The Jeniam Foundation focuses its giving on environmental stewardship of Long Island Sound and strategic animal welfare work, preferring to fund intermediary stewardship funds and national animal-network strategy efforts rather than many small direct-service projects. Its grants support regional conservation pooled funds that steward Long Island/Long Island Sound resources and capacity-building or strategy development for animal welfare organizations, especially in the southeastern U.S. context shown by the Best Friends grant.
Jeniam Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by pooled stewardship funds for Long Island Sound, including a $150,000 grant to New York Community Trust Long Island for the Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund 2024 and another $150,000 grant to Long Island Community Foundation for a stewardship fund. That pattern points to a preference for intermediary vehicles that can channel conservation dollars into regional environmental work rather than only direct project grants. The foundation also makes sizable grants for animal welfare strategy. It gave Best Friends Animal Society $135,000 for network strategies and new strategy development for Florida, then followed with a $100,000 grant for network strategy 2024 and a $50,000 grant for Hurricane Helene relief. In the environmental portfolio, the foundation supports organizations that combine habitat work, planning, and staff capacity, such as Audubon Connecticut for a volunteer coordinator and Waveny Park Conservancy for woodland and meadow improvements. Across the recent grants list, the funder appears to favor organizations that can coordinate broader regional efforts, build capacity, or manage stewardship funds. Its grants range from general operating support and challenge grants to capital campaign support and project-specific awards tied to conservation, wildlife, and animal welfare work.
Long Island Sound stewardship is the clearest environmental theme in Jeniam Foundation’s grantmaking. It supported the New York Community Trust Long Island for the Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund 2024 and Long Island Community Foundation for a stewardship fund, showing a strong preference for pooled conservation vehicles. The foundation also backs habitat restoration and coastal resilience. It gave Waveny Park Conservancy $100,000 for woodlands restoration and meadow upgrades, and National Audubon Society CT & NY received grants for a coastal resiliency collaboration and for CT coastal projects. Capacity building appears in several grants. Save the Sound received funding for ecological restoration capacity building, while Audubon Connecticut was supported for a volunteer coordinator role tied to Coastal Rangers. The foundation also funds conservation research and monitoring, including Earthplace the Nature Discovery Center for a microbial source tracking pilot project and educator work. Animal welfare is another clear line of giving. Best Friends Animal Society received grants for network strategy development and for Hurricane Helene relief.
$1.5M
$32.7M
$334K
$1.8M
Most grants fall between $5K and $39K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$39K
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Concentrated, small-number portfolio: three relatively large grants (six-figure) to intermediaries and a national animal-welfare organization, indicating preference for high-value, targeted investments and repeat support to pooled/regional stewardship vehicles.
Notable grantees: New York Community Trust – Long Island (Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund), Long Island Community Foundation – Stewardship Fund, Best Friends Animal Society
Jeniam Foundation’s grant sizes cluster around a middle tier: the typical grant is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $11,875 at the median, and $39,375 at the 75th percentile. That distribution sits alongside a small number of much larger awards to stewardship funds and strategy-oriented partners. The recent record shows repeat support to several organizations over multiple years, including Best Friends Animal Society, Waveny Park Conservancy, Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation Inc, Horizons National, Earthplace, New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, and Wolf Conservation Center. The foundation also uses challenge grants, general operating support, capital campaign support, and project-specific awards. It funds individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Most of Jeniam Foundation’s grants land in Connecticut, which accounts for 67% of grants to recipients. Recent Connecticut recipients include New Canaan, Westport, Greenwich, New Haven, Stamford, Bethel, and Newtown. Outside Connecticut, the foundation gives to organizations in New York, Utah, New Mexico, and Virginia. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 117 grants going to U.S. recipients. The pattern suggests a regional core with a few national partners that support Connecticut-linked conservation and animal welfare work.
It funds intermediary conservation and stewardship vehicles, environmental organizations working on Long Island Sound and coastal habitat, and animal welfare organizations. Recent grants include stewardship funds, habitat restoration, volunteer coordination, conservation planning, and network strategy work.
