Alumbra Innovations Foundation concentrates its giving on large, targeted philanthropic investments in nature and regional community projects, with a particular emphasis on supporting conservation and natural-history institutions. Nearly all grant dollars go to two recipients — a La Paz‑focused special projects fund and a major capital/campaign for the San Diego Natural History Museum — indicating programmatic focus rather than broad diversification. The foundation appears to favor capital and special-project support that strengthens institutions and regional conservation efforts.
Alumbra Innovations Foundation’s giving is anchored by two large, repeated commitments: the La Paz Special Projects Fund and the San Diego Natural History Museum’s capital campaign. Those two priorities account for the clearest pattern in the recent record, with seven-figure awards recurring across multiple years and a strong tilt toward place-based conservation, regional community development, and institutional strengthening. The foundation also backs related environmental work in Baja California Sur and the U.S. Southwest, including watershed research, forest resilience finance, and public engagement tied to nature institutions. The recent grant list shows a funder that uses large, targeted grants rather than a broad scatter of small awards. In addition to its two headline priorities, Alumbra Innovations Foundation has supported general operations for Andale La Paz AC in El Triunfo, capital support for the Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy in Milwaukee, and blended-finance work through Blue Forest Finance. Its portfolio connects conservation, education, and community infrastructure, with a notable concentration on projects that strengthen organizations over time.
In place-based environmental education, Alumbra Innovations Foundation gave $625,000 to The San Diego Foundation to catalyze a network model that scales place-based learning approaches toward ocean, land, and water careers, along with active citizenship. It also gave $500,000 to Justice Outside for leadership capacity building to increase place-base teaching and learning and youth access to the outdoors. For watershed and hydrogeology work, the foundation supported US Water Partnership twice in the recent record: $800,360 to improve the hydrogeological understanding of Rancho Ancon and surrounding areas, and $495,900 for surface and groundwater modeling of the Los Planes watershed. On conservation finance, Alumbra Innovations Foundation gave $1,500,000 to Blue Forest Finance Inc. to support the Forest Resilience Bond and another $500,000 to support the Blue Forest Upper Colorado egon. It also awarded $418,000 to Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparaja for land, marine conservation and sustainable fisheries work.
Typical grant size sits in a wide band: the 25th percentile is $30,000, the median is $73,500, and the 75th percentile is $179,603. The recent record also shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, especially in La Paz-related work and museum capital support. Alumbra Innovations Foundation is classified as a regular funder, makes program-related investments, and also funds individuals. Its pattern favors larger, often targeted grants rather than many small awards, with several multi-year commitments visible in the recent grants list.
$28.5M
$113.5M
$18.6M
$32.1M
Most grants fall between $30K and $180K, with a median of $74K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$74K
75th Percentile
$180K
About 5% of grants go to recipients in OR.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Alumbra Innovations Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 258 | $59.3M | 76.3% |
| 2 | Mexico | 80 | $11.8M |
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Highly concentrated, high-value grants to a very small set of repeat grantees; preference for multi-grant support of campaigns and special projects rather than many small or diversified awards.
Notable grantees: International Community Foundation — La Paz Special Projects Fund, San Diego Natural History Museum (For The Love of Nature campaign), Regional La Paz/Baja conservation initiatives (as supported through the ICF fund)
Alumbra Innovations Foundation gives nationally, with the highest grant count in Oregon, while only 5% of grants go to recipients in Arkansas. The recent record is concentrated in the U.S. and Mexico, with recipient locations including National City and San Diego in California, El Triunfo and La Paz in Baja California Sur, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC. Mexico-related grants are a substantial part of the portfolio, especially for Baja California Sur and nearby conservation and education work.
The recent record centers on conservation and regional community projects, especially La Paz Special Projects Fund support, San Diego Natural History Museum campaign funding, watershed studies, forest resilience finance, and place-based environmental education tied to outdoor access and youth career pathways.
