Wilburforce Foundation
Wilburforce Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington, that supports land, water, and wildlife conservation in Western North America. It backs organizations and individuals pursuing science-driven conservation and lasting protection for wild places and the wildlife that depend on them.
Key facts about Wilburforce Foundation
In short: Wilburforce Foundation gave $19.3M across 225 grants in 2024 (avg $86K), top state Washington. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 94-3137894
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $19,341,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 225
- Average grant
- $85,960
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (13 of 144, 2024)
- Total assets
- $153,324,043
- Primary geography
- Washington (19% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applicants should speak with the appropriate program officer before developing a proposal; the foundation organizes grants into dockets for particular priority regions or program areas. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Proposal deadlines are determined in consultation with the appropriate program officer.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$153.3M
+9.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$19.3M
-4.1% YoY
Grant Count
225
-0.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$86K
-3.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wilburforce Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Wilburforce Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 144 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $262K; repeat grants $122K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $80K repeat.
- 90% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 310% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Wilburforce’s mission is to conserve important lands, waters, and wildlife in Western North America by supporting organizations and leaders advancing strategic solutions. Its stated funding outcomes include protecting critical wildlife habitat, maintaining connective lands between core habitats, reducing immediate threats, improving management of protected areas, strengthening knowledge and management of focal species, and building grantee capacity.
The foundation supports organizations and collaborative efforts in its priority regions. Examples of grantee work described by the grantees include Heart of the Rockies Initiative’s efforts to connect habitat and working lands; Sky Island Alliance’s work connecting people, wildlife, and lands across the U.S.–Mexico border; and EcoAdapt’s work to support planning and management in response to climate change.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Wilburforce reported 225 grants totaling $19,341,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $800,000, with a median of $50,000. The filing lists three $800,000 grants to Together Rising as an Environmental Community for environmental general support. Other large grants included $264,000 to MakeWay Foundation for the Wilburforce Canadian Conservation Fund; $250,000 each to Grand Canyon Trust and Heart of the Rockies Initiative for general support, and to New Venture Fund for Alaska Venture Fund and SalmonState: Transboundary Conservation; and $250,000 to Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative for general support.
Among the grantees, Heart of the Rockies Initiative describes itself as a partnership of land trusts working to conserve connected habitat and working lands. The Wilderness Society describes its work as protecting wilderness and public lands. New Venture Fund describes its role as providing fiscal sponsorship and administrative support to projects, including conservation and public policy projects.
Review Cycle
Proposal deadlines are determined in consultation with the appropriate program officer.
Invitation Only
Applicants should speak with the appropriate program officer before developing a proposal; the foundation organizes grants into dockets for particular priority regions or program areas. Its guidelines call for applicant organizations generally to have qualifying charitable status and to be incorporated in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico, with programs operating in the funding region. The foundation says it generally will not consider, among other things, environmental education, environmental justice, land acquisition, marine or water-only projects, pollution prevention, fish recovery, wildlife rehabilitation, or youth education. Multiple-year grants are made only by invitation.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Wilburforce Foundation
Ready to take the next step with Wilburforce Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies 13 priority regions in Western North America, organized under three geographic programs:
- Alaska / British Columbia: Arctic, Central Interior, Great Bear Rainforest, Tongass, and Transboundary Watersheds.
- Northwest / Southwest: Cascadia, Great Basin, and Southwest Crescent.
- Yellowstone to Yukon: Crown of the Continent, Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Inland Temperate Rainforest, Salmon-Selway / Hells Canyon, and Far North.
