The Planetary Trust funds a small number of relatively large, strategic grants focused on accelerating sustainable energy and nature-inspired solutions while supporting environmental education. Their giving mixes research and applied practice—backing clean-energy research and electric-transport projects as well as organizations that teach biomimicry and fund experiential/global volunteer programs. They show a geographic and institutional tilt toward Texas (notably Southern Methodist University) alongside national climate and design organizations.
The Planetary Trust’s largest recent grant went to Rocky Mountain Institute for research dedicated to rethinking U.S. energy, a useful signal for how the foundation approaches climate work: it backs research, practical clean-energy programs, and education that turns environmental ideas into action. Across recent years, the trust has supported Southern Methodist University twice at six-figure scale, along with organizations working in biomimicry, electric transportation, and environmental volunteering. That mix points to a funder that favors strategic, institution-based grants rather than broad dispersed philanthropy. Its grantmaking also shows a clear interest in nature-inspired solutions and environmental learning. The Biomimicry Institute received support in both 2023 and 2025 for building a regional community that learns from and conserves life’s genius, while Globe Aware received repeat funding for international environmental volunteer work. The Planetary Trust also gives to Texas-based groups and to organizations outside Texas when they fit its themes, including clean energy, low-carbon mobility, and applied environmental education. The result is a compact portfolio centered on sustainability, research, and public-facing environmental capacity building.
In clean energy, The Planetary Trust backed Rocky Mountain Institute with $130,000 in 2025 and $30,200 in 2023 for research dedicated to rethinking U.S. energy. It also supported Texas Solar Energy Society with $25,750 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2025 to educate about the benefits of solar energy and build healthy, resilient communities. Electric mobility is another clear line of giving. Texas Electric Transportation received $51,000 in 2025 and $25,000 in 2023 for electric transportation. The foundation also funds environmental education and nature-inspired design. Biomimicry Institute received $100,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in 2025 to nurture and grow a regional community learning, emulating, and conserving life’s genius. In addition, Globe Aware received $68,000 in 2023 and $21,000 in 2025 for volunteer work in the international environment.
The Planetary Trust’s typical grant size sits at $3,982 at the 25th percentile, $9,288 at the median, and $21,250 at the 75th percentile, but its recent grants include several much larger commitments. The pattern suggests a mix of recurring support and selective larger awards: Southern Methodist University, Biomimicry Institute, Globe Aware, Texas Electric Transportation, Texas Trees Foundation, Hockaday School, Dallas Arboretum, High Country Conservation Center, Dallas Opera, and Perot Museum each appear more than once in the recent-grants list. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$469K
$1M
$573K
$473K
Most grants fall between $4K and $21K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$21K
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Concentrated, few but sizable grants with repeat funding to institutional grantees; preference for research/implementation organizations and university partnerships rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Southern Methodist University, Rocky Mountain Institute, Biomimicry Institute, Globe Aware, Texas Electric Transportation
Grantmaking is concentrated in Texas, which accounts for 58% of grants. Dallas appears repeatedly, including grants to Southern Methodist University, Globe Aware, Texas Trees Foundation, Hockaday School, Dallas Arboretum, Downwinders at Risk, Dallas Opera, Perot Museum, and Communities Foundation of Texas. Austin also shows up often through Biomimicry Institute and Texas Electric Transportation. Outside Texas, grants went to Boulder, Colorado; Missoula, Montana; Gunnison, Colorado; Crested Butte, Colorado; and Frisco, Colorado. All recent grants in the data went to U.S. recipients.
The foundation supports clean energy research and policy, biomimicry education, electric transportation and low-carbon mobility, university-based environmental research, and environmental volunteerism. Recent examples include grants to Rocky Mountain Institute, Biomimicry Institute, Texas Electric Transportation, Southern Methodist University, and Globe Aware.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years in the recent-grants list, including Southern Methodist University, Biomimicry Institute, Globe Aware, Texas Electric Transportation, Texas Trees Foundation, Hockaday School, Dallas Arboretum, High Country Conservation Center, Dallas Opera, and Perot Museum.
The grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $3,982, a median of $9,288, and a 75th percentile of $21,250. The recent list also includes larger awards such as $130,000 to Rocky Mountain Institute and $104,700 and $102,200 to Southern Methodist University.
