Catena Foundation concentrates on large, strategic investments in environmental conservation and related community engagement initiatives. It supports major national and international conservation organizations for project-specific efforts (e.g., biodiversity protection in Colombia) and U.S. land conservation and public‑space preservation. Grants are sizable and appear targeted to programmatic impact rather than broad small-dollar giving.
Catena Foundation’s largest recent grant is a $4 million award to World Wildlife Fund for Herencia Colombia, a sign of how heavily the foundation leans into large, project-specific conservation funding. Across the recent grants list, Catena backs environmental protection, community engagement, clean energy, civic democracy, and immigration-related work, often through major intermediary organizations and national nonprofits. Its portfolio includes multimillion-dollar support for Trust for Public Land’s conservation work and substantial grants to New Venture Fund for community engagement and democracy-related efforts. The foundation also appears in international conservation and displacement response through awards tied to Colombia and crisis response. The giving pattern is strategic rather than broad-based: many grants are sized in the high six figures to multi-million range, and the recipients include both issue-specific advocacy shops and large operational platforms that can carry policy, communications, and field engagement work. That mix suggests a funder interested in systems-level outcomes, with money routed to organizations positioned to execute complex projects at scale.
In conservation, Catena Foundation backed Trust for Public Land with $3 million for conservation and gave Aspen Global Change Institute $550,000 for conservation. The foundation also funded World Wildlife Fund with $4 million for Herencia Colombia, linking its environmental portfolio to biodiversity protection outside the United States. Clean energy is another clear area of support: Environmental Defense Fund received $1,395,000 for vehicle decarbonization and protecting Americans from toxic chemicals, and Windward Fund received $1 million for building electrification. Policy and advocacy work appears through groups such as Advanced Energy Economy Institute, which received $650,000 for western RTO, western PUC, and federal climate action via states. Catena also supports community engagement through intermediaries including Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and Equis Institute.
Typical grant size sits at $79,435 at the 25th percentile, $143,830 at the median, and $250,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent list shows a long upper tail with multiple awards above $1 million. The foundation gives through a regular funder structure and also funds individuals. Its recent record shows repeat support to some organizations across years, including New Venture Fund, Hopewell Fund, International Rescue Committee, Policy Impact, Aspen Global Change Institute, and others, indicating ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. Several grants are routed through intermediary or fiscal platforms, with a mix of general operating support and project-specific funding.
$27.2M
$596.4M
$31.2M
$32.8M
Most grants fall between $79K and $250K, with a median of $144K.
25th Percentile
$79K
Median
$144K
75th Percentile
$250K
About 17% of grants go to recipients in DC.
Top 6 recipient countries by grant volume for Catena Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 375 | $101.7M | 95.2% |
| 2 | Colombia | 8 |
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Highly concentrated: very few (three) large grants totaling $10.25M, directed to established national/international organizations and intermediaries for discrete program or project support rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: World Wildlife Fund, New Venture Fund, Trust for Public Land
Catena Foundation gives nationally, with 97.5% of grants going to U.S. recipients and 17% landing in Colorado, the headquarters state. The top state by grant count is Arizona, though the recipient list also clusters in Washington, DC and New York, with additional awards to California, North Carolina, Georgia, Oregon, and Massachusetts. Outside the U.S., grant recipients appear in Colombia, Kenya, Mexico, and Nicaragua, reflecting a small but real international component to the portfolio.
The recent grants show support for conservation, clean energy, community engagement, civic engagement and protecting democracy, and immigration-related work. Named recipients include Trust for Public Land for conservation, Environmental Defense Fund for vehicle decarbonization, and New Venture Fund for community engagement and democracy support.
Yes. The recent list includes several multi-million-dollar awards, such as $4 million to World Wildlife Fund, $3.25 million to New Venture Fund, and $3 million to Trust for Public Land. Even many other grants are in the high six-figure range, while the median typical grant size is $143,830.
Yes. The grant list shows repeat recipients across years, including New Venture Fund, Hopewell Fund, International Rescue Committee, Policy Impact, and Aspen Global Change Institute. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships and multi-year support rather than isolated one-time gifts.
The foundation gives nationally, with 97.5% of grants to U.S. recipients. Colorado accounts for 17% of grants, while the top state by grant count is Arizona. The recipient list also includes organizations in Washington, DC, New York, California, North Carolina, Georgia, Oregon, and Massachusetts, plus a small number of grants outside the U.S.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| $3.7M |
2.0% |
| 3 | Nigeria | 4 | $2M | 1.0% |
| 4 | Canada | 3 | $195K | 0.8% |
| 5 | Mexico | 3 | $120K | 0.8% |
| 6 | Kenya | 1 | $303K | 0.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,250,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | SAN FRANSISCO, CA | $3,000,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| STATE LEADERSHIP PROJECT | RALEIGH, NC | $1,150,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| THIRD WAY INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DEFENDING DEMOCRACY TOGETHER INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | CRISIS RESPONSE |
| POLICY IMPACT (NAME CHANGE IN 2025 TO CONTINA IMPACT) | BERKELEY, CA | $945,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| ASYLUM SEEKER ADVOCACY PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $850,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| HOPEWELL FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $775,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL | WASHINGTON, DC | $600,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS | NEW YORK, NY | $550,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| ASPEN GLOBAL CHANGE INSTITUTE | BASALT, CO | $550,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| ISSUE ONE | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EQUIS INSTITUTE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| WESTERN STATES CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $450,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| WELCOMING AMERICA | ATLANTA, GA | $450,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $440,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RESOURCES LEGACY FUND | SACRAMENTO, CA | $410,673 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| FWDUSEDUCATION FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $400,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| UNIDOSUS | WASHINGTON, DC | $400,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| RESGUARDO KOGUI MALAYO ARHUACO | SANTA MARTA, MA | $397,992 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| CANOPY NORTHWEST ARKANSAS | FAYETTEVILLE, AR | $397,440 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| REFUGEE CONGRESS | WASHINGTON, DC | $380,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY INNOVATION CENTER | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $355,526 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW | OAKLAND, CA | $350,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| NEEM FOUNDATION | AB | $337,788 | 2025 | CRISIS RESPONSE |
| DEFINE AMERICAN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $325,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | FORT COLLINS, CO | $325,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| LAS AMERICAS IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY CENTER | EL PASO, TX | $325,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CIVIC NATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| SOUTHERN VISION ALLIANCE | DURHAM, NC | $300,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| STATES UNITED DEMOCRACY CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR TECH AND CIVIC LIFE | CHICAGO, IL | $275,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| REFUGEE COUNCIL USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $265,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TENNESSEE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE RIGHTS COALITION | NASHVILLE, TN | $250,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| GRAND CANYON YOUTH | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $250,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| TECH ASSIST PARTNERSHIP OF ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $203,463 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| THE VOTER PROJECT FUND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $200,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| CITIES FORWARD INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $180,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION | RESTON, VA | $163,824 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| TIDES FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| JOSEPH RAINEY CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GRAND CANYON TRUST | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $150,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| EDUCATION REFORM NOW | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MERIDIAN INSTITUTE | DILLION, CO | $145,320 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| ASPEN JOURNALISM | ASPEN, CO | $143,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| HIGH DESERT DEVO | CORTEZ, CO | $139,650 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES | WASHINGTON, DC | $137,351 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| ECOFLIGHT | ASPEN, CO | $130,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY TOGETHER INSTITUTE
$1,000,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
POLICY IMPACT (NAME CHANGE IN 2025 TO CONTINA IMPACT)
$945,000COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE
$440,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
RESGUARDO KOGUI MALAYO ARHUACO
$397,992CONSERVATION
REFUGEE CONGRESS
$380,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEEM FOUNDATION
$337,788CRISIS RESPONSE
CITIES FORWARD INC
$200,000COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
MERIDIAN INSTITUTE
$145,320CONSERVATION
HIGH DESERT DEVO
$139,650GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT