Windward Fund
Windward Fund is a Washington, DC-based public charity that helps leaders pursue solutions to climate and environmental challenges. Founded in 2015, it hosts public-awareness campaigns and grantmaking projects and provides a shared operational home for environmental projects through fiscal sponsorship.
Windward Fund at a glance
In short: Windward Fund gave $137.7M across 458 grants in 2024 (avg $301K), top state California. 39% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $137,706,713
- +23.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 458
- +55.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $300,670
- -20.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $120,000
- Total assets
- $432,729,235
- +21.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (179 of 458, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (16% 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 Windward Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: 1828 L Street Nw 300-C, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 795-3074
Website: https://windwardfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Windward Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois ($8.3M). Together the top 10 received $42.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,562 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 548 grants of 1,562 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Windward’s stated program description covers environmental issues in the U.S. and abroad. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to California (16%), the District of Columbia (14%), New York (12%), Illinois (9%) and North Carolina (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 458 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Windward Fund open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 179 of 458 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $247K; repeat grants $335K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $125K repeat.
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 $43.8M (2020) to $144.6M (2022). In 2024 it made 458 grants totaling $137.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois Champaign, IL | Environmental Programs | $8,254,990 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Inc New York, NY | Environmental Programs | $7,765,690 |
| Carbon Mapper Inc Pasadena, CA | Environmental Programs | $5,000,000 |
| Hourglass Climate Inc Montclair, NJ | Environmental Programs | $3,948,938 |
| Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development Washington, DC | Environmental Programs | $3,438,500 |
| The Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | Environmental Programs | $3,423,333 |
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY | Environmental Programs | $2,991,652 |
| Frontier Climate Management LLC San Francisco, CA | Environmental Programs | $2,828,213 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council Inc New York, NY | Environmental Programs | $2,296,667 |
| World Resources Institute Washington, DC | Environmental Programs | $2,296,667 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $432,729,235 | $308,245,754 | $251,319,552 | $137,706,713 | 458 | $10,802,148 |
| 2023 | $355,450,224 | $212,371,954 | $211,847,409 | $111,308,355 | 294 | $9,541,695 |
| 2022 | $337,278,177 | $198,128,051 | $203,032,217 | $144,573,937 | 320 | $2,573,769 |
| 2021 | $328,195,647 | $274,341,513 | $107,774,502 | $63,670,616 | 250 | $62,370 |
| 2020 | $136,151,371 | $158,611,799 | $70,257,223 | $43,808,447 | 240 | $115,892 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Windward Fund states that it advances public awareness about conservation, climate and environmental issues, sustainable food systems, and the protection of land, wildlife and other natural resources. Its environmental programs include work on water solutions in the American West, climate resilience, alternative energy, deforestation reduction and conservation planning. Its other stated program areas include agriculture, food and nutrition; public safety, disaster preparedness and relief; and capacity building for grantees.
The fund’s website describes projects addressing energy and climate, water, land and biodiversity, and food and agriculture. Examples include projects working on clean-energy transitions, water conservation, habitat protection, safer chemical alternatives, sustainable food systems, and environmental and climate justice. Windward describes its fiscal sponsorship model as supporting projects that are legal entities but do not have tax-exempt status.
Among organizations receiving 2024 grants, the Environmental Defense Fund describes its mission as preserving the natural systems on which life depends, while the Energy Foundation says it works toward greenhouse-gas emissions neutrality, clean air, energy access and green growth. World Resources Institute says it aims to improve people’s lives and ensure the natural world can thrive; Mighty Earth describes itself as an advocacy organization working to defend nature, climate and communities; and Rocky Mountain Institute says it works to transform the global energy system toward a zero-carbon future.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Windward Fund reported 458 grants totaling $137,706,713. Grant amounts ranged from $7,000 to $8,254,990, with a median of $120,000. The listed grants were for environmental programs.
The largest grants included $8,254,990 to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, $7,765,690 to Environmental Defense Fund, $5,000,000 to Carbon Mapper, and $3,948,938 to Hourglass Climate. Other notable grants were $3,438,500 to the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, $3,423,333 to the Energy Foundation, $2,991,652 to Cornell University, and $2,828,213 to Frontier Climate Management.
Windward’s website says its team carries out grantmaking for projects in the U.S. and internationally and that its grantmaking cycle is 30 days or less.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lynn McNair as president and Sarah Smith as project program director. Listed board members are Lee Bodner, board chair; Harry Drucker, secretary and treasurer; and directors Bruce Boyd, David Fukuzawa, Pat Gonzales Rogers, Kristen Grimm, Jasmine Hall Ratliff, and Rachel Leon.
Windward Fund is led by Sarah Lake, Project Chief Executive Officer on the 2024 filing; 6 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sarah Lake
Project Chief Executive Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$259K (2024)
Lynn McNair
President
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$166K (2023) → $241K (2024)
Lee Bodner
Board Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Rogers
Project Co-Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$217K (2020) → $257K (2024)
Melanie R. Allen
Project Co-Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$225K (2020) → $254K (2024)
Sarah Smith
Project Program Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$296K (2024)
Bruce Boyd
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jasmine Hall Ratliff
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Grimm
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Fukuzawa
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pat Gonzales Rogers
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Leon
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Walker
Project Chief Operating Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$280K (2024)
Harry Drucker
Secretary & Treasurer
Secretary → Secretary & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Cammie Croft (2022–2023) — Project Chief of Staff
- Former: Patricianna Rhee (2022–2023) — Proj Chief P'ship Officer
- Former: Thomas Mercer III (2023) — Project Head of Product
- Former: Stephen Pantano (2022) — Project Head of Research
- Former: Anne-Marie Kline (2021) — Project Director
- Former: Deepa Gupta (2021) — Project Director
- Former: John Marshall (2021) — Project Director
- Former: Bill Gallegos (2020) — Director
- Former: Casey Rand (2020) — Project Director
- Former: Charles Savitt (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: David Wigder (2020) — Project Director
- Former: Jumana Vasi (2020) — Director
- Former: Nicole Conroy (2020) — Project Director
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 $296K, to Sarah Smith (Project Program Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Windward Fund
How much does Windward Fund give each year?
Windward Fund gave $137.7M across 458 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $111.3M across 294 grants.
What is Windward Fund's typical grant size?
Windward Fund's median grant in 2024 was $120,000, and its average grant was $300,670, across 458 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Windward Fund that year got $247K on average.
Where does Windward Fund give grants?
Windward Fund's top state is California, with 16% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were District of Columbia (14%) and New York (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (34 grants), Atlanta, GA (16 grants), New Orleans, LA (14 grants) and New York, NY (13 grants).
Does Windward Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 458 grants with a stated purpose on Windward Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Environmental Programs" (446 grants) and "Agriculture, Food, Nutrition" (11 grants).
Who are Windward Fund's largest grantees?
Windward Fund's largest 2024 grantees include The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois ($8,254,990), Environmental Defense Fund Inc ($7,765,690) and Carbon Mapper Inc ($5,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Windward Fund?
Windward Fund reported $432.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $308.2M.
What does Windward Fund fund?
Windward Fund states that it advances public awareness about conservation, climate and environmental issues, sustainable food systems, and the protection of land, wildlife and other natural resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Windward Fund?
Windward Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check windwardfund.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Windward Fund's EIN?
Windward Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3522162. 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 November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Windward Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Windward Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/windward-fund-morg_6c3b76c99cda4a5d87dcb8fc9b1a5d55
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_473522162_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Windward Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/windward-fund-morg_6c3b76c99cda4a5d87dcb8fc9b1a5d55},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Windward Fund'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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