The Maverick Lloyd Foundation focuses on advancing environmental sustainability in Vermont — especially through support for environmental education and statewide renewable-energy systems — while also committing meaningful support to national racial justice and voting-rights litigation and civic engagement. They fund a small number of sizable grants, often making multi-year or repeat gifts to organizational partners that combine capacity-building, program support, and unrestricted support. Their giving blends place-based investments (Vermont law school and statewide energy network) with targeted national civil-rights legal and civic initiatives.
A defining feature of Maverick Lloyd Foundation C/o Arthur Berndt is its repeated backing of the Maverick Lloyd School for the Environment at Vermont Law and Graduate School, with $250,000 grants in both 2024 and 2025. That pattern sits alongside substantial support for Energy Action Network, another Vermont organization the foundation has funded at $150,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for implementation work, capacity building, and general operations tied to Vermont’s shift toward efficiency and renewables. The foundation’s giving also reaches beyond environmental work into civic-rights litigation and engagement, including $150,000 to NAACP-LDF in 2023 and $50,000 to the same organization in 2025 for the Voters’ Right Project, Young Black Lawyers Organizing Coalition, and Black Voters on the Rise projects. Smaller grants extend the picture further: unrestricted support for local Vermont organizations, advocacy groups, and community-serving institutions. Across these gifts, the foundation combines large, repeated institutional grants with narrower project support and general operating support, especially for Vermont-based organizations and selected national civil-rights initiatives.
Environmental education and climate-related higher education are central to the foundation’s Vermont giving. It awarded $250,000 in 2024 and $250,000 in 2025 to Vermont Law and Graduate School for the Maverick Lloyd School for the Environment. The same environmental focus appears in its support for Energy Action Network, which received $150,000 in 2024 and $150,000 in 2025 for ongoing implementation work, capacity building, and general operations. The foundation also funds civic engagement and rights-based advocacy. In 2025, it gave $50,000 to NAACP-LDF for the Young Black Lawyers Organizing Coalition Project and Black Voters on the Rise Project, while an earlier $150,000 grant supported the Voters’ Right Project. Reproductive-rights organizing appears as well: Movements Labs Co Center for Common Ground received $50,000 in 2023 for the Abortion Defenders Civic Engagement Project. Its portfolio includes media and infrastructure support too, such as $25,000 to Type Media Center for a fellowship supporting in-depth investigative reporting on current environmental issues.
$532K
$6.9M
$369K
$779K
Most grants fall between $2K and $50K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a small set of repeat grantees: the foundation makes relatively few but large grants, frequently renewing support for core partners and favoring unrestricted or capacity-focused awards that enable organizational scaling and policy/advocacy work.
Notable grantees: Vermont Law and Graduate School (Maverick Lloyd School for the Environment), Energy Action Network, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Movements Labs / Center for Common Ground
Typical grants cluster around a modest-to-midrange center, with p25 at $2,000, median at $5,000, and p75 at $50,000. The distribution is bimodal in practice: several $150,000 and $250,000 awards sit at the top, while many awards are small general-support gifts. Recurring recipients are common, especially in Vermont; Energy Action Network, Vermont Law and Graduate School, The Sharon Academy, Seven Stars Arts Center, Bale, Resilient Democracy Co Tides Foundation, and Sharon Food Shelf all appear across multiple years. The foundation makes both unrestricted and restricted grants, and it also funds individuals because it is marked as doing so. No application process is stated in the data.
Grantmaking is heavily Vermont-centered: 57% of grants go to recipients in Vermont, and the state is the top recipient state by count. South Royalton, Montpelier, Sharon, Barre, Weston, and McFarland all appear among recipient locations, showing a mix of statewide, school-based, and community-level giving. Outside Vermont, grants also land in New York, California, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. All listed recent grants are in the United States, with no non-U.S. recipient countries shown in the grant record.
Its giving centers on environmental sustainability in Vermont, especially environmental education and renewable-energy transition work. It also funds national racial-justice and voting-rights litigation and civic engagement, plus some local community support such as food programs, arts, and historical preservation.
The typical grant profile is small-to-midrange, with p25 at $2,000, median at $5,000, and p75 at $50,000. The recent record also includes larger awards of $150,000 and $250,000 for repeat institutional partners.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Vermont Law and Graduate School, Energy Action Network, The Sharon Academy, Seven Stars Arts Center, Bale, Resilient Democracy Co Tides Foundation, and Sharon Food Shelf. Some of these received grants in consecutive years.
Vermont is the top recipient state by grant count, with 57% of grants going to recipients in the state. Recent Vermont recipients include organizations in South Royalton, Montpelier, Sharon, Barre, Weston, and McFarland.
Yes. Recent grants also went to organizations in New York, California, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. The grant record shows all recipients in the United States.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERMONT LAW AND GRADUATE SCHOOL | SOUTH ROYALTON, VT | $250,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO THE MAVERICK LLOYD SCHOOL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. |
| ENERGY ACTION NETWORK | MONTPELIER, VT | $150,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR ON-GOING IMPLEMENTATION WORK, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND GENERAL OPERATIONS, IN SUPPORT OF THE GOAL OF TRANSFORMING VERMONT'S ENERGY SYSTEM TO ONE BASED ON EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLES. EAN'S GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT 80% OF VERMONT'S 2030 ENERGY NEEDS COME FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY. |
| NAACP-LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GRANTS FOR YOUNG BLACK LAWYERS ORGANIZING COALITION PROJECT AND BLACK VOTERS ON THE RISE PROJECT. |
| ORGANIZING EMPOWERMENT FUND | MCFARLAND, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT RELATIONAL ORGANIZING TRAINING, RESEARCH AND DIGITAL TOOLS. |
| TOWN OF SHARON VERMONT | SHARON, VT | $25,000 | 2025 | RESTRICTED GRANT FOR THE SHARON HISTORICAL SOCIETY RESTORATION OF THE OLD TOWN HALL. |
| RESILIENT DEMOCRACY CO TIDES FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE VOTER ENGAGEMENT PROJECT. |
| THE SHARON ACADEMY | SHARON, VT | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF TSA'S MISSION. |
| SEVEN STARS ARTS CENTER (FORMALLY VERMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS | SHARON, VT | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF VISA. |
| FAIRBANKS MUSUEM | ST JOHNSBURY, VT | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS. |
| SHARON FOOD SHELF | SHARON, VT | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDING FOR SUPPORT OF INITIATIVES TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE SHARON COMMUNITY. |
| BALE (BUILDING A LOCAL ECONOMY) | SOUTH ROYALTON, VT | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TOWARDS WORK BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. |
| VERMONT LAW AND GRADUATE SCHOOL | SOUTH ROYALTON, VT | $250,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO THE MAVERICK LLOYD SCHOOL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. |
| ENERGY ACTION NETWORK | MONTPELIER, VT | $150,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR ON-GOING IMPLEMENTATION WORK, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND GENERAL OPERATIONS, IN SUPPORT OF THE GOAL OF TRANSFORMING VERMONT'S ENERGY SYSTEM TO ONE BASED ON EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLES. EAN'S GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT 80% OF VERMONT'S 2030 ENERGY NEEDS COME FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY. |
| TYPE MEDIA CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | RESTRICTED GRANT FOR A FELLOWSHIP TO SUPPORT IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ON CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. |
| CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL OF WESTON | WESTON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | RESTRICTED GRANT FOR SUPPORT OF CSW'S MISSION AND TO CREATE A VITAL SPEAKER PROGRAM INCORPORATING ISSUES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. |
| THE SHARON ACADEMY | SHARON, VT | $2,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF TSA'S MISSION. |
| BALE (BUILDING A LOCAL ECONOMY) | SOUTH ROYALTON, VT | $1,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TOWARDS WORK BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. |
| SEVEN STARS ARTS CENTER (FORMALLY VERMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS | SHARON, VT | $1,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF VISA. |
| SHARON FOOD SHELF | SHARON, VT | $1,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDING FOR SUPPORT OF INITIATIVES TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE SHARON COMMUNITY. |
| NAACP-LDF | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE VOTERS RIGHT PROJECT |
| ENERGY ACTION NETWORK | MONTPELIER, VT | $150,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR ON-GOING IMPLEMENTATION WORK, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND GENERAL OPERATIONS, IN SUPPORT OF THE GOAL OF TRANSFORMING VERMONT'S ENERGY SYSTEM TO ONE BASED ON EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLES. EAN'S GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT 80% OF VERMONT'S 2030 ENERGY NEEDS COME FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY. |
| MOVEMENTS LABS CO CENTER FOR COMMON GROUND | RUTHER GLEN, VA | $50,000 | 2023 | GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ABORTION DEFENDERS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT. |
| RESILIENT DEMOCRACY CO TIDES FOUNDATION | SN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE VOTER ENGAGEMENT PROJECT. |
| TYPE MEDIA CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | RESTRICTED GRANT FOR A FELLOWSHIP TO SUPPORT IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ON CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. |
| VERMONT FOOD BANK | BARRE, VT | $15,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT IN SUPPORT OF THE WORK AND MISSION OF THE VERMONT FOOD BANK. |
| THE SHARON ACADEMY | SHARON, VT | $5,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF TSA'S MISSION. |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | UKRAINE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND. |
| CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE VERMONT CLF. |
| BALE (BUILDING A LOCAL ECONOMY) | SOUTH ROYALTON, VT | $2,500 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TOWARDS WORK BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. |
| ACLU FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF ACLU TO PROTECT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION. |
| SEVEN STARS ARTS CENTER (FORMALLY VERMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS | SHARON, VT | $1,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF VISA. |
| SHARON FOOD SHELF | SHARON, VT | $1,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDING FOR SUPPORT OF INITIATIVES TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE SHARON COMMUNITY. |
VERMONT LAW AND GRADUATE SCHOOL
$250,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO THE MAVERICK LLOYD SCHOOL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
SUPPORT FOR ON-GOING IMPLEMENTATION WORK, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND GENERAL OPERATIONS, IN SUPPORT OF THE GOAL OF TRANSFORMING VERMONT'S ENERGY SYSTEM TO ONE BASED ON EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLES. EAN'S GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT 80% OF VERMONT'S 2030 ENERGY NEEDS COME FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY.
