The Schumann Robert F Foundation concentrates its giving in higher education scholarships, bird/environmental conservation, and support for regional science/museum institutions. Grants are large and strategic — often directed to a small set of repeat national and regional organizations — indicating a preference for transformative gifts to established institutions rather than many small awards. The foundation’s portfolio mixes scholarship funding at an elite university with substantial general‑operating support for conservation (Audubon) and a science museum, showing an interest in both education and public science/outdoor stewardship.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of repeat grantees; mix of multi-grant support for flagship organizations and major one-time gifts for operating and scholarship purposes.
Schumann Robert F Fdn-main shows a clear pattern of backing a few institutions repeatedly and at meaningful scale, rather than spreading grants thinly across many recipients. Wesleyan University appears at the top of that pattern, with awards of $400,000 in 2023 for scholarships and in 2024 and 2025 for general operating support. The foundation also gives sustained operating support to National Audubon Society Inc, including three separate $300,000 grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025, signaling an ongoing commitment to avian and habitat conservation. Another large award went to Roberson Museum and Science Center, which received $250,000 in 2025 for general operating support. Across the recent record, the foundation’s giving reaches higher education, conservation, museums, libraries, and regional science and nature organizations, often through unrestricted or core support. That mix suggests an interest in strengthening established institutions that serve education, public science, and environmental stewardship. The portfolio also includes grants to several repeat recipients over multiple years, reinforcing the impression of steady institutional support rather than one-time project funding.
In higher education, the foundation supported Wesleyan University with $400,000 for scholarships in 2023 and $400,000 for general operating support in both 2024 and 2025. That pairing shows scholarship aid alongside institutional support. In conservation, National Audubon Society Inc received $300,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, all for general operating support, pointing to a sustained commitment to bird and habitat work. The science and museum lane includes a $250,000 grant to Roberson Museum and Science Center in 2025 for general operating support. The broader record also includes support for Cornell University, Florence Griswold Museum Inc, and Governor Dummer Academy, which shows the foundation’s interest in education and cultural or scientific institutions as well as scholarship funding.
Typical grant size sits at $5,562 at the 25th percentile, $16,000 at the median, and $35,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes much larger institutional awards, which indicates a wide spread between routine grants and major operating gifts. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Wesleyan University, National Audubon Society Inc, Cornell University, Florence Griswold Museum Inc, Governor Dummer Academy, E C Scranton Memorial Library, and Shorerivers Inc. The foundation funds individuals as well as organizations, and the grants shown are primarily general operating support or scholarships rather than competitive project awards. No application process is stated in the provided data.
$2.5M
$46.7M
$2.9M
$3.1M
Most grants fall between $6K and $35K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$35K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CT.
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: Wesleyan University, National Audubon Society, Inc., Roberson Museum and Science Center
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based, and the foundation gives most often in New Hampshire by grant count. Recent awards also land in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Nebraska. Recipients include Middletown, CT; Ithaca, NY; Old Lyme, CT; Byfield, MA; Hartford, CT; Easton, MD; and Kempton, PA. The pattern is national in scope, with no grants shown to recipients in Nevada.
The recent record centers on higher education, conservation, and cultural or science institutions. Examples include Wesleyan University for scholarships and general operating support, National Audubon Society Inc for general operating support, and Roberson Museum and Science Center for general operating support.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, and the recent grant pattern includes scholarship support at Wesleyan University, including a $400,000 scholarship grant in 2023.
The typical grant size is $5,562 at the 25th percentile, $16,000 at the median, and $35,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes larger operating gifts, such as $400,000 and $300,000 awards.
Many recipients appear across multiple years. Wesleyan University, National Audubon Society Inc, Cornell University, Florence Griswold Museum Inc, Governor Dummer Academy, E C Scranton Memorial Library, and Shorerivers Inc all received repeated grants in the recent record.
