The Wiederhold Foundation focuses primarily on animal welfare and regional land conservation in northwest Connecticut and nearby New England, funding both local humane societies/shelters and conservation land trusts. Grants favor facility and capital projects (new shelter buildings, animal health centers, land acquisitions) as well as investments in veterinary workforce and shelter-medicine training. The foundation supports a mix of local, state and a few national intermediaries that advance companion animal welfare systems and habitat protection. Its giving is mission-driven and operationally pragmatic—paying for tangible infrastructure, program expansion, and technical capacity-building.
The John T and Jane a Wiederhold Foundation stands out for pairing animal welfare with land conservation in northwest Connecticut and nearby New England. Its recent grants show a practical emphasis on facilities, acquisitions, and technical capacity: $250,000 to Dakin Humane Society for a pet health center, $182,000 to Winchester Land Trust Inc for Connecting Highland Lake, and $125,000 to Little Guild of Saint Francis for building a new home. The foundation also supports organizations that strengthen the broader animal-care system, including shelter medicine training, humane housing, and data infrastructure for shelter planning. That pattern suggests a funder interested in durable assets rather than short-term programming. In animal welfare, the foundation backs shelter expansion, veterinary access, and workforce development through university partners and specialty intermediaries. In conservation, it funds land trusts and property acquisitions that protect local habitat and preserve open space. The result is a grantmaking profile centered on tangible infrastructure for animals, conservation lands, and the organizations that operate them. Across the portfolio, the foundation appears to favor projects that can change how a shelter, veterinary program, or land trust functions over time.
Animal welfare is a central theme in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $124,000 to Dakin Humane Society for sustainability and capacity work, $100,000 to Shelter Animals Count for SAC database expansion and forecasting, and $85,000 to New York State Animal Protect for shelter companion animal care. These grants point to interest in both front-line care and the systems that support shelters. Veterinary training and access are another clear thread. The foundation gave $100,000 to Open Door Veterinary Collective for an online certificate on veterinary access, $75,000 to University of Florida Foundation Inc for UF Shelter Medicine, and $42,646 to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for the SOS Cornell Student Teaching Program. It also supported humane housing for dogs through The Animal Protective Foundation with a $100,000 grant. On the conservation side, grants to New Hartford Land Trust, Warren Land Trust, and the Trust for Public Land show support for land preservation and acquisition projects in Connecticut.
$1.3M
$33M
$2.3M
$1.6M
Most grants fall between $25K and $80K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$80K
Leslie Harris
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Moderately concentrated: mid-to-large grants (often $50k–$375k) with repeated funding to several core recipients (regional land trusts and major humane organizations) and targeted project/capital support rather than many small gifts. Mix of multi-grant relationships and one-time program investments in universities and national intermediaries.
Notable grantees: Dakin Humane Society, National Marine Life Center, Little Guild of Saint Francis, Winchester Land Trust / Northwest CT Land Conservancy, University of Florida Shelter Medicine (and Cornell Veterinary programs)
Typical awards fall in the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $24,500, a median grant of $50,000, and a p75 of $80,000. The recent record also includes several six-figure grants, showing room for larger project support when the opportunity matches the foundation’s priorities. The portfolio is not limited to one-time gifts: Dakin Humane Society appears in both 2023 and 2024, National Marine Life Center appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and several land trusts recur across years. The foundation is a private foundation led by Leslie Harris. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
The foundation gives most often in Connecticut, which accounts for 51% of grants, but its reach also extends into nearby Massachusetts, New York, and other U.S. states. Within Connecticut, recurring recipient locations include Winchester Center, West Cornwall, New Hartford, Kent, Norwich, and Newington. Outside the state, grants landed in Springfield and Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts; Albany and Ithaca, New York; Atlanta, Georgia; Grand Rapids, Ohio; and Gainesville, Florida. All recorded recent grants were to U.S. recipients.
