Cloud Mountain Foundation concentrates on progressive environmental protection and advocacy, funding national policy research, grassroots frontline organizations, and investigative/news outlets that advance environmental and democratic accountability. Its grants support litigation and policy (environmental legal defense, trade/agriculture policy), watchdog journalism and media reform, and place-based watershed and community environmental groups — often backing organizations working at the intersection of environment and social justice.
Cloud Mountain Foundation C/o Wffa Pllc gives at a national scale to environmental policy, frontline protection, and accountability work, with its largest recent awards reaching $420,000 to Science & Envir Health Network and $270,000 to Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism. The pattern shows a funder that backs both technical advocacy and public-facing pressure: research organizations, legal-defense groups, watershed coalitions, and media outlets all appear in the recent grants list. In 2025, the foundation continued that mix with $250,000 to True North Research and $200,000 to Grassroots Fund, alongside repeated support for organizations working on environmental justice and democratic oversight. Its grantmaking also reaches civic intermediaries such as Sustainable Markets Foundation and New World Foundation, suggesting a role in moving resources to campaigns and allied initiatives. Across the list, the foundation favors organizations that can shape policy, support communities affected by environmental harm, or produce investigative information relevant to environmental and democratic accountability. The overall picture is of a grantmaker funding both analysis and organizing, with multiple years of support for several recipients and a clear emphasis on environmental advocacy infrastructure.
The foundation supports environmental policy research through grants such as $420,000 to Science & Envir Health Network for environmental work and $250,000 to True North Research for environmental work. It also backs legal and rights-based advocacy, including $175,000 to Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund for environmental work. Watershed and community environmental protection appear in grants like $100,000 to West Virginia Rivers Coalition and $100,000 to Coming Clean, both tied to environmental work. Media and public-accountability efforts are another thread: Cloud Mountain Foundation C/o Wffa Pllc gave $270,000 to Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism for media work and $100,000 to Center for Media & Democracy for news and information. Creative civic engagement also shows up through $118,000 to Make Art Not War for civic and creative art work.
Typical grant size sits at $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $35,000 at the median, and $60,000 at the 75th percentile, while the recent list also includes many six-figure awards. The foundation appears to make recurring grants: Sustainable Markets Foundation, True North Research, Bold Alliance, Center for Media & Democracy, and New World Foundation each appear in multiple years. It is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grant list suggests project or program support across policy, media, and environmental advocacy organizations rather than a single application channel.
$4.5M
$92.1M
$7.5M
$4.9M
Most grants fall between $25K and $60K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$60K
About 13% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated mid-to-large grants with many repeat multi-year gifts to a core set of progressive environmental, media, and grassroots organizations; funding mixes national policy/advocacy groups with place-based frontline groups and legal/strategic support rather than many very small awards.
Notable grantees: Science & Environmental Health Network, Sustainable Markets Foundation, Center for Media & Democracy, Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, West Virginia Rivers Coalition
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based, with 294 grants in the United States. The highest concentration by state is Vermont, even though the foundation itself is headquartered in New York, New York. Recent recipient cities include Eugene, Oregon; Columbus, Ohio; Newmarket, New Hampshire; Berkeley, California; and Falls Church, Virginia. The list also shows repeated support in New York City, but grantmaking extends well beyond the headquarters state.
It funds environmental policy research, legal defense, watershed protection, investigative media, and civic or creative groups tied to environmental justice. Recent grants include work through Science & Envir Health Network, Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Center for Media & Democracy, and Make Art Not War.
Typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $35,000 at the median, and $60,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes larger awards, including multiple grants in the $100,000 to $420,000 range.
Yes. Several organizations appear across multiple years, including Sustainable Markets Foundation, True North Research, Bold Alliance, Center for Media & Democracy, and New World Foundation. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards only.
No. The grant list is national, and recipients are located across the United States. Recent cities include Eugene, Columbus, Newmarket, Berkeley, Madison, and New Orleans.
It supports media and news organizations connected to environmental accountability. Recent examples include $270,000 to Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism and $100,000 to Center for Media & Democracy for news and information.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRUE NORTH RESEARCH | ENCINITAS, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| SCIENCE & ENVIR HEALTH NETWORK | EUGENE, OR | $210,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| GRASSROOTS FUND | NEWMARKET, NH | $200,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| SUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $177,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| BOLD ALLIANCE | DONIPHAN, NE | $150,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CDER | BELTSVILLE, MD | $150,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| NEW WORLD FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| NEW WORLD FOUND FRACKING FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| CENTER FOR MEDIA & DEMOCRACY | MADISON, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | NEWS AND INFORMATION |
| STORY OF STUFF | BERKELEY, CA | $90,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| UNKOCH MY CAMPUSESSENTIAL INFORMATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $85,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| THE OTHER 98 ACTION | PORTLAND, OR | $85,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| PROJECT OF GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT | WASHINGTON, DC | $60,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| DEEP SOUTH CTR FOR ENVIRONMETAL JUSTICE | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $60,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| WESTERN MINING ACTION NETWORK | BILLINGS, MT | $60,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| LOUSIANA BUCKET BRIGADE | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $60,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| GAIA | BERKELEY, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| SOLIDAIRE | AMHERST, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| DATAKIND | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| OIL CHANGE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| WEST VIRGINIA RIVERS COALITION | CHARLESTON, WV | $50,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| BERKSHIRE NAT'L RESOURCES COUNCIL | PITTSFIELD, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| SHEFFIELD LAND TRUST | SHEFFIELD, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| SCHUMACHER CENTER FOR A NEW ECONOMICS | GREAT BARRINGTON, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| PROTECT DISSENT NETWORKPIPER FUND | WALTHAM, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| COMING CLEAN | BRATTLEBORO, VT | $50,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| IRONBOUND COMMUNITY CORP | NEWARK, NJ | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| AMERICAN PROMISE EDUCATION FUND | CONCORD, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC ACCURACY & EXPOSE FACTS | OAKLAND, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CURIOUS COMMUNICATIONSL FLANDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | MEDIA & INFORMATION |
| MOUNTAIN WATERSHED ASSOC | MELCROFT, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE | BERKELEY, CA | $45,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $45,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| FOOD & WATER WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $45,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| THIRD ACT EDUCATION FUND | NASSAU, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| CENTER FOR COMMON GROUND | LADYSMITH, VA | $40,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| EARTHWORKS | WASHINGTON, DC | $40,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| SOUL FIRE FARM INSTITUTE | PETERSBURGH, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| PALAST INVESTIGATIVE FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | NEWS & INFORMATION |
| FREE SPEECH FOR PEOPLE | AUSTIN, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| LEAD AGENCY | MIAMI, OK | $40,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| TRUTHOUT | SACRAMENTO, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| TEXAS CAMPAIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT FUND | AUSTIN, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| JUSTICE THROUGH MUSIC | BETHESDA, MD | $40,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURE AND TRADE POLICY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| GREENPEACE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| NETROOTS FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $35,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| SOCM | KNOXVILLE, TN | $30,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| DELAWARE RIVERKEEPER NETWORK | BRISTOL, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| MAKE ART NOT WAR | PASADENA, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | CIVIC; CREATIVE ART |
TRUE NORTH RESEARCH
$250,000ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE & ENVIR HEALTH NETWORK
$210,000ENVIRONMENTAL
GRASSROOTS FUND
$200,000ENVIRONMENTAL
BOLD ALLIANCE
$150,000CIVIC
CDER
$150,000CIVIC
CIVIC
STORY OF STUFF
$90,000ENVIRONMENTAL
UNKOCH MY CAMPUSESSENTIAL INFORMATION
$85,000ENVIRONMENTAL
THE OTHER 98 ACTION
$85,000CIVIC
WESTERN MINING ACTION NETWORK
$60,000ENVIRONMENTAL
LOUSIANA BUCKET BRIGADE
$60,000ENVIRONMENTAL
SOLIDAIRE
$50,000CIVIC
BERKSHIRE NAT'L RESOURCES COUNCIL
$50,000ENVIRONMENTAL
SHEFFIELD LAND TRUST
$50,000ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECT DISSENT NETWORKPIPER FUND
$50,000CIVIC
INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC ACCURACY & EXPOSE FACTS
$50,000CIVIC
CURIOUS COMMUNICATIONSL FLANDERS
$50,000MEDIA & INFORMATION
THIRD ACT EDUCATION FUND
$40,000ENVIRONMENTAL
PALAST INVESTIGATIVE FUND
$40,000NEWS & INFORMATION
LEAD AGENCY
$40,000ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE THROUGH MUSIC
$40,000CIVIC
SOCM
$30,000CIVIC
MAKE ART NOT WAR
$30,000CIVIC; CREATIVE ART