The Leo Model Foundation funds a mix of environmental conservation, human rights/democracy, and community-serving institutions, with a strong interest in both local Philadelphia organizations and international advocacy. Grants tend to be multi-year or repeated mid-sized awards that support core operations, program delivery, and research rather than one-off capital projects. The foundation shows particular attention to bird and habitat conservation, Israel/Palestine civil society and democratic initiatives, and civic engagement/think-tank work. It also supports education (including higher education scholarships) and direct community services like food distribution in cities.
Leo Model Foundation Inc. pairs conservation, human rights, and civic infrastructure with repeated mid-sized support, often through unrestricted or operating grants. One clear thread is bird and habitat protection: the foundation gave National Audubon Society $94,668 in 2023 and $75,500 in 2024 for operating support to save and protect birds and their habitat. It also backs advocacy and rights work at scale, including $100,000 to Jerusalem Foundation in 2023 and $90,000 to Human Rights Watch in both 2024 and 2025. The grant record also shows support for food distribution, women’s services, scholarships, and policy organizations, which places the funder across both community-serving and issue-advocacy roles. Grants are not limited to one region or one type of institution; they include Philadelphia-based organizations, New York-based nonprofits, and national or international-facing groups. The pattern suggests a funder that uses recurring grants to sustain operations, research, and program delivery rather than isolated project-only awards.
Environmental giving is a major lane for the foundation. It awarded $125,000 to Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 2025 for general operating support, and it also funded Pennenvironment with $75,000 in 2024 to protect Pennsylvania’s air, water, and open spaces. In conservation beyond Pennsylvania, New York Botanical Garden received $55,000 in 2023 for museum, education, and research related to Amazonian forests, while Rare Center for Tropical Conservation received $50,000 in 2025 for international economic development grants and public education for conservation. On civic and human-rights work, the foundation supported Jerusalem Foundation with $80,000 in 2025 for preserving an open, equitable and modern society in Jerusalem, and B’tselem USA received $52,000 in 2024 for creating a human right culture in Israel. It also funded Recidiviz with $75,000 in 2024 for a technical foundation to drive better criminal justice outcomes at scale, showing interest in policy infrastructure as well as direct advocacy.
Typical grants cluster around a mid-sized range: p25 is $4,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $24,500. The recent record also includes repeated awards to the same recipients across multiple years, including Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, City Harvest, Human Rights Watch, Doctors Without Borders, National Audubon Society, and Recidiviz. That repetition points to ongoing support rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, funds individuals, and makes program-related investments. The grants shown are largely operating support, general support, scholarship support, or other unrestricted-style backing.
$2.6M
$47.2M
$3.7M
$2.9M
Most grants fall between $4K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 17% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated, repeat mid-to-large unrestricted or general operating grants across a moderate number of organizations; giving is balanced between local Philadelphia beneficiaries and international advocacy/conservation groups. Many grantees receive multiple annual grants, suggesting sustained core support rather than one-time funding, and grant sizes cluster in the mid-five-figure to low-six-figure range.
Notable grantees: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), Human Rights Watch, National Audubon Society, Jerusalem Foundation / New Israel Fund, City Harvest
Grantmaking is regional, with recipients concentrated in the United States. New York is the top state by grant count, while 17% of grants go to recipients in Pennsylvania, the foundation’s headquarters state. Recent recipient cities include Philadelphia, New York, Washington, DC, Bronx, La Jolla, Cambridge, Middletown, and Oberlin. The pattern reaches beyond the HQ city to a wide set of U.S. locations, but the dataset shows all recipient-country activity in the U.S.
The foundation supports conservation groups, human-rights and democracy organizations, food rescue and distribution nonprofits, education and scholarship programs, and civic or policy institutions. Recent grants include support for birds and habitat, criminal justice outcomes, women’s services, and higher education.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 2023, 2024, and 2025; City Harvest in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Human Rights Watch in 2024 and 2025; Doctors Without Borders in 2024 and 2025; and National Audubon Society in 2023 and 2024.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-sized awards: p25 is $4,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $24,500. Many of the recent awards sit above that median, including several $75,000 to $125,000 gifts.
The foundation gives most often in New York, and 17% of grants go to recipients in Pennsylvania. Recent recipients also appear in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Bronx, La Jolla, Cambridge, Middletown, and Oberlin.
Recent grants show support for environmental conservation, human rights and democratic reform, food rescue and distribution, women’s support, legal and criminal-justice infrastructure, and higher education. Examples include operating support for conservation, human-rights advocacy, food distribution, and scholarship funding.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (PHS) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | NEW YORK, NY | $90,000 | 2025 | PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $80,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RELIEF TO VICTIMS OF WAR, DISEASE, NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTER |
| LCV (LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS) | WASHINGTON, DC | $80,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PRO-CLIMATE AND PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOICES IN POLITICS |
| JERUSALEM FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $80,000 | 2025 | PRESERVING AN OPEN, EQUITABLE AND MODERN SOCIETY IN JERUSALEM. |
| STATE VOICES | WASHINGTON, DC | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WOMEN'S WAY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR WOMEN'S SUPPORT FUND |
| CITY HARVEST | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | FOOD RESCUE AND DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION |
| OBERLIN COLLEGE | OBERLIN, OH | $65,000 | 2025 | HIGHER EDUCATION--GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TURNOUT ACTIVISM | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HOPEWELL FUND (VOTE FORWARD) | WASHINGTON, DC | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR VOTE FORWARD PROJECT |
| HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | DEPLOYMENT OF PRO-BONO LAWYERS TO ENSURE US IS GLOBAL LEADER IN HUMAN RIGHTS (IMMIGRATION) |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH ON POLAR BEARS |
| RARE CENTER FOR TROPICAL CONSERVATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR CONSERVATION |
| HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE | AMHERST, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | HIGHER EDUCATION--GENERAL SUPPORT |
| B'TSELEM USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $49,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR CREATING A HUMAN RIGHT CULTURE IN ISRAEL |
| FILM FORUM | NEW YORK, NY | $41,500 | 2025 | ALTERNATIVE SCREENING SPACE FOR INDEPENDENT FILMS |
| NEW ISRAEL FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $40,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT TO ADVANCE EQUALITY AND DEMOCRACY FOR ALL ISRAELIS |
| UC SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE PATHWAYS TO STEM PROGRAM E3431 |
| CHILDREN FIRST PA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR IMPROVING THE LIVES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF CHILDREN IN SE PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH THOUGHTFUL AND INFORMED ADVOCACY |
| CHOP FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS IN GREATEST NEED |
| INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL SELF RELIANCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $40,000 | 2025 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITIES ABOUT LOCAL SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS SUCH AS BANKING, BROADBAND, ENERGY, AND WASTE THROUGH LOCAL PURCHASING |
| ECOHEALTH ALLIANCE (WILDLIFE TRUST) | NEW YORK, NY | $37,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS, HIGHER EDUCATION FOR AFRICAN BIOLOGISTS VIA PMOEHLMAN |
| AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY | THE PLAINS, VA | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CONSERVATION EFFORTS |
| ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN | BRONX, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | MUSEUM, EDUCATION, RESEARCH (AMAZONIAN FORESTS) |
| HEADCOUNT | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR A NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT USES THE POWER OF MUSIC TO REGISTER VOTERS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY |
| BROOKINGS INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES; NON-PROFIT THINK TANK |
| SCHEIE EYE INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $27,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR ART MUSEUM |
| UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | TECHNICAL ANALYSIS & ADVOCACY TO SAVE THE PLANET |
| GREENLIGHT AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT LOCAL GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO GET UTILITY-SCALE CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS BUILT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. |
| GIVEDIRECTLY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $23,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY |
| MANNA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $22,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR A MINISTRY OUTREACH HELPING MISSIONARIES AND THOSE IN NEED BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. |
| J STREET | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | PROMOTE LEADERSHIP TO RESOLVE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN & ARAB CONFLICTS BY NEGOTIATION; PROVIDE INTELLECTUAL HOME FOR AMERICAN JEWS, PARTICULARLY YOUTH |
| FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | USE SCIENCE, PARTNERSHIPS TO PROTECT LANDS & WATERS |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL (NRDC) | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | USE SCIENCE, LAW, ADVOCACY TO PROTECT NATURE & PEOPLE |
| READ ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AUDUBON MID-ATLANTIC | AUDUBON, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT FOR SAVING AND PROTECTING BIRDS AND THEIR HABITAT |
| NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EXONERATIONS FOUNDATION | EAST LANSING, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR EXONERATIONS OF INNOCENT CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS |
| ELAW US | EUGENE, OR | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING SCIENTIFIC HELP TO KEEP COAL IN THE GROUND |
| OVERBROOK SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE CVI INITIATIVE (CEREBRAL VISUAL IMPAIRMENT) |
| XERCES SOCIETY | PORTLAND, OR | $15,000 | 2025 | PROTECTS WILDLIFE THROUGH THE CONSERVATION OF INVERTEBRATES AND THEIR HABITATS |
| BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL | AUSTIN, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, RESEARCH |
| BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH, POLICY AND ADVOCACY WORK FOR VOTING RIGHTS & CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM |
| INNOCENCE PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | EXONERATION OF INNOCENT VIA DNA TESTING AND REFORMING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE (AAAS) | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | SCIENCE EDUCATION, SUPPORT, COOPERATION |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FED OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE & COUNSELING |
| RIGHTS BEHIND BARS | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | CHALLENGE THE CRUEL AND INHUMANE CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT THROUGH LITIGATION AND ADVOCACY |
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
$90,000PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$80,000MEDICAL RELIEF TO VICTIMS OF WAR, DISEASE, NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTER
LCV (LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS)
$80,000SUPPORT FOR PRO-CLIMATE AND PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOICES IN POLITICS
PRESERVING AN OPEN, EQUITABLE AND MODERN SOCIETY IN JERUSALEM.
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR VOTE FORWARD PROJECT
DEPLOYMENT OF PRO-BONO LAWYERS TO ENSURE US IS GLOBAL LEADER IN HUMAN RIGHTS (IMMIGRATION)
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$50,000SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH ON POLAR BEARS
RARE CENTER FOR TROPICAL CONSERVATION
$50,000INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR CONSERVATION
HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE
$50,000HIGHER EDUCATION--GENERAL SUPPORT
B'TSELEM USA
$49,000GENERAL SUPPORT FOR CREATING A HUMAN RIGHT CULTURE IN ISRAEL
NEW ISRAEL FUND
$40,000SUPPORT TO ADVANCE EQUALITY AND DEMOCRACY FOR ALL ISRAELIS
SUPPORT FOR IMPROVING THE LIVES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF CHILDREN IN SE PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH THOUGHTFUL AND INFORMED ADVOCACY
CHOP FOUNDATION
$40,000SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS IN GREATEST NEED
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITIES ABOUT LOCAL SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS SUCH AS BANKING, BROADBAND, ENERGY, AND WASTE THROUGH LOCAL PURCHASING
GENERAL OPERATIONS, HIGHER EDUCATION FOR AFRICAN BIOLOGISTS VIA PMOEHLMAN
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
$30,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SUPPORT FOR A NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT USES THE POWER OF MUSIC TO REGISTER VOTERS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY
SCHEIE EYE INSTITUTE
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS & ADVOCACY TO SAVE THE PLANET
SUPPORT LOCAL GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO GET UTILITY-SCALE CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS BUILT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
SUPPORT FOR A MINISTRY OUTREACH HELPING MISSIONARIES AND THOSE IN NEED BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD.
PROMOTE LEADERSHIP TO RESOLVE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN & ARAB CONFLICTS BY NEGOTIATION; PROVIDE INTELLECTUAL HOME FOR AMERICAN JEWS, PARTICULARLY YOUTH
FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NATURE CONSERVANCY
$20,000USE SCIENCE, PARTNERSHIPS TO PROTECT LANDS & WATERS
USE SCIENCE, LAW, ADVOCACY TO PROTECT NATURE & PEOPLE
AUDUBON MID-ATLANTIC
$20,000OPERATING SUPPORT FOR SAVING AND PROTECTING BIRDS AND THEIR HABITAT
SUPPORT FOR EXONERATIONS OF INNOCENT CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS
ELAW US
$20,000SUPPORTING SCIENTIFIC HELP TO KEEP COAL IN THE GROUND
TO SUPPORT THE CVI INITIATIVE (CEREBRAL VISUAL IMPAIRMENT)
PROTECTS WILDLIFE THROUGH THE CONSERVATION OF INVERTEBRATES AND THEIR HABITATS
BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
$15,000RESEARCH, POLICY AND ADVOCACY WORK FOR VOTING RIGHTS & CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
EXONERATION OF INNOCENT VIA DNA TESTING AND REFORMING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
SCIENCE EDUCATION, SUPPORT, COOPERATION
CHALLENGE THE CRUEL AND INHUMANE CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT THROUGH LITIGATION AND ADVOCACY