The Meeker Rom Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on place-based conservation and local community infrastructure in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, directing substantial, unrestricted support to a leading regional land-conservation group and a large capital/building gift to a San Juan Island public library. Their grants indicate an interest in preserving regional open space and strengthening small island civic institutions through tangible, often capital-oriented funding. The foundation appears to favor a small number of strategic, high-value awards rather than many small gifts.
A $50,000 grant to Friends of the San Juan Island Library for the San Juan Island Public Library Building Fund signals one of The Meeker Rom Family Foundation’s clearest priorities: place-based investment in civic and conservation infrastructure. Alongside that capital support, the foundation has backed regional land conservation through Forterra Nw with $40,000 awards in both 2024 and 2025, indicating repeated support for the same environmental organization rather than isolated gifts. Its giving also reaches beyond infrastructure into education, arts, and public-interest work. Recent awards include scholarship support at Boston University, Seattle University, New York University, and the University of Minnesota Foundation, plus unrestricted grants to organizations such as the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The pattern suggests a family foundation that mixes project-specific funding with general support, while maintaining a strong connection to conservation, island community institutions, and named scholarship funds. Individual support is part of the portfolio as well, consistent with a broader grantmaking approach that includes both institutions and people.
In conservation, the foundation gave $40,000 to Forterra Nw for general and unrestricted support in 2025, after a matching $40,000 award in 2024. That repeated funding aligns with its interest in land and forest conservation in the Pacific Northwest. For library and community infrastructure, it granted $50,000 to Friends of the San Juan Island Library for the San Juan Island Public Library Building Fund. A separate $13,250 award to San Juan Community Home Trust for general and unrestricted support shows attention to island-based civic organizations as well. The foundation also funds education through scholarship gifts. Examples include $30,000 to Trustees of Boston University for the College of Fine Arts' School of Music Scholarship Fund, $30,000 to Seattle University for the Lisa E. Brodoff Endowed Scholarship, and $25,000 to New York University for the William N Rom MD, MPH Climate Change Fellows scholarship fund.
Typical gifts cluster at a modest-to-midrange level: the p25 is $2,500, the median is $5,000, and the p75 is $8,000. The recent-grants list also shows a small number of larger awards, including $40,000, $50,000, and multiple $15,000 gifts. Recipients appear across multiple years, including Forterra Nw, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, University of Minnesota Foundation, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Inc, and League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-time support. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and gives to individuals as well as organizations.
$948K
$4.7M
$437K
$413K
Most grants fall between $3K and $8K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$8K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Concentrated and strategic: few (3) relatively large grants totaling $130k, with repeat funding to the same conservation organization and a one-off significant capital grant to a local library. Preference for high-impact, place-based gifts and flexible general support rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: Forterra (Forterra NW), Friends of the San Juan Island Library
Grantmaking is national, with the highest concentration of recipients in New York. Recent grants also land in Washington, Minnesota, and the Pacific Northwest, especially Seattle and Friday Harbor. Named recipient cities in the recent list include New York, Seattle, Friday Harbor, Boston, Minneapolis, Washington, Fairfield, Bend, and Santa Barbara. All recent grants shown go to U.S. recipients.
Its recent grants show support for conservation groups, public libraries and community trusts, universities and scholarship funds, arts institutions, and select public-interest organizations. Recurring recipients include Forterra Nw, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the University of Minnesota Foundation.
Yes. Forterra Nw received $40,000 in both 2024 and 2025. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, University of Minnesota Foundation, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Inc, and League of Conservation Voters Education Fund also each appear more than once in the recent-grants list.
The typical grant-size distribution is p25 $2,500, median $5,000, and p75 $8,000. Recent grants also include larger awards such as $15,000, $20,000, $30,000, $40,000, and $50,000.
Its grants go nationally, with New York as the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include New York, Seattle, Friday Harbor, Boston, Minneapolis, Washington, Fairfield, Bend, and Santa Barbara.