Its grant-size profile is centered in the middle range: p25 is $5,000, median grant size is $11,875, and p75 is $39,375. The recent record also includes larger awards, especially for stewardship funds and strategy grants.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Best Friends Animal Society, Waveny Park Conservancy, Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation Inc, Horizons National, Earthplace, New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, and Wolf Conservation Center.
Connecticut receives the largest share, with 67% of grants going to recipients in the state. Recent Connecticut recipients are spread across New Canaan, Westport, Greenwich, New Haven, Stamford, Bethel, and Newtown.
The strongest themes are Long Island Sound stewardship, coastal resilience and habitat restoration, conservation capacity building, and animal welfare network strategy. Recent examples include stewardship funds, coastal projects, woodland and meadow work, microbial source tracking, and animal welfare strategy grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST LONG ISLAND | COMMACK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | LONG ISLAND SOUND STEWARDSHIP FUND 2024 |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY | KANAB, UT | $100,000 | 2025 | NETWORK STRATEGY 2024 |
| WAVENY PARK CONSERVANCY INC | NEW CANAAN, CT | $100,000 | 2025 | WOODLANDS RESTORATION AND MEADOW UPGRADES |
| WAVENY LIFECARE NETWORK INC | NEW CANAAN, CT | $100,000 | 2025 | CYBERSECURITY CHALLENGE GRANT |
| NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CT & NY | NEW YORK, NY | $85,000 | 2025 | COASTAL RESILIENCY COLLABORATION GRANT |
| EVERWONDER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | NEWTOWN, CT | $75,000 | 2025 | CHALLENGE GRANT 2023-2024 |
| NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CT & NY | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | CT COASTAL PROJECTS |
| WOLF CONSERVATION CENTER INC | SOUTH SALEM, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GRANT |
| AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY | THE PLAINS, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | ADVANCING BIRDSPLUS |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY | KANAB, UT | $50,000 | 2025 | HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF |
| DANBURY ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY INC | BETHEL, CT | $41,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HORIZONS NATIONAL | WESTPORT, CT | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW MEXICO WILDERNESS ALLIANCE | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EARTHPLACE THE NATURE DISCOVERY CENTER INC | WESTPORT, CT | $40,000 | 2025 | MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING PILOT PROJECT AND EDUCATOR |
| NEWTOWN-SANDY HOOK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | NEWTOWN, CT | $35,000 | 2025 | CHALLENGE GRANT |
| WOLF CONSERVATION CENTER INC | SOUTH SALEM, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND RED WOLF RESEARCH |
| GLOBAL FOREST GENERATION | NORTH HERO, VT | $30,000 | 2025 | IMPACT MONITORING 2 |
| SAVE THE SOUND INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | SOUND FUTURE CAMPAIGN |
| NEW CANAAN LAND CONSERVATION TRUST INC | NEW CANAAN, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR |
| NATIONAL AVIARY PITTSBURGH INC | PITTSBURG, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | AFRICAN PENQUINS SAFE PROGRAM |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | OCEANS PROGRAM |
| SAVE THE SOUND INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | RIVER RESTORATION NETWORK FUNDING WORKSHOP |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NEW CANAAN | NEW CANAAN, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF EASTERN CT | NEW LONDON, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | ALEWIFE COVE CONSERVANCY |
| NEW CANAAN CHAMBER MUSIC INC | NEW CANAAN, CT | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL OF WESTON INC | WESTON, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | DOUBLE BASS FOR MUSIC PROGRAM |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC (NRDC) | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANIMAL HUMANE ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $10,000 | 2025 | CHALLENGE GRANT FOR SAFETY NET |
