Wilson Conservation Trust
Wilson Conservation Trust is a private foundation based in Sarasota, Florida. Its filings describe charitable activity involving habitat preservation and wilderness protection, and biodiversity and threatened-species protection; its 2025 grants also went to organizations working on ocean, wildlife, mountain, and local ecosystem conservation.
Wilson Conservation Trust at a glance
In short: Wilson Conservation Trust gave $47K across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $46,526
- -6.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- +366.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,662
- -80.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Primary geography
- New York (24% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Wilson Conservation Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 247 Cosmopolitan Ct, Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: (512) 897-8341
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wilson Conservation Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Finch Research Network ($5K). Together the top 10 received $31K.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 56 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants went to organizations in multiple states. By share of grant dollars, New York received 24%, Florida 17%, Colorado 13%, and Arizona and Washington, DC, 11% each. These figures describe the locations of the grant recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Wilson Conservation Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2020) to $50K (2024). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $47K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Finch Research Network Cincinnatus, NY | General Support | $5,000 |
| Grand Canyon Trust Flagstaff, AZ | General Support | $5,000 |
| Ocean Conservancy Inc Washington, DC | General Support | $5,000 |
| Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Lakewood, CO | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| Panthera Corp New York, NY | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| Phillippi Crest Club Inc Sarasota, FL | Donation | $1,500 |
| Vermont Center for Ecostudies Norwich, VT | Donation | $1,000 |
| WSLR Radio Sarasota, FL | Donation | $1,000 |
| Save Our Seabirds Sarasota, FL | Donation | $1,000 |
| Oyster River Ecology Wimauma, FL | Donation | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $162 | $49,842 | $46,526 | 28 | $49,831 | $162 | $1,282 |
| 2024 | $49,680 | $775 | $53,185 | $50,000 | 6 | $53,155 | $775 | $3,569 |
| 2023 | $102,090 | $2,189 | $53,281 | $50,000 | 7 | $53,274 | $2,189 | $6,341 |
| 2022 | $153,182 | $485 | $53,023 | $50,000 | 7 | $52,952 | $485 | $8,526 |
| 2021 | $205,720 | $208 | $48,253 | $45,000 | 8 | $48,231 | $208 | $11,295 |
| 2020 | $253,765 | $52,696 | $42,344 | $40,000 | 9 | — | $1,547 | $12,772 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wilson Conservation Trust reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing lists direct charitable activity in habitat preservation and wilderness protection, with one recipient, and biodiversity and threatened-species protection, with two recipients.
The 2025 grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of work the Trust supported. Ocean Conservancy says it works to protect the ocean through science, people, and policy. Panthera describes its work as conserving the world’s wild cat species, including endangered and threatened species. Colorado Fourteeners Initiative says it protects and preserves Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks through stewardship and public education. Florida grantees included Sarasota Bay Watch, which describes its mission as preserving and restoring Sarasota Bay’s ecosystem, and Save Our Seabirds, which rescues and rehabilitates birds and provides public education about avian conservation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Trust reported 28 grants totaling $46,526. Grant amounts ranged from $26 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest listed grants were $5,000 each to Finch Research Network, Grand Canyon Trust, Ocean Conservancy, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, and Panthera. Other listed grants included $1,500 to Phillippi Crest Club and $1,000 each to Vermont Center for Ecostudies, WSLR Radio, Save Our Seabirds, Oyster River Ecology, American Birding Association, and Schlitz Audobon Nature Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Stuart R Wilson as Trustee & Dir.
Wilson Conservation Trust is led by Stuart R Wilson, Trustee & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020) — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stuart R Wilson
Trustee & Director
Trustee → Trustee & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Wilson Conservation Trust
How much does Wilson Conservation Trust give each year?
Wilson Conservation Trust gave $47K across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $50K across 6 grants.
What is Wilson Conservation Trust's typical grant size?
Wilson Conservation Trust's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,662, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Wilson Conservation Trust give grants?
Wilson Conservation Trust's top state is New York, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Florida (17%) and Colorado (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sarasota, FL (4 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Wilson Conservation Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 18% of Wilson Conservation Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (23 grants).
Who are Wilson Conservation Trust's largest grantees?
Wilson Conservation Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Finch Research Network ($5,000), Grand Canyon Trust ($5,000) and Ocean Conservancy Inc ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
What does Wilson Conservation Trust fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing lists direct charitable activity in habitat preservation and wilderness protection, with one recipient, and biodiversity and threatened-species protection, with two recipients. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wilson Conservation Trust?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Wilson Conservation Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Wilson Conservation Trust reported a distributable amount of $1K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wilson Conservation Trust's EIN?
Wilson Conservation Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-6399970. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Wilson Conservation Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 22, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 19, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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