Its recent giving centers on companion animal shelter infrastructure, veterinary access and workforce development, and regional land conservation in northwest Connecticut and nearby New England. The record also includes marine mammal and sea life rescue, plus capacity-building for statewide animal protection networks and shelter data systems.
Typical grants are in the mid-five-figure range. The p25 is $24,500, the median is $50,000, and the p75 is $80,000. Recent awards also include larger grants such as $250,000 and $182,000.
Yes. Dakin Humane Society appears in both 2023 and 2024, National Marine Life Center appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and several land trusts recur across multiple years, including Winchester Land Trust Inc and New Hartford Land Trust.
Connecticut is the top state by grant count, with 51% of grants going to recipients in the state. Recent Connecticut recipients include Winchester Center, West Cornwall, New Hartford, Kent, Newington, and Salisbury.
Recent grants have supported a pet health center, a new shelter home, shelter database expansion, a veterinary access online certificate, humane housing for dogs, and multiple land acquisitions and preserve projects. The common thread is tangible infrastructure and capacity for animal welfare or conservation organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas J OConnor Foundation | Springfield, MA | $185,000 | 2026 | Surgical Suite Expansion |
| Northwest CT Land Conservancy | Kent, CT | $150,000 | 2026 | Surdan Mountain Reserve Acquisition |
| Winchester Land Trust Inc | Winchester Cent, CT | $120,000 | 2026 | Treiber Field |
| Dakin Humane Society | Springfield, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | Spay-Neuter Initiative |
| Shelter Animals Count | Atlanta, GA | $100,000 | 2026 | Data Dashboards |
| Regents of the Uni of Cali | Davis, CA | $94,000 | 2026 | KSMP CA Vet Fellowship |
| Cornell University College | Ithaca, NY | $90,000 | 2026 | Student Surgery Teaching Programs |
| University of Florida Found | Gainesville, FL | $90,000 | 2026 | UF Shelter Medicine |
| Berkshire Humane Society Inc | Pittsfield, MA | $75,000 | 2026 | Medical program support |
| Animal Rescue Foundation Inc | Terryville, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | Construction support |
| Cornwall Conservation Trust | West Cornwall, CT | $38,300 | 2026 | Furnace Brook Forest |
| The Connecticut Agricultural | New Haven, CT | $34,600 | 2026 | Mapping and Monitoring |
| Housatonic Valley Association | Cornwall Bridge, CT | $30,000 | 2026 | Catalyzing Conservation Wildlife |
| Western Connecticut State Uni | Danbury, CT | $28,000 | 2026 | Dependent sex determination |
| Great Mountain Forest | Norfolk, CT | $27,400 | 2026 | Quantifying Bat Diversity |
| American Society Prevention | New York, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | Welfare Program |
| CT Humane Society | Newington, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | Pet Working |
| New England Fed of Humane Soc | Lowell, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | Conference Scholarship Fund |
| White Memorial Conservation | Litchfield, CT | $19,300 | 2026 | Little Brown Bat Monitor & Habitat |
| Connecticut Wildlife Rehab | Woodbridge, CT | $18,000 | 2026 | Vet, Mentorship, & Program Support |
| University of Massachusetts | Amherst, MA | $7,000 | 2026 | Advancing Freshwater Mussel |
| Winchester Land Trust Inc | Winchester Cent, CT | $182,000 | 2025 | Connecting Highland Lake |
| Little Guild of Saint Francis | West Cornwall, CT | $125,000 | 2025 | Building a New Home |
| Dakin Humane Society | Springfield, MA | $124,000 | 2025 | Sustainability and Capactiy Grant |
| Northwest CT Land Conservancy | Kent, CT | $100,000 | 2025 | Milde Farm Acquisition |
| National Marine Life Center | Main St, MA | $98,000 | 2025 | Life Support Porject |
| New York State Animal Protect | Albany, NY | $85,000 | 2025 | Shelter Companaion Animal Care |
| Warren Land Trust | Warren, CT | $75,000 | 2025 | Mountain Lake Preserve Project |
| University of Florida Found | Gainesville, FL | $75,000 | 2025 | UF Shelter Medicine |
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | Inaccessible Marshbirds nests |
| CT Humane Society | Newington, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | Pet Working |
| Salisbury Association Inc | Salisbury, CT | $39,700 | 2025 | Lake Washining and the Housatonic |
| Cornell University College | Ithaca, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | Accessible Veterinary Care (CAVS) |
| CT River Conservancy | Greenfield, MA | $30,000 | 2025 | Habitat Restoration |
| Middlesex Community College | Middletown, CT | $30,000 | 2025 | Vet Technology Scholarship |
| CT State Community College | Winsted, CT | $30,000 | 2025 | Financial Aid for Vet tech students |
| National Audubon Society | Sharon, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | Human Disburbance Prevention |
| Northwest CT Land Conservancy | Kent, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | Colebrook Reservoir |
| New England Fed of Humane Soc | Lowell, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | Conference Scholarship Fund |
| United Spay Alliance | Walkersville, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | Wet Labs: Ma and CT |
| New England Fed of Humane Soc | Lowell, MA | $18,000 | 2025 | Conference Scholarship Fund |
| White Memorial Conservation | Litchfield, CT | $14,000 | 2025 | Education and Outreach |
| little guild of saint francis | West cornwall, CT | $125,000 | 2024 | Building a new home |
| new hartford land trust | New Hartford, CT | $110,000 | 2024 | preservation projects |
| the animal protective foundat | Glenville, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | The APF's Humane Housing for dogs |
| shelter animals count | atlanta, GA | $100,000 | 2024 | SAC database expansion, forecasting |
| national marine life center | Buzzards Bay, MA | $75,000 | 2024 | Improved animal welfare facilities |
| spca of tompkins county | Ithaca, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | expanding shelter facilities |
| bethany land trust inc | Woodbridge, CT | $60,000 | 2024 | Acquisition of 38.5 acre property |
| northwest connecticut land co | kent, CT | $50,000 | 2024 | the ledges |
Thomas J OConnor Foundation
$185,000Surgical Suite Expansion
Winchester Land Trust Inc
$120,000Treiber Field
Shelter Animals Count
$100,000Data Dashboards
Regents of the Uni of Cali
$94,000KSMP CA Vet Fellowship
Animal Rescue Foundation Inc
$50,000Construction support
Cornwall Conservation Trust
$38,300Furnace Brook Forest
The Connecticut Agricultural
$34,600Mapping and Monitoring
Western Connecticut State Uni
$28,000Dependent sex determination
Great Mountain Forest
$27,400Quantifying Bat Diversity
CT Humane Society
$25,000Pet Working
New England Fed of Humane Soc
$20,000Conference Scholarship Fund
White Memorial Conservation
$19,300Little Brown Bat Monitor & Habitat
Connecticut Wildlife Rehab
$18,000Vet, Mentorship, & Program Support
University of Massachusetts
$7,000Advancing Freshwater Mussel
Winchester Land Trust Inc
$182,000Connecting Highland Lake
New York State Animal Protect
$85,000Shelter Companaion Animal Care
Warren Land Trust
$75,000Mountain Lake Preserve Project
University of Connecticut
$50,000Inaccessible Marshbirds nests
CT Humane Society
$50,000Pet Working
Salisbury Association Inc
$39,700Lake Washining and the Housatonic
Middlesex Community College
$30,000Vet Technology Scholarship
CT State Community College
$30,000Financial Aid for Vet tech students
New England Fed of Humane Soc
$20,000Conference Scholarship Fund
New England Fed of Humane Soc
$18,000Conference Scholarship Fund
White Memorial Conservation
$14,000Education and Outreach
new hartford land trust
$110,000preservation projects
shelter animals count
$100,000SAC database expansion, forecasting
bethany land trust inc
$60,000Acquisition of 38.5 acre property