Wilburforce Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to conservation and environmental protection. The organization empowers conservation leaders to protect lands, waters, and wildlife across western North America by supporting organizations and individuals committed to protecting wild places and the wildlife that depend on them.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated to protecting nature's richness and diversity through funding programs that help preserve remaining wild places. The foundation focuses on:
- Increasing the amount of protected critical wildlife habitat
- Assuring the quality and extent of key connective land between core habitat areas
- Lessening immediate threats to critical wildlife habitat
- Improving management programs that preserve the ecological integrity of existing or proposed protected areas
- Increasing knowledge of wildlife populations and improving management plans that ensure the viability of local species in a region
- Building the capacity of organizations working to protect priority areas
The foundation also operates a Capacity Building program committed to developing individual and organizational competencies and capabilities that contribute to sustainability and effectiveness. This program does not accept grant applications.
Grantmaking
The foundation made grants to organizations including Together Rising As An Environmental Community, with multiple grants of $800,000 awarded in 2024.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $800,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports efforts to protect wildlife and wildlands across western North America.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $153,324,043
- Total Revenue: $26,782,971
- Total Expenses: $24,586,083
- Total Liabilities: $22,800
Staffing: The foundation employs 12 staff members.
| 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 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Wilburforce Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Makeway Foundation ($264,000), The Governors of the University of Alberta ($210,000), Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BLACKFEET TRIBE OF THE BLACKFEET INDIAN RESERVATION OF MONTANA BROWNING, MT | ENVIRONMENTAL - BLACKFEET FISH AND WILDLIFE CHIEF MOUNTAIN GUARDIAN-BISON PROJECT 2024 | $45,000 |
| BLACKFEET TRIBE OF THE BLACKFEET INDIAN RESERVATION OF MONTANA BROWNING, MT | ENVIRONMENTAL - CHIEF MOUNTAIN GUARDIANS WORK SUPPORTED BY BLACKFEET THPO | $45,000 |
| CENTRAL COUNCIL OF THE TLINGIT AND HAIDA INDIAN TRIBES OF ALASKA JUNEAU, AK | ENVIRONMENTAL - TRANSBOUNDARY MINING CONFERENCE | $50,000 |
| CENTRAL COUNCIL OF THE TLINGIT AND HAIDA INDIAN TRIBES OF ALASKA JUNEAU, AK | ENVIRONMENTAL - SEACOAST INDIGENOUS GUARDIANS NETWORK | $150,000 |
| EVIDENCE FOR DEMOCRACY | ENVIRONMENTAL - SAFEGUARDING SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY IN CANADA | $100,000 |
| GREAT BEAR INITIATIVE SOCIETY | ENVIRONMENTAL - COASTAL STEWARDSHIP NETWORK | $50,000 |
| YUKON CONSERVATION SOCIETY | ENVIRONMENTAL - ADVANCING CONSERVATION IN THE FAR NORTH 2024 | $35,000 |
| YUKON CONSERVATION SOCIETY | ENVIRONMENTAL - ADVANCING CONSERVATION IN THE FAR NORTH 2024 | $50,000 |
| CANADIAN PARKS AND WILDERNESS SOCIETY | ENVIRONMENTAL - WILDLIFE HABITAT AND CONSERVATION CONNECTIVITY IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES 2024 | $20,000 |
| CANADIAN PARKS AND WILDERNESS SOCIETY | ENVIRONMENTAL - BC COAST TO CASCADES GRIZZLY BEAR INITIATIVE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Rosanna W. Letwin - Director/President
- Lisa Weinstein - Executive Director/Secretary
- Courtney Price - Chief Operations Officer
- Denise Joines - Program Director
- Wendy VanAsselt - Program Director
- John Daly - Program Director
- Jeanne Cragin - Grants Officer
- Stephanie Nichols-Young - Director/Treasurer
- Tim Greyhavens - Trustee
- Birch Beaudet - Trustee
- Jim Orr - Trustee
- Jennifer Miller Herzog - Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIM GREYHAVENS | TRUSTEE | 5 | $20,000 |
| ROSANNA W LETWIN | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| STEPHANIE NICHOLS-YOUNG | DIRECTOR/TREASURER | 5 | $20,000 |
| BIRCH BEAUDET | TRUSTEE | 5 | $16,667 |
| JIM ORR | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| LISA WEINSTEIN | EXEC-DIREC/SECRETARY | 40 | $285,000 |
| JENNIFER MILLER HERZOG | TRUSTEE | 5 | $10,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wilburforce Foundation fund?
The foundation is dedicated to protecting nature's richness and diversity through funding programs that help preserve remaining wild places. The foundation focuses on: • Increasing the amount of protected critical wildlife habitat • Assuring the quality and extent of key connective land between core habitat areas • Lessening immediate threats to critical wildlife habitat • Improving management programs that preserve the ecological integrity of existing or proposed protected areas • Increasing k…
How do I apply for a grant from Wilburforce Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $19,341,000 (2024) • Number of grants: 225 (2024) • Median grant amount: $50,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $800,000 **Recent Grants:** The foundation made grants to organizations including Together Rising As An Environmental Community, with multiple grants of $800,000 awarded in 2024. **Program Support:** The foundation underwrites technical assistance and training opportunities for grantees at conferences and workshops, addressing conservation, science, and c…
Where does Wilburforce Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports efforts to protect wildlife and wildlands across western North America.
What size grants does Wilburforce Foundation award?
In 2024, Wilburforce Foundation awarded 225 grants totaling $19.3M — an average of about $86K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wilburforce Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wilburforce Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wilburforce Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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