Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Grants (Environmental Requests)

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust focuses on supporting nonprofit organizations in Arizona and Indiana through grants aimed at environmental initiatives. With a commitment of $19.5 million over five years, the Trust emphasizes the protection and restoration of critical waterways, particularly the Verde and White rivers. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) public charities, and the Trust prioritizes projects that promote environmental awareness and stewardship, improving community engagement with nature.

NOTE: The first step in our process is  to talk to a Trust program officer. and, if a Trust program officer believes that your project or organization is a good fit, you will be invited to submit a grant application.
Grant Process
On an invitation-only basis, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust funds primarily nonprofit organizations in Arizona and Indiana that align closely with our giving areas: Helping People in Need, Protecting Animals and Nature, and Enriching Community Life.
NOTE: This grant page is specifically for Environmental Requests within the "Protecting Animals and Nature" grant program area. For other program areas, see the grant page here.
Protecting Animals and Nature: Environmental Requests
Mrs. Pulliam loved animals – domesticated and wild – and the natural environment. She sought ways to encourage human bonds with both.
The Trust supports organizations and programs that:

• Programs that provide humane and wellness services for domestic animals, including shelter, rescue, spay/neuter and adoption.
• Programs that promote conservation of natural habitats and ecosystems that advance preservation, protection and restoration of land, water, wildlife and plants.

Programs that promote environmental awareness to connect people to the natural world, promote personal stewardship, or offer knowledge and tools for addressing current and future problems.
Environmental Initiatives- Protecting nature in Arizona and Indiana
The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust focuses its environmental strategy primarily on critical waterways and increasing awareness of environmental issues in Arizona and Indiana, the states where we invest.
The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust is implementing a five-year environmental roadmap, initiated in 2020, that dedicates $19.5 million to investments in protecting nature in Arizona and Indiana, with special emphasis on protecting and restoring the Verde and White rivers, and underwriting environmental reporting and environmental journalism awards.

Eligibility

In general, the Trust makes grants only to public charities that are exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.However, the Trust will consider fiscal sponsorship arrangements.
For environmental requests, the Trust will consider requests from local and national nonprofit organizations working in Arizona and Indiana.

Ineligibility

What the Trust will not fund:Grants for international activities, academic research, sectarian purposes, or programs that promote religious doctrine or political campaigns.
Grants for health-related programs, except for those related to the visually impaired.
Requests for programs that target those currently incarcerated, exiting the criminal justice system or recently released. Within this area, programs that target children of incarcerated individuals or address youth in foster care will be considered.
Operating or capital requests from colleges and universities. (The latter includes endowments for professorial chairs, faculty training and research, scholarships and building campaigns.) However, the Trust will continue to accept requests through its regular grant cycles for support of projects that link higher education institutions to their communities.
Grants to individuals.