The Riverstyx Foundation concentrates on a small number of sizable grants that support spiritual, traditional medicine, and cultural renewal work—particularly projects tied to Indigenous ceremonial practice and alternative/psychedelic healing research. Their funding favors mission-driven organizations producing both on-the-ground cultural programs (e.g., a Lakota prayer lodge) and research or media that advance non-mainstream healing paradigms.
Riverstyx Foundation’s largest recent grant went to Youth Passageways for the Lakota Prayer Lodge, a signal of how closely the foundation ties its funding to Indigenous ceremonial practice and cultural renewal. That pattern appears again in support for Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative, where Riverstyx combines cash support with land and staffing resources, and in grants to Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund for medicine conservation work. Across recent awards, the foundation backs projects that sit at the intersection of spiritual practice, Indigenous stewardship, and non-mainstream healing research. The foundation also supports psychedelic and psychospiritual research, including studies and related education that connect altered-state work with health, spirituality, and leadership. Recent grants include research funding for cluster headache and Alzheimer’s work, plus support for policy and advocacy efforts around psychedelic access and drug scheduling. Riverstyx’s portfolio extends beyond research into film, media, and conservation-oriented projects, but the throughline is consistent: it funds early-stage, mission-driven work in areas that are culturally specific, scientifically contested, or institutionally overlooked. Its awards are often substantial enough to underwrite programs, studies, and organizational general support rather than one-off project expenses.
Indigenous ceremonial and medicine work is central to Riverstyx Foundation’s giving. It gave $183,000 to Youth Passageways for the Lakota Prayer Lodge and $50,000 to Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative for general support, alongside support for land stewardship and regenerative harvest strategies. The foundation also funds psychedelic research tied to specific health conditions. In 2025, it gave $52,000 to Clusterbusters Inc for seed funding to coordinate research, education, and outreach on psychedelics for physiological illnesses, and $50,000 to Johns Hopkins University Developmen for a psilocybin and Alzheimer’s study. Policy and advocacy appear as another clear lane. Riverstyx awarded $35,000 to SSDP Students for Sensible Drug Pol for an effort to keep the DOI/DOC from being scheduled, and $50,000 to Stichting Transnational Institute for coca leaf advocacy work at the World Health Organization.
Riverstyx Foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, which points to a pattern of mid-sized awards with some larger commitments. The foundation also makes program-related investments and funds individuals. Its recent activity includes both one-time donations and ongoing support through named programs such as its general grantmaking, psychospiritual research, and biocultural funds. Several grantees appear in the same year across related workstreams, suggesting a portfolio approach rather than isolated awards. Unsolicited applications are not accepted in the active programs listed.
$2M
$6.5M
$1.2M
$2.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 4% of grants go to recipients in MN.
Top 4 recipient countries by grant volume for Riverstyx Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 69 | $1.9M | 95.8% |
| 2 | Canada | 1 | $82K |
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Concentrated giving: a small portfolio of relatively large, one-off grants rather than many small awards; strategic, issue-specific support across cultural, research, conservation, and media grantees.
Notable grantees: Youth Passageways, Heffter Research Institute, Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund, Gaudete Films
Riverstyx Foundation gives nationally, with the highest grant count in Minnesota, while only 4% of grants go to recipients in Washington. Recent awards landed in a mix of U.S. cities, including Kansas City, Santa Fe, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Richmond, New York, and Portland. The recipient-country mix is overwhelmingly U.S.-based at 69 grants, with single grants to the Netherlands, Canada, and Peru. That spread fits a foundation that funds both domestic research and advocacy and select international Indigenous or medicine-conservation partnerships.
Its recent grants cluster around Indigenous ceremonial spaces, peyote and other plant-medicine conservation, psychedelic research, and policy or advocacy work. Examples include a Lakota Prayer Lodge grant, support for Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative, and research funding for cluster headache and Alzheimer’s studies.
The median recent grant is $20,000, with the 25th percentile at $10,000 and the 75th percentile at $50,000. That distribution shows a core of moderate-sized awards, with some larger grants used for program or research support.
The active programs listed do not accept unsolicited applications. That applies to RiverPsykhe, Spirituality and Leadership Research, Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative support, general grantmaking, the Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund, and the psychospiritual and biocultural grantmaking programs.
Its top state by grant count is Minnesota. Washington, the headquarters state, accounts for 4% of grants, so the foundation’s giving footprint is broader than its HQ location.
Yes. Recent grants include $35,000 to SSDP Students for Sensible Drug Pol for an effort related to DOI/DOC scheduling, and $50,000 to Stichting Transnational Institute for coca leaf advocacy work at the World Health Organization.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 | Netherlands | 1 | $50K | 1.4% |
| 4 | Peru | 1 | $13K | 1.4% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Passageways | KANSAS CITY, MO | $183,000 | 2025 | Lakota Prayer Lodge |
| Gaudete Films | King | $82,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| LIGARE INC | SAVANNAH, GA | $80,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| CLUSTERBUSTERS INC | RICHMOND, VA | $52,000 | 2025 | Seed Funding Coordinating Research, Education, and Outreach exploring psychedelics for physiological illnesses |
| Netherlands-America Foundation | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | Xyrem for Cluster Headache Research |
| Stichting Transnational Institute | Amsterdam | $50,000 | 2025 | Coca Leaf Advocacy Work in the World Health Organization (100k pledge) |
| Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fu | SANTA ROSA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Huachuma Collective - Huachuma/San Pedro Conservation in Peru |
| Indigenous Peyote Conservation Init | Hebbronville, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | general support |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMEN | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | Psilocybin and Alzheimer's Study |
| ECOLOGY ACTION OF SANTA CRUZ | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | City Bicycle Infrastructure Planning |
| Fireside Project | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| SSDP Students for Sensible Drug Pol | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,000 | 2025 | Effort to keep DOI/DOC from being scheduled |
| Other honorariums | NKA, CA | $34,678 | 2025 | research support |
| HEALING ADVOCACY FUND | PORTLAND, OR | $30,000 | 2025 | Oregon and Colorado Psilocybin Implementation |
| MAPS | SCOTTS VALLEY, CA | $26,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Resolution Washington | Olympia, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | WA Statewide Mediation Advocacy |
| ALMA INSTITUTE | PORTLAND, OR | $25,000 | 2025 | Communities of Color Psilocybin Service Center Development in OR |
| Bendable Therapy | BEND, OR | $23,480 | 2025 | Environmental Activist Psilocybin Retreat (EARTH) |
| UC Berkeley Center for Psychedelics | BERKELEY, CA | $21,500 | 2025 | Riverstyx Foundation BIPOC Diversity Scholarship |
| INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION | TUSCON, AZ | $20,000 | 2025 | Protecting Dark Night Skies from Light Pollution |
| Innovate Health | Buffalo, NY | $17,300 | 2025 | Psilocybin Pilot Program for Environmental Scientists |
| Occidental Arts and Ecology Center | Occidental, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Water Sustainability Design |
| McKenna Academy OF NATURAL PHILOSOP | San Rafael, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | 2025 Coca Leaf Conference |
| NYU Langone | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | Therapist funding support for the psilocybin advanced cancer study funded by NCI |
| Usona Institute Inc | Madison, WI | $14,000 | 2025 | Legal Work Challenging Egregious Ayahuasca Patents |
| chaikuni institute | Iquitos | $13,000 | 2025 | Supporting Indigenous Shipibo people in protection of the Peruvian Amazon |
| Psychedelic Science Funders Collabo | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $12,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| Healing Breakthrough | San Rafael, CA | $12,500 | 2025 | Veterans Advocacy |
| SAN FRANCISCO ZEN CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $11,000 | 2025 | Zen Firefighter Retreat |
| Shefa Jewish Psychedelic Support | BERKELY, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Portia Sofia |
| HORIZON CENTER PBC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Psychedelic Conference NY |
| INDIGENOUS MEDICINE CONSERVATION FU | SANTA ROSA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Indigenous Community Assessment - Coca Leaf |
| Pamaorama Global | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | Psychedelic Health Equity Initiative |
| LSU Health Sciences Center | New Orleans, LA | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| psilocybin assisted therapy associa | PORTLAND, OR | $10,000 | 2025 | Fibromyalgia Study |
| Women's Visionary Council | BERKELEY, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | Women's Psychedelic Conference |
| PRISION UNIVERSITY PROJECT | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $6,000 | 2025 | San Quentin Prison Education |
| Center for Action and Contemplation | Albuquerque, NM | $5,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Transforming Chaplaincy | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | Psychedelic Chaplaincy Support |