Yes. The foundation is marked as funding individuals, and its recent grants include scholarship support for named funds at Boston University, Seattle University, New York University, and the University of Minnesota Foundation.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORTERRA NW | SEATTLE, WA | $40,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| ALCHEMY ART CENTER | FRIDAY HARBOR, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | Artist in Residence Program |
| THE PHILANTHROPY WORKSHOP INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | Clean Energy Communities Fund |
| LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | Modern Circle of Contemporary Art |
| SAN JUAN COMMUNITY HOME TRUST | FRIDAY HARBOR, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| ONEVILLAGE PARTNERS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INCORPORATED | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CATHARINE LORILLARD WOLFE ART CLUB INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $9,000 | 2025 | Dr. William and Holly Rom Fellowship in Climate Policy in the Hubert H. Humphrey School for Public Affairs Scholarship Fund |
| CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION INC | TAVERNIER, FL | $7,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FOUNTAIN HOUSE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $7,000 | 2025 | Art Gallery |
| THE CARL SCHURZ PARK CONSERVANCY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $7,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FRIENDS OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS WILDERNESS | SAINT PAUL, MN | $6,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN | BRONX, NY | $5,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MINNESOTA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY | SAINT PAUL, MN | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HOPE FOR UKRAINE INC | ROSELAND, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PAGE AHEAD CHILDRENS LITERACY PRGM | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| SEATTLE ARTS AND LECTURES INC | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | For the Writers in the Schools program (WITS) |
| SOLAR COOKERS INTERNATIONAL | SACRAMENTO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION F | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT NORTHWEST HAWAII ALASKA I | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PTA CALIFORNIA CONGRESS OF PARENTS TEACHERS & STUD | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Sunset Elementary PTA |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS FOUNDATION | SNOWMASS VLG, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY | HEMPSTEAD, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Hofstra Law Fund |
| UNICEF USA IMPACT FUND FOR CHILDREN INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | Hurricane Helene Aid |
| ANIMAL FIRE THEATRE | OLYMPIA, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | "Uncle Vanya" Theatre Production |
| LEGAL VOICE | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| EARTHJUSTICE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| STANLEY ANN DUNHAM SCHOLARSHIP FUND | MERCER ISLAND, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE | ASPEN, CO | $3,500 | 2025 | The Aspen Fellows Program |
| SEATTLE UNIVERSITY | SEATTLE, WA | $3,000 | 2025 | Lisa E. Brodoff Endowed Scholarship Fund |
| JOYCE L SOBEL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER | FRIDAY HARBOR, WA | $3,000 | 2025 | To support the Fresh Bucks Program |
| CALIFORNIA POETS IN THE SCHOOL | SANTA ROSA, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NORTHERN LAKES ARTS ASSOCIATION | ELY, MN | $3,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETS INCORPORATED | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PROJECT ONE GOAL | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| TIDES CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | ClimateVoice |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $2,000 | 2025 | Mills College Art Museum & Mills College Community |
| RYE ART CENTER INC | RYE, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PIZZA KLATCH | OLYMPIA, WA | $2,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION | DURANGO, CO | $2,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| GREENBRIER MONTESSORI LTD | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| ARTS IGNITE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
FORTERRA NW
$40,000General & Unrestricted
ALCHEMY ART CENTER
$20,000Artist in Residence Program
THE PHILANTHROPY WORKSHOP INC
$15,000Clean Energy Communities Fund
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND
$15,000General & Unrestricted
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
$15,000Modern Circle of Contemporary Art
SAN JUAN COMMUNITY HOME TRUST
$10,000General & Unrestricted
ONEVILLAGE PARTNERS
$10,000General & Unrestricted
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INCORPORATED
$10,000General & Unrestricted
CATHARINE LORILLARD WOLFE ART CLUB INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION
$9,000Dr. William and Holly Rom Fellowship in Climate Policy in the Hubert H. Humphrey School for Public Affairs Scholarship Fund
CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION INC
$7,500General & Unrestricted
FOUNTAIN HOUSE INC
$7,000Art Gallery
THE CARL SCHURZ PARK CONSERVANCY INC
$7,000General & Unrestricted
FRIENDS OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS WILDERNESS
$6,000General & Unrestricted
CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY INC
$5,500General & Unrestricted
NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
$5,500General & Unrestricted
MINNESOTA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
$5,000General & Unrestricted
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED
$5,000General & Unrestricted
HOPE FOR UKRAINE INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
PAGE AHEAD CHILDRENS LITERACY PRGM
$5,000General & Unrestricted
SEATTLE ARTS AND LECTURES INC
$5,000For the Writers in the Schools program (WITS)
SOLAR COOKERS INTERNATIONAL
$5,000General & Unrestricted
NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION F
$5,000General & Unrestricted
PLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT NORTHWEST HAWAII ALASKA I
$5,000General & Unrestricted
PTA CALIFORNIA CONGRESS OF PARENTS TEACHERS & STUD
$5,000Sunset Elementary PTA
ANDERSON RANCH ARTS FOUNDATION
$5,000General & Unrestricted
HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY
$5,000Hofstra Law Fund
UNICEF USA IMPACT FUND FOR CHILDREN INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
$5,000Hurricane Helene Aid
ANIMAL FIRE THEATRE
$5,000"Uncle Vanya" Theatre Production
LEGAL VOICE
$5,000General & Unrestricted
EARTHJUSTICE
$5,000General & Unrestricted
STANLEY ANN DUNHAM SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$5,000General & Unrestricted
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
$3,500The Aspen Fellows Program
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
$3,000Lisa E. Brodoff Endowed Scholarship Fund
JOYCE L SOBEL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
$3,000To support the Fresh Bucks Program
CALIFORNIA POETS IN THE SCHOOL
$3,000General & Unrestricted
NORTHERN LAKES ARTS ASSOCIATION
$3,000General & Unrestricted
ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETS INCORPORATED
$2,000General & Unrestricted
PROJECT ONE GOAL
$2,000General & Unrestricted
TIDES CENTER
$2,000ClimateVoice
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
$2,000Mills College Art Museum & Mills College Community
RYE ART CENTER INC
$2,000General & Unrestricted
PIZZA KLATCH
$2,000General & Unrestricted
CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION
$2,000General & Unrestricted
GREENBRIER MONTESSORI LTD
$1,500General & Unrestricted
ARTS IGNITE INC
$1,500General & Unrestricted
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
$1,500General & Unrestricted
SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION
$1,000General & Unrestricted