Its supporting programs include Conservation Science and Conservation Law & Policy.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 225 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $14.5M (2020) to $20.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 225 grants totaling $19.3M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Together Rising as an Environmental Community ($2.5M across 5 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,159 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 500 grants of 1,159 (43%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Together Rising as an Environmental Community Seattle, WA | Environmental - General Support 2024 | $800,000 |
| Together Rising as an Environmental Community Seattle, WA | Environmental - General Support 2024 | $800,000 |
| Together Rising as an Environmental Community Seattle, WA | Environmental - General Support 2024 | $800,000 |
| Makeway Foundation | Environmental - Wilburforce Canadian Conservation Fund | $264,000 |
| Grand Canyon Trust Flagstaff, AZ | Environmental - General Support 2024 | $250,000 |
| Heart of the Rockies Initiative Missoula, MT | Environmental - General Support 2024 | $250,000 |
| New Venture Fund Washington, DC | Environmental - Alaska Venture Fund | $250,000 |
| New Venture Fund Washington, DC | Environmental - Salmonstate: Transboundary Conservation | $250,000 |
| Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative Bozeman, MT | Environmental - General Support 2024 | $250,000 |
| Wildlands Network Salt Lake City, UT | Environmental - Southwest Crescent Program 2024 | $240,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $153,324,043 | $26,782,971 | $24,586,083 | $19,341,000 | 225 |
| 2023 | $140,661,587 | $22,295,044 | $24,792,572 | $20,174,250 | 227 |
| 2022 | $132,279,015 | $12,597,405 | $21,909,521 | $17,265,620 | 228 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $153,324,043 | $140,661,587 | $132,279,015 |
| Revenue | $26,782,971 | $22,295,044 | $12,597,405 |
| Expenses | $24,586,083 | $24,792,572 | $21,909,521 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $23,384,789 | $23,700,702 | $20,788,908 |
| Net Investment Income | $25,947,346 | $21,513,783 | $13,993,089 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,534,469 | $6,582,887 | $6,845,089 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Rosanna W. Letwin as director/president; Stephanie Nichols-Young as director/treasurer; Lisa Weinstein as executive director/secretary; and Tim Greyhavens, Birch Beaudet, Jim Orr, and Jennifer Miller Herzog as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Rose Letwin as its founder and president.
Wilburforce Foundation is led by Rosanna W. Letwin, Director & President on every filing since 2020; 5 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rosanna W. Letwin
Director & President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Nichols-Young
Director & Treasurer
Director & Treasurer → Director, Treasurer & Secretary, 2023
Director, Treasurer & Secretary → Director & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Tim Greyhavens
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Birch Beaudet
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
$17K (2024)
Jennifer Miller Herzog
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
$10K (2024)
Jim Orr
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Weinstein
Exec-Direc & Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$285K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Paul Beaudet (2020–2023) — Exec-Direc & Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $285K, to Lisa Weinstein (Exec-Direc/Secretary). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Wilburforce Foundation
Mailing address: 2034 Ne 56Th St Ste 300, Seattle, WA 98107
Phone: (206) 632-2325
Website: https://wilburforce.org
Frequently asked questions about Wilburforce Foundation
How much does Wilburforce Foundation give each year?
Wilburforce Foundation gave $19.3M across 225 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $20.2M across 227 grants.
What is Wilburforce Foundation's typical grant size?
Wilburforce Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $85,960, across 225 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wilburforce Foundation that year got $262K on average.
Where does Wilburforce Foundation give grants?
Wilburforce Foundation's top state is Washington, with 19% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (16%) and Montana (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (35 grants), Bozeman, MT (15 grants), Seattle, WA (13 grants) and Missoula, MT (10 grants).
Does Wilburforce Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 26% of Wilburforce Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (58 of 225) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Wilburforce Foundation's largest grantees?
Wilburforce Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Together Rising as an Environmental Community ($2,495,000 across 5 grants), New Venture Fund ($680,000 across 4 grants) and The Wilderness Society ($630,000 across 5 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wilburforce Foundation?
Wilburforce Foundation reported $153.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $23.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wilburforce Foundation fund?
Wilburforce’s mission is to conserve important lands, waters, and wildlife in Western North America by supporting organizations and leaders advancing strategic solutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wilburforce Foundation?
Applicants should speak with the appropriate program officer before developing a proposal; the foundation organizes grants into dockets for particular priority regions or program areas. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wilburforce Foundation's EIN?
Wilburforce Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3137894. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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