The Bur Oak Foundation concentrates its funding into a small number of sizable grants that support higher education, environmental advocacy, and wildlife/aviary conservation. They favor general or flexible support (unrestricted or expendable fund gifts) and make repeat commitments to select institutions rather than dispersing many small awards. Grants are national in reach and issue-driven rather than locally focused.
Bur Oak Foundation’s recent giving is marked by a small set of large grants tied to Great Salt Lake restoration, higher education, and environmental advocacy. In 2024, it gave $250,000 to Friends of Tracy Aviary for general and unrestricted support, and in 2023 it gave $200,000 to Earthjustice for general and unrestricted support. Those awards sit alongside repeated funding for institutions such as President & Fellows of Middlebury College and The Nature Conservancy in Utah, showing a pattern of multi-year commitment rather than one-off gifts. The foundation also supports conservation groups and academic legal centers with flexible dollars, including unrestricted grants and expendable fund support. Its recent portfolio includes both institutional support and issue-specific work, such as Great Salt Lake efforts, wildlife conservation, and environmental law. Bur Oak Foundation’s grants are national in reach, but many of the named recipients in the recent list are connected to Utah-based conservation and civic institutions, reflecting a clear concentration of interest in that set of causes.
A major thread in Bur Oak Foundation’s giving is Great Salt Lake work. In 2025, it gave $50,000 to University of Utah for The Stegner Center’s Great Salt Lake Project, and in 2024 it gave the same institution $50,000 for the Stegner Center and the work to save the GSL at the Quinney Law School. It also supported Utah Valley Preservation Alliance with $50,000 in 2024 for Grow The Flow and the work to save the GSL, and Conserve Utah Valley with $50,000 in 2025 for the Grow the Flow fund. Another area is environmental policy and marine conservation: Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Inc received $50,000 in 2023 for the Menhaden Project. The foundation also funds research and education, including $100,000 in 2025 to Huntsman Cancer Foundation for cancer research led by Dr. Neeraj Agarwal, and $150,000 in 2025 to President & Fellows of Middlebury College for the Seizing Opportunities Expendable Fund.
Bur Oak Foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile, which points to a pattern of substantial awards. The recent list shows repeated support to several recipients across multiple years, including President & Fellows of Middlebury College, The Nature Conservancy in Utah, Great Basin Water Network Inc, Student Diplomacy Corps Inc, and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Inc. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and also funds individuals. The recent grants emphasize general and unrestricted support, along with a smaller number of expendable fund and project-designated awards.
$739K
$1.4M
$282K
$756K
Most grants fall between $10K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in UT.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated giving: few, large grants (hundreds of thousands each), often general/unrestricted; repeat funding to select institutional grantees rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE, FRIENDS OF TRACY AVIARY, EARTHJUSTICE
Bur Oak Foundation’s giving is national, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Utah appears most often in the recipient list, including Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Cty, and Orem. Other repeated locations include Middlebury, Vermont; Washington, DC; Baker, Nevada; and New York, New York. The pattern is not tied to Delaware: none of the recent grants went to recipients in the HQ state.
Its recent grants center on higher education, environmental advocacy, wildlife and aviary conservation, and Great Salt Lake restoration. Named recipients include universities, conservation organizations, and environmental law groups, with several awards labeled general and unrestricted or tied to expendable funds and specific projects.
Yes. The recent list shows repeated support across multiple years for President & Fellows of Middlebury College, The Nature Conservancy in Utah, Great Basin Water Network Inc, Student Diplomacy Corps Inc, and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Inc, indicating ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger grants such as $150,000, $200,000, and $250,000.
