The Wilderness Project Foundation
The Wilderness Project Foundation is a public charity based in Washington, DC, formed in 2018. Its 2025 filing states that its purpose is to protect 1.2 million square kilometers of African watersheds, plateaus, and water towers by 2030.
The Wilderness Project Foundation at a glance
In short: The Wilderness Project Foundation reported $2.1M in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $2,084,000 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- +27686.7% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $2,980,489
- +8.1% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $5,747,870
- +17.2% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $113,254
- -12.9% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $5,597,813
- +18.1% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Wilderness Project Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 1050 Connecticut Ave Nw 500, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 788-2850
Website: https://thewildernessproject.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Wilderness Project Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies the Okavango, Zambezi, Nile, and Congo basins. Its 2025 filing describes expeditions traversing 27 countries and states that its habitat-conservation grants support work in Southern Africa.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2024) to $3.2M (2022). In 2025 it reported $2.1M in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maliasili Initiatives Inc Essex Junction, VT | Scholarship | $7,500 |
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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 | $2,980,489 | $5,747,870 | $5,597,813 | $2,084,000 | Total only | $113,254 |
| 2024 | $2,757,682 | $4,904,221 | $4,738,478 | $7,500 | 1 | $129,990 |
| 2023 | $2,538,273 | $5,802,110 | $4,172,617 | $3,095,000 | Total only | $67,956 |
| 2022 | $938,548 | $2,904,460 | $3,423,231 | $3,152,904 | Total only | $8,819 |
| 2021 | $1,392,319 | $2,530,463 | $2,119,874 | $1,963,041 | Total only | — |
| 2020 | $981,730 | $1,022,844 | $1,412,886 | $1,384,621 | Total only | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to protect 1.2 million square kilometers of African watersheds, plateaus, and water towers by 2030. Its 2025 filing describes three areas of work:
- Great Spine of Africa expeditions: Scientific river surveys guided by local “river guardians,” with a goal of completing 200 river expeditions by 2030.
- Habitat conservation: Grants supporting organizations that promote education, research, and conservation of wild bird species and their habitats in Southern Africa, using long-term biodiversity and environmental monitoring.
- Conservation media and storytelling: Support and investment, in partnership with Afrisos, for young African filmmakers telling nature stories in collaboration with communities living alongside wild rivers.
The foundation’s website also describes goals to assess freshwater basin health, build research and storytelling capacity, and catalyze support for community-led freshwater protection.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported one grant totaling $7,500 in 2024. The only identified grant was to Maliasili Initiatives Inc.; the recipient describes its mission as accelerating community-based conservation through local organizations. The reported grant count was zero in 2023 and zero in 2025. The one identified 2024 grant was $7,500; the available information does not establish a typical grant size.
The foundation’s 2025 filing says grant recipients are required to provide periodic reports describing activities completed with grant funds and progress toward approved grant objectives.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists:
- David Garrett — Chief Executive Officer
- Steve Boyes — Chairman
- John Hilton — President and Treasurer
- Steve Bessinger — Vice President
- Moreangels Mbizah — Director
- Shoham Arad — Director
- Brooke Runnette — Director
The Wilderness Project Foundation is led by David Garrett, Chief Executive Officer since 2024 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Garrett
Chief Executive Officer
Executive Director → Chief Executive Officer, 2024
On filings since 2021
30 hrs/week
$68K (2021) → $135K (2025)
John Hilton
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Boyes
Chairman
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brooke Runnette
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Moreangels Mbizah
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shoham Arad
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Bessinger
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Neil Gelinas (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Moreangels (2022) — Mbizah
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $135K, to David Garrett (Chief Executive Officer).
Frequently asked questions about The Wilderness Project Foundation
How much does The Wilderness Project Foundation give each year?
The Wilderness Project Foundation reported $2.1M in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $8K across 1 grant.
How large is The Wilderness Project Foundation?
The Wilderness Project Foundation reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.7M.
What does The Wilderness Project Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to protect 1.2 million square kilometers of African watersheds, plateaus, and water towers by 2030. Its 2025 filing describes three areas of work: See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Wilderness Project Foundation?
The Wilderness Project Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check thewildernessproject.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does The Wilderness Project Foundation make grants?
The foundation’s website identifies the Okavango, Zambezi, Nile, and Congo basins. Its 2025 filing describes expeditions traversing 27 countries and states that its habitat-conservation grants support work in Southern Africa.
What is The Wilderness Project Foundation's EIN?
The Wilderness Project Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1279703. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 12, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Wilderness Project Foundation funds
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Figures come from The Wilderness Project Foundation'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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