| LAUREN VOLGENAU-KNAPP | DIRECTOR AND VP, ENVIRONMENT | 20 | $72,683 |
| JENNIFER VOLGENAU WILEY | DIRECTOR AND VP, ADMINISTRATION | 20 | $72,683 |
| CHRIS DECARDY | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | $16,000 |
| JONATHAN KALEDIN | BOARD MEMBER/EXECUTIVE VP | 35 | $177,500 |
| ANDREA PEARL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $209,251 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Volgenau family committed $15 million to Naval Academy programs, reflecting Ernst Volgenau's connection to his alma mater.
Volgenau Family Commits $15M to Naval Academy Programs - The Southern MarylandRecent grants have supported landscape protection along the Appalachian Trail, agrivoltaics initiatives to bring sustainable agriculture to low-income urban communities through the Piedmont Environmental Council, and conservation work by the Eastern Sierra Land Trust.
The Piedmont Environmental Council Awarded $11000 Grant to ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Volgenau Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The foundation's mission is to protect and restore the natural environment, support education of under-resourced communities, and strengthen appreciation of classical music. **Vision:** The foundation envisions a world in which all living things have the resources to thrive within sustainable ecosystems, and culturally vibrant opportunities are accessible for all. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Marine, Freshwater, and Land Conservation • Wildlife Protection, Co-existence, and Connectiv…
How do I apply for a grant from The Volgenau Foundation?
Grant sizes typically range from $15,000 to $4,146,628. In the most recent fiscal year (2024), the foundation awarded approximately $13.4 million in total giving across multiple grants. The foundation supports a mix of conservation, education, and arts initiatives. Notable past grants include $2 million to UCLA's engineering school (2014) and $10 million to George Mason University's School of Information Technology and Engineering (2005). Recent grant activity includes awards to organizations s…
Where does The Volgenau Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across the United States, with particular activity in California, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The foundation's grantmaking extends to major cities including New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
What size grants does The Volgenau Foundation award?
In 2024, The Volgenau Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $13.4M — an average of about $224K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Volgenau Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Volgenau Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Volgenau Foundation's EIN?
The Volgenau Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1738281. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Volgenau 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.