Texas is the top state by grant count, with 58% of grants going to recipients in Texas. Dallas and Austin appear frequently among recipient cities, while additional grants went to locations in Colorado, Montana, and other U.S. places.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE | BOULDER, CO | $130,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH INSTITUTE DEDICATED TO RETHINKING US ENERGY |
| SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY | DALLAS, TX | $102,200 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION |
| TEXAS ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION | AUSTIN, TX | $51,000 | 2025 | ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION |
| BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE | Missoula, MT | $50,000 | 2025 | TO NURTURE & GROW REGIONAL COMMUNITY WHO ARE LEARNING, EMULATING, AND CONSERVING LIFE'S GENIUS TO CREATE A HEALTHIER PLANET |
| GLOBE AWARE | DALLAS, TX | $21,000 | 2025 | VOLUNTEER IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT |
| WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY | GUNNISON, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION |
| CENTER FOR THE ARTS CRESTED BUTTE | CRESTED BUTTE, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ARTS |
| TEXAS TREES FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $10,010 | 2025 | THE GREENING OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS |
| HIGH COUNTRY CONSERVATION CENTER | FRISCO, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR WASTE REDUCTION AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION |
| HOCKADAY SCHOOL | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION |
| DALLAS ARBORETUM | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | To promote the art, enjoyment and knowledge of horticulture |
| DALLAS OPERA | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ARTS |
| Downwinders at Risk | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | environmental justice with communities impacted by the worst pollution |
| TEXAS SOLOR ENERGY SOCIETY | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | TO HELP EDUCATE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR ENERGY AND BUILD HEALTHY, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES |
| PEROT MUSEUM | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ARTS |
| CITIZENS CLIMATE EDUCATION | CORONADO, CA | $4,800 | 2025 | TO HELP EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO EDUCATE KEY STAKEHOLDERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL PUBLISHING | BRIGHTON, MA | $294 | 2025 | INFLUENCE REAL WORLD CHANGE THROUGH THE REACH AND APPLICATION OF ESSENTIAL OFFERING IDEAS |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MCDONALD OB | AUSTIN, TX | $100 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF ASTRONOMY AND THE UNIVERSE, FUNDING EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS |
| KERA | DALLAS, TX | $60 | 2025 | TO EDUCATE, INFORM, INSPIRE AND ENTERTAIN AUDIENCES REFLECTING THE REGION'S DIVERSITY. |
| NORTH TEXAS RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP | IRVING, TX | $20 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION IN NORTH TEXAS |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE | BOULDER, CO | $170,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH INSTITUTE DEDICATED TO RETHINKING US ENERGY |
| SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY | DALLAS, TX | $101,400 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION |
| BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE | Missoula, MT | $100,000 | 2024 | TO NURTURE & GROW REGIONAL COMMUNITY WHO ARE LEARNING, EMULATING, AND CONSERVING LIFE'S GENIUS TO CREATE A HEALTHIER PLANET |
| TEXAS ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION | AUSTIN, TX | $26,000 | 2024 | ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION |
| WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY | GUNNISON, CO | $20,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION |
| CENTER FOR THE ARTS CRESTED BUTTE | CRESTED BUTTE, CO | $13,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY ARTS |
| GLOBE AWARE | DALLAS, TX | $12,600 | 2024 | VOLUNTEER IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT |
| DALLAS ARBORETUM | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | To promote the art, enjoyment and knowledge of horticulture |
| HOCKADAY SCHOOL | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION |
| DALLAS OPERA | DALLAS, TX | $8,500 | 2024 | COMMUNITY ARTS |
| Downwinders at Risk | DALLAS, TX | $6,000 | 2024 | environmental justice with communities impacted by the worst pollution |
| CERES INC | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | assisting in driving solutions and taking action on the world's most pressing sustainability issues |
| CITIZENS CLIMATE EDUCATION | CORONADO, CA | $4,800 | 2024 | TO HELP EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO EDUCATE KEY STAKEHOLDERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE |
| PEROT MUSEUM | DALLAS, TX | $3,500 | 2024 | COMMUNITY ARTS |
| HIGH COUNTRY CONSERVATION CENTER | FRISCO, CO | $2,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR WASTE REDUCTION AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION |
| Gunnison Valley Health Foundation | Gunnison, CO | $500 | 2024 | improving the health of the community |
| The Texas Tribune | Austin, TX | $288 | 2024 | Informs Texans about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. |
| St Marys Garage | Crested Butte, CO | $250 | 2024 | providing clothing and housewares to the Crested Butte and Gunnison Community |
| KBUT | CRESTED BUTTE, CO | $100 | 2024 | enrich and unify the Gunnison Valley through information, entertainment and community involvement. |
| American Solar Energy Society | Boulder, CO | $45 | 2024 | renewable energy and sustainable living |
| SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY | DALLAS, TX | $104,700 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION |
| BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE | AUSTIN, TX | $100,000 | 2023 | TO NURTURE & GROW REGIONAL COMMUNITY WHO ARE LEARNING, EMULATING, AND CONSERVING LIFE'S GENIUS TO CREATE A HEALTHIER PLANET |
| GLOBE AWARE | DALLAS, TX | $68,000 | 2023 | VOLUNTEER IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE | BOULDER, CO | $30,200 | 2023 | RESEARCH INSTITUTE DEDICATED TO RETHINKING US ENERGY |
| TEXAS SOLOR ENERGY SOCIETY | AUSTIN, TX | $25,750 | 2023 | TO HELP EDUCATE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR ENERGY AND BUILD HEALTHY, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES |
| TEXAS ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION | AUSTIN, TX | $25,000 | 2023 | ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION |
| WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY | GUNNISON, CO | $20,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION |
| TEXAS TREES FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $10,010 | 2023 | THE GREENING OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS |
| HOCKADAY SCHOOL | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION |
| DALLAS ARBORETUM | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | To promote the art, enjoyment and knowledge of horticulture |
SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
$102,200EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
TEXAS ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION
$51,000ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION
TO NURTURE & GROW REGIONAL COMMUNITY WHO ARE LEARNING, EMULATING, AND CONSERVING LIFE'S GENIUS TO CREATE A HEALTHIER PLANET
GLOBE AWARE
$21,000VOLUNTEER IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
CENTER FOR THE ARTS CRESTED BUTTE
$15,000COMMUNITY ARTS
TO PROMOTE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR WASTE REDUCTION AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION
HOCKADAY SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
DALLAS ARBORETUM
$10,000To promote the art, enjoyment and knowledge of horticulture
Downwinders at Risk
$10,000environmental justice with communities impacted by the worst pollution
TEXAS SOLOR ENERGY SOCIETY
$10,000TO HELP EDUCATE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR ENERGY AND BUILD HEALTHY, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
TO HELP EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO EDUCATE KEY STAKEHOLDERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL PUBLISHING
$294INFLUENCE REAL WORLD CHANGE THROUGH THE REACH AND APPLICATION OF ESSENTIAL OFFERING IDEAS
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MCDONALD OB
$100TO PROMOTE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF ASTRONOMY AND THE UNIVERSE, FUNDING EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS
TO EDUCATE, INFORM, INSPIRE AND ENTERTAIN AUDIENCES REFLECTING THE REGION'S DIVERSITY.
NORTH TEXAS RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP
$20TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION IN NORTH TEXAS
TO NURTURE & GROW REGIONAL COMMUNITY WHO ARE LEARNING, EMULATING, AND CONSERVING LIFE'S GENIUS TO CREATE A HEALTHIER PLANET
TEXAS ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION
$26,000ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION
WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY
$20,000EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
GLOBE AWARE
$12,600VOLUNTEER IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
DALLAS ARBORETUM
$10,000To promote the art, enjoyment and knowledge of horticulture
HOCKADAY SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
Downwinders at Risk
$6,000environmental justice with communities impacted by the worst pollution
assisting in driving solutions and taking action on the world's most pressing sustainability issues
TO HELP EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO EDUCATE KEY STAKEHOLDERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE
TO PROMOTE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR WASTE REDUCTION AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION
Informs Texans about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
St Marys Garage
$250providing clothing and housewares to the Crested Butte and Gunnison Community
KBUT
$100enrich and unify the Gunnison Valley through information, entertainment and community involvement.
American Solar Energy Society
$45renewable energy and sustainable living
BIOMIMICRY INSTITUTE
$100,000TO NURTURE & GROW REGIONAL COMMUNITY WHO ARE LEARNING, EMULATING, AND CONSERVING LIFE'S GENIUS TO CREATE A HEALTHIER PLANET
GLOBE AWARE
$68,000VOLUNTEER IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
TEXAS SOLOR ENERGY SOCIETY
$25,750TO HELP EDUCATE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR ENERGY AND BUILD HEALTHY, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
TEXAS ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION
$25,000ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION
WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY
$20,000EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
HOCKADAY SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
DALLAS ARBORETUM
$10,000To promote the art, enjoyment and knowledge of horticulture