The John Sperling Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on legal and policy advocacy to protect the environment—especially climate, energy and public lands in the Western U.S.—and on civil liberties, with particular emphasis on voting rights and reproductive freedom. It awards sizable, multi-year grants to mission-driven public interest legal organizations and national civil liberties groups rather than funding many small projects or service providers.
A three-year, $1 million-a-year commitment to Earthjustice anchors John Sperling Foundation’s recent giving and points to a clear pattern: the foundation backs legal advocacy, policy work, and public-interest litigation rather than broad service delivery. That climate and energy support sits alongside multi-year grants for public lands defense in the Western U.S., with the Western Environmental Law Center receiving installments in both Taos and Eugene tied to defending public lands across the West. The foundation also funds civil liberties work at national advocacy organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation for abortion and reproductive health care protection and voting rights, showing a parallel emphasis on rights-based legal strategies. Beyond environment and civil liberties, its recent grants reach into food and agricultural policy, water protection, forest restoration, crisis relief, and psychedelic policy reform. The recurring structure of the grants suggests the foundation favors sustained, issue-specific support for groups already working in the advocacy and litigation space. The result is a portfolio centered on law, policy, and public systems affecting the West, reproductive freedom, and civic participation.
Environmental giving appears in several distinct strands. Earthjustice received $1,000,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025 for its climate and energy program, while the Western Environmental Law Center was funded in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for defending public lands across the western U.S. Water policy is another repeated theme: Food & Water Watch received $100,000 in 2023 for the Public Water for All campaign, $100,000 in 2024 to protect California’s water resources from agricultural and fossil fuel industry abuse, and $100,000 in 2025 for the Protect California’s Water campaign. Food-system advocacy also appears through the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for work on a safer and more transparent food system. The foundation’s portfolio also includes a grant to the National Forest Foundation for the Bill Williams Mountain restoration project to thin forests and protect communities.
Typical grants cluster around the mid-six figures: p25 is $15,000, median is $100,000, and p75 is $250,000. The recent record shows repeated support for several recipients across multiple years, including Earthjustice, the Western Environmental Law Center, Food & Water Watch, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. That pattern points to multi-year, installment-based grantmaking rather than one-off awards. Grants are often structured for general support, advocacy, or designated campaign work, and several entries explicitly note first, second, or final installments of two- or three-year commitments. John Sperling Foundation is a regular funder and does not fund individuals.
$3.8M
$80.2M
$2.7M
$5.2M
Most grants fall between $15K and $250K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$250K
About 9% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, high-value multi-year installments to a small set of repeat grantees (legal advocacy organizations and national civil liberties groups), with most dollars flowing to a few flagship partners.
Notable grantees: Earthjustice, Western Environmental Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, ACLU Foundation
Grantmaking is national, but California recipients appear most often. Recent grants go to organizations in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Palo Alto, San Jose, Petaluma, Santa Cruz, and Los Angeles, alongside grantees in Washington, DC, New York, Oregon, New Mexico, and Montana. The Foundation’s HQ is in Arizona, and 8% of grants go to recipients in AZ, but its giving footprint is broader than its headquarters state. All recent grants listed are to US recipients.
It supports public-interest legal and policy organizations working on climate and energy, public lands defense, voting rights, reproductive freedom, water protection, food-system transparency, and related advocacy. Recent grantees include Earthjustice, the Western Environmental Law Center, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Yes. The recent grants list includes a three-year $1,000,000 annual commitment to Earthjustice, a two-year grant to the Western Environmental Law Center, a two-year grant to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, and a three-year grant for National Forest Foundation projects. Several grants are listed as first, second, or final installments.
The grant-size distribution centers on larger awards: p25 is $15,000, median is $100,000, and p75 is $250,000. Recent awards include repeated $100,000, $250,000, $300,000, $450,000, $500,000, and $1,000,000 grants.
