Volo Foundation

About Volo Foundation

Volo Foundation’s largest recent grants point to a mix of climate science, environmental advocacy, and Florida-based health and resilience work. In 2025, it gave $3,938,522 to Environmental Defense Fund for general support, and $1,463,271 to University of California Berkeley Foundation for research on the effects of wildfire smoke on the epigenome. The same year it also backed Cleo Institute Inc with $1,321,749 for the Florida Expansion Pledge: 2020-2024, showing a continuing commitment to Florida climate advocacy. The foundation also supports infrastructure and research tied to public purpose. Its 2025 grant of $1,000,000 to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation was designated for a cardiac and neurology floor, while its university and research grants include support for applied studies and institutional partners such as the University of Central Florida and The Scripps Research Institute. Across the recent grants list, the pattern is targeted rather than broad: large gifts, repeated support for certain organizations, and a strong emphasis on climate, environmental protection, health, and research. That mix makes Volo Foundation distinct as a regional funder with national environmental and scientific reach, anchored by Florida priorities and selective support for community-serving projects.

What Volo Foundation Funds

Environmental work is one of the clearest themes in Volo Foundation’s recent grants. It gave $130,000 to The Everglades Foundation for an Everglades gala to raise funds for its mission to protect and restore America’s Everglades, and $105,000 to World Wildlife Fund for general support. It also granted $100,000 to The Nature Conservancy for engaging youth in conservation. Climate policy and decarbonization appear in both research and advocacy-oriented gifts. The foundation awarded $125,000 to The Climate Group for business action on decarbonization in the United States and support for Climate Week 2023 NYC. On the research side, it gave $336,000 to The Scripps Research Institute for Ali Torkamani PhD’s prospective electronic polygenic risk study, and $1,463,271 to University of California Berkeley Foundation for wildfire smoke and epigenome research. Health-related grants also show up in its portfolio, including support for hospital capacity and cancer research institutions.

How Volo Foundation Gives