By grant count, New Hampshire is the top state for giving. The grants also go to recipients in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Nebraska, and 0% of grants are listed for recipients in Nevada.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ROBERSON MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER | BINGHAMTON, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $143,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FLORENCE GRISWOLD MUSEUM INC | OLD LYME, CT | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| GOVERNOR DUMMER ACADEMY | BYFIELD, MA | $101,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| E C SCRANTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY | MADISON, CT | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SHORERIVERS INC | EASTON, MD | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SNIPES FARM AND EDUCATION CENTER | MORRISVILLE, PA | $65,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY ASSOCIATION | KEMPTON, PA | $53,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FOUNDATION OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NE YORK AT BINGHAMTON INC | BINGHAMTON, NY | $53,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| RADCLIFFE CREEK SCHOOL INC | CHESTERTOWN, MD | $52,400 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WASHINGTON COLLEGE | CHESTERTOWN, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAVE THE SOUND INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ECHO HILL OUTDOOR SCHOOL INC | WORTON, MD | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | LINCOLN, MA | $35,912 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY BROADCASTING CORPORATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHESAPEAKE AUDUBON SOCIETY | BALTIMORE, MD | $34,806 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| EASTERN SHORE LAND CONSERVANCY INC | EASTON, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL SELF RELIANCE INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MINARYS DREAM ALLIANCE | CHESTERTOWN, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST INC | NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA | $26,856 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FAIRNESS & ACCURACY IN REPORTING INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY INC | FLUSHING, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SOUTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROJECT INC | PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION INC | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ALLIANCE INC | NOTTINGHAM, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| EAST COAST ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF FLORIDA INC | MELBOURNE, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HORIZONS OF KENT AND QUEEN ANNES INC | CHESTERTOWN, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE CONNECTICUT AUDUBON SOCIETY INCORPORATED | FAIRFIELD, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE SANDS POINT PRESERVE CONSERVANCY | SANDS POINT, NY | $22,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UPSTREAM ALLIANCE INC | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $22,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| AMERICAN LITTORAL SOCIETY | HIGHLANDS, NJ | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WESTMORELAND SANCTUARY INC | MOUNT KISCO, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CITY GROWERS INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| DELAWARE NATURE SOCIETY INC | HOCKESSIN, DE | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CONNECTICUT RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL INC | GREENFIELD, MA | $12,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY OF CENTRAL JERSEY | ELIZABETH, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| KENT CULTURAL ALLIANCE INC | CHESTERTOWN, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ENDANGERED SPECIES COALITION | WASHINGTON, DC | $8,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| JOHN J TYLER ARBORETUM | MEDIA, PA | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ABILITY BEYOND DISABILITY INC | BETHEL, CT | $6,274 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MADISON HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC | MADISON, CT | $5,620 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| A PLACE CALLED HOPE INC | KILLINGWORTH, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BALTIMORE CHILDRENS MUSEUM INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CONNECTICUT RIVER FOUNDATION AT STEAMBOA DOCK INC | ESSEX, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| INDRALOKA ANIMAL SANCTUARY | DALTON, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VETRI FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LIBERTY HALL MUSEUM INC | UNION, NJ | $4,080 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THRIVE OUTSIDE | BRISTOL, RI | $3,184 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY INC
$300,000GENERAL OPERATING
GOVERNOR DUMMER ACADEMY
GENERAL OPERATING
E C SCRANTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING
SNIPES FARM AND EDUCATION CENTER
$65,000GENERAL OPERATING
FOUNDATION OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NE YORK AT BINGHAMTON INC
$53,000GENERAL OPERATING
RADCLIFFE CREEK SCHOOL INC
$52,400GENERAL OPERATING
WASHINGTON COLLEGE
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING
ECHO HILL OUTDOOR SCHOOL INC
$40,000GENERAL OPERATING
MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY INC
$35,912GENERAL OPERATING
CHESAPEAKE AUDUBON SOCIETY
$34,806GENERAL OPERATING
FAIRNESS & ACCURACY IN REPORTING INC
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING
ALLIANCE INC
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING
HORIZONS OF KENT AND QUEEN ANNES INC
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING
THE CONNECTICUT AUDUBON SOCIETY INCORPORATED
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING
THE SANDS POINT PRESERVE CONSERVANCY
$22,000GENERAL OPERATING
WESTMORELAND SANCTUARY INC
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
KENT CULTURAL ALLIANCE INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
ABILITY BEYOND DISABILITY INC
$6,274GENERAL OPERATING
MADISON HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC
$5,620GENERAL OPERATING
A PLACE CALLED HOPE INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
CONNECTICUT RIVER FOUNDATION AT STEAMBOA DOCK INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
VETRI FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
THRIVE OUTSIDE
$3,184GENERAL OPERATING