Its top recipient state is California, which is where the foundation gives most often. Recent California recipients include organizations in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Palo Alto, San Jose, Petaluma, Santa Cruz, and Los Angeles.
It does not fund individuals. The data identifies it as a regular funder, but it does not provide an application process or indicate an open solicitation model.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EARTHJUSTICE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,500,000 | 2026 | FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A THREE-YEAR GRANT FOR PREVAILING JUSTICE: FIGHT BACK, FIGHT FORWARD |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | FOR THE VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT WORK RELATED TO PROTECTION OF ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE |
| WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER | EUGENE, OR | $500,000 | 2026 | SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO-YEAR GRANT FOR DEFENDING PUBLIC LANDS ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S. |
| CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2026 | SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO-YEAR GRANT FOR ADVOCATING FOR A SAFER AND MORE TRANSPARENT FOOD SYSTEM |
| LOS PADRES FOREST WATCH | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO-YEAR GRANT FOR PROTECTING THE PUBLIC LANDS OF THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA |
| WESTERN RESOURCE ADVOCATES | BOULDER, CO | $75,000 | 2026 | FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A THREE-YEAR GRANT TO PROTECT THE COLORADO RIVER |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2026 | RESTRICTED TO EFFORTS RELATED TO HELENE WITH A FOCUS ON NC, GA AND TN |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2026 | RESTRICTED TO RECOVERY EFFORTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WILDFIRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |
| GAVIOTA COAST CONSERVANCY | GOLETA, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PW LITCHFIELD HERITAGE | LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INDIVISIBLE CIVICS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL | SURPRISE, AZ | $20,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THEIR ENDEAVORS IN THE WEST VALLEY |
| JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST | MARTINEZ, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF FAMILY HARVEST FARM |
| WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY | GRAND CANYON, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR THE GRAND CANYON DISASTER RECOVERY FUND |
| INDIVISIBLE CIVICS | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUSTAINABLE LAFAYETTE | WALNUT CREEK, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR LAFAYETTE COMMUNITY GARDEN |
| OAKLAND ZOO | OAKLAND, CA | $8,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE OF NOETIC SCIENCES | NOVATO, CA | $7,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PROJECT LINUS | BELTON, MO | $5,000 | 2026 | FOR SUPPORT OF THE JACKSON COUNTY OREGON CHAPTER |
| ST JUDE FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EARTHJUSTICE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | THIRD INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | PROTECT ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE |
| WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER | EUGENE, OR | $500,000 | 2025 | FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR DEFENDING PUBLIC LANDS ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT |
| CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2025 | FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR ADVOCATING FOR A SAFER AND MORE TRANSPARENT FOOD SYSTEM |
| MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES | SAN JOSE, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR CONSCIOUSNESS WITHOUT CRIMINALIZATION: PSYCHEDELIC DRUG POLICY REFORM AND SENTENCING REFORM |
| LOS PADRES FORESTWATCH | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC LANDS OF THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA |
| NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $100,000 | 2025 | THIRD INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR PINE CANYON RESTORATION AND WATERSHED PROTECTION PROJECT |
| ISRAAID | PALO ALTO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR CRISIS RELIEF EFFORTS |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR CRISIS RELIEF EFFORTS |
| FOOD & WATER WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S WATER CAMPAIGN |
| CENTER FOR HUMANE TECHNOLOGY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR SUPPORT OF ELECTION INTEGRITY AND AI WORK |
| WESTERN RESOURCE ADVOCATES | BOULDER, CO | $75,000 | 2025 | SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR PROTECTIONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER |
| ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE |
| GAVIOTA COAST CONSERVANCY | GOLETA, CA | $45,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL | SURPRISE, AZ | $20,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUSTAINABLE LAFAYETTE | CREEK, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR LAFAYETTE COMMUNITY GARDEN |
| INSTITUTE OF NOETIC SCIENCES | NOVATO, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST | MARTINEZ, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | RESTRICTED TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY HARVEST FARM |
