NRDC works to safeguard the earth—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.
A defining feature of Natural Resources Defense Council Inc. is the size of its policy-focused funding, led by a $11,713,000 grant in 2023 to Movement Strategy Center for environmental advocacy. The foundation also backed Rose Foundation with $2,400,000 in 2023 and Nrdc Action Fund Inc with $1,825,000 in 2023, showing support for large-scale advocacy infrastructure as well as aligned organizations. Across the recent grants list, its giving centers on environmental advocacy, with grantees working on climate, air quality, water quality, environmental justice, wildlife and habitat, oceans, and forests and lands. The pattern points to a funder that uses grantmaking to support policy change, public education, and advocacy organizations rather than individual services. Several recipients are coalitions or intermediaries, including Partnership Project Inc, Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, and Tides Center, suggesting a structure built to move resources through organizations that can support broader campaigns. The foundation’s work also reaches place-based and issue-specific groups, including environmental health, transportation, and community equity organizations, indicating a broad environmental agenda that connects national policy with frontline concerns.
Environmental advocacy is the clearest throughline in the recent grants. Natural Resources Defense Council Inc gave $1,090,000 in 2024 to Partnership Project Inc for environmental advocacy, and $500,000 in 2024 to Solutions Project Inc for the same purpose. In climate and energy-related work, it awarded $294,333 in 2024 to Elevate Energy for environmental advocacy and $150,000 in 2024 to Citizens Utilities Board of Michigan for environmental advocacy. Community and environmental justice themes also appear in the funding to Black Sustainability Inc, which received $200,000 in 2024 for environmental advocacy, and to Environmental Health Coalition Inc, which received $130,000 in 2023 for environmental advocacy. The grant to National Wildlife Federation for $120,000 in 2024 extends that advocacy approach into wildlife-related work.
Typical grant size clusters at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, while the recent grants list also includes several awards above $1 million. The foundation appears to support recipients over multiple years: Partnership Project Inc, Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, Nrdc Action Fund Inc, and others appear in both 2023 and 2024. It is a regular funder, not a DAF vehicle, and it does not fund individuals. The grantmaking shown here is predominantly project- or advocacy-oriented, with repeated support for the same organizations rather than a one-time-only pattern.
$35.4M
$576.9M
$193.1M
$226.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 12% of grants go to recipients in CA.
MANISH BAPNA
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Grant recipients are distributed nationwide, with 100% of grants going to U.S. organizations. California appears most often among recipients, and New York state accounts for 12% of grants. Recent awards reach organizations in Oakland, Calabasas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, National City, and other California cities, as well as Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Atlanta, GA; Seattle, WA; and Albuquerque, NM. The geographic pattern shows a mix of coastal hubs and local advocacy organizations in major policy states.
Its recent grants support environmental advocacy across climate change, air quality, water quality, environmental justice, wildlife and habitat, oceans, and forests and lands. The funding also connects to policy advocacy, public education, and support for advocacy organizations.
Typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes much larger awards, including several in the seven-figure range.
Yes. Several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2024, including Partnership Project Inc, Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, and Nrdc Action Fund Inc. That pattern suggests ongoing support rather than isolated one-time grants.
Its grants are national, but California is the top state by grant count among recipients. New York state receives 12% of grants, and recent recipients also appear in Washington, DC; Illinois; Georgia; Washington; and New Mexico.
Recent grantees include Movement Strategy Center in Oakland, CA; Rose Foundation in Oakland, CA; Partnership Project Inc in Washington, DC; Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs in Calabasas, CA; and Coming Clean Inc in Brattleboro, VT.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PARTNERSHIP PROJECT INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,090,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS | CALABASAS, CA | $728,750 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| COMING CLEAN INC | BRATTLEBORO, VT | $548,324 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| SOLUTIONS PROJECT INC | OAKLAND, CA | $500,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| ELEVATE ENERGY | CHICAGO, IL | $294,333 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| TIDES FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $228,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| TIDES CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $220,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| BLACK SUSTAINABILITY INC | ATLANTA, GA | $200,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| CENTER FOR NEIGHBORHOOD TECHNOLOGY | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| CENTER FOR APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY | DURHAM, NC | $185,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| NEW MEXICO VOICES FOR CHILDREN | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $181,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| ALLIANCE FOR A JUST SOCIETY | SEATTLE, WA | $172,800 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| CITIZENS UTILITIES BOARD OF MICHIGAN | LANSING, MI | $150,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| STANDEARTH | BELLINGHAM, WA | $130,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $126,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| NRDC ACTION FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| COMMUNITY FOOD ADVOCATES | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION | RESTON, VA | $120,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| GREEN BUILDING UNITED | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $115,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| LITTLE VILLAGE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION | CHICAGO, IL | $112,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| LAWYERS FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| BLUEGREEN ALLIANCE FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $100,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COALITION INC | NATIONAL CITY, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| FRESH ENERGY | SAINT PAUL, MN | $100,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| WEST HARLEM ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| ENERGY COORDINATING AGENCY OF PHILADELPHIA INC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| FAIR DISTRICTS FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $99,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| UNITED TRIBES OF BRISTOL BAY | DILLINGHAM, AK | $95,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| LOS ANGELES ALLIANCE FOR A NEW ECONOMY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $93,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| WE WANT GREEN TOO | DETROIT, MI | $90,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE | BERKELEY, CA | $83,500 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| HEAVEN'S VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | PEORIA, IL | $83,333 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| NW ENERGY COALITION | SEATTLE, WA | $82,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| GREEN LATINOS | BOULDER, CO | $80,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| WEST MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COUNCIL | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $80,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $80,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY (EIA) | WASHINGTON, DC | $77,600 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| E3G THIRD GENERATION ENVIRONMENTALISM LIMITED | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| FRACK ACTION FUND INC | HIGHLAND, NY | $70,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| SUSTAIN CHARLOTTE INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $70,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK | SYRACUSE, NY | $70,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| COLORADO PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $70,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| WESTERN RESOURCE ADVOCATES | BOULDER, CO | $65,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| BUILDING ENERGY EXCHANGE (GREEN LIGHT NEW YORK) | NEW YORK, NY | $65,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| SAVANNA INSTITUTE | MADISON, WI | $60,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| LA COSECHA CSA | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $60,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| MULTIPLIERUOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $60,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| THE BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION LEAGUE | ARLINGTON, VA | $51,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
| ECOLOGY CENTER | ANN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | ENV. ADVOCACY |
PARTNERSHIP PROJECT INC
$1,090,000ENV. ADVOCACY
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS
$728,750ENV. ADVOCACY
COMING CLEAN INC
$548,324ENV. ADVOCACY
SOLUTIONS PROJECT INC
$500,000ENV. ADVOCACY
ELEVATE ENERGY
$294,333ENV. ADVOCACY
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE DC
$250,000ENV. ADVOCACY
TIDES FOUNDATION
ENV. ADVOCACY
TIDES CENTER
$220,000ENV. ADVOCACY
BLACK SUSTAINABILITY INC
$200,000ENV. ADVOCACY
CENTER FOR NEIGHBORHOOD TECHNOLOGY
$200,000ENV. ADVOCACY
CENTER FOR APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY
$185,000ENV. ADVOCACY
NEW MEXICO VOICES FOR CHILDREN
$181,000ENV. ADVOCACY
ALLIANCE FOR A JUST SOCIETY
$172,800ENV. ADVOCACY
CITIZENS UTILITIES BOARD OF MICHIGAN
$150,000ENV. ADVOCACY
STANDEARTH
$130,000ENV. ADVOCACY
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$126,000ENV. ADVOCACY
NRDC ACTION FUND INC
$125,000ENV. ADVOCACY
COMMUNITY FOOD ADVOCATES
$125,000ENV. ADVOCACY
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
$120,000ENV. ADVOCACY
GREEN BUILDING UNITED
$115,000ENV. ADVOCACY
LITTLE VILLAGE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION
$112,000ENV. ADVOCACY
LAWYERS FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT
$100,000ENV. ADVOCACY
BLUEGREEN ALLIANCE FOUNDATION
$100,000ENV. ADVOCACY
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COALITION INC
$100,000ENV. ADVOCACY
FRESH ENERGY
$100,000ENV. ADVOCACY
WEST HARLEM ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION INC
$100,000ENV. ADVOCACY
ENERGY COORDINATING AGENCY OF PHILADELPHIA INC
$100,000ENV. ADVOCACY
FAIR DISTRICTS FUND
$99,000ENV. ADVOCACY
UNITED TRIBES OF BRISTOL BAY
$95,000ENV. ADVOCACY
LOS ANGELES ALLIANCE FOR A NEW ECONOMY
$93,000ENV. ADVOCACY
WE WANT GREEN TOO
$90,000ENV. ADVOCACY
EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE
$83,500ENV. ADVOCACY
HEAVEN'S VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$83,333ENV. ADVOCACY
NW ENERGY COALITION
$82,000ENV. ADVOCACY
GREEN LATINOS
$80,000ENV. ADVOCACY
WEST MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COUNCIL
$80,000ENV. ADVOCACY
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
$80,000ENV. ADVOCACY
ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY (EIA)
$77,600ENV. ADVOCACY
E3G THIRD GENERATION ENVIRONMENTALISM LIMITED
$75,000ENV. ADVOCACY
FRACK ACTION FUND INC
$70,000ENV. ADVOCACY
SUSTAIN CHARLOTTE INC
$70,000ENV. ADVOCACY
NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
$70,000ENV. ADVOCACY
COLORADO PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$70,000ENV. ADVOCACY
WESTERN RESOURCE ADVOCATES
$65,000ENV. ADVOCACY
BUILDING ENERGY EXCHANGE (GREEN LIGHT NEW YORK)
$65,000ENV. ADVOCACY
SAVANNA INSTITUTE
$60,000ENV. ADVOCACY
LA COSECHA CSA
$60,000ENV. ADVOCACY
MULTIPLIERUOL
$60,000ENV. ADVOCACY
THE BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION LEAGUE
$51,000ENV. ADVOCACY
ECOLOGY CENTER
$50,000ENV. ADVOCACY