The 25th percentile grant is $30,000, the median is $73,500, and the 75th percentile is $179,603. The recent record also includes several grants in the $500,000 to multi-million-dollar range.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including the International Community Foundation, San Diego Natural History Museum, Andale La Paz AC, Blue Forest Finance Inc, US Water Partnership, and Hopewell Fund. That pattern suggests sustained support for some priorities rather than one-off awards only.
The foundation gives nationally, but the highest grant count is in Oregon. In the recent grant list, recipient locations cluster in California, Baja California Sur, and several U.S. cities including Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC.
Yes. The foundation is marked as making program-related investments, alongside regular grantmaking and support for individuals.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
23.7% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Community Foundation | National City, CA | $5,508,501 | 2025 | to support the La Paz Special Projects Fund |
| San Diego Natural History Museum | San Diego, CA | $4,000,000 | 2025 | to support The Nat Campaign |
| University of Minnesota Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $1,150,914 | 2025 | to support the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy |
| Andale La Paz AC | El Triunfo, BS | $1,118,079 | 2025 | To support general operations |
| International Community Foundation | National City, CA | $1,106,395 | 2025 | to support grantmaking in Baja California Sur |
| International Generosity Foundation Trust | Clearwater, FL | $961,275 | 2025 | to support grantmaking for international nonprofits |
| Ecology Project International | Missoula, MT | $729,500 | 2025 | To support youth and teacher programs in Mexico |
| Hopewell Fund | Washington, DC | $700,000 | 2025 | to support Civic Education |
| The San Diego Foundation | San Diego, CA | $625,000 | 2025 | to catalyze a network model that scales place-based learning approaches to result in ocean and land and water careers, and active citizenship |
| US Water Partnership | Arlington, VA | $528,152 | 2025 | To support the Hydrogeological and Ecological Study for Los Planes Watershed |
| Blue Forest Finance Inc | Sacramento, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | to support the Blue Forest Upper Colorado egon |
| Justice Outside | Oakland, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | Leadership capacity building to increase place-base teaching and learning and youth access to the outdoors |
| Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparaja | La Paz, BS | $402,920 | 2025 | To support the Integrated management of Baja California Sur biocultural landscape from the sierra to the sea |
| Sustainable Northwest | Portland, OR | $399,838 | 2025 | to support a sustainable financial and economic paradigm for forest health |
| International Community Foundation | National City, CA | $375,395 | 2025 | for the La Paz Special Projects Fund at International Community Foundation. |
| LegacyWorks Group | Santa Barbara, CA | $350,000 | 2025 | to provide program support for Mexico-based activities |
| Pronatura Noroeste AC | Ensenada, BN | $300,000 | 2025 | To support the consolidation of PNOs ongoing coastal and marine interventions in Baja California Sur |
| American Near East Refugee Aid | Washington, DC | $300,000 | 2025 | To support general operations |
| Efecto Arena AC | La Paz, BS | $265,011 | 2025 | To educate youth in coral conservation, restore coral populations, and increase Efecto Arena's financial sustainability |
| SmartFish Rescate de Valor AC | La Paz, BS | $250,000 | 2025 | to expand the seafood rescue value model in Baja California Sur |
| Hole Food Rescue Corp | Jackson, WY | $250,000 | 2025 | to support the Forever Home Capital Campaign |
| Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest | San Diego, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | to support access to reproductive care |
| Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center | National City, CA | $237,450 | 2025 | to support staff retention at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center and the campaign for Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center and the International Community Foundation |
| Gray Family Foundation | Portland OR, OR | $229,600 | 2025 | to support the Youth Leadership Initiative |
| Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR | $215,000 | 2025 | To expand and strengthen partnerships on Oregon's south coast to build engagement and career-connected learning opportunities for students through marine and coastal environmental education |
| Ocean Discovery Institute | San Diego, CA | $210,000 | 2025 | to expand the Ocean Discovery Institute model to Hoover High School, integrate curriculum that supports the development of a math identity throughout programs, create workforce development support systems, and engage with the PBT&L international network |
