
The Wilburforce Foundation appears focused on environmental conservation, making a large, targeted investment in Canadian conservation through an intermediary fund. Their sole recorded grant is a major contribution to MakeWay Foundation’s Wilburforce Canadian Conservation Fund, indicating interest in supporting landscape- and policy-level conservation initiatives in Canada rather than many small local projects.
Wilburforce Foundation C/o Lisa Weinstein’s recorded giving shows a strong focus on environmental conservation, with a large share of its recent work routed through intermediary funds and conservation organizations. The largest listed grant is $1,320,250 to MakeWay Foundation in Vancouver for the Wilburforce Canadian Conservation Fund, pointing to cross-border conservation support in Canada. Other major awards include $800,000 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors for Training Resources for the Environmental Community 2023 and $800,000 to Together Rising As an Environmental Community for general support in 2024, showing that the foundation also uses pooled or intermediary vehicles for environmental field support. The grant list includes landscape-scale and transboundary conservation efforts, along with support for capacity-building and organizational infrastructure. Several of the named recipients work across the U.S. and Canada, including New Venture Fund, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, The Wilderness Society, and Heart of the Rockies Initiative. With annual grants of $56.8 million and a median grant size of $50,000, the foundation combines a few very large awards with a much broader set of mid-sized grants.
A clear theme is cross-border conservation. The foundation gave $250,000 to New Venture Fund for SalmonState: Transboundary Conservation, and also funded MakeWay Foundation for the Wilburforce Canadian Conservation Fund, linking its work to U.S.-Canada landscape protection. Another strand is landscape-scale habitat work: it gave $225,000 to The Wilderness Society for Landscape Scale Conservation: High Divide and Crown of the Continent. The foundation also supports regional conservation networks, including $250,000 to Heart of the Rockies Initiative for general support and $240,000 to Wildlands Network for the Southwest Crescent Program 2024. Field-building appears in the grant to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors for Training Resources for the Environmental Community 2023, showing support for the broader environmental sector, not only individual projects.
Typical grants cluster around mid-sized awards: the 25th percentile is $30,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $105,000. The recent list also shows repeated support for several recipients across multiple years, including MakeWay Foundation, New Venture Fund, The Wilderness Society, Heart of the Rockies Initiative, Wildlands Network, and Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative US. That pattern suggests ongoing support rather than isolated one-time awards. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, funds individuals, and does not make program-related investments.
$19.3M
$153.3M
$26.8M
$24.6M
Most grants fall between $30K and $105K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$105K
About 7% of grants go to recipients in WA.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Wilburforce Foundation C/O Lisa Weinstein.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 566 | $46.1M | 82.8% |
| 2 | Canada | 118 | $10.9M |
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Highly concentrated: a single large grant to an intermediary/pooled fund, suggesting preference for strategic, high-impact investments rather than many small grants or direct operating support to multiple organizations.
Notable grantees: MakeWay Foundation (Wilburforce Canadian Conservation Fund)
Grantmaking is national, but it is concentrated in the United States, which accounts for 566 grants, or 82.8%, versus 118 grants, or 17.2%, in Canada. Among recipient locations, Washington state appears most often. Recent grants also reach Vancouver, New York, Santa Fe, Bozeman, Missoula, Salt Lake City, Flagstaff, Juneau, and Washington, DC. The Canadian side of the portfolio is visible through Vancouver-based recipients and transboundary conservation funding.
Its grant size distribution centers on mid-sized awards: the 25th percentile is $30,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $105,000. The recent list also includes several grants at $250,000 and above, showing some larger pooled or landscape-scale awards alongside smaller ones.
The recorded grants point to cross-border conservation, landscape protection, field-building for environmental groups, Indigenous-led conservation and policy work, and regional conservation programs. Examples include funding for SalmonState: Transboundary Conservation, the Wilburforce Canadian Conservation Fund, and Landscape Scale Conservation: High Divide and Crown of the Continent.
Yes. The recent grants list includes repeated awards to several recipients across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including MakeWay Foundation, New Venture Fund, The Wilderness Society, Heart of the Rockies Initiative, Wildlands Network, and Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative US.
Grantmaking is national, but the highest grant count is in Washington state. Canada is also a major part of the portfolio, with 118 grants there, and the recipient-country split is 82.8% U.S. and 17.2% Canada.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
17.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOGETHER RISING AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY | SEATTLE, WA | $800,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024 |
| TOGETHER RISING AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY | SEATTLE, WA | $800,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024 |
| TOGETHER RISING AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY | SEATTLE, WA | $800,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024 |
| MAKEWAY FOUNDATION | VANCOUVER | $264,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - WILBURFORCE CANADIAN CONSERVATION FUND |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - ALASKA VENTURE FUND |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - SALMONSTATE: TRANSBOUNDARY CONSERVATION |
| GRAND CANYON TRUST | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $250,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024 |
| YELLOWSTONE TO YUKON CONSERVATION INITIATIVE | BOZEMAN, MT | $250,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024 |
| HEART OF THE ROCKIES INITIATIVE | MISSOULA, MT | $250,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024 |
| WILDLANDS NETWORK | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $240,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - SOUTHWEST CRESCENT PROGRAM 2024 |
| THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $225,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - COMMUNITY-BASED, LANDSCAPE-SCALE CONSERVATION IN THE HIGH DIVIDE AND CROWN OF THE CONTINENT 2024 |
| THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA | EDMONTON | $210,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - BEACONS PROJECT SUPPORT 2024 |
| SKY ISLAND ALLIANCE | TUCSON, AZ | $200,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024 |
| COAST CONSERVATION ENDOWMENT FUND FOUNDATION | VANCOUVER | $200,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GREAT BEAR SEA PROJECT FINANCE FOR PERMANENCE |
| CANADIAN PARKS AND WILDERNESS SOCIETY | OTTAWA | $200,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - BC CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES |
| THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $190,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - PROTECTING AMERICAS ARCTIC |
| CANADIAN PARKS AND WILDERNESS SOCIETY | OTTAWA | $190,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - LAND USE PLANNING IN THE YUKON 2024 |
| ECOADAPT | BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA | $180,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL OPERATIONS AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT |
| HEADWATERS ECONOMICS | BOZEMAN, MT | $180,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - ECONOMICS SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $175,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - TRANSBOUNDARY RESEARCH SCIENTIST |
| WILDSIGHT | KIMBERLEY | $175,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - ROCKY AND COLUMBIA MOUNTAINS CORRIDOR 2024 |
| COMPASS SCIENCE COMMUNICATION INC | CLACKAMAS, OR | $175,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $175,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - TRANSBOUNDARY RIVERS SCIENCE AND POLICY PROJECT 2024 |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $175,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - SALMONSTATE: TONGASS CONSERVATION |
| NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $175,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - TRANSBOUNDARY CROWN CONSERVATION INITIATIVE 2024 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $160,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - HABITAT CONNECTIVITY IN A CHANGING CLIMATE, SUPPORT FOR BLUEPRINT FOR A RESILIENT CASCADIA |
| OUTDOOR ALLIANCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $160,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILD SALMON CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $155,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - SKEENAWILD CONSERVATION TRUST: SKEENA WATERSHED CONSERVATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $150,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - LAW AND POLICY PROJECTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $150,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - LAW AND POLICY PROJECTS |
| DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - COEXISTENCE WITH WILDLIFE AND MEXICAN WOLF RECOVERY 2024 |
| CENTRAL COUNCIL OF THE TLINGIT AND HAIDA INDIAN TRIBES OF ALASKA | JUNEAU, AK | $150,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - SEACOAST INDIGENOUS GUARDIANS NETWORK |
| WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER | EUGENE, OR | $150,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - WILBURFORCE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE NWSW REGION 2024 |
| INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM AND NATURAL RESOURCES | MADISON, WI | $150,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - CROWN OF THE CONTINENT INSTITUTE |
| MAKEWAY CHARITABLE SOCIETY | VANCOUVER | $150,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - RAINFOREST SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT AND KWIAKAH FIRST NATION |
| ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - ARCTIC DEFENSE CAMPAIGN |
| UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $140,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - PROMOTING STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT DECISIONMAKING TO SAFEGUARD OUR DEMOCRACY, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THE ENVIRONMENT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $140,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - A CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR DATA-POOR SPECIES |
| TROUT UNLIMITED | ARLINGTON, VA | $140,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - TONGASS CONSERVATION |
| SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY | BURNABY | $135,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - TAKU TO TRANSBOUNDARY: COLLABORATIVE SCIENCE TO ADVANCE WATERSHED RESILIENCE |
| SITKA CONSERVATION SOCIETY | SITKA, AK | $135,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RESOURCE MEDIA | BEAVERTON, OR | $130,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - MULTICULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY BUILDING |
| BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY | BOISE, ID | $130,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY |
| CONSERVATION SCIENCE PARTNERS | TRUCKEE, CA | $130,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE SCIENCE CAPACITY FOR CONSERVATION 2024/25 |
| FRIENDS OF NEVADA WILDERNESS | RENO, NV | $125,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024 |
| THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - BLM PUBLIC LANDS RULE: DEFENSE AND IMPLEMENTATION |
| SAGELAND COLLABORATIVE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $125,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024 |
| SUSTAINABILITY NETWORK | TORONTO | $120,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - VISION2030: BUILDING CANADIAN ENGO CAPACITY FOR A GREENER FUTURE |
| SPRUCE ROOT | JUNEAU, AK | $120,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - TONGASS PLANNING AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS |
| KLAMATH SISKIYOU WILDLANDS CENTER | ASHLAND, OR | $120,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024 |
TOGETHER RISING AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY
$800,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024
TOGETHER RISING AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY
$800,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024
TOGETHER RISING AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY
$800,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024
MAKEWAY FOUNDATION
$264,000ENVIRONMENTAL - WILBURFORCE CANADIAN CONSERVATION FUND
NEW VENTURE FUND
$250,000ENVIRONMENTAL - ALASKA VENTURE FUND
NