The Grant and Lara Gund Foundation concentrates large, targeted gifts to a small set of institutional grantees, with an emphasis on higher education and environment-linked work in Vermont alongside a significant interest in international rural development. They favor established organizations (multiple repeat grants to the University of Vermont and its environment foundation, and to Root Capital) and occasionally support disability services. Their portfolio suggests place-based philanthropy in New England paired with selective global development investments.
The Grant and Lara Gund Foundation repeatedly backs a small group of institutions with unusually large awards, led by $200,000 grants to Root Capital and the University of Vermont. That pattern points to a funder that prefers concentrated support rather than broad dispersal, with year-over-year commitments that reach the same organizations at substantial levels. In the recent grant list, Root Capital appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 at $200,000 each year, while University of Vermont - Match appears at the same amount in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation also gives sizable support to University of Vermont - Foundation for the Environment, including three $150,000 grants across 2023 to 2025, and to Perkins School for the Blind, which received $140,000 in 2023 and $75,000 in 2024. Its portfolio combines university-centered funding, environmental work connected to Vermont, and selected support for disability services. The grant record also includes schools and medical and academic institutions, suggesting a preference for established organizations and repeat relationships over one-off gifts.
Public higher education is a major theme in the foundation’s giving. The University of Vermont - Match received $200,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and University of Vermont - R1 received $100,000 in 2025. Environmental work tied to the university also appears prominently: University of Vermont - Foundation for the Environment received $150,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation also supports rural and agricultural finance. Root Capital received $200,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, indicating a sustained relationship with an organization focused on charitable purposes in that area. Disability services are another clear part of the portfolio. Perkins School for the Blind received $140,000 in 2023 and $75,000 in 2024, and The Carroll School for the Blind received $40,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Typical grant sizes are $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $42,500 at the 75th percentile, but the recent record also shows repeated six-figure awards. The foundation gives on a recurring basis: several recipients appear across multiple years, including Root Capital, University of Vermont - Match, University of Vermont - Foundation for the Environment, Milton Academy, Groton School, Perkins School for the Blind, The Carroll School for the Blind, Northwestern University - Kellogg School, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. It funds individuals: False, and it makes program-related investments: False. The grant list is dominated by unrestricted-style language such as “to help further charitable purpose of organization.”
$1.4M
$820K
$604K
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $5K and $43K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$43K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Grant and Lara Gund Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 105 | $4.6M | 99.1% |
| 2 | Jamaica |
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Concentrated giving: a small number of relatively large, repeat grants to a few institutional grantees (multi-year or multi-installment support), mixing local place-based investments with selective international development funding.
Notable grantees: University of Vermont, University of Vermont — Foundation for the Environment, Root Capital, Perkins School for the Blind
Grants go entirely to U.S. recipients, with 80 grants in the United States. Massachusetts appears frequently through Cambridge, Watertown, Boston, Milton, Newton, and Florence, while Vermont is anchored by Burlington. Illinois is the top state by grant count, reflecting repeated support to Northwestern University - Kellogg School in Evanston. Outside the foundation’s headquarters in Concord, MA, the strongest place-based pattern is the cluster of Vermont and Massachusetts institutions.
The recent record centers on public higher education, university-linked environmental work, rural and agricultural finance, and services for people who are blind or visually impaired. University of Vermont - Match, University of Vermont - Foundation for the Environment, Root Capital, Perkins School for the Blind, and The Carroll School for the Blind all appear multiple times.
Yes. Several recipients appear in three consecutive years. Root Capital received $200,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025; University of Vermont - Match received $200,000 in each of those years; and University of Vermont - Foundation for the Environment received $150,000 in each of those years.
The distribution shows a p25 of $5,000, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $42,500. The recent list also includes much larger repeat grants, including multiple $200,000 awards.
Recipients are all in the United States. Massachusetts and Vermont appear most often in the recent grants, and Illinois is the top state by grant count because of repeated support to Northwestern University - Kellogg School in Evanston.
The most visible themes are higher education, environmental work, rural development finance, and blindness services. That shows up in support for the University of Vermont, University of Vermont - Foundation for the Environment, Root Capital, Perkins School for the Blind, and The Carroll School for the Blind.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 1 |
| $6K |
0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAGE | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| ROOT CAPITAL | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - MATCH | BURLINGTON, VT | $200,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - FOUNDATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT | BURLINGTON, VT | $150,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ORGANIZATION. |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - R1 | BURLINGTON, VT | $100,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR NANTUCKET FBO OUR HOUSE | NANTUCKET, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| MILTON ACADEMY | MILTON, MA | $80,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| THE CARROLL SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | NEWTON, MA | $60,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| MEII OCULAR GENOMICS INSTITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| HARVARD SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE - RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY AND BIOMATERIALS | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY - KELLOGG SCHOOL | EVANSTON, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| NANTUCKET CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | NANTUCKET, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| REPRESENTUS | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| SHELBURNE FARMS | SHELBURNE, VT | $10,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| COLORADO COLLEGE | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $10,000 | 2026 | TO HELP ORGANIZATION FURTHER THEIR CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| JAMAICA NON-PROFIT TENNIS ACADEMY | MONTEGO BAY ST JAMES JAMA | $6,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY | BOSTON, MA | $6,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| THE NEWMAN SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $5,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| BROAD INSTITUTE OF MIT AND HARVARD | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOC - ICE OUT ALZ | CHICAGO, IL | $4,700 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ORGANIZATION. |
| CASA OF SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT | NEW HAVEN, CT | $3,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| THE WILY NETWORK | NEWTON, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| ROOT CAPITAL | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $200,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - MATCH | BURLINGTON, VT | $200,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - FOUNDATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT | BURLINGTON, VT | $150,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ORGANIZATION. |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - R1 | BURLINGTON, VT | $100,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| MILTON ACADEMY | MILTON, MA | $80,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| GROTON SCHOOL | GORTON, MA | $70,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| HARVARD SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE - RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY AND BIOMATERIALS | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| THE CARROLL SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | NEWTON, MA | $40,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY - KELLOGG SCHOOL | EVANSTON, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| LIFTUP COMMUNITIES | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| FULL FRAME INITIATIVE | GREENFIELD, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM - MASS EYE AND EAR | BOSTON, MA | $11,500 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| SHELBURNE FARMS | SHELBURNE, VT | $10,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| COLORADO COLLEGE | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | TO HELP ORGANIZATION FURTHER THEIR CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | WATERTOWN, MA | $8,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| CRANBERRY CUP | CONCORD, MA | $6,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| OUR HOUSE NANTUCKET | NANTUCKET, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| BIG SISTER ASSOCIATION OF GREATER BOSTON INC | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOC - ICE OUT ALZ | CHICAGO, IL | $4,700 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ORGANIZATION. |
| MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NATICK, MA | $4,250 | 2025 | TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION. |
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - MATCH
$200,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ORGANIZATION.
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - R1
$100,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
THE CARROLL SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
$60,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
MEII OCULAR GENOMICS INSTITUTE
$50,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
HARVARD SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE - RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY AND BIOMATERIALS
$50,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
$25,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$20,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
REPRESENTUS
$10,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
COLORADO COLLEGE
$10,000TO HELP ORGANIZATION FURTHER THEIR CHARITABLE PURPOSE
JAMAICA NON-PROFIT TENNIS ACADEMY
$6,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
THE NEWMAN SCHOOL
$5,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
$5,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ORGANIZATION.
CASA OF SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT
$3,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - MATCH
$200,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - FOUNDATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
$150,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ORGANIZATION.
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - R1
$100,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
GROTON SCHOOL
$70,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
HARVARD SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE - RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY AND BIOMATERIALS
$50,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
THE CARROLL SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
$40,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
$25,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
LIFTUP COMMUNITIES
$20,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION
$20,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$20,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM - MASS EYE AND EAR
$11,500TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
COLORADO COLLEGE
$10,000TO HELP ORGANIZATION FURTHER THEIR CHARITABLE PURPOSE
PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
$8,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
CRANBERRY CUP
$6,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
$5,000TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ORGANIZATION.
TO HELP FURTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION.