The L Z Francis Foundation IMA concentrates its giving on land and natural-resource conservation in Vermont, with a strong emphasis on water-quality projects and support for sustainable agriculture and farm-based conservation. Grants tend to fund local conservation organizations and place-based projects (e.g., dam removal, watershed work, farm conservation initiatives), indicating a programmatic focus on protecting working landscapes and improving aquatic ecosystems. Although based in Cleveland, the foundation directs significant, repeat funding to a small set of Vermont nonprofits.
L Z Francis Foundation Ima’s clearest throughline is its repeat funding for Vermont land and water conservation, especially projects tied to farms, watersheds, and habitat restoration. The largest recent grant in the file is $200,000 to Vermont Land Trust for water quality solutions, and that relationship appears again at $119,000 in 2025 and $111,000 in 2024. The foundation also backed The Nature Conservancy Vermont Chapter for dam removal work at $80,000 in 2023, then $44,000 in 2024 and $44,000 in 2025, showing a multi-year commitment to river and aquatic habitat work. Its support for working landscapes extends to Shelburne Farms and the Intervale Center, both of which received large grants for conservation and agricultural development. Alongside those place-based environmental awards, the foundation has made smaller grants for community organizations, education, and humanitarian relief. The grant list suggests a funder that concentrates on a small set of Vermont nonprofits while still leaving room for a broader mix of operating support, capital projects, and targeted program funding.
Water-quality and watershed work is a central theme. Vermont Land Trust received $200,000 for water quality solutions in 2023, followed by another $119,000 in 2025 for the same purpose. Dam removal and river restoration are also present through The Nature Conservancy Vermont Chapter, which received $80,000 in 2023 for a dam removal project and additional grants of $44,000 in 2024 and 2025. Agricultural land conservation and farm support show up in awards to Shelburne Farms, including $155,000 in 2023 and $63,000 in 2025 for its Windmill Hill conservation project and capital campaign work. The Intervale Center received $150,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025 for agricultural development. The foundation also gave $25,000 to South Hero Land Trust Inc for Goulet Farm conservation.
The grant-size profile is middle-heavy: the typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. At the same time, the file shows a few much larger awards, including six-figure grants to Vermont Land Trust and Shelburne Farms. Recipients often appear across multiple years, especially in Vermont conservation work, which points to recurring support rather than one-off funding. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The pattern in the data leans toward general operating, unrestricted, capital, and project-specific support.
$610K
$6.7M
$629K
$828K
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in VT.
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Concentrated, place-based giving: a small number of relatively large grants directed to repeat grantees in Vermont, focused on project-specific conservation and agricultural development rather than wide geographic diversification.
Notable grantees: Vermont Land Trust, Shelburne Farms, Intervale Center, The Nature Conservancy — Vermont Chapter
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, and the recipient-state pattern is concentrated in Vermont. The top recipient cities in the file include Montpelier, Shelburne, Burlington, South Hero, Lincoln, and St. Johnsbury, all in Vermont. Outside Vermont, only a small number of grants appear, including Boston, Concord, Fairbanks, and the Gaza humanitarian response through Oxfam America. No grants in the file go to recipients in Ohio, despite the foundation’s Cleveland headquarters.
The file shows a strong emphasis on Vermont land and water conservation: water-quality solutions, dam removal, watershed work, agricultural development, and farm conservation. It also includes community and program support such as education, capacity building, and a humanitarian grant for Gaza through Oxfam America.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Vermont Land Trust in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Shelburne Farms in 2023, 2024, and 2025; The Nature Conservancy Vermont Chapter in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Oxfam America in 2023 and 2025.
The typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes larger awards, such as $200,000 to Vermont Land Trust and $155,000 to Shelburne Farms.
Most grants go to Vermont recipients. The top recipient locations in the data are Montpelier, Shelburne, Burlington, South Hero, Lincoln, and St. Johnsbury, while the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
No. The foundation funds organizations rather than individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERMONT LAND TRUST | MONTPELIER, VT | $119,000 | 2025 | WATER QUALITY SOLUTIONS ON |
| SHELBURNE FARMS | SHELBURNE, VT | $63,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN & MARSHALL |
| INTERVALE CENTER | BURLINGTON, VT | $50,000 | 2025 | AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY VERMONT CHAPTER | MONTPELIER, VT | $44,000 | 2025 | DAM REMOVAL PROJECT |
| OUTRIGHT VERMONT | BURLINGTON, VT | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS GRANT |
| ZENO MOUNTAIN FARM | LINCOLN, VT | $25,000 | 2025 | EXPANSION AND RENNOVATION |
| SOUTH HERO LAND TRUST INC | SOUTH HERO, VT | $25,000 | 2025 | GOULET FARM CONSERVATION |
| VERMONT SUSTAINABLE JOBS FUND | MONTPELIER, VT | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR VERMONT FOOD |
| FAIRBANKS MUSEUM & PLANETARIUM | ST JOHNSBURY, VT | $25,000 | 2025 | MATSINGER FOREST PROJECT |
| NEW LEARNING JOURNEY | FAYSTON, VT | $25,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGN FOR BARN |
| OXFAM AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | GAZA HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE |
| TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | MONTPELIER, VT | $15,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY FOREST PROJECT |
| LIVING CLASSROOMS | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | TOMORROW'S PROMISE CAMPAIGN |
| FLYNN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | BURLINGTON, VT | $15,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAMMING |
| THE CENTER FOR AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY | HARDWICK, VT | $15,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| VERMONT NATURAL RESOURCES | MONTPELIER, VT | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VERMONT COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK INC | BURLINGTON, VT | $10,000 | 2025 | AFFORDABLE HOUSING GARDEN |
| NORTHERN FOREST CENTER | CONCORD, NH | $10,000 | 2025 | REVITALIZATION EFFORTS IN |
| SCHOLARSHIP FND OF INDIAN RIVER CNTY | VERO BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | SOFIA BLANCHARD MEM |
| SOUTH HERO LIBRARY FOUNDATION | SOUTH HERO, VT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LOCAL MOTION INC | BURLINGTON, VT | $6,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| RURAL VERMONT | DANBY, VT | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING |
| SPECTRUM YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES | BURLINGTON, VT | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COMMITTEE ON TEMPORARY SHELTER | BURLINGTON, VT | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER |
| FEEDING CHITTENDEN | BURLINGTON, VT | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CCTV CTR FOR MEDIA & DEMOCRACY | BURLINGTON, VT | $5,000 | 2025 | VERMONT LANGUAGE JUSTICE |
| UVM HOME HEALTH NETWORK | COLCHESTER, VT | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUSTAINABILITY ACADEMY PTO | BURLINGTON, VT | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| INTERVALE CENTER | BURLINGTON, VT | $150,000 | 2024 | AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT |
| VERMONT LAND TRUST | MONTPELIER, VT | $111,000 | 2024 | WATER QUALITY SOLUTIONS ON |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY VERMONT CHAPTER | MONTPELIER, VT | $44,000 | 2024 | DAM REMOVAL PROJECT |
| SHELBURNE FARMS | SHELBURNE, VT | $43,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN & MARSHALL |
| ZENO MOUNTAIN FARM | LINCOLN, VT | $25,000 | 2024 | EXPANSION AND RENNOVATION |
| NORTH STAR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | FAIRBANKS, AK | $25,000 | 2024 | RENNOVATION PROJ ON THE |
| FAIRBANKS MUSEUM & PLANETARIUM | ST JOHNSBURY, VT | $25,000 | 2024 | MATSINGER FOREST PROJECT |
| SOUTH HERO LIBRARY FOUNDATION | SOUTH HERO, VT | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OXFAM AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | HIGHEST PRIORITY NEED IN |
| LAKE CHAMPLAIN LAND TRUST | BURLINGTON, VT | $20,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NORTHERN FOREST CENTER | CONCORD, NH | $20,000 | 2024 | REVITALIZATION EFFORTS IN |
| TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | MONTPELIER, VT | $15,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY FOREST PROJECT |
| THE CENTER FOR AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY | HARDWICK, VT | $15,000 | 2024 | OPERATING GRANT |
| FLYNN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | BURLINGTON, VT | $15,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION PROGRAMMING |
| OLD SPOKES HOME | BURLINGTON, VT | $10,000 | 2024 | EVERYBODY BIKES PROGRAM |
| SCHOLARSHIP FND OF INDIAN RIVER CNTY | VERO BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | SOFIA BLANCHARD MEM |
| VERMONT COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK INC | BURLINGTON, VT | $10,000 | 2024 | AFFORDABLE HOUSING GARDEN |
| AUDOBON VERMONT | HUNTINGTON, VT | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LOCAL MOTION INC | BURLINGTON, VT | $8,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| QUEBEC-LABRADOR FOUNDATION | IPWICH, MA | $7,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SPECTRUM YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES | BURLINGTON, VT | $5,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY VERMONT CHAPTER
$44,000DAM REMOVAL PROJECT
ZENO MOUNTAIN FARM
EXPANSION AND RENNOVATION
SOUTH HERO LAND TRUST INC
$25,000GOULET FARM CONSERVATION
LIVING CLASSROOMS
$15,000TOMORROW'S PROMISE CAMPAIGN
VERMONT NATURAL RESOURCES
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VERMONT COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK INC
$10,000AFFORDABLE HOUSING GARDEN
SCHOLARSHIP FND OF INDIAN RIVER CNTY
$10,000SOFIA BLANCHARD MEM
SOUTH HERO LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
LOCAL MOTION INC
$6,000UNRESTRICTED
RURAL VERMONT
$5,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
CCTV CTR FOR MEDIA & DEMOCRACY
$5,000VERMONT LANGUAGE JUSTICE
UVM HOME HEALTH NETWORK
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SUSTAINABILITY ACADEMY PTO
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY VERMONT CHAPTER
$44,000DAM REMOVAL PROJECT
ZENO MOUNTAIN FARM
$25,000EXPANSION AND RENNOVATION
NORTH STAR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$25,000RENNOVATION PROJ ON THE
SOUTH HERO LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
LAKE CHAMPLAIN LAND TRUST
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND
$15,000COMMUNITY FOREST PROJECT
OLD SPOKES HOME
$10,000EVERYBODY BIKES PROGRAM
SCHOLARSHIP FND OF INDIAN RIVER CNTY
$10,000SOFIA BLANCHARD MEM
VERMONT COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK INC
$10,000AFFORDABLE HOUSING GARDEN
AUDOBON VERMONT
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
LOCAL MOTION INC
$8,000UNRESTRICTED