| WOLF CONSERVATION CENTER INC | SOUTH SALEM, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAMMING FOR TITLE 1 SCHOOLS |
| CT COUNCIL FOR PHILANTHROPY | HARTFORD, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | FAIRFIELD COUNTY FUNDERS NETWORK WELLNESS GRANTS |
| WILDLIFE IN CRISIS INC | WESTON, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | FLOOD REPAIRS AND DRAINAGE WORK |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC | FAIRFIELD, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF |
| MARITIME AQUARIUM AT NORWALK | NORWALK, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| REAL FOOD CT INC | NEWTOWN, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | CHALLENGE GRANT |
| KENT LAND TRUST | KENT, CT | $9,500 | 2025 | PURPLE MARTIN POPULATION SUSTAINABILITY |
| WORLD REPAIR PLANTING FOUNDATION INC | SHELBURNE FALLS, MA | $7,000 | 2025 | FRUIT TRAIL PHASE II PART II |
| WOLF CONSERVATION CENTER INC | SOUTH SALEM, NY | $7,000 | 2025 | PORTABLE ULTRASOUND |
| CITIZENS CAMPAIGN FUND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT | FARMINGDALE, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | LONG ISLAND SOUND EDUCATION TRIP |
| AUSSIE RESCUE & PLACEMENT HELPLINE (ARPH) | ST GEORGE, UT | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CT & NY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | ELA SMALL PRIZE GRANT |
| MASSARO COMMUNITY FARM | WOODBRIDGE, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | ELECTRIC VAN CHALLENGE GRANT |
| PITTIELOVE RESCUE | FRAMINGHAM, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HORIZONS NATIONAL | WESTPORT, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | VISITING AUTHORS PROGRAM |
| WOLF CONSERVATION CENTER INC | SOUTH SALEM, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | LOBO WEEK CHALLENGE GRANT |
| FROM THE HEART PRODUCTIONS INC | OXNARD, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | WHERE FOOLS GO FILM CHALLENGE GRANT |
| DANBURY ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY INC | BETHEL, CT | $4,500 | 2025 | BENEFIT SUPPORT |
| MARITIME AQUARIUM AT NORWALK | NORWALK, CT | $3,000 | 2025 | COASTAL NETWORK KICK-OFF MEETING |
| RESCUE DOGS ROCK NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUSTAINABLE CT INC | BOZRAH, CT | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | NEW HAVEN, CT | $2,500 | 2025 | BRIDGEPORT WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING EXPENSES |
NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST LONG ISLAND
$150,000LONG ISLAND SOUND STEWARDSHIP FUND 2024
WAVENY LIFECARE NETWORK INC
$100,000CYBERSECURITY CHALLENGE GRANT
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CT & NY
$85,000COASTAL RESILIENCY COLLABORATION GRANT
EVERWONDER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
CHALLENGE GRANT 2023-2024
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CT & NY
$75,000CT COASTAL PROJECTS
HORIZONS NATIONAL
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING PILOT PROJECT AND EDUCATOR
NEWTOWN-SANDY HOOK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
$35,000CHALLENGE GRANT
GLOBAL FOREST GENERATION
$30,000IMPACT MONITORING 2
NEW CANAAN LAND CONSERVATION TRUST INC
$25,000COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
NATIONAL AVIARY PITTSBURGH INC
$25,000AFRICAN PENQUINS SAFE PROGRAM
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NEW CANAAN
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW CANAAN CHAMBER MUSIC INC
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL OF WESTON INC
$15,000DOUBLE BASS FOR MUSIC PROGRAM
ANIMAL HUMANE ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO
$10,000CHALLENGE GRANT FOR SAFETY NET
REAL FOOD CT INC
$10,000CHALLENGE GRANT
KENT LAND TRUST
$9,500PURPLE MARTIN POPULATION SUSTAINABILITY
WORLD REPAIR PLANTING FOUNDATION INC
$7,000FRUIT TRAIL PHASE II PART II
AUSSIE RESCUE & PLACEMENT HELPLINE (ARPH)
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CT & NY
$5,000ELA SMALL PRIZE GRANT
MASSARO COMMUNITY FARM
$5,000ELECTRIC VAN CHALLENGE GRANT
PITTIELOVE RESCUE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HORIZONS NATIONAL
$5,000VISITING AUTHORS PROGRAM
SUSTAINABLE CT INC
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND
$2,500BRIDGEPORT WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING EXPENSES