NAACP-LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND
$50,000GRANTS FOR YOUNG BLACK LAWYERS ORGANIZING COALITION PROJECT AND BLACK VOTERS ON THE RISE PROJECT.
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT RELATIONAL ORGANIZING TRAINING, RESEARCH AND DIGITAL TOOLS.
TOWN OF SHARON VERMONT
RESTRICTED GRANT FOR THE SHARON HISTORICAL SOCIETY RESTORATION OF THE OLD TOWN HALL.
RESILIENT DEMOCRACY CO TIDES FOUNDATION
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE VOTER ENGAGEMENT PROJECT.
THE SHARON ACADEMY
$2,500UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF TSA'S MISSION.
SEVEN STARS ARTS CENTER (FORMALLY VERMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
$1,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF VISA.
FAIRBANKS MUSUEM
$1,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS.
SHARON FOOD SHELF
$1,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDING FOR SUPPORT OF INITIATIVES TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE SHARON COMMUNITY.
BALE (BUILDING A LOCAL ECONOMY)
$1,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TOWARDS WORK BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.
VERMONT LAW AND GRADUATE SCHOOL
$250,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO THE MAVERICK LLOYD SCHOOL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
SUPPORT FOR ON-GOING IMPLEMENTATION WORK, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND GENERAL OPERATIONS, IN SUPPORT OF THE GOAL OF TRANSFORMING VERMONT'S ENERGY SYSTEM TO ONE BASED ON EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLES. EAN'S GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT 80% OF VERMONT'S 2030 ENERGY NEEDS COME FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY.
RESTRICTED GRANT FOR A FELLOWSHIP TO SUPPORT IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ON CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL OF WESTON
$10,000RESTRICTED GRANT FOR SUPPORT OF CSW'S MISSION AND TO CREATE A VITAL SPEAKER PROGRAM INCORPORATING ISSUES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
THE SHARON ACADEMY
$2,500UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF TSA'S MISSION.
BALE (BUILDING A LOCAL ECONOMY)
$1,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TOWARDS WORK BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.
SEVEN STARS ARTS CENTER (FORMALLY VERMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
$1,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF VISA.
SHARON FOOD SHELF
$1,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDING FOR SUPPORT OF INITIATIVES TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE SHARON COMMUNITY.
UNRESTRICTED GRANT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE VOTERS RIGHT PROJECT
SUPPORT FOR ON-GOING IMPLEMENTATION WORK, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND GENERAL OPERATIONS, IN SUPPORT OF THE GOAL OF TRANSFORMING VERMONT'S ENERGY SYSTEM TO ONE BASED ON EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLES. EAN'S GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT 80% OF VERMONT'S 2030 ENERGY NEEDS COME FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY.
MOVEMENTS LABS CO CENTER FOR COMMON GROUND
$50,000GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ABORTION DEFENDERS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT.
RESILIENT DEMOCRACY CO TIDES FOUNDATION
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE VOTER ENGAGEMENT PROJECT.
RESTRICTED GRANT FOR A FELLOWSHIP TO SUPPORT IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ON CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
UNRESTRICTED GRANT IN SUPPORT OF THE WORK AND MISSION OF THE VERMONT FOOD BANK.
THE SHARON ACADEMY
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF TSA'S MISSION.
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$5,000UKRAINE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND.
UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE VERMONT CLF.
BALE (BUILDING A LOCAL ECONOMY)
$2,500UNRESTRICTED GRANT TOWARDS WORK BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.
UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF ACLU TO PROTECT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION.
SEVEN STARS ARTS CENTER (FORMALLY VERMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
$1,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF VISA.
SHARON FOOD SHELF
$1,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDING FOR SUPPORT OF INITIATIVES TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE SHARON COMMUNITY.