
The Lookout Foundation concentrates its giving on two clear priorities: land and natural-resource conservation in New England and systems-level support for youth affected by trauma and the juvenile justice system. Grants are large, often multi-year payments to regional organizations and institutions—frequently repeat commitments—that fund capital campaigns, land protection projects, conservation education, and trauma-informed/juvenile-justice programming. The foundation favors established regional partners and initiatives that combine place-based conservation with youth education and justice reform.
Lookout Foundation Inc C/o Gma Foundations gives around two linked priorities: land and natural-resource conservation in New England, and support for youth affected by trauma and the juvenile justice system. Its recent grant pattern shows sizable, multi-year commitments rather than small one-off awards. The foundation has backed regional conservation work through the New England Forestry Foundation, where it funded the Exemplary Forestry Program capital campaign in two installments across 2023 and 2024. It has also supported justice-system reform through the Department of Youth Services, with a grant tied to the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative in 2023 and a second JDAI payment in 2025. The portfolio also connects conservation with youth learning. Shelburne Farms received three consecutive $200,000 grants for the Windmill Hill conservation project, which combined land conservation, trail costs, agriculture, and youth educational programming. Other awards extend the same pattern of place-based, systems-oriented funding to regional institutions working on natural lands, youth development, and trauma-informed services.
In land conservation, the foundation has supported Appalachian and Northern New England protection efforts through Open Space Institute Land Trust, including a grant for the Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund and another for the Appalachian Landscapes Protection Initiative: Northern New England. It has also funded Massachusetts Audubon Society for protecting and stewarding natural and working lands and for the Resilient Land and Resilient Communities project. On the youth side, it has backed trauma-related work through United Teen Equality Center for addressing complex trauma for justice-involved young adults. The foundation also supported UMass Medical School for the expansion of LINK-KID and the Child Trauma Training Center and LINK-KID. In violence intervention, Boston Medical Center received support for the Violence Intervention Advocacy Program. Its conservation education theme appears in grants to Vermont Youth Conservation Corps and Center for an Agricultural Economy, both tied to operating support.
Typical grants are substantial: the 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $100,000, and the 75th percentile is $150,000. Recent awards show repeated commitments over multiple years, including multi-payment grants and year-by-year renewals to the same organizations. The foundation appears to favor installment structures, with several grants labeled as payment 1 of 2, 2 of 3, or year 1 of 3. It is a foundation, not a fund for individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Unsolicited applications are not indicated in the available program descriptions.
$2.3M
$43.4M
$2.5M
$2.8M
Most grants fall between $25K and $150K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$150K
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Concentrated, high-value grants that are often multi-year and repeated to a small set of regional grantees; mixes capital/campaign support for conservation with programmatic and policy funding for youth trauma and juvenile-justice initiatives.
Notable grantees: New England Forestry Foundation, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Shelburne Farms, United Teen Equality Center, Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI)
Grantmaking is concentrated in the Northeast and is regional in scope. Massachusetts receives the largest share of grants, with 69% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state; Vermont is the top state by grant count overall. Recipient cities that appear repeatedly include Boston, Lowell, Lincoln, Shelburne, Richmond, and Brdgton. Outside the U.S., none appear in the recent-grants data: the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
It funds regional conservation organizations, youth-serving nonprofits, and institutions working on trauma-informed or juvenile-justice-related programs. Recent recipients include land trusts, youth conservation corps, medical and academic institutions, and public agencies involved in juvenile detention alternatives.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-sized awards: p25 is $25,000, median grant size is $100,000, and p75 is $150,000. Recent examples also show larger multi-year commitments at $200,000 and above.
Yes. The recent record includes repeated payment schedules such as payment 1 of 2, 1 of 3, 2 of 3, and year 1 of 3. Several organizations received support across multiple consecutive years, showing a clear preference for installment-based funding.
Its top state by grant count is Vermont, while 69% of grants go to recipients in Massachusetts, the foundation’s HQ state. The recipient city pattern is concentrated in Boston, Lowell, Lincoln, Shelburne, Richmond, and Bridgton.
Two main themes stand out: land and natural-resource conservation in New England, and trauma-informed or juvenile-justice-related work for youth. The grants also include conservation education, watershed protection, violence intervention, and documentary film support tied to conservation and human connection.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JUVENILE DETENTION ALTERNATIVE INITIATIVE (JDAI) | BOSTON, MA | $387,200 | 2025 | JDAI YEAR 2 OF 2 |
| MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | LINCOLN, MA | $310,000 | 2025 | TO PROTECT AND STEWARD NATURAL AND WORKING LANDS, YEAR 1 OF 3 |
| OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE LAND TRUST INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPES PROTECTION INITIATIVE: NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND |
| UNITED TEEN EQUALITY CENTER | LOWELL, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | ADDRESSING COMPLEX TRAUMA FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED YOUNG ADULTS: THREE OPPORTUNITIES, PYMT 3 OF 4 |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, ME | $200,000 | 2025 | TRAUMA LEARNING POLICY INITIATIVE |
| SHELBURNE FARMS | SHELBURNE, VT | $200,000 | 2025 | WINDMILL HILL CONSERVATION PROJECT AT SHELBURNE FARMS INVOLVING LAND CONSERVATION, INTEGRATION AND TRAIL COSTS, AND LANDCONSERVATION, AGRICULTURE AND YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT WINDMILL HILL |
| LOON ECHO LAND TRUST | BRIDGTON, ME | $100,000 | 2025 | FBO SEBAGO CLEAN WATERS INITIATIVE PYMT 1 OF 3 |
| REDFORD CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY MY PLANET NOW |
| VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS | RICHMOND, VT | $100,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS' GENERAL OPERATIONS - PYMT 2 OF 2 |
| CENTER FOR AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY | HARDWICK, VT | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| UMASS MEDICAL SCHOOL | WORCESTER, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPPORT THE CHILD TRAUMA TRAINING CENETER AND LINK-KID - PYMT 2 OF 3 |
| BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM (VIAP) - PAYMENT 2 OF 3 |
| VERMONT LAND TRUST | MONTPELIER, VT | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY | HUNTINGTON, VT | $30,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT AUDUBON VERMONTS YOUTH CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP PROGRAM |
| KENNEDY KRIEGER INSTITUTE | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS |
| APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM (VIAP) TO SUPPORT STAFF WELLNESS- PAYMENT 2 OF 3 |
| JUSTICE RESOURCE INSTITUTE INC | NEEDHAM, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | CENTER FOR TRAUMA AND EMBODIMENT CONFERENCE |
| NEW ENGLAND FORESTRY FOUNDATION INC | LITTLETON, MA | $333,333 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPLARY FORESTRY PROGRAM CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, PMT 3 OF 3 |
| UNITED TEEN EQUALITY CENTER | LOWELL, MA | $250,000 | 2024 | ADDRESSING COMPLEX TRAUMA FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED YOUNG ADULTS, PMT 2 OF 4 |
| SHELBURNE FARMS | SHELBURNE, VT | $200,000 | 2024 | WINDMILL HILL CONSERVATION PROJECT AT SHELBURNE FARMS INVOLVING LAND CONSERVATION, INTEGRATION AND TRAIL COSTS, AND LANDCONSERVATION, AGRICULTURE AND YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT WINDMILL HILL |
| MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | LINCOLN, MA | $150,000 | 2024 | GRANT YR 3 OF 3 TO SUPPORT MA AUDUBON'S RESILIENT LAND AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES PROJECT |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, ME | $125,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE TRAUMA LEARNING POLICY INITIATIVE (TLPI) |
| BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | FOR THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM (VIAP) - PAYMENT 1 OF 3 |
| VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS INC | RICHMOND, VT | $100,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS' GENERAL OPERATIONS - PAYMENT 2 OF 2 |
| UMASS MEDICAL SCHOOL | WORCESTER, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO FUND THE EXPANSION OF LINK-KID'S CAPACITY, PAYMENT 2 OF 3 |
| JUSTICE RESOURCE INSTITUTE INC | NEEDHAM, MA | $25,185 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PROFESSIONALS COMMITTING TO PROVIDE TC TRAUMA SENSIVE YOGA TO MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES |
| URBAN FARMING INSTITUTE | MATTAPAN, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE GROWING FOOD, GROWING YOUTH PHASE III TWO-YEAR EDUCATION PLAN TO REBUILD AND EXPAND THE PROGRAMMING TARGETED TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH - PAYMENT 2 OF 2 |
| JUSTICE RESOURCE INSTITUTE INC | NEEDHAM, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR SURVIVOR LED SOLUTIONS AIMED AT ENDING THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN |
| NEW ENGLAND FORESTRY FOUNDATION INC | LITTLETON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | IN SUPPORT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE |
| BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $6,250 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM |
| JUSTICE RESOURCE INSTITUTE INC | NEEDHAM, MA | $6,250 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE CENTER FOR TRAUMA AND EMBODIMENT AT JUSTICE RESOURCE INSTITUTE |
| BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM (VIAP) / STAFF WELLNESS-PYMT 1 OF 3 |
| NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WILDLIFE ART | JACKSON, WY | $2,500 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WILDLIFE ART'S GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES | BOSTON, MA | $387,200 | 2023 | TO FUND THE JUVENILE DETENTION ALTERNATIVE INITIATIVE (JDAI) |
| NEW ENGLAND FORESTRY FOUNDATION INC | LITTLETON, MA | $333,333 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPLARY FORESTRY PROGRAM CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, PMT 2 OF 3 |
| OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE LAND TRUST INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPES PROTECTION FUND |
| SHELBURNE FARMS | SHELBURNE, VT | $200,000 | 2023 | WINDMILL HILL CONSERVATION PROJECT AT SHELBURNE FARMS INVOLVING LAND CONSERVATION, INTEGRATION AND TRAIL COSTS, AND LANDCONSERVATION, AGRICULTURE AND YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT WINDMILL HILL |
| MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | LINCOLN, MA | $150,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY, 2ND OF 3-YEAR $450,000 GRANT |
| MASSACHUSETTS ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN INC | BOSTON, MA | $125,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE TRAUMA AND LEARNING POLICY INITIATIVE |
| VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS INC | RICHMOND, VT | $100,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS' GENERAL OPERATIONS - PAYMENT 1 OF 2 |
| UMASS MEDICAL SCHOOL | WORCESTER, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | TO FUND THE EXPANSION OF LINK-KID'S CAPACITY, PAYMENT 1 OF 3 |
| LOON ECHO LAND TRUST | BRIDGTON, ME | $100,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE SEBAGO CLEAN WATERS (SCW) CORE OPERATING NEEDS |
| VERMONT FARMERS MARKET EDUCATION CENTER INC | RUTLAND, VT | $50,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR VFFC'S RECENTLY ADOPTED STRATEGIC OPERATING PLAN - PAYMENT 3 OF 3 |
| APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB | BOSTON, MA | $35,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE CONSERVATION FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECT |
| EPIPHANY SCHOOL | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR EPIPHANY SCHOOL'S SINGLE GENDER AFFINITY GROUPS: BROTHERHOOD AND SISTA/SISTA |
| URBAN FARMING INSTITUTE | MATTAPAN, MA | $25,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE GROWING FOOD, GROWING YOUTH PHASE III TWO-YEAR EDUCATION PLAN TO REBUILD AND EXPAND THE PROGRAMMING TARGETED TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH - PAYMENT 1 OF 2 |
| THE HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERER'S EQ2 TRAINING FOR STAFF THAT WORK DIRECTLY WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS |
| ROCA INC | CHELSEA, MA | $25,000 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE ROCA YOUNG MOTHERS PROGRAM |
| PHILANTHROPY MASSACHUSETTS | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE GMA FUNDER COMMUNITY ON CHILD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH |
JUVENILE DETENTION ALTERNATIVE INITIATIVE (JDAI)
$387,200JDAI YEAR 2 OF 2
MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY INC
$310,000TO PROTECT AND STEWARD NATURAL AND WORKING LANDS, YEAR 1 OF 3
APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPES PROTECTION INITIATIVE: NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND
ADDRESSING COMPLEX TRAUMA FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED YOUNG ADULTS: THREE OPPORTUNITIES, PYMT 3 OF 4
WINDMILL HILL CONSERVATION PROJECT AT SHELBURNE FARMS INVOLVING LAND CONSERVATION, INTEGRATION AND TRAIL COSTS, AND LANDCONSERVATION, AGRICULTURE AND YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT WINDMILL HILL
TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY MY PLANET NOW
VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS
$100,000TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS' GENERAL OPERATIONS - PYMT 2 OF 2
UMASS MEDICAL SCHOOL
$100,000TO SUPPPORT THE CHILD TRAUMA TRAINING CENETER AND LINK-KID - PYMT 2 OF 3
FOR THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM (VIAP) - PAYMENT 2 OF 3
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
$30,000TO SUPPORT AUDUBON VERMONTS YOUTH CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
KENNEDY KRIEGER INSTITUTE
$25,000TO SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS
FOR THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM (VIAP) TO SUPPORT STAFF WELLNESS- PAYMENT 2 OF 3
TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPLARY FORESTRY PROGRAM CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, PMT 3 OF 3
ADDRESSING COMPLEX TRAUMA FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED YOUNG ADULTS, PMT 2 OF 4
WINDMILL HILL CONSERVATION PROJECT AT SHELBURNE FARMS INVOLVING LAND CONSERVATION, INTEGRATION AND TRAIL COSTS, AND LANDCONSERVATION, AGRICULTURE AND YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT WINDMILL HILL
GRANT YR 3 OF 3 TO SUPPORT MA AUDUBON'S RESILIENT LAND AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES PROJECT
TO FUND THE TRAUMA LEARNING POLICY INITIATIVE (TLPI)
FOR THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM (VIAP) - PAYMENT 1 OF 3
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS' GENERAL OPERATIONS - PAYMENT 2 OF 2
UMASS MEDICAL SCHOOL
$100,000TO FUND THE EXPANSION OF LINK-KID'S CAPACITY, PAYMENT 2 OF 3
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PROFESSIONALS COMMITTING TO PROVIDE TC TRAUMA SENSIVE YOGA TO MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES
TO SUPPORT THE GROWING FOOD, GROWING YOUTH PHASE III TWO-YEAR EDUCATION PLAN TO REBUILD AND EXPAND THE PROGRAMMING TARGETED TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH - PAYMENT 2 OF 2
SUPPORT FOR SURVIVOR LED SOLUTIONS AIMED AT ENDING THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN
IN SUPPORT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM
SUPPORT THE CENTER FOR TRAUMA AND EMBODIMENT AT JUSTICE RESOURCE INSTITUTE
TO SUPPORT THE VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ADVOCACY PROGRAM (VIAP) / STAFF WELLNESS-PYMT 1 OF 3
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WILDLIFE ART'S GENERAL OPERATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES
$387,200TO FUND THE JUVENILE DETENTION ALTERNATIVE INITIATIVE (JDAI)
TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPLARY FORESTRY PROGRAM CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, PMT 2 OF 3
TO SUPPORT THE APPALACHIAN LANDSCAPES PROTECTION FUND
WINDMILL HILL CONSERVATION PROJECT AT SHELBURNE FARMS INVOLVING LAND CONSERVATION, INTEGRATION AND TRAIL COSTS, AND LANDCONSERVATION, AGRICULTURE AND YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT WINDMILL HILL
TO SUPPORT MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY, 2ND OF 3-YEAR $450,000 GRANT
TO SUPPORT THE TRAUMA AND LEARNING POLICY INITIATIVE
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE VERMONT YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS' GENERAL OPERATIONS - PAYMENT 1 OF 2
UMASS MEDICAL SCHOOL
$100,000TO FUND THE EXPANSION OF LINK-KID'S CAPACITY, PAYMENT 1 OF 3
TO SUPPORT THE SEBAGO CLEAN WATERS (SCW) CORE OPERATING NEEDS
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR VFFC'S RECENTLY ADOPTED STRATEGIC OPERATING PLAN - PAYMENT 3 OF 3
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE CONSERVATION FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECT
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR EPIPHANY SCHOOL'S SINGLE GENDER AFFINITY GROUPS: BROTHERHOOD AND SISTA/SISTA
TO SUPPORT THE GROWING FOOD, GROWING YOUTH PHASE III TWO-YEAR EDUCATION PLAN TO REBUILD AND EXPAND THE PROGRAMMING TARGETED TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH - PAYMENT 1 OF 2
THE HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS
$25,000TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERER'S EQ2 TRAINING FOR STAFF THAT WORK DIRECTLY WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
TO SUPPORT THE GMA FUNDER COMMUNITY ON CHILD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH