Mariposa Foundation makes a small number of very large, national-level grants focused on public-interest institutions and intermediaries. Their giving centers on environmental advocacy and science education, independent investigative journalism, and civil liberties/legal advocacy, often routed through major nonprofits or philanthropic intermediaries. Grants appear strategic and capacity-building rather than hyper-local, supporting organizations that influence policy, public knowledge, and sector infrastructure.
Concentrated, high-value grants to a small set of national organizations and intermediaries; one-time or episodic large gifts rather than many small awards; emphasis on policy-influencing nonprofits, public education institutions, and sector-builders.
A defining feature of Mariposa Foundation Inc. is its use of large, flexible grants to support public-interest institutions and intermediaries. The foundation’s recent giving includes seven-figure and high six-figure awards to organizations working in environmental advocacy, civil liberties, investigative journalism, science education, and philanthropic infrastructure. Rather than funding a broad array of local projects, it tends to place substantial support with established nonprofits that can influence policy, public knowledge, and sector capacity. Among its largest recent awards, the foundation gave $1,000,000 to Natural Resources Defense Council and $600,000 to American Museum Natural History. It also made major grants to American Civil Liberties Union and ProPublica, each receiving $500,000 in 2025, alongside an additional $300,000 to American Civil Liberties Union in 2023. This pattern shows repeated support for organizations with national reach and public-facing missions. The foundation’s portfolio also reaches into intermediary and movement infrastructure through grants to Neo Philanthrophy, Purpose Foundation, and Hopewell Fund. Other recipients include Planned Parenthood Federation, Everytown for Gun Safety, Environmental Defense Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Center for Humane Technology, reinforcing a profile built around policy, advocacy, science, and institutional support.
Environmental work appears in multiple grants. In 2025, Mariposa Foundation Inc. gave $100,000 to Environmental Defense Fund, and it also supported Ocean Conservancy with $130,000 the same year. Earlier, it made a $1,000,000 grant to Natural Resources Defense Council, showing sustained interest in environmental advocacy and litigation. The foundation also backs civil liberties and public-interest advocacy. American Civil Liberties Union received $500,000 in 2025 and $300,000 in 2023, while Reproductive Freedom for All Foundation received $100,000 in 2025. These grants suggest recurring support for legal and advocacy organizations working on rights-based issues. Science, education, and public knowledge are another thread. The American Museum Natural History received $600,000 in 2025, and Read to Lead Inc received $350,000 in 2023. Public information and journalism are present as well, through $500,000 to ProPublica in 2025 and $250,000 to Pro Publica Inc in 2023.
$5.2M
$77.4M
$10.9M
$6.4M
Most grants fall between $50K and $169K, with a median of $88K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$88K
75th Percentile
$169K
About 1% 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.
Notable grantees: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), American Museum of Natural History, ProPublica, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Neo Philanthropy / Purpose Foundation
Typical grant sizes are substantial: the 25th percentile is $50,000, the median is $87,500, and the 75th percentile is $168,750. The recent record shows repeated awards to several organizations across 2023 and 2025, including American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood Federation, City Harvest, Food Bank for New York City, and Wildlife Conservation Society. That repeat pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off support. Mariposa Foundation Inc. is classified as a regular funder and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grants are presented as flexible support for the recipient’s exempt purposes, which is consistent with general operating or grantee-directed funding.
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly U.S.-based: 75 grants, or 100%, went to recipients in the United States. New York City is the clearest hub, with many grants to organizations in NEW YORK, NY, including American Museum Natural History, ProPublica, and City Harvest. Brooklyn, NY and Bronx, NY also appear in the recipient list, with Make the Road New York in Brooklyn and Wildlife Conservation Society in the Bronx. Washington, DC recipients include Hopewell Fund and Ocean Conservancy, while San Francisco, CA appears through Center for Humane Technology.
Its recent grants go to public-interest nonprofits and intermediaries: environmental groups such as Natural Resources Defense Council and Ocean Conservancy, civil liberties organizations like American Civil Liberties Union, public-information groups such as ProPublica, and science or cultural institutions including American Museum Natural History.
The grant-size distribution is fairly high. The 25th percentile is $50,000, the median is $87,500, and the 75th percentile is $168,750. Recent awards also include several $500,000 grants and a $1,000,000 grant.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood Federation, City Harvest, Food Bank for New York City, and Wildlife Conservation Society. That indicates a pattern of continuing support rather than isolated gifts.
The grant list is entirely U.S.-based, with 75 grants going to recipients in the United States. New York, NY is the most common recipient location, and the list also includes Brooklyn, NY, Bronx, NY, Washington, DC, and San Francisco, CA.
The grant descriptions repeatedly say they are made "for donee's exempt purpose," which is consistent with flexible support rather than tightly restricted project funding.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $600,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| PROPUBLICA | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEO PHILANTHROPHY | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUN | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HOPEWELL FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| OCEAN CONSERVANCY | WASHINGTON, DC | $130,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BRADY CTR PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CENTER FOR HUMANE TECHNOLOGY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR ALL FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY | BRONX, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| SD FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CITY HARVEST | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| GREEN CITY FORCE | BROOKLYN, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION | JAMAICA, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| LEAP - BROOKLYN WORKFORCE | BROOKLYN, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| US FUNDS FOR UNICEF | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY | BROOKLYN, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| SUPERHUMANS UKRAINE | JERSEY CITY, NJ | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| RED HOOK INITIATIVE | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CITYMEALS ON WHEELS | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BROOKLYN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE | CORONA, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| GRAMERCY PARK BLOCK ASSOCIATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| GILDER LEHRMAN INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| GARDEN OF DREAMS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUN | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2024 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEO PHILANTHROPHY | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| PRO PUBLICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2024 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2024 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2024 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BRADY CTR PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2024 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2024 | FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
$500,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
NEO PHILANTHROPHY
$250,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY
$150,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$100,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$100,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
LEAP - BROOKLYN WORKFORCE
$75,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
US FUNDS FOR UNICEF
$75,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$50,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY FUND
$50,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY
$50,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
$50,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
BROOKLYN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$10,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
GRAMERCY PARK BLOCK ASSOCIATION
$10,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
$300,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
NEO PHILANTHROPHY
$250,000FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE