Our mission is to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.
World Wildlife Fund Inc channels large conservation grants into organizations working on biodiversity, wildlife protection, forests, oceans and freshwater, climate, and Indigenous peoples and community engagement. Its recent awards show a mix of place-based conservation, climate policy work, and capacity-building support for local actors. The largest recent grant listed is $2,301,305 to Center for Heirs Property Preservation in Charleston, South Carolina, pointing to land and habitat protection work that reaches beyond classic species programs. The foundation also gives substantial support to conservation intermediaries and research partners. Conservation International received $993,742 in 2025, and The Conservation Fund received $930,755 in 2024. Other sizable grants went to Rosebud Economic Development Corporation, East Carolina University, and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, reflecting a portfolio that combines ecological outcomes with institutional partners. Across the grant list, WWF's giving aligns with its stated mission to help people live in harmony with nature. The program mix includes Locally Led Conservation, Education for Nature fellowships, and strategic philanthropy partnerships, which together suggest a funder that uses both direct project grants and long-term capacity-building tools.
A clear thread in World Wildlife Fund Inc’s giving is locally led conservation. That shows up in the $2,301,305 grant to Center for Heirs Property Preservation in Charleston, South Carolina, which fits WWF’s emphasis on land stewardship and community-based conservation. Climate and sustainability are another visible part of the portfolio. The foundation gave $414,547 to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions in Arlington, Virginia, and $360,000 to United Nations Foundation Climate Alliance in Washington, DC, linking its conservation agenda with climate policy and coordination. The grant list also includes support for research and systems work. WWF awarded $300,000 to the National Institute for Standards and Technology in Portland, Oregon, and $299,183 to Rewild in Austin, Texas. Those grants sit alongside the foundation’s focus on biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable development. Education and local leadership are built into its program structure through fellowships and training grants, especially in conservation science and forest restoration.
$8.2M
$777.3M
$366.7M
$367M
Most grants fall between $23K and $157K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$23K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$157K
About 9% of grants go to recipients in MT.
CARTER ROBERTS
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World Wildlife Fund Inc’s recent grant sizes cluster around a median of $49,710, with the 25th percentile at $22,534 and the 75th percentile at $156,883. The recent list also includes a small number of very large grants above $1 million, alongside many awards in the tens or low hundreds of thousands. Its program mix suggests both recurring and one-off funding: several organizations appear across multiple years, including Windward Fund, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, World Resources Institute, Ceres Inc, and Climate Conservation and Center for Large Landscape Conservation. The foundation is a regular funder and also makes program-related investments. Some grantmaking is unsolicited through fellowship and education programs, including the Trudy Fellowship and Education for Nature offerings.
World Wildlife Fund Inc gives nationally, with all listed recipient grants in the US. Washington, DC appears frequently in the recent list, including grants to Conservation International, Windward Fund, World Resources Institute, and United Nations Foundation Climate Alliance. Other recurring recipient cities include Arlington, Virginia; New York, New York; and Bozeman, Montana. Texas is the top state by grant count, and 9% of grants go to recipients in the District of Columbia.
Its stated focus areas include biodiversity, wildlife protection, forests, oceans and freshwater, climate, sustainable development, and Indigenous peoples and community engagement. The topic taxonomy also points to habitat conservation, biodiversity protection, land stewardship, ecosystem restoration, and wildlife conservation.
No. The foundation is marked as not funding individuals. Its grantmaking instead goes to organizations, universities, and partner institutions.
The grant-size distribution centers around a median of $49,710, with a 25th percentile of $22,534 and a 75th percentile of $156,883. That pattern indicates many smaller awards, with some much larger conservation grants in the recent list.
Yes, but only in specific programs. The Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program accepts unsolicited applications, as do the WWF Trudy Fellowship and the Current and Aspiring University Faculty Fellowship. Other active programs listed, including Locally Led Conservation and High-Impact Philanthropy partnerships, do not accept unsolicited applications.
The recipient country distribution is entirely US-based in the provided data, with 196 grants going to US organizations. Within the US, Texas is the top state by grant count, and Washington, DC, Arlington, Virginia, and New York, New York, appear repeatedly among recipient cities.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $2,181,960 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $697,549 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| WINDWARD FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $665,654 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| THUNDER VALLEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | PORCUPINE, SD | $425,656 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES | EAST BOOTHBAY, ME | $350,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $259,999 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE | DURHAM, NH | $209,174 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| C2ES | WASHINGTON, DC | $207,605 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE | BANGOR, ME | $185,560 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| WESTERN SUSTAINABILITY EXCHANGE | LIVINGSTON, MT | $181,640 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| CARE | ATLANTA, GA | $178,250 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| ISLAND INSTITUTE | ROCKLAND, ME | $177,172 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| WOMEN IN RANCHING | COHAGEN, MT | $154,980 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION | WOODS HOLE, MA | $150,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $142,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| CENTER FOR LARGE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $136,212 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| DIGITAL GREEN FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $115,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY US | BRONX, NY | $112,098 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA UCSB | DAVIS, CA | $109,434 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| PERPETUAL | TAMPA, FL | $87,350 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR STUDIES IN DEVELOPMENTENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY | OAKLAND, CA | $80,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT ECONOMY | WASHINGTON, DC | $73,600 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT | BURLINGTON, VA | $65,999 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| NATIONAL ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $64,900 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| ROCKING DOT CATTLE LLC | JUDITH GAP, MT | $60,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| RASMUSSEN-LEHMAN 33 RANCH LLC | BELVIDERE, SD | $60,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| MAHLSTEDT RANCH | CIRCLE, MT | $60,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| WINNETT ACES INC | WINNETT, MT | $56,864 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| PEACE CORP | WASHINGTON, DC | $56,250 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| ALASKA NANNUT CO-MANAGEMENT COUNCIL | NOME, AK | $54,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| BONEFISH & TARPON TRUST | MIAMI, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| SNOW LEOPARD TRUST | SEATTLE, WA | $47,848 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| STONEHOUSE RANCH | FORT MYERS, FL | $40,345 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| THE BOX X LLC | DAVIE, FL | $39,654 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| TERRELL LAND LLC | FRISCO, TX | $36,594 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| RF RANCH LLC | ARVADA, WY | $36,070 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| RANCHERS STEWARDSHIP ALLIANCE INC | MALTA, MT | $32,375 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| PHEASANTS FOREVER INC | SAINT PAUL, MN | $30,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| MAINE AQUACULTURE INNOVATION CENTER INC | WALPOLE, ME | $29,986 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| KEEWAYDIN RANCH | BIG TIMBER, MT | $28,940 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| MARTIN LUTHER KING JR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,600 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| CONCORD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| MALIASILI | CHITTENDEN COUNTY, VT | $23,832 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| MAINE AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION | GARDINER, ME | $23,485 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| CLEAN MEMPHIS | MEMPHIS, TN | $23,339 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| ENVIRONMENTAL LAW INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $19,771 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| REWILD | AUSTIN, TX | $19,683 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| 8 RANGE RANCH | BOZEMAN, MT | $18,324 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
CONSERVATION
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
$209,174CONSERVATION
THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
$185,560CONSERVATION
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$142,000CONSERVATION
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA UCSB
$109,434CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
$64,900CONSERVATION
ROCKING DOT CATTLE LLC
$60,000CONSERVATION
RASMUSSEN-LEHMAN 33 RANCH LLC
$60,000CONSERVATION
MAHLSTEDT RANCH
$60,000CONSERVATION
PEACE CORP
$56,250CONSERVATION
ALASKA NANNUT CO-MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
$54,000CONSERVATION
STONEHOUSE RANCH
$40,345CONSERVATION
THE BOX X LLC
$39,654CONSERVATION
TERRELL LAND LLC
$36,594CONSERVATION
RF RANCH LLC
$36,070CONSERVATION
PHEASANTS FOREVER INC
$30,000CONSERVATION
MAINE AQUACULTURE INNOVATION CENTER INC
$29,986CONSERVATION
KEEWAYDIN RANCH
$28,940CONSERVATION
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$25,600CONSERVATION
CONCORD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
$25,000CONSERVATION
MAINE AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION
$23,485CONSERVATION
CLEAN MEMPHIS
$23,339CONSERVATION
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW INSTITUTE
$20,000CONSERVATION
8 RANGE RANCH
$18,324CONSERVATION