| EARTHJUSTICE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM |
| WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER | EUGENE, OR | $500,000 | 2024 | SECOND AND FINAL INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR GENERAL SUPPORT TO DEFEND THE PUBLIC LANDS ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S. |
| ACLU FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $450,000 | 2024 | FOR ADVOCACY WORK RELATED TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM |
| ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2024 | FARM POLICY |
| CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2024 | ADVOCATING FOR A SAFER AND MORE TRANSPARENT FOOD SYSTEM |
| MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES | SAN JOSE, CA | $125,000 | 2024 | FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR MAPS' POLICY AND ADVOCACY WORK IN THE AREAS OF DRUG POLICY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM |
| FOOD & WATER WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | TO PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S WATER RESOURCES FROM AGRICULTURAL AND FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY ABUSE |
| NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $100,000 | 2024 | SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE BILL WILLIAMS MOUNTAIN RESTORATION: THINNING FORESTS TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES |
| WESTERN RESOURCE ADVOCATES | BOULDER, CO | $75,000 | 2024 | FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR PROTECTIONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER |
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A THREE-YEAR GRANT FOR PREVAILING JUSTICE: FIGHT BACK, FIGHT FORWARD
TO SUPPORT WORK RELATED TO PROTECTION OF ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER
$500,000SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO-YEAR GRANT FOR DEFENDING PUBLIC LANDS ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S.
SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO-YEAR GRANT FOR ADVOCATING FOR A SAFER AND MORE TRANSPARENT FOOD SYSTEM
SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO-YEAR GRANT FOR PROTECTING THE PUBLIC LANDS OF THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A THREE-YEAR GRANT TO PROTECT THE COLORADO RIVER
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$75,000RESTRICTED TO EFFORTS RELATED TO HELENE WITH A FOCUS ON NC, GA AND TN
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$75,000RESTRICTED TO RECOVERY EFFORTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WILDFIRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
GAVIOTA COAST CONSERVANCY
$20,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
PW LITCHFIELD HERITAGE
$20,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL
$20,000TO SUPPORT THEIR ENDEAVORS IN THE WEST VALLEY
WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION
$10,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
SUSTAINABLE LAFAYETTE
$10,000FOR LAFAYETTE COMMUNITY GARDEN
PROJECT LINUS
$5,000FOR SUPPORT OF THE JACKSON COUNTY OREGON CHAPTER
ST JUDE FOUNDATION
$1,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
THIRD INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM
PROTECT ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER
$500,000FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR DEFENDING PUBLIC LANDS ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR ADVOCATING FOR A SAFER AND MORE TRANSPARENT FOOD SYSTEM
MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES
$125,000SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR CONSCIOUSNESS WITHOUT CRIMINALIZATION: PSYCHEDELIC DRUG POLICY REFORM AND SENTENCING REFORM
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC LANDS OF THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA
THIRD INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR PINE CANYON RESTORATION AND WATERSHED PROTECTION PROJECT
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$100,000FOR CRISIS RELIEF EFFORTS
FOR SUPPORT OF ELECTION INTEGRITY AND AI WORK
SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR PROTECTIONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER
WEST VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL
$20,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
SUSTAINABLE LAFAYETTE
$15,000FOR LAFAYETTE COMMUNITY GARDEN
SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM
WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER
$500,000SECOND AND FINAL INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR GENERAL SUPPORT TO DEFEND THE PUBLIC LANDS ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S.
ACLU FOUNDATION
$450,000FOR ADVOCACY WORK RELATED TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
ADVOCATING FOR A SAFER AND MORE TRANSPARENT FOOD SYSTEM
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR MAPS' POLICY AND ADVOCACY WORK IN THE AREAS OF DRUG POLICY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
TO PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S WATER RESOURCES FROM AGRICULTURAL AND FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY ABUSE
SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE BILL WILLIAMS MOUNTAIN RESTORATION: THINNING FORESTS TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR PROTECTIONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER