
The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation concentrates its giving on environmental leadership and climate resilience, primarily funding fellowships for graduate students and community-led climate solutions in California and New England. Grants show an emphasis on supporting emerging leaders (graduate fellows and youth leaders), frontline communities (migrant and first‑generation youth), and basic environmental health priorities like safe drinking water. The foundation prefers multi-year or repeated large awards to a small set of targeted programs rather than many small, one-off grants.
Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation’s largest recent awards are the $170,000 Fellowship Program grants that support highly talented graduate students in New England and California. That fellowship line sits at the center of the foundation’s work: it backs students whose studies are directed toward improving environmental quality and environmental issues, while also building leadership among emerging environmental professionals. The foundation pairs that graduate-level support with targeted leadership grants that place Switzer Fellows in nonprofit settings. One example is Frontline Catalysts in Oakland, where a 2025 award funded a Project Coordinator position for Switzer Fellow Catalina Garzn-Galvis. Another example is Community Water Center in Visalia, which received support to advance environmental activities aimed at safe, clean, and affordable drinking water for Californians. The result is a grantmaker focused on environmental improvement through fellowships, leadership development, and project-specific support for organizations working on community-facing environmental challenges. Its portfolio also reaches beyond the core fellowship track to capacity-building and professional development for fellows already in the network.
Environmental leadership is the foundation’s most visible theme. The Fellowship Program supports graduate students in New England and California whose studies focus on improving environmental quality, and it combines unrestricted cash with leadership training and network access. Leadership Grants extend that model into nonprofit work: Frontline Catalysts received support for a project coordinator role tied to Switzer Fellow Catalina Garzn-Galvis, linking a fellow’s career development to organizational capacity. The foundation also funds clean water work. Community Water Center received a grant to support environmental activities that help ensure every Californian has access to safe, clean, and affordable drinking water. In another direction, the foundation has backed biodiversity data infrastructure through Arctos Consortium and environmental education in St. Croix through the St. Croix Environmental Association, showing an interest in both technical environmental systems and locally grounded education efforts.
$476K
$17M
$1.1M
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $27K and $115K, with a median of $40K.
25th Percentile
$27K
Median
$40K
75th Percentile
$115K
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Concentrated giving: few, relatively large grants with repeat or multi‑year support; geographic focus on California and New England; favors programmatic leadership investments (fellowships and leadership grants) and frontline/community organizations over broad general operating portfolios.
Notable grantees: Fellowship Program (environmental graduate fellowships), Frontline Catalysts (leadership grants for youth climate resilience), Community Water Center (safe, affordable drinking water in California)
Recent awards show a clear size cluster at the top of the foundation’s range: the fellowship grants come in at $170,000, while leadership and operating-style awards sit lower, including $60,000, $50,000, and $40,000. The typical grant size is $26,632 at the 25th percentile, $40,000 at the median, and $115,000 at the 75th percentile. The pattern is repeated support rather than isolated one-offs: the fellowship program appears in multiple years, and professional development grants recur as a smaller companion stream. The foundation funds individuals through the Switzer Fellowship and also makes organizational grants. Unsolicited applications are accepted for the Switzer Fellowship, while the other listed programs are not open to unsolicited requests.
Giving is concentrated in the United States, with 12 recent grants all landing there. Maine is the top state by grant count, and 57% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recent recipients include Belfast, ME; Oakland, CA; Visalia, CA; and Christiansted, VI. California appears repeatedly in the recent grant list, alongside New England-oriented fellowship support and a smaller presence in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The foundation centers environmental improvement and leadership development. The largest recent awards are $170,000 Fellowship Program grants for graduate students in New England and California, and it also funds Leadership Grants, professional development for Switzer Fellows, and selected community environmental projects such as drinking water access and climate resilience work.
Yes. It funds individuals through the Switzer Fellowship, a one-year award for graduate students, and it also makes organizational grants. Recent examples include support for nonprofit project staff positions, environmental activities, and professional development for fellows in the network.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $26,632 at the 25th percentile, $40,000 at the median, and $115,000 at the 75th percentile. In the recent grant list, awards range from $300 to $170,000, with fellowship grants at the top end and professional development grants at the low end.
The Switzer Fellowship accepts unsolicited applications. The other listed programs do not: Leadership Grants, the Network Innovation Grants, and the Professional Development Fund are all marked as not accepting unsolicited requests.
The foundation gives within the United States, with all 12 recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Maine receives the most grants, and California also appears repeatedly in the recent grant list, along with a grant to Christiansted, VI.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fellowship Prog Grants Appr Curr FY | Belfast, ME | $170,000 | 2025 | The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental issues. Awards are restricted to individuals that are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, or a refugee or asylee according to the definition provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Applicants must be enrolled as a student in an accredited graduate institution located only in California or New England and have strong academic qualifications, with academic and career goals focused on environmental improvement. |
| Fellowship Prog Grants Appr Prior F | Belfast, ME | $170,000 | 2025 | The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental issues. Awards are restricted to individuals that are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, or a refugee or asylee according to the definition provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Applicants must be enrolled as a student in an accredited graduate institution located only in California or New England and have strong academic qualifications, with academic and career goals focused on environmental improvement. |
| Community Water Center | Visalia, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | To support environmental activities to ensure every Californian has access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water. |
| Frontline Catalysts | Oakland, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | For the Project Coordinator position at Frontline Catalysts to be filled by Switzer Fellow Catalina Garzn-Galvis. The grant award will support the project as outlined in the proposal for this one-year period. |
| Professional Development Grants | Belfast, ME | $26,156 | 2025 | Grants are made for the professional development of Switzer Fellows. Funds are provided for training in non-profit management, communications, leadership, or other relevant professional skills, or for attendance at a conference or other professional activity that will clearly advance career goals. Awards are made to Switzer Fellows who have completed their fellowship year and are professionally employed or continuing their graduate studies with a focus on improving environmental quality. |
| Fellowship Prog Grants Appr Curr FY | Belfast, ME | $170,000 | 2024 | The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental |
| Fellowship Prog Grants Appr Prior F | Belfast, ME | $170,000 | 2024 | The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental quality and who demonstrate leadership in their field. |
| Woodwell Climate Research Center | Falmouth, MA | $57,500 | 2024 | To integrate climate justice principles into the work of Woodwell Climate Research Center including policy advocacy, partnerships, and staff education. |
| ReAL Edgemere CLT | Queens, NY | $42,500 | 2024 | The ReAL Edgemere CLT was selected by the City of New York to receive 119 publicly-owned lots to develop flood-resilient affordable homeownership and publicly accessible open space. The purpose of the grant is to hire its first staff member in the position of Interim Manager. |
| Professional Development Grants | Belfast, ME | $16,887 | 2024 | Grants are made for the professional development of Switzer Fellows. Funds are provided for training in non-profit management, communications, leadership, or other relevant professional skills, or for attendance at a conference or other professional activity that will clearly advance career goals. (See attached) |
| Other Grants | Belfast, ME | $5,000 | 2024 | These are grants awarded to Organizations that embody the Foundation's mission to nurture environmental leaders and support initiatives that will have direct and measurable results to improve environmental quality. (See attached) |
| Fellowship Prog Grants - Appr Prior | Belfast, ME | $170,000 | 2023 | The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental quality and who demonstrate leadership in their field. |
| Fellowship Prog Grants Appr Current | Belfast, ME | $170,000 | 2023 | The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental quality and who demonstrate leadership in their field. |
| Frontline Catalysts | Oakland, CA | $60,000 | 2023 | Leadership Grant: To advance solutions that strengthen community resilence to climate change for migrant and first-generation youth. |
| Arctos Consortium -Community Initia | Oakland, CA | $40,000 | 2023 | Leadership Grant: to strategically review, analyze and provide recommendations on how Arctos can mobilize high-quality biodiversity data and create a sustainable system for long-term implementation. The results will ultimately facilitate research and impact in many disciplines including evolutionary biology, ecology, conservation, parasitology and epidemiology. |
| St Croix Environmental Association | Christiansted, VI | $40,000 | 2023 | Leadership Grant: To connect and build programs with local schools in St. Croix by providing resources and interdisciplinary educational content to local teachers. |
| Professional Development Grants | Belfast, ME | $13,265 | 2023 | Grants are made for the professional development of Switzer Fellows. Funds are provided for training in non-profit management, communications, leadership, or other relevant professional skills, or for attendance at a conference or other professional activity that will clearly advance career goals. (See attached) |
| Other Grants | Belfast, ME | $300 | 2023 | These are grants awarded to Organizations that embody the Foundation's mission to nurture environmental leaders and support initiatives that will have direct and measurable results to improve environmental quality. (See attached) |
Fellowship Prog Grants Appr Curr FY
$170,000The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental issues. Awards are restricted to individuals that are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, or a refugee or asylee according to the definition provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Applicants must be enrolled as a student in an accredited graduate institution located only in California or New England and have strong academic qualifications, with academic and career goals focused on environmental improvement.
