The Steven C Leuthold Family Foundation concentrates on supporting regional land trusts through substantial, unrestricted operational grants aimed at land conservation and stewardship. Its giving is mission-focused on conserving specific landscapes across the U.S. (mountain, watershed and Great Lakes regions) rather than broad philanthropic diversification. The foundation appears to prefer funding the operational capacity of place-based conservation organizations to ensure they can protect and manage land long-term.
Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a small number of grantees: few large, unrestricted/operations grants to place-based land trusts rather than many small or varied grants.
A defining feature of the Steven C Leuthold Family Foundation is its heavy commitment to operating support for place-based conservation groups. The largest recent grant in the data is $575,000 to Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust for operations, followed by $349,567 to Payette Land Trust and $262,000 to Keweenaw Land Trust, all for operational support. That pattern shows a funder that backs the staff, stewardship, and organizational capacity behind land protection rather than only project-specific work. The foundation’s giving centers on regional land trusts and conservation organizations working in high-value landscapes, especially mountain, watershed, and Great Lakes areas. Recent grants also include $150,000 to Center for Biological Diversity and $75,000 to Mainspring Conservation Trust, both for operations, along with support for related place-based work in Idaho, North Carolina, and Michigan. The grant list suggests a consistent preference for unrestricted or broadly usable operating grants, with many awards aimed at sustaining long-term conservation infrastructure. Its recent portfolio also reaches beyond land trusts to conservation advocacy and environmental organizations, but the recurring theme is capacity for land stewardship. Organizations such as Earthjustice, Glen Canyon Institute, and Advocates for the West appear alongside land trusts, reinforcing a focus on conservation systems and the institutions that maintain them.
Operational support is the clearest throughline in this foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $575,000 to Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust for operations and $349,567 to Payette Land Trust for operations, showing a willingness to fund the core functions of regional land trusts. The foundation also supports conservation work tied to specific landscapes. It awarded $262,000 to Keweenaw Land Trust for operations and $82,000 to Keweenaw Community Forest Company for operations, pointing to continued investment in Michigan’s Keweenaw region. In North Carolina, it funded Mainspring Conservation Trust with $75,000 for operations and Conserving Carolina with $50,000 for operations. Its portfolio includes advocacy and science-oriented conservation groups as well. The foundation gave $150,000 to Center for Biological Diversity for operations and $50,000 to Glen Canyon Institute for operations, indicating support for organizations working on conservation protection, watershed concerns, and public-interest environmental advocacy.
$3M
$26.1M
$1.8M
$3.2M
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 13% of grants go to recipients in AZ.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Steven C Leuthold Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 435 | $9.3M | 99.3% |
| 2 | Belize |
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Notable grantees: Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, Payette Land Trust, Keweenaw Land Trust
Typical grants cluster in a mid-sized range: p25 is $5,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $20,000. The recent grant list also shows a separate set of much larger operating awards to land trusts and conservation groups, including several in the six-figure range. Awards are overwhelmingly for operations rather than project-specific expenses. The foundation appears to make repeated grants to some recipients across years. Keweenaw Community Forest Company, Friends of Sax-zimm Bog, Earthjustice, Glen Canyon Institute, Community Foodbank of Southern Arizona, and Union of Concerned Scientists all appear more than once in the recent list. It is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
The foundation gives nationally, with 99.1% of grants going to U.S. recipients. Arizona is the top state by grant count, and the recent grants include Tucson recipients such as Center for Biological Diversity and Community Foodbank of Southern Arizona. Michigan is another visible cluster, with grants to Hancock, Mohawk, Ahmeek, and Duluth-area organizations. North Carolina also appears through Highlands and Hendersonville grantees. Outside the U.S., the recipient distribution includes 2 grants to Bahrain.
It most often supports regional land trusts and other place-based conservation organizations. Recent awards include Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, Payette Land Trust, Keweenaw Land Trust, and Mainspring Conservation Trust, usually for operations. The portfolio also includes environmental advocacy and conservation groups such as Earthjustice and Center for Biological Diversity.
The typical grant profile is modest, with p25 at $5,000, median at $10,000, and p75 at $20,000. The recent list also includes larger operating grants, especially for land trusts and conservation organizations, reaching well above that range.
Yes. Several recipients appear multiple times in the recent grant list, including Keweenaw Community Forest Company, Friends of Sax-zimm Bog, Earthjustice, Glen Canyon Institute, Community Foodbank of Southern Arizona, and Union of Concerned Scientists. That suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
Arizona is the top state by grant count. Recent Arizona recipients include Center for Biological Diversity and Community Foodbank of Southern Arizona in Tucson. The foundation still gives nationally, with substantial activity also visible in Michigan, North Carolina, Idaho, and other states.
The recent grants are overwhelmingly listed as operations support. That points to a funding style focused on organizational capacity, staffing, and stewardship infrastructure rather than project-only awards. It is a regular funder and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 3 |
| $35K |
0.7% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN SONG BIRD MGMT AND RECOVERY | AHMEEK, MI | $1,000,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY | TUCSON, AZ | $150,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| SALUDA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST | SALUDA, NC | $145,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| KEWEENAW LAND TRUST | HANCOCK, MI | $85,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| FRIENDS OF SAX-ZIMM BOG | DULUTH, MN | $80,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| CONSERVING CAROLINA | HENDERSONVILLE, NC | $75,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| UNIQUE PLACES TO SAVE | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $73,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| WILDERNESS LAND TRUST | HELENA, MT | $70,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| GLEN CANYON INSTITUTE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $60,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| SOUTHERN APPALACHIEN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY | ASHEVILLE, NC | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| BLUE RIDGE CONSERVANCY | BOONE, NC | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| FRIENDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER | ST PAUL, MN | $45,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| KEWEENAW LAND TRUST | HANCOCK, MI | $42,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| SNOWDON WILDLIFE SANCTUARY | MCCALL, ID | $41,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| ANIMAL OUTLOOK | WASHINGTON DC, DC | $40,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| HUMANE FARMING ASSOCIATION | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| PAYETTE LAND TRUST | MCCALL, ID | $35,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| POPULATION CONNECTION | WASHINGTON DC, DC | $35,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| WILDEARTH GUARDIANS | SANTA FE, NM | $30,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| PISGAH CONSERVANCY | VREVARD, NC | $30,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| FRIENDS OF MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CENTER | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| IDAHOANS UNITED FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES | BOISE, ID | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| NORTH WOODS CONSERVANCY KEWEENAW NATURAL AREAS | CALUMENT, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| NE MINNESOTANS FOR WILDERNESS | ELY, MN | $21,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| MINNESOTA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY | ST PAUL, MN | $21,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| CHIMP HAVEN | KEITHVILLE, LA | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| IDAHO FOODBANK WAREHOUSE | BOISE, ID | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| EARTH JUSTICE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| MYGENERATION | KAMUEL, HI | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| SAGELAND COLLABORATIVE AKAWILD UTAH PROJECT | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| HUMANE WORLD FOR ANIMALS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| SWEDETOWN TRAILS CLUB | CALUMET, MI | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| WRC | ROSEVILLE, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| BORN FREE | SILVER SPRING, MD | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| UM CVM COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND | ST PAUL, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| PLANET WATER FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY - NORTH CAROLINA | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| ADVOCATES FOR THE WEST | BOISE, ID | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| KORC-KEWEENAW OUTDOOR RECREATION COALITION | MOHAWK, MI | $20,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | OPARATIONS |
| 30 DAYS FOUNDATION | GOLDEN VALLEY, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH HISTORICAL SOCIETY | CALUMET, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| WESTERN WATERSHED PROJECT | HAILEY, ID | $14,500 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| EARTHWORKS-MINING REFORM | WASHINGTON, DC | $12,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| PAINSDALE MINE & SHAFT | PAINSDALE, MI | $11,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| ARIZONA LAND AND WATER TRUST | TUSCON, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| ALMOST HOME DOG RESCUE NC | CEDAR MOUNTAIN, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| SHEPARDS HOME | MCCALL, ID | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY | HARPERS FERRY, WV | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
| NPR | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONS |
AMERICAN SONG BIRD MGMT AND RECOVERY
$1,000,000OPERATIONS
SALUDA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
$145,000OPERATIONS
FRIENDS OF SAX-ZIMM BOG
$80,000OPERATIONS
OPERATIONS
UNIQUE PLACES TO SAVE
$73,000OPERATIONS
GLEN CANYON INSTITUTE
$60,000OPERATIONS
SNOWDON WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
$41,000OPERATIONS
PISGAH CONSERVANCY
$30,000OPERATIONS
FRIENDS OF MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CENTER
$25,000OPERATIONS
IDAHOANS UNITED FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES
$25,000OPERATIONS
NORTH WOODS CONSERVANCY KEWEENAW NATURAL AREAS
$25,000OPERATIONS
NE MINNESOTANS FOR WILDERNESS
$21,000OPERATIONS
IDAHO FOODBANK WAREHOUSE
$20,000OPERATIONS
MYGENERATION
$20,000OPERATIONS
SWEDETOWN TRAILS CLUB
$20,000OPERATIONS
WRC
$20,000OPERATIONS
BORN FREE
$20,000OPERATIONS
UM CVM COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$20,000OPERATIONS
NATURE CONSERVANCY - NORTH CAROLINA
$20,000OPERATIONS
ADVOCATES FOR THE WEST
$20,000OPERATIONS
KORC-KEWEENAW OUTDOOR RECREATION COALITION
$20,000OPERATIONS
30 DAYS FOUNDATION
$15,000OPERATIONS
NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$15,000OPERATIONS
WESTERN WATERSHED PROJECT
$14,500OPERATIONS
PAINSDALE MINE & SHAFT
$11,000OPERATIONS
ALMOST HOME DOG RESCUE NC
$10,000OPERATIONS
SHEPARDS HOME
$10,000OPERATIONS