| Abrapalabra AC | La Paz, BN | $200,020 | 2025 | to implement a comprehensive afterschool training program targeted to preschool and elementary students form public schools that considers students' daily contexts and concerns, encourages positive change, and fosters a growth mindset to effectively tackle their challenges |
| Resilient Cities Catalyst Inc | Brooklyn, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | to support Oceanside Renewal & Scaling |
| San Diego Natural History Museum | San Diego, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | to support general operations |
| Chicago Learning Exchange | Chicago, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | to support collective impact for Place Based Teaching & Learning in Chicago |
| Meridian Institute | Dillon, CO | $200,000 | 2025 | To build local and regional capacity and resources to address the outcomes of climate shifts |
| Urbanera | La Paz, BS | $196,150 | 2025 | To improve ecosystem Services to Urban La Paz |
| Forest Trends Association | Washington, DC | $175,000 | 2025 | To support Green Financing: first steps toward establishing a priority-setting system for natural infrastructure projects in BCS |
| Nos Noroeste Sustentable AC | La Paz, BS | $150,000 | 2025 | To Support flourishing and resilient communities |
| The Telos Group | Washington, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | to support Peacemaking in US and Abroad |
| Red de Observadores Ciudadanos AC | La Paz, BS | $150,000 | 2025 | to strengthen marine surveillance in the area between Boca del Alamo and Agua Verde, Baja California Sur |
| San Diego History Center | San Diego, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | to support Geography of Hope |
| Centro de Negocios Sustentables AC | COYOACAN, DF | $150,000 | 2025 | to enhance and reinforce the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the turquoise economy sector of Baja California Sur, with a focus on increasing women's participation |
| The San Diego Foundation | San Diego, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | to support the Binational Resilience Initiative |
| Holy Land Christians Society Inc | Falls Church, VA | $140,000 | 2025 | to support Tent of Nations |
| Los Cabos Children's Foundation | Eagan, MN | $136,483 | 2025 | To Support the Pediatric Cancer Unit in La Paz |
| Community Foundation of Jackson Hole | Jackson, WY | $133,200 | 2025 | to hire a backbone position for Systems of Education to support collective impact for place-based education |
| Consejo Mexicano de Promocin de los Productos Pesqueros y Acucolas AC | Ciudad de Mxico, DF | $128,400 | 2025 | to support the "Pesca con Futuro" campaign. |
| Pronatura Noroeste AC | Ensenada, BN | $114,257 | 2025 | Biodiversity and Abundance Study for Los Planes Watershed |
| San Diego Natural History Museum | San Diego, CA | $108,517 | 2025 | Biodiversity and Abundance Study for Los Planes Watershed |
| Abrapalabra AC | La Paz, BN | $104,690 | 2025 | To support general operations |
| Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | to support the initiative to empower underserved youth in Chicago's west and southside neighborhoods to address critical environmental and economic challenges through STEM education |
| Cetacean Action Treasury | Cape Neddick, ME | $100,000 | 2025 | to build community support for sustainable fishing in the Upper Gulf of California |
| Chicago Park District | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | to support Place Based Teaching & Learning Career Exposure |
| Conservation International | Arlington, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | to hold the second Latin American cohort of the Women in Ocean Food Innovation |
International Community Foundation
$5,508,501to support the La Paz Special Projects Fund
San Diego Natural History Museum
$4,000,000to support The Nat Campaign
University of Minnesota Foundation
$1,150,914to support the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
Andale La Paz AC
$1,118,079To support general operations
International Community Foundation
$1,106,395to support grantmaking in Baja California Sur
International Generosity Foundation Trust
$961,275to support grantmaking for international nonprofits
Ecology Project International
$729,500To support youth and teacher programs in Mexico
Hopewell Fund
$700,000to support Civic Education
The San Diego Foundation
$625,000to catalyze a network model that scales place-based learning approaches to result in ocean and land and water careers, and active citizenship
US Water Partnership
$528,152To support the Hydrogeological and Ecological Study for Los Planes Watershed
Blue Forest Finance Inc
$500,000to support the Blue Forest Upper Colorado egon
Justice Outside
$500,000Leadership capacity building to increase place-base teaching and learning and youth access to the outdoors
Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparaja
$402,920To support the Integrated management of Baja California Sur biocultural landscape from the sierra to the sea
Sustainable Northwest
$399,838to support a sustainable financial and economic paradigm for forest health
International Community Foundation
$375,395for the La Paz Special Projects Fund at International Community Foundation.
