The Coit Family Foundation concentrates its giving on environmental conservation and public science/natural history institutions, with a strong emphasis on climate initiatives and museum support. Although based in Pasadena, its grants are focused regionally in Oregon, funding both national conservation organizations' state programs and local museums with capital and operating priorities. Grants are sizable and targeted, often supporting program-specific climate work, wildlife education, and museum building/campaign needs.
The Coit Family Foundation’s giving is anchored by repeated support for Oregon climate initiatives, especially The Nature Conservancy’s work in Portland. Across the recent grants list, that pattern sits alongside museum and science education funding, including operating support for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and capital and program support for the High Desert Museum in Bend. The foundation also backs related public-facing institutions such as the Oregon Coast Aquarium and Oregon Zoo Foundation, linking conservation, wildlife education, and science learning. The grant history shows a funder that uses mid-sized, targeted awards rather than highly fragmented giving. Several recipients appear more than once across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts. Its support includes general operating grants, program-specific funding, and capital campaign commitments. The Nature Conservancy received three separate climate grants, while OMSI received multiple operating grants over consecutive years. Other awards connect to museum building projects, wildlife care, and public education programs, indicating a portfolio shaped around Oregon institutions with conservation, science, and cultural missions.
Climate and habitat conservation is a central theme. The foundation gave $80,000 in 2025 to The Nature Conservancy in Oregon for climate initiatives 2024, following similar $80,000 grants in 2024 and 2023 for climate initiatives. Museum science and public education also appear consistently. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry received $65,000 in 2025 for general operating support for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, after a $65,000 operating grant in 2024 and a $50,000 operating grant in 2023. The foundation also supports wildlife-focused public institutions. In 2023, the High Desert Museum received $82,000 for wildlife care and education programs and its Can You Imagine capital campaign, and the Oregon Coast Aquarium received operating support in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Education-related grants extend beyond museums. Oregon Zoo Foundation received support for education at the Oregon Zoo and education programming, while Portland State University Foundation received capital support for a new School of Art + Art History + Design building and a Vernier Science Center expansion and renovation campaign.
$567K
$11.8M
$4.6M
$764K
Most grants fall between $25K and $48K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$48K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in OR.
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Concentrated giving: a small number of relatively large grants, repeat funding to the same organizations, and a clear regional tilt toward Oregon despite the foundation's California location.
Notable grantees: The Nature Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy in Oregon, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), High Desert Museum
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $25,000, a median of $30,000, and a p75 of $48,000. The recent record shows repeat grants to the same organizations across multiple years, especially in Oregon, which points to recurring relationships rather than isolated awards. The foundation is a family foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The listed grants also show a mix of general operating support, capital support, and program-specific project funding.
Grantmaking is concentrated in Oregon, which is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients are clustered in Portland, with additional awards in Bend, Corvallis, and Newport. The recent grants list also includes support for organizations in Bend and Corvallis outside the Portland core, showing a regional pattern within the state. All listed grants in the provided data went to U.S. recipients.
Recent grants go to environmental conservation groups, science museums, a zoo foundation, an aquarium, a university foundation, and a food bank. The pattern includes climate initiatives, museum operating support, wildlife care and education, and capital campaign support.
Typical grants are in the mid-five-figure range: p25 is $25,000, the median is $30,000, and p75 is $48,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including The Nature Conservancy, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Oregon Food Bank, Oregon Coast Aquarium, Friends of Hopewell House, and Smart (start Making a Reader Today).
The recent grants emphasize climate and habitat conservation, museum science and education, wildlife care and public wildlife education, and capital or operating support for cultural and educational institutions.
No. The foundation’s profile indicates that it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN OREGON | PORTLAND, OR | $80,000 | 2025 | CLIMATE INITIATIVES 2024 |
| OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY (OMSI) | PORTLAND, OR | $65,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY |
| OREGON FOOD BANK | PORTLAND, OR | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CORVALLIS, OR | $47,000 | 2025 | TRAINING EQUIPMENT FOR CARLSON COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE STUDENTS |
| OREGON COAST AQUARIUM | NEWPORT, OR | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY TRANSITIONAL SCHOOL | PORTLAND, OR | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF HOPEWELL HOUSE | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2025 | CARE ASSISTANCE FUND |
| SMART (START MAKING A READER TODAY) | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF OUR NEW SCHOOL OF ART + ART HISTORY + DESIGN BUILDING |
| OREGON ZOO FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AT THE OREGON ZOO |
| OPAL CREEK ANCIENT FOREST CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING | PORTLAND, OR | $25,000 | 2025 | 2024-2025 SEASON OF OREGON FIELD GUIDE |
| RANDALL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $20,000 | 2025 | PURCHASE OF MILK WARMERS & A VIDEO INTUBATION SYSTEM |
| OREGON ENERGY FUND | PORTLAND, OR | $20,000 | 2025 | BAKER, GRANT, UNION AND WALLOWA COUNTY ENERGY ASSISTANCE |
| OREGON BALLET THEATRE | PORTLAND, OR | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HIGH DESERT MUSEUM | BEND, OR | $20,000 | 2025 | WILDLIFE CARE & EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | PORTLAND, OR | $80,000 | 2024 | CLIMATE INITIATIVES |
| OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY | PORTLAND, OR | $65,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OREGON FOOD BANK | PORTLAND, OR | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OREGON COAST AQUARIUM | NEWPORT, OR | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY TRADITIONAL SCHOOL | PORTLAND, OR | $35,000 | 2024 | TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR |
| PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND & RENOVATE THE VERNIER SCIENCE CENTER |
| SMART (START MAKING A READER TODAY) | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF HOPEWELL HOUSE | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2024 | CARE ASSISTANCE FUND |
| OREGON ZOO FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION PROGRAMMING |
| OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING | PORTLAND, OR | $25,000 | 2024 | OREGON FIELD GUIDE 2022-2023 |
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CORVALLIS, OR | $25,000 | 2024 | COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE SURGERY TABLES FOR STUDENT SPAY/NEUTER LABORATORY |
| RANDALL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $20,000 | 2024 | PURCHASE OF AN ELECTRONIC MILK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM |
| OPAL CREEK ANCIENT FOREST CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OREGON ENERGY FUND | PORTLAND, OR | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HIGH DESERT MUSEUM | BEND, OR | $20,000 | 2024 | WILDLIFE CARE & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| HIGH DESERT MUSEUM | BEND, OR | $82,000 | 2023 | WILDLIFE CARE & EDUCATION PROGRAMS ($25K) AND CAN YOU IMAGINE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN ($57K) |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | PORTLAND, OR | $80,000 | 2023 | CLIMATE INITIATIVES |
| OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY | PORTLAND, OR | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OREGON FOOD BANK | PORTLAND, OR | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CORVALLIS, OR | $48,000 | 2023 | MRI-SUITABLE LARGE ANIMAL TABLE |
| RANDALL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $45,000 | 2023 | PURCHASE OF 2 NEONATAL VIDEO LARYNGOSCOPES |
| FRIENDS OF HOPEWELL HOUSE | PORTLAND, OR | $40,000 | 2023 | FOR HIGHEST NEED |
| COMMUNITY TRADITIONAL SCHOOL | PORTLAND, OR | $35,000 | 2023 | TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR |
| OREGON COAST AQUARIUM | NEWPORT, OR | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SMART (START MAKING A READER TODAY) | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING | PORTLAND, OR | $25,000 | 2023 | OREGON FIELD GUIDE 2022-2023 |
| OREGON BALLET THEATER | PORTLAND, OR | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OPAL CREEK ANCIENT FOREST CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OREGON ENERGY FUND | PORTLAND, OR | $10,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE ADDITION OF A FULL-TIME FINANCE POSITION |
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN OREGON
$80,000CLIMATE INITIATIVES 2024
OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY (OMSI)
$65,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
TRAINING EQUIPMENT FOR CARLSON COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE STUDENTS
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF OUR NEW SCHOOL OF ART + ART HISTORY + DESIGN BUILDING
OPAL CREEK ANCIENT FOREST CENTER
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING
$25,0002024-2025 SEASON OF OREGON FIELD GUIDE
PURCHASE OF MILK WARMERS & A VIDEO INTUBATION SYSTEM
OREGON ENERGY FUND
$20,000BAKER, GRANT, UNION AND WALLOWA COUNTY ENERGY ASSISTANCE
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
$80,000CLIMATE INITIATIVES
OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
$65,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COMMUNITY TRADITIONAL SCHOOL
$35,000TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND & RENOVATE THE VERNIER SCIENCE CENTER
OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING
$25,000OREGON FIELD GUIDE 2022-2023
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE SURGERY TABLES FOR STUDENT SPAY/NEUTER LABORATORY
PURCHASE OF AN ELECTRONIC MILK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
OPAL CREEK ANCIENT FOREST CENTER
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OREGON ENERGY FUND
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WILDLIFE CARE & EDUCATION PROGRAMS ($25K) AND CAN YOU IMAGINE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN ($57K)
OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PURCHASE OF 2 NEONATAL VIDEO LARYNGOSCOPES
COMMUNITY TRADITIONAL SCHOOL
$35,000TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR
OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING
$25,000OREGON FIELD GUIDE 2022-2023
OREGON BALLET THEATER
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OPAL CREEK ANCIENT FOREST CENTER
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OREGON ENERGY FUND
$10,000TO SUPPORT THE ADDITION OF A FULL-TIME FINANCE POSITION