The Brunckhorst Foundation is a focused environmental funder that makes large, strategic grants to national conservation and advocacy organizations. Its giving is directed toward broad-purpose support for established environmental NGOs rather than many small projects or local groups. The foundation favors high-impact, national scale conservation and advocacy work.
Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a very small number of national environmental nonprofits; repeat support to at least one core grantee (Sierra Club Foundation) and primarily general-purpose grants rather than many small or project-specific awards.
The Brunckhorst Foundation’s recent giving is marked by repeated seven-figure support for the Sierra Club Foundation, with $1,160,000 awarded in both 2024 and 2025 for general purpose use. That pattern points to a funder that backs established organizations over narrow project grants, using flexible support to sustain environmental advocacy and conservation work at scale. Across its recent grants, the foundation repeatedly funds large national nonprofits in conservation, environmental law, and land protection, including the Southern Environmental Law Center, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc, Earth Justice, and the Nature Conservancy. The grant list also includes groups working on rivers, oceans, wildlife, and broader environmental defense, suggesting a portfolio aimed at major policy, legal, and preservation efforts rather than local one-off initiatives. The Brunckhorst Foundation’s approach is consistent with general purpose funding for organizations that already operate nationally and can deploy unrestricted dollars across multiple priorities. Its recent record shows recurring support to the same grantees across multiple years, reinforcing that this is a relationship-based funder with sustained commitments to a small set of large nonprofits.
Environmental advocacy is a clear anchor. The Brunckhorst Foundation gave $1,160,000 in 2025 to the Sierra Club Foundation and $480,000 in 2025 to the Southern Environmental Law Center, both under general purpose terms. Land and biodiversity conservation is another consistent theme: it awarded $800,000 in 2023 and $400,000 in 2024 and 2025 to the Nature Conservancy, plus $400,000 in 2025 to the Conservation Fund. Water and marine protection also appear in the grant list, with $425,000 in 2025 to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc and $300,000 in 2023 to Ocean Conservancy. The foundation also made grants beyond environmental work, including support for the Center for Reproductive Rights Inc and several animal-focused organizations.
Typical grant sizes are large: the 25th percentile is $187,500, the median is $237,500, and the 75th percentile is $331,250. Recent grants show clear repeat support across years, especially for the Sierra Club Foundation, Southern Environmental Law Center, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc, Earth Justice, Environmental Defense Fund Inc, Conservation Fund, Nature Conservancy, Center for Reproductive Rights Inc, and Tri County Humane Society. The Brunckhorst Foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grant list uses general purpose language throughout, indicating flexible support rather than tightly restricted project funding.
$7.4M
$141.8M
$11.9M
$8.9M
Most grants fall between $188K and $331K, with a median of $238K.
25th Percentile
$188K
Median
$238K
75th Percentile
$331K
About 14% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Notable grantees: Sierra Club Foundation, The Nature Conservancy
The foundation gives nationally, and every recent grant in the sample went to a U.S. recipient. Washington, DC appears most often among recipient locations, including American Rivers Inc, Ocean Conservancy, African Wildlife Foundation, and American Humane Association. Other frequently appearing recipient hubs include Arlington, VA; New York, NY; and Oakland, CA. Recipient locations also include Annapolis, MD; Charlottesville, VA; and several Florida cities such as Sarasota, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Miami-area organizations.
Its recent grants favor established nonprofits working in environmental advocacy, land and biodiversity conservation, and environmental law. The grant list also includes water, ocean, river, wildlife, and animal-related organizations, with many awards made for general purpose use.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including the Sierra Club Foundation, Southern Environmental Law Center, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc, Earth Justice, Environmental Defense Fund Inc, Conservation Fund, Nature Conservancy, Center for Reproductive Rights Inc, and Tri County Humane Society.
The grant-size distribution is high relative to many foundations: p25 is $187,500, median is $237,500, and p75 is $331,250. Recent awards also include multiple grants at $400,000 or more.
Recipient organizations in Washington, DC appear most often in the recent grant list. Other common recipient hubs are Arlington, VA; New York, NY; and Oakland, CA.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Club Foundation | Oakland, CA | $1,160,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Southern Environmental Law Center | Charlottesville, VA | $480,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc | Annapolis, MD | $425,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Earth Justice | San Francisco, CA | $405,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Nature Conservancy | Arlington, VA | $400,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Conservation Fund | Arlington, VA | $400,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Environmental Defense Fund Inc | New York, NY | $350,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Center for Reproductive Rights Inc | New York, NY | $300,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Tri County Humane Society | Boca Raton, FL | $300,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Ocean Conservancy | Washington, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Planned Parenthood-SouthEast North | W Palm Beach, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Planned Parenthood SW Central Flori | Sarasota, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Natural Resources Defense Fund Inc | New York, NY | $225,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Richmond SPCA | Richmond, VA | $200,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| American Rivers Inc | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Naral Pro-Choice America Foundation | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| American Humane Association | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| African Wildlife Foundation | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee | Hohenwald, TN | $200,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Center for Biological Diversity Inc | Tucson, AZ | $150,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| American Forests | Washington, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| National Wildlife Federation | Reston, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Defenders of Wildlife | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| National Audubon Society Inc | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Virginia League for Planned Parenth | Richmond, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| National Parks Conservation Associa | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Humane World for Animals Inc | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Oceana Inc | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Trust for Public Land | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Greenpeace Fund Inc | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Sierra Club Foundation | Oakland, CA | $1,160,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Southern Environmental Law Center | Charlottesville, VA | $480,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc | Annapolis, MD | $425,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Earth Justice | San Francisco, CA | $405,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Nature Conservancy | Arlington, VA | $400,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Conservation Fund | Arlington, VA | $400,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Environmental Defense Fund Inc | New York, NY | $350,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Center for Reproductive Rights Inc | New York, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Tri County Humane Society | Boca Raton, FL | $300,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Ocean Conservancy | Washington, DC | $250,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Planned Parenthood-So FlTreasure Co | W Palm Beach, FL | $250,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Planned Parenthood SW Central Flori | Sarasota, FL | $250,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Natural Resources Defense Fund Inc | New York, NY | $225,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee | Hohenwald, TN | $200,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| American Humane Association | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| African Wildlife Foundation | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| American Rivers Inc | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Richmond SPCA | Richmond, VA | $200,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| Naral Pro-Choice America Foundation | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
| American Forests | Washington, DC | $150,000 | 2024 | General Purpose unless otherwise stated |
General Purpose unless otherwise stated
General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Conservation Fund
$400,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Planned Parenthood-SouthEast North
$250,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Natural Resources Defense Fund Inc
$225,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Richmond SPCA
$200,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Naral Pro-Choice America Foundation
$200,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
National Wildlife Federation
$100,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
National Audubon Society Inc
$100,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Virginia League for Planned Parenth
$100,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
General Purpose unless otherwise stated
General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Earth Justice
$405,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Conservation Fund
$400,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Planned Parenthood-So FlTreasure Co
$250,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Natural Resources Defense Fund Inc
$225,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Richmond SPCA
$200,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated
Naral Pro-Choice America Foundation
$200,000General Purpose unless otherwise stated