About Hamer Foundation
The Hamer Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on environmental conservation and outdoor education, primarily funding land protection, watershed/park restoration, and nature centers while also supporting higher-education research and scholarships. Grants are large and strategic, providing operating support and program funding to both local Pennsylvania conservation groups and national/international conservation organizations. The foundation shows a preference for a small number of substantial awards, including repeat grants to select partners.
Focus Areas
Regional land conservation and easement acquisition in Pennsylvania (e.g., Clearwater Conservancy, Western PA Conservancy)Watershed and Chesapeake Bay restoration and stewardship (e.g., Chesapeake Conservancy)Nature center operations and environmental education (e.g., Millbrook Marsh Nature Center)Global biodiversity and species conservation through major NGOs (e.g., World Wildlife Fund)University-based environmental research and student support/scholarships (e.g., Penn State, University of Illinois Foundation)
Giving Approach
A concentrated portfolio of few, large grants that combine operating support and program funding; mixes local/state conservation nonprofits with national/international conservation partners and infrequent university grants; evidence of repeat funding to select grantees.
About Hamer Foundation
The Hamer Foundation’s largest recent awards show a clear preference for place-based environmental work tied to State College and central Pennsylvania. In 2024, it gave $1,060,000 to Clearwater Conservancy for operating support, programming, easements, and building needs, following a $291,000 grant to the same group in 2023. Another major local commitment went to Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, which received $1,600,000 in 2023 for operating support. Beyond these anchors, the foundation has backed land protection, watershed restoration, nature-center operations, and higher-education support, including scholarships and research partnerships. Its grant record also includes substantial awards to organizations with broader conservation missions, such as World Wildlife Fund and Chesapeake Conservancy, alongside Pennsylvania-based land trusts and education-focused institutions. The pattern suggests a funder that uses large, recurring grants to support conservation infrastructure, environmental education, and selected academic programs. Repeat awards appear across multiple years for several recipients, indicating ongoing relationships rather than one-off project grants. The foundation also funds individuals and combines operating support, program support, capital, and land-related financing within the same overall portfolio.
What Hamer Foundation Funds
Environmental conservation is the clearest throughline in The Hamer Foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $523,000 in 2023 and $200,000 in 2024 to Western PA Conservancy for operating support, and $300,000 in 2023 plus $125,000 in 2024 to PA Chapter Nature Conservancy for operating support, programming, and easements. Land protection also appears in direct property-focused support: Merrill Lynn Consrevancy received $310,600 in 2023 for land purchase, and Patton Township received $164,400 in 2023 for an operating conservation easement. The foundation also supports environmental education and public-facing nature programming, including $211,200 in 2024 to Wildlife for Everyone for a capital project and $114,995 in 2024 to The Academy for programming. Higher education sits alongside conservation, with Penn State University and the University of Illinois Fdtn receiving scholarship and program support awards.
How Hamer Foundation Gives
Typical grant size sits at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $37,500 at the median, and $125,000 at the 75th percentile, which points to a mix of smaller awards and a meaningful number of larger commitments. The recent record shows repeat support across years for several organizations, including Clearwater Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Penn State University, Western PA Conservancy, and University of Illinois Fdtn. The foundation funds individuals and makes both operating and project-based grants, plus occasional capital and land-related awards. Its active grant programs accept unsolicited applications and are aimed at 501(c)(3) nonprofits within 100 miles of State College, Pennsylvania.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$4.8M
Total Assets
$61.8M
Total Revenue
$8.9M
Total Expenses
$5.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $125K, with a median of $38K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$38K
75th Percentile
$125K
Geographic Reach
Local4 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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