Western Conservation Action
Western Conservation Action is a Form 990 public charity based in Denver, Colorado. Formed in 2006, it says its mission is to increase the strength, effectiveness, and political power of the Western conservation movement. Its filing describes work through advocacy, education, and lobbying, and grantmaking to organizations that share that goal.
Western Conservation Action at a glance
In short: Western Conservation Action gave $2.7M across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $76K), top state New Mexico. 39% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,742,000
- +44.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- +9.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $76,167
- +32.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $55,000
- Total assets
- $4,130,713
- +35.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (14 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New Mexico (21% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Western Conservation Action
- Contact
Mailing address: 1675 Larimer Street 420, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 454-3351
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Western Conservation Action funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Stewardship Utah ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
183 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 183 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars by recipient state were reported as: New Mexico 21%, Colorado 20%, Arizona 15%, Utah 13%, and Nevada 8%. The filing also lists grants to recipients outside those states, including Solar United Neighbors in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Western Conservation Action open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 36 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $79K; repeat grants $74K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $64K repeat.
- 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+14%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2023) to $2.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stewardship Utah South Salt Lake, UT | General Support | $250,000 |
| Western Way Action Englewood, CO | General Support | $240,000 |
| Arizonans for a Clean Economy Phoenix, AZ | General Support | $220,000 |
| New Mexico Wild Action Fund Albuquerque, NM | General Support | $201,000 |
| Dreams in Action NM Albuquerque, NM | General Support | $132,000 |
| Mormon Women for Ethical Government Salt Lake City, UT | Clean Energy Advocac | $110,000 |
| Wildearth Guardians Santa Fe, NM | Conservation Advocac | $100,000 |
| Arizona Technology Council Phoenix, AZ | Clean Energy Advocac | $95,000 |
| Center for Civic Action Albuquerque, NM | Clean Energy Advocac | $95,000 |
| Solar United Neighbors Action Washington, DC | Clean Energy Advocac | $90,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Western Conservation Action?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,130,713 | $5,192,032 | $4,114,809 | $2,742,000 | 36 | $2,032 |
| 2023 | $3,047,052 | $4,373,855 | $3,009,878 | $1,902,300 | 33 | $1,355 |
| 2022 | $1,832,327 | $1,691,268 | $3,700,736 | $2,267,465 | 38 | $1,268 |
| 2021 | $3,753,019 | $5,555,123 | $3,548,061 | $2,412,600 | 51 | $123 |
| 2020 | $1,975,137 | $4,152,465 | $3,075,129 | $2,350,925 | 25 | $115 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to “increase the strength, effectiveness and political power of the western conservation movement.” Its filing describes an Education and Other program to bring greater relevance to the Western U.S. conservation community through advocacy, education, and lobbying. Its Special Opportunities program funds projects that complement its mission but fall outside geographies it has historically focused on.
In 2024, the organization reported providing general support to organizations working to strengthen the power of conservation advocates in the Western U.S. Its grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of work supported: Stewardship Utah says it works to clean Utah’s air and promote climate action through elections and policy design; New Mexico Wild Action Fund says it advances policies to protect New Mexico’s wilderness, wildlife, and water; and WildEarth Guardians says it works to protect and restore wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and the health of the American West. Arizonans for a Clean Economy describes educating and mobilizing Arizonans around homegrown energy and clean-energy development.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Western Conservation Action reported 36 grants totaling $2,742,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $250,000, with a median grant of $55,000. The largest awards included $250,000 to Stewardship Utah, $240,000 to Western Way Action, $220,000 to Arizonans for a Clean Economy, and $201,000 to New Mexico Wild Action Fund; each was listed for general support. Other notable grants included $110,000 to Mormon Women for Ethical Government for clean energy advocacy and $100,000 to WildEarth Guardians for conservation advocacy.
The organization says it reviews each grantee’s exempt status and proposed use of funds, executes a grant agreement, and requires a report detailing how funds were spent and confirming they were spent in accordance with the agreement.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Brendon Cechovic, Brennan Bilberry, and Lisa Pawlek Jaguzny as board members. It also lists Shara Kaplin as “CHIEF OF STA,” Leah Wieneke as “CHIEF OPS OF,” Aaron Browning as “DIR FRD PUBL,” and Monica Piergrossi as “PROGRAM DIRE.”
Western Conservation Action's 2024 filing lists 7 officers; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Aaron Browning
Director Frd Publ
Director of Federal Public → Program Director, 2023
Program Director → Director Frd Publ, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Monica Piergrossi
Program Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brendon Cechovic
Board Member
Board Member & CEO Wcf → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brennan Bilberry
Board Member
Board Member & Treasurer → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leah Wieneke
Chief Ops of
Chief Operating Officer → COO, 2022
COO → Chief Ops of, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shara Kaplin
Chief of Sta
Chief of Staff → Chief of Sta, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Pawlek Jaguzny
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Niki Hawthorne (2020–2022) — Special Proj
- Former: Sara Moffat (2020–2022) — Government R
- Former: Greta Bagwell (2021–2022) — Public Lands
- Former: Scott Panter (2022) — Financial Ma
- Former: Hannah Clark (2020) — Director of National Cons.
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Western Conservation Action
How much does Western Conservation Action give each year?
Western Conservation Action gave $2.7M across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 33 grants.
What is Western Conservation Action's typical grant size?
Western Conservation Action's median grant in 2024 was $55,000, and its average grant was $76,167, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Western Conservation Action that year got $79K on average.
Where does Western Conservation Action give grants?
Western Conservation Action's top state is New Mexico, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Colorado (20%) and Arizona (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Albuquerque, NM (4 grants), Denver, CO (4 grants), Phoenix, AZ (3 grants) and Las Vegas, NV (3 grants).
Does Western Conservation Action give general operating support?
Yes: 31% of Western Conservation Action's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Clean Energy Advocac" (19 grants) and "Conservation Advocac" (6 grants).
Who are Western Conservation Action's largest grantees?
Western Conservation Action's largest 2024 grantees include Stewardship Utah ($250,000), Western Way Action ($240,000) and Arizonans for a Clean Economy ($220,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Western Conservation Action?
Western Conservation Action reported $4.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.2M.
What does Western Conservation Action fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to “increase the strength, effectiveness and political power of the western conservation movement.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Western Conservation Action?
Western Conservation Action has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Western Conservation Action's EIN?
Western Conservation Action's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8091495. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Western Conservation Action funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Western Conservation Action's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Western Conservation Action funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/western-conservation-action-morg_612f0df62b6045469439a5e1f31dd440
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208091495_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Western Conservation Action funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/western-conservation-action-morg_612f0df62b6045469439a5e1f31dd440},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Western Conservation Action'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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