Watersheds United Vermont primarily funds on-the-ground watershed protection and river restoration across Vermont and the broader New England watershed corridor. Their grants concentrate on dam removal, riparian buffer planting, stormwater and runoff interventions, and watershed planning delivered through local river associations, regional conservation districts, and land trusts. They favor place-based, implementation-oriented projects that restore water quality and fish passage rather than basic research or broad advocacy. Funding is routinely targeted to small-to-midsized local organizations and regional planning bodies working on specific river basins.
A $487,131 grant to the Memphremagog Watershed Association for clean water design and implementation is the clearest window into Watersheds United Vermont Inc’s approach: large, project-based support for watershed work that moves from planning into on-the-ground action. The foundation backs river associations, conservation districts, land trusts, and watershed groups working in Vermont and nearby New England watersheds. Its grants often support dam removal, fish passage, buffer planting, streambank stabilization, and watershed planning tied to specific river basins. Recent awards show a strong preference for organizations that can deliver practical restoration work at the basin level. Connecticut River Conservancy received support for dam removal watershed planning, while Friends of the Winooski River has been funded for both watershed planning and clean water design and implementation. Vermont Land Trust appears in the recent grant list as well, reflecting the foundation’s interest in land protection as part of watershed function. The pattern is place-based and implementation-oriented, with work anchored in named rivers and local watersheds rather than broad statewide programs.
Watersheds United Vermont Inc supports several connected clean-water and habitat-restoration areas. In watershed planning, it gave $259,906 to Lewis Creek Association for watershed planning and buffer planting, and $228,110 to White River Partnership for watershed planning. For dam removal and fish passage, Connecticut River Conservancy received $333,198 for dam removal watershed planning, and Farm and Wilderness Foundation received $102,762 for dam removal. The foundation also funds riparian restoration and buffer work. Redstart Inc received $89,813 for riparian restoration, while Intervale Center Inc received $52,360 for buffer planting. It supports clean water design and implementation through groups such as Friends of the Winooski, Friends of Northern Lake Champlain, and Vermont Land Trust, indicating a focus on projects that combine planning, design, and field execution.
Typical grant size sits at $11,714 at the 25th percentile, $30,900 at the median, and $58,833 at the 75th percentile. That spread shows a mix of smaller planning awards and larger project implementation grants, with occasional six-figure awards for major watershed efforts. The foundation is a public charity and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Grantmaking also appears recurring rather than one-off. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Friends of the Winooski River, White River Partnership, Connecticut River Conservancy, Vermont Land Trust, Missisquoi River Basin Association, Friends of the Mad River, and Trout Unlimited. The recent record suggests a steady, locally managed grantmaking pattern rather than an open application model.
$2.4M
$511K
$2.4M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $12K and $59K, with a median of $31K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$31K
75th Percentile
$59K
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Moderately concentrated: many repeated multi-year or multi-grant relationships with local watershed groups and regional planning bodies; grant sizes are mid-range (project-focused implementation grants) rather than large institutional endowments, with a few larger awards to umbrella organizations.
Notable grantees: Memphremagog Watershed Association, Connecticut River Conservancy, Friends of the Winooski River, Vermont Land Trust, Trout Unlimited
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Vermont-centered: 89% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Named Vermont recipients include Newport, Montpelier, Charlotte, Saint Albans, South Royalton, East Berkshire, Bradford, White River Junction, Brattleboro, Burlington, Morrisville, Waitsfield, and Plymouth. Outside Vermont, recent grants also reach Greenfield, Massachusetts, and Arlington, Virginia, but the giving remains local in scope and concentrated in Vermont watersheds.
The foundation funds watershed planning, dam removal, clean water design and implementation, riparian restoration, buffer planting, and related land-protection work. Recent awards show these priorities across river associations, conservation districts, and land trusts working in specific Vermont basins.
Typical awards are moderate in size: the 25th percentile is $11,714, the median is $30,900, and the 75th percentile is $58,833. The recent record also includes larger awards above $200,000 for major watershed planning and implementation projects.
Its grantmaking is concentrated in Vermont, which accounts for 89% of grants. Recent Vermont recipients are spread across places such as Montpelier, Newport, Charlotte, Saint Albans, South Royalton, East Berkshire, White River Junction, Brattleboro, Burlington, and Waitsfield.
Yes. The recent grants list includes repeat recipients across multiple years, including Friends of the Winooski River, White River Partnership, Connecticut River Conservancy, Vermont Land Trust, Missisquoi River Basin Association, Friends of the Mad River, and Trout Unlimited.
The record points to dam removal and river reconnection, watershed planning and assessment, riparian buffer planting and restoration, stormwater and clean-water design and construction, and land protection tied to watershed function.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONNECTICUT RIVER CONSERVANCY | GREENFIELD, MA | $333,198 | 2025 | DAM REMOVAL WATERSHED PLANNING |
| LEWIS CREEK ASSOCIATION | CHARLOTTE, VT | $259,906 | 2025 | WATERSHED PLANNING BUFFER PLANTING |
| FRIENDS OF THE WINOOSKI RIVER | MONTPELIER, VT | $182,766 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| FRIENDS OF NORTHERN LAKE CHAMPLAIN | SAINT ALBANS, VT | $170,172 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| WHITE RIVER PARTNERSHIP | SOUTH ROYALTON, VT | $163,391 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| TROUT UNLIMITED | ARLINGTON, VA | $135,937 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| MEMPHREMAGOG WATERSHED ASSOCIATION | NEWPORT, VT | $118,588 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| VERMONT LAND TRUST | MONTPELIER, VT | $108,386 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| FARM AND WILDERNESS FOUNDATION | PLYMOUTH, VT | $102,762 | 2025 | DAM REMOVAL |
| MISSISQUOI RIVER BASIN ASSOCIATION | EAST BERKSHIRE, VT | $96,999 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| REDSTART INC | BRADFORD, VT | $89,813 | 2025 | RIPARIAN RESTORATION |
| OTTAUQUECHEE NRCD | WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT | $74,502 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| WINDHAM COUNTY NRCD | BRATTLEBORO, VT | $63,744 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION |
| INTERVALE CENTER INC | BURLINGTON, VT | $52,360 | 2025 | BUFFER PLANTING |
| FRIENDS OF THE MAD RIVER | WAITSFIELD, VT | $47,900 | 2025 | WATERSHED PLANNING BUFFER PLANTING |
| LAMOILLE COUNTY CONSERVATION DIST | MORRISVILLE, VT | $46,955 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| LAMOILLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION | MORRISVILLE, VT | $45,066 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| VERMONT RIVER CONSERVANCY | MONTPELIER, VT | $39,039 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION |
| ADDISON COUNTY RIVER WATCH | NEW HAVEN, VT | $38,795 | 2025 | WATERSHED PLANNING |
| VERMONT NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL | MONTPELIER, VT | $27,480 | 2025 | DAM REMOVAL |
| THE FEDERATION OF LAKE AND PONDS | MONTPELIER, VT | $27,450 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING |
| LAKE DUNMORE FERN LAKE ASSOC | SALISBURY, VT | $23,372 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| ESSEX COUNTY NRCD | GUILDHALL, VT | $18,948 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| CHITTENDEN REGIONAL PLANNING COMM | WINOOSKI, VT | $18,602 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| NORTHWOODS STEWARDSHIP CENTER | EAST CHARLESTON, VT | $18,335 | 2025 | WATERSHED PLANNING |
| LAKE CHAMPLAIN COMMITTEE | BURLINGTON, VT | $15,900 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| TOWN OF NEWBURY | NEWBURY, VT | $13,950 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| CONNECTICUT RIVER WATERSHED FARMERS | WEST LABANON, NH | $13,950 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING |
| TOWN OF SHELBURNE | SHELBURNE, VT | $13,750 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION |
| ORLEANS COUNTY NRCD | NEWPORT, VT | $13,185 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| FRANKLIN WATERSHED COMMITTEE | FRANKLIN, VT | $12,647 | 2025 | WATERSHED PLANNING |
| SOUTH HERO LAND TRUST | South Hero, VT | $12,539 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING |
| LAKE GEORGE ASSOCIATION | LAKE GEORGE, NY | $7,024 | 2025 | STORMWATER COLLABORATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT | WILLISTON, VT | $6,500 | 2025 | STORMWATER COLLABORATION |
| MEMPHREMAGOG WATERSHED ASSOCIATION | NEWPORT, VT | $487,131 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| FRIENDS OF THE WINOOSKI | MONTPELIER, VT | $202,885 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| CONNECTICUT RIVER CONSERVANCY | GREENFIELD, MA | $160,813 | 2024 | DAM REMOVAL WATERSHED PLANNING |