Utah is the top state by grant count, with recipient cities including Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Cty, and Orem appearing frequently in the recent grants list. The grantmaking is national overall, and all recent grants in the provided data went to U.S. recipients.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $175,000 | 2026 | Seizing Opportunity Fund |
| FRIENDS OF TRACY AVIARY 09-20-93 | SALT LAKE CTY, UT | $120,000 | 2026 | The Nature Center |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $100,000 | 2026 | College of Law Great Salt Lake Project |
| SYA FOUNDATION | LOS ALAMITOS, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| STUDENT DIPLOMACY CORPS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| HORSE NATION INC | HUNTINGTN BCH, CA | $37,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| WASATCH MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $30,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| HUNTINGTON BEACH TREE SOCIETY INC | HUNTINGTN BCH, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| GREAT BASIN WATER NETWORK INC | BAKER, NV | $25,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ROOTS CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL | WEST VALLEY, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | Student Service Fund |
| GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | JUPITER, FL | $15,000 | 2026 | Charitable Event |
| WISEPLACE | SANTA ANA, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| LOVE MY NEIGHBOR FOUNDATION | N HOLLYWOOD, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| RECOVERY GROUP | SOUTH JORDAN, UT | $10,000 | 2026 | Therapy Sessions |
| BALLET WEST | SALT LAKE CTY, UT | $10,000 | 2026 | Charitable Event |
| RECOVERY GROUP | SOUTH JORDAN, UT | $10,000 | 2026 | therapy groups for people in need |
| RECOVERY GROUP | SOUTH JORDAN, UT | $10,000 | 2026 | Good Time Golf |
| GLEN COVE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AT LINCOLN HOUSE INC | GLEN COVE, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| BAJA LOVE OUTREACH | HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ANDEAN TEXTILE ARTS INC | SANTA FE, NM | $5,000 | 2026 | The Centro de Textiles de Tradicionales del Cusco |
| GLOBAL FEDERATION OF ANIMAL SANCTUARIES | PHOENIX, AZ | $1,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $150,000 | 2025 | Seizing Opportunities Expendable Fund |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $100,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HUNTSMAN CANCER FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CTY, UT | $100,000 | 2025 | Cancer research led by Dr. Neeraj Agarwal |
| GREAT BASIN WATER NETWORK INC | BAKER, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $50,000 | 2025 | The Stegner Center's Great Salt Lake Project |
| SYA FOUNDATION | LONG BEACH, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CONSERVE UTAH VALLEY | OREM, UT | $50,000 | 2025 | Grow the Flow fund |
| STUDENT DIPLOMACY CORPS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HORSE NATION INC | HUNTINGTN BCH, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BONEFISH & TARPON TRUST INC | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | For work being done in Belize |
| O2 UTAH FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CTY, UT | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CONSERVE UTAH VALLEY | OREM, UT | $11,983 | 2025 | For Grow the Flow and Rachel Wood fund |
| SALT LAKE TRIBUNE INC | SALT LAKE CTY, UT | $10,000 | 2025 | Great Salt Lake Collaborative fund |
| NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BALLET WEST | SALT LAKE CTY, UT | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| RECOVERY GROUP | SOUTH JORDAN, UT | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BALLET WEST | SALT LAKE CTY, UT | $10,000 | 2025 | Charitable Event |
| UTAH FOOD BANK | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2025 | For "Meal Makers" fund |
| LOVE MY NEIGHBOR FOUNDATION | N HOLLYWOOD, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HUNTINGTON BEACH TREE SOCIETY INC | HUNTINGTN BCH, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| GLEN COVE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AT LINCOLN HOUSE INC | GLEN COVE, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF OYSTER BAY INC | OYSTER BAY, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PEOPLE LOVING PEOPLE INCORPORATED | OYSTER BAY, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FRIENDS OF NASSAU COUNTY BAILEY ARBORETUM | LOCUST VALLEY, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NORTH SHORE LAND ALLIANCE INC | OYSTER BAY, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FRIENDS OF TRACY AVIARY 09-20-93 | SALT LAKE CTY, UT | $250,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $125,000 | 2024 | Seizing Opportunities Expendable Fund |
| THE YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN U | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $100,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $100,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
$100,000College of Law Great Salt Lake Project
SYA FOUNDATION
$50,000General & Unrestricted
HORSE NATION INC
General & Unrestricted
WASATCH MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE
$30,000General & Unrestricted
HUNTINGTON BEACH TREE SOCIETY INC
$30,000General & Unrestricted
LOVE MY NEIGHBOR FOUNDATION
$10,000General & Unrestricted
RECOVERY GROUP
$10,000Therapy Sessions
RECOVERY GROUP
$10,000therapy groups for people in need
RECOVERY GROUP
$10,000Good Time Golf
GLEN COVE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AT LINCOLN HOUSE INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
BAJA LOVE OUTREACH
$5,000General & Unrestricted
ANDEAN TEXTILE ARTS INC
$5,000The Centro de Textiles de Tradicionales del Cusco
Seizing Opportunities Expendable Fund
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN UTAH
$100,000General & Unrestricted
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
$50,000The Stegner Center's Great Salt Lake Project
SYA FOUNDATION
$50,000General & Unrestricted
CONSERVE UTAH VALLEY
$50,000Grow the Flow fund
HORSE NATION INC
$25,000General & Unrestricted
O2 UTAH FOUNDATION
$25,000General & Unrestricted
CONSERVE UTAH VALLEY
$11,983For Grow the Flow and Rachel Wood fund
SALT LAKE TRIBUNE INC
$10,000Great Salt Lake Collaborative fund
RECOVERY GROUP
$10,000General & Unrestricted
LOVE MY NEIGHBOR FOUNDATION
$7,500General & Unrestricted
HUNTINGTON BEACH TREE SOCIETY INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
GLEN COVE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AT LINCOLN HOUSE INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF OYSTER BAY INC
$1,500General & Unrestricted
PEOPLE LOVING PEOPLE INCORPORATED
$1,500General & Unrestricted
FRIENDS OF NASSAU COUNTY BAILEY ARBORETUM
$1,000General & Unrestricted
Seizing Opportunities Expendable Fund
General & Unrestricted
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN UTAH
$100,000General & Unrestricted