The Ricketts Conservation Foundation concentrates on landscape-scale conservation and species habitat protection, with an emphasis on western U.S. ecosystems. Grants target wetlands and waterfowl habitat, protection of Yellowstone-area landscapes from mining threats, and forest restoration/management with an eye toward climate resilience and social equity. The foundation gives a small number of sizable grants and shows repeat support to select conservation organizations. Its giving is programmatic and advocacy-oriented rather than broadly distributed.
The Ricketts Conservation Foundation repeatedly backs conservation work in the Yellowstone region, including a pair of $250,000 grants to the Wyoming Wetlands Society for preserving Wyoming wetlands and trumpeter swan habitat. That same landscape-scale emphasis shows up in support for efforts to stop the Yellowstone Boundary Gold Mine and protect native species, as well as funding for Bridger-Teton National Forest preservation. The foundation’s grantmaking is concentrated in a small number of sizable awards rather than a broad spread of small grants. Its portfolio includes habitat protection, wildlife research, forest restoration and management, and conservation advocacy tied to western U.S. ecosystems. Repeat support appears in several relationships, including multiple grants to the Wyoming Wetlands Society across 2023, 2024, and 2025, plus continued funding for research and conservation groups working in the Greater Yellowstone region. The foundation also supports research on nongame birds and mammals, Clark’s Nutcracker, and human-wildlife mitigation through the invisible fence program. Overall, the pattern points to a programmatic funder focused on specific landscapes, species, and conservation outcomes.
Wetlands and waterfowl habitat are a clear priority: the foundation gave $41,666 in 2025 to the Wyoming Wetlands Society to preserve and protect Wyoming wetlands, especially trumpeter swan habitat. Another strand is Yellowstone-area conservation advocacy; it awarded $162,750 to The Greater Yellowstone Coalition to stop the Yellowstone Boundary Gold Mine and protect native species. The foundation also supports forest management linked to climate and equity, with $109,860 to American Forests for use of forests for social equity and management of climate change. Wildlife research appears as a separate line of work, including $55,693 to the University of Montana for research on nongame mammal and bird species and $20,000 to the University of Colorado for research related to Clark’s Nutcracker in Yellowstone National Park.
Typical awards are sized at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $36,531 at the median, and $162,750 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows both recurring support and one-off grants: the Wyoming Wetlands Society appears in multiple years, and the University of Montana also received funding in 2024 and 2025. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and also makes program-related investments. Policy notes say it pays direct costs only and does not cover indirect or overhead costs. There is no public application portal, and unsolicited applications are not accepted for its general grantmaking.
$216K
$4.7M
$2.6M
$839K
Most grants fall between $15K and $163K, with a median of $37K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$37K
75th Percentile
$163K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a very small set of conservation organizations, including repeat funding to core grantees; funding mixes direct habitat protection and policy/advocacy work rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: Wyoming Wetlands Society, The Greater Yellowstone Coalition, American Forests
The grants are US-based only, with recipients spread across the Mountain West and a few national organizations. Wyoming appears most often, including Jackson, Pinedale, and other state-based conservation work. Colorado recipients include Aurora, Denver, and Brighton, while Montana recipients include Bozeman. The recipient map also reaches Washington, DC through a forest-focused grant. The pattern is strongly regional, centered on the Greater Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain areas rather than a national distribution.
Its grantmaking centers on conservation of at-risk species, habitat restoration, wildlife research and monitoring, and landscape-scale conservation initiatives. Recent grants show specific attention to wetlands, Yellowstone-area protection, forest management, and species-focused research.
For its general grantmaking, no. The foundation’s policy notes that it does not have a public application portal or guidelines, and unsolicited applications are not accepted. It also says grants are paid as direct costs only, without indirect or overhead costs.
The recent grant profile shows a 25th-percentile grant size of $15,000, a median of $36,531, and a 75th-percentile grant size of $162,750. Recent awards include both smaller research grants and much larger landscape-conservation grants.
There is repeat support to several recipients. The Wyoming Wetlands Society appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and the University of Montana received grants in both 2024 and 2025. That suggests some ongoing relationships alongside one-off awards.
The giving is regional and most often lands in Wyoming, with additional grants in Colorado and Montana. Recent recipient cities include Jackson, Pinedale, Aurora, Denver, Brighton, and Bozeman.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Ricketts Conservation Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: The program works with ranches in the region that are willing to implement virtual fencing technology to achieve conservation goals. Specific eligibility requirements are provided in the program information and application.
Deadline: No deadline stated.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Montana | Denver, CO | $55,693 | 2025 | Fund research regardingnongame mammel and birdspecies. |
| Friends of the Bridger-Teton | Jackson, WY | $48,000 | 2025 | Promote the preservationand conservation of BTNF.Promote the preservation |
| University of Colorado - Denver | Aurora, CO | $45,469 | 2025 | Continue funding and researchrelated Yellowstone Ecosystem. |
| Wyoming Wetlands Society | Jackson, WY | $41,666 | 2025 | Preserve and protectWY wetlands; in particulartrumper swan habitat. |
| Sublette County Conservation District | Pinedale, WY | $25,000 | 2025 | Sponsor and supportinvisible fence program. |
| Wyoming Wetlands Society | Jackson, WY | $250,000 | 2024 | Preserve and protectWY wetlands; in particulartrumper swan habitat. |
| The Greater Yellowstone Coalition | Bozeman, MT | $162,750 | 2024 | Efforts to stop theYellowstone Boundary Gold Mine and protect native species |
| American Forests | Washington, DC | $109,860 | 2024 | Support use of forestsfor social equity andmanagement of climate change. |
| University of Montana | Denver, CO | $36,531 | 2024 | Fund research regardingnongame mammel and birdspecies. |
| Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory dba Bird Conservancy of the Rockies | Brighton, CO | $15,000 | 2024 | Continued researchregarding bird population declinesand corrective actions. |
| Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative | Jackson, WY | $2,000 | 2024 | Sponsor 2023 Wildlifesymposium to promotewildlife conservation. |
| Wyoming Wetlands Society | Jackson, WY | $250,000 | 2023 | Preserve and protectWY wetlands; in particulartrumper swan habitat. |
| University of Colorado | Denver, CO | $20,000 | 2023 | Promote research relatedto Clark's Nutcrackerin Yellowstone NP. |
| Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory dba Bird Conservancy of the Rockies | Brighton, CO | $5,000 | 2023 | Continued researchregarding bird population declinesand corrective actions. |
University of Montana
$55,693Fund research regardingnongame mammel and birdspecies.
Promote the preservationand conservation of BTNF.Promote the preservation
University of Colorado - Denver
$45,469Continue funding and researchrelated Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Preserve and protectWY wetlands; in particulartrumper swan habitat.
Sublette County Conservation District
$25,000Sponsor and supportinvisible fence program.
Preserve and protectWY wetlands; in particulartrumper swan habitat.
Efforts to stop theYellowstone Boundary Gold Mine and protect native species
Support use of forestsfor social equity andmanagement of climate change.
University of Montana
$36,531Fund research regardingnongame mammel and birdspecies.
Continued researchregarding bird population declinesand corrective actions.
Sponsor 2023 Wildlifesymposium to promotewildlife conservation.
Preserve and protectWY wetlands; in particulartrumper swan habitat.
University of Colorado
$20,000Promote research relatedto Clark's Nutcrackerin Yellowstone NP.
Continued researchregarding bird population declinesand corrective actions.