LegacyWorks Group
$350,000to provide program support for Mexico-based activities
Pronatura Noroeste AC
$300,000To support the consolidation of PNOs ongoing coastal and marine interventions in Baja California Sur
American Near East Refugee Aid
$300,000To support general operations
Efecto Arena AC
$265,011To educate youth in coral conservation, restore coral populations, and increase Efecto Arena's financial sustainability
SmartFish Rescate de Valor AC
$250,000to expand the seafood rescue value model in Baja California Sur
Hole Food Rescue Corp
$250,000to support the Forever Home Capital Campaign
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest
$250,000to support access to reproductive care
Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center
$237,450to support staff retention at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center and the campaign for Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center and the International Community Foundation
Gray Family Foundation
$229,600to support the Youth Leadership Initiative
Oregon State University
$215,000To expand and strengthen partnerships on Oregon's south coast to build engagement and career-connected learning opportunities for students through marine and coastal environmental education
Ocean Discovery Institute
$210,000to expand the Ocean Discovery Institute model to Hoover High School, integrate curriculum that supports the development of a math identity throughout programs, create workforce development support systems, and engage with the PBT&L international network
Abrapalabra AC
$200,020to implement a comprehensive afterschool training program targeted to preschool and elementary students form public schools that considers students' daily contexts and concerns, encourages positive change, and fosters a growth mindset to effectively tackle their challenges
Resilient Cities Catalyst Inc
$200,000to support Oceanside Renewal & Scaling
San Diego Natural History Museum
$200,000to support general operations
Chicago Learning Exchange
$200,000to support collective impact for Place Based Teaching & Learning in Chicago
Meridian Institute
$200,000To build local and regional capacity and resources to address the outcomes of climate shifts
Urbanera
$196,150To improve ecosystem Services to Urban La Paz
Forest Trends Association
$175,000To support Green Financing: first steps toward establishing a priority-setting system for natural infrastructure projects in BCS
Nos Noroeste Sustentable AC
$150,000To Support flourishing and resilient communities
The Telos Group
$150,000to support Peacemaking in US and Abroad
Red de Observadores Ciudadanos AC
$150,000to strengthen marine surveillance in the area between Boca del Alamo and Agua Verde, Baja California Sur
San Diego History Center
$150,000to support Geography of Hope
Centro de Negocios Sustentables AC
$150,000to enhance and reinforce the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the turquoise economy sector of Baja California Sur, with a focus on increasing women's participation
The San Diego Foundation
$150,000to support the Binational Resilience Initiative
Holy Land Christians Society Inc
$140,000to support Tent of Nations
Los Cabos Children's Foundation
$136,483To Support the Pediatric Cancer Unit in La Paz
Community Foundation of Jackson Hole
$133,200to hire a backbone position for Systems of Education to support collective impact for place-based education
Consejo Mexicano de Promocin de los Productos Pesqueros y Acucolas AC
$128,400to support the "Pesca con Futuro" campaign.
Pronatura Noroeste AC
$114,257Biodiversity and Abundance Study for Los Planes Watershed
San Diego Natural History Museum
$108,517Biodiversity and Abundance Study for Los Planes Watershed
Abrapalabra AC
$104,690To support general operations
Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School
$100,000to support the initiative to empower underserved youth in Chicago's west and southside neighborhoods to address critical environmental and economic challenges through STEM education
Cetacean Action Treasury
$100,000to build community support for sustainable fishing in the Upper Gulf of California
Chicago Park District
$100,000to support Place Based Teaching & Learning Career Exposure
Conservation International
$100,000to hold the second Latin American cohort of the Women in Ocean Food Innovation