| CALEDONIA COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES | WINOOSKI, VT | $89,375 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| OTTAUQUECHEE NATURAL RESOURCES | WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT | $86,551 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| WHITE REVIER PARTNERSHIP | SOUTH ROYALTON, VT | $86,348 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| VERMONT NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL | MONTPELIER, VT | $78,690 | 2024 | DAM REMOVAL |
| VERMONT LAND TRUST | MONTPELIER, VT | $58,833 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| TROUT UNLIMITED | ARLINGTON, VA | $47,564 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| CHITTENDEN REGIONAL PLANNING COMM | WINOOSKI, VT | $45,807 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| MISSISQUOI RIVER BASIN ASSOCIATION | EAST BERKSHIRE, VT | $43,125 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| LEWIS CREEK ASSOCIATION | CHARLOTTE, VT | $42,993 | 2024 | WATERSHED PLANNING BUFFER PLANTING |
| FRIENDS OF NORTHERN LAKE CHAMPLAIN | SAINT ALBANS, VT | $33,944 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| LAKE DUNMORE FERN LAKE ASSOC | SALISBURY, VT | $30,900 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | MONTPELIER, VT | $24,298 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| FRIENDS OF MAD RIVER | WAITSFIELD, VT | $20,935 | 2024 | WATERSHED PLANNING BUFFER PLANTING |
LEWIS CREEK ASSOCIATION
$259,906WATERSHED PLANNING BUFFER PLANTING
FRIENDS OF THE WINOOSKI RIVER
$182,766CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
FRIENDS OF NORTHERN LAKE CHAMPLAIN
$170,172CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
TROUT UNLIMITED
CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
MEMPHREMAGOG WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
$118,588CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
FARM AND WILDERNESS FOUNDATION
$102,762DAM REMOVAL
MISSISQUOI RIVER BASIN ASSOCIATION
$96,999CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
REDSTART INC
$89,813RIPARIAN RESTORATION
OTTAUQUECHEE NRCD
$74,502CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
WINDHAM COUNTY NRCD
$63,744CLEAN WATER DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION
FRIENDS OF THE MAD RIVER
$47,900WATERSHED PLANNING BUFFER PLANTING
LAMOILLE COUNTY CONSERVATION DIST
$46,955CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
LAMOILLE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
$45,066CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
VERMONT RIVER CONSERVANCY
$39,039CLEAN WATER DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION
ADDISON COUNTY RIVER WATCH
$38,795WATERSHED PLANNING
THE FEDERATION OF LAKE AND PONDS
$27,450CAPACITY BUILDING
LAKE DUNMORE FERN LAKE ASSOC
$23,372CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
ESSEX COUNTY NRCD
$18,948CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
CHITTENDEN REGIONAL PLANNING COMM
$18,602CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
NORTHWOODS STEWARDSHIP CENTER
$18,335WATERSHED PLANNING
LAKE CHAMPLAIN COMMITTEE
$15,900EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
TOWN OF NEWBURY
$13,950CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
CONNECTICUT RIVER WATERSHED FARMERS
$13,950CAPACITY BUILDING
TOWN OF SHELBURNE
$13,750CLEAN WATER DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION
ORLEANS COUNTY NRCD
$13,185CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
FRANKLIN WATERSHED COMMITTEE
$12,647WATERSHED PLANNING
SOUTH HERO LAND TRUST
$12,539CAPACITY BUILDING
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
$6,500STORMWATER COLLABORATION
MEMPHREMAGOG WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
$487,131CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
FRIENDS OF THE WINOOSKI
$202,885CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
CALEDONIA COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES
$89,375CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
OTTAUQUECHEE NATURAL RESOURCES
$86,551CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
TROUT UNLIMITED
$47,564CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
CHITTENDEN REGIONAL PLANNING COMM
$45,807CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
MISSISQUOI RIVER BASIN ASSOCIATION
$43,125CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
LEWIS CREEK ASSOCIATION
$42,993WATERSHED PLANNING BUFFER PLANTING
FRIENDS OF NORTHERN LAKE CHAMPLAIN
$33,944CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
LAKE DUNMORE FERN LAKE ASSOC
$30,900CLEAN WATER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
FRIENDS OF MAD RIVER
$20,935WATERSHED PLANNING BUFFER PLANTING