| SEATTLE UNIVERSITY MAP PROGRAM | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | MAP Program Existential-Phenomenological Psychology |
| URBAN INDIGENEOUS COLLECTIVE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | General Operating Support for Urban Natives in NY |
| PACHAMAMA ALLIANCE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Conservation in the Amazon Rainforest |
| CHACRUNA INSTITUTE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | Conference Support |
| INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH | ATLANTA, GA | $2,000 | 2025 | 2025 Conference Support |
| DINE YOUTH | Window Rock, AZ | $2,000 | 2025 | Din Youth Conference Support |
| Love Serve Remember Foundation | OJAI, CA | $1,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| coalition for compassionate care ca | Sacramento, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | Conference Event Sponsorship: Psychedelic Assisted Therapies in Palliative Care |
| HEFFTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE | SANTA FE, NM | $150,000 | 2023 | DONATION |
| INDIGENOUS MEDICINE CONSERVATION FUND | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | DONATION |
| FAR AWAY PROJECTS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $75,000 | 2023 | DONATION |
Youth Passageways
$183,000Lakota Prayer Lodge
Gaudete Films
$82,000General Support
LIGARE INC
$80,000General Support
CLUSTERBUSTERS INC
$52,000Seed Funding Coordinating Research, Education, and Outreach exploring psychedelics for physiological illnesses
Netherlands-America Foundation
$50,000Xyrem for Cluster Headache Research
Stichting Transnational Institute
$50,000Coca Leaf Advocacy Work in the World Health Organization (100k pledge)
Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fu
$50,000Huachuma Collective - Huachuma/San Pedro Conservation in Peru
Indigenous Peyote Conservation Init
$50,000general support
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMEN
$50,000Psilocybin and Alzheimer's Study
ECOLOGY ACTION OF SANTA CRUZ
$40,000City Bicycle Infrastructure Planning
Fireside Project
$40,000General Support
SSDP Students for Sensible Drug Pol
$35,000Effort to keep DOI/DOC from being scheduled
Other honorariums
$34,678research support
HEALING ADVOCACY FUND
$30,000Oregon and Colorado Psilocybin Implementation
MAPS
$26,000General Support
Resolution Washington
$25,000WA Statewide Mediation Advocacy
ALMA INSTITUTE
$25,000Communities of Color Psilocybin Service Center Development in OR
Bendable Therapy
$23,480Environmental Activist Psilocybin Retreat (EARTH)
UC Berkeley Center for Psychedelics
$21,500Riverstyx Foundation BIPOC Diversity Scholarship
INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION
$20,000Protecting Dark Night Skies from Light Pollution
Innovate Health
$17,300Psilocybin Pilot Program for Environmental Scientists
Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
$15,000Water Sustainability Design
McKenna Academy OF NATURAL PHILOSOP
$15,0002025 Coca Leaf Conference
NYU Langone
$15,000Therapist funding support for the psilocybin advanced cancer study funded by NCI
Usona Institute Inc
$14,000Legal Work Challenging Egregious Ayahuasca Patents
chaikuni institute
$13,000Supporting Indigenous Shipibo people in protection of the Peruvian Amazon
Psychedelic Science Funders Collabo
$12,500General Support
Healing Breakthrough
$12,500Veterans Advocacy
SAN FRANCISCO ZEN CENTER
$11,000Zen Firefighter Retreat
Shefa Jewish Psychedelic Support
$10,000Portia Sofia
HORIZON CENTER PBC
$10,000Psychedelic Conference NY
INDIGENOUS MEDICINE CONSERVATION FU
$10,000Indigenous Community Assessment - Coca Leaf
Pamaorama Global
$10,000Psychedelic Health Equity Initiative
LSU Health Sciences Center
$10,000General Support
psilocybin assisted therapy associa
$10,000Fibromyalgia Study
Women's Visionary Council
$7,500Women's Psychedelic Conference
PRISION UNIVERSITY PROJECT
$6,000San Quentin Prison Education
Center for Action and Contemplation
$5,000General Support
Transforming Chaplaincy
$5,000Psychedelic Chaplaincy Support
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY MAP PROGRAM
$5,000MAP Program Existential-Phenomenological Psychology
URBAN INDIGENEOUS COLLECTIVE
$5,000General Operating Support for Urban Natives in NY
PACHAMAMA ALLIANCE
$5,000Conservation in the Amazon Rainforest
CHACRUNA INSTITUTE
$2,500Conference Support
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH
$2,0002025 Conference Support
DINE YOUTH
$2,000Din Youth Conference Support
Love Serve Remember Foundation
$1,500General Support
coalition for compassionate care ca
$1,000Conference Event Sponsorship: Psychedelic Assisted Therapies in Palliative Care
HEFFTER RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$150,000DONATION
INDIGENOUS MEDICINE CONSERVATION FUND
$100,000DONATION
FAR AWAY PROJECTS
$75,000DONATION