Fellowship Prog Grants Appr Prior F
$170,000The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental issues. Awards are restricted to individuals that are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, or a refugee or asylee according to the definition provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Applicants must be enrolled as a student in an accredited graduate institution located only in California or New England and have strong academic qualifications, with academic and career goals focused on environmental improvement.
To support environmental activities to ensure every Californian has access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water.
For the Project Coordinator position at Frontline Catalysts to be filled by Switzer Fellow Catalina Garzn-Galvis. The grant award will support the project as outlined in the proposal for this one-year period.
Professional Development Grants
$26,156Grants are made for the professional development of Switzer Fellows. Funds are provided for training in non-profit management, communications, leadership, or other relevant professional skills, or for attendance at a conference or other professional activity that will clearly advance career goals. Awards are made to Switzer Fellows who have completed their fellowship year and are professionally employed or continuing their graduate studies with a focus on improving environmental quality.
Fellowship Prog Grants Appr Curr FY
$170,000The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental
Fellowship Prog Grants Appr Prior F
$170,000The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental quality and who demonstrate leadership in their field.
To integrate climate justice principles into the work of Woodwell Climate Research Center including policy advocacy, partnerships, and staff education.
ReAL Edgemere CLT
$42,500The ReAL Edgemere CLT was selected by the City of New York to receive 119 publicly-owned lots to develop flood-resilient affordable homeownership and publicly accessible open space. The purpose of the grant is to hire its first staff member in the position of Interim Manager.
Professional Development Grants
$16,887Grants are made for the professional development of Switzer Fellows. Funds are provided for training in non-profit management, communications, leadership, or other relevant professional skills, or for attendance at a conference or other professional activity that will clearly advance career goals. (See attached)
Other Grants
$5,000These are grants awarded to Organizations that embody the Foundation's mission to nurture environmental leaders and support initiatives that will have direct and measurable results to improve environmental quality. (See attached)
Fellowship Prog Grants - Appr Prior
$170,000The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental quality and who demonstrate leadership in their field.
Fellowship Prog Grants Appr Current
$170,000The Fellowship Program is intended to support highly talented graduate students in New England and California whose studies are directed toward improving environmental quality and who demonstrate leadership in their field.
Leadership Grant: To advance solutions that strengthen community resilence to climate change for migrant and first-generation youth.
Arctos Consortium -Community Initia
$40,000Leadership Grant: to strategically review, analyze and provide recommendations on how Arctos can mobilize high-quality biodiversity data and create a sustainable system for long-term implementation. The results will ultimately facilitate research and impact in many disciplines including evolutionary biology, ecology, conservation, parasitology and epidemiology.
St Croix Environmental Association
$40,000Leadership Grant: To connect and build programs with local schools in St. Croix by providing resources and interdisciplinary educational content to local teachers.
Professional Development Grants
$13,265Grants are made for the professional development of Switzer Fellows. Funds are provided for training in non-profit management, communications, leadership, or other relevant professional skills, or for attendance at a conference or other professional activity that will clearly advance career goals. (See attached)
Other Grants
$300These are grants awarded to Organizations that embody the Foundation's mission to nurture environmental leaders and support initiatives that will have direct and measurable results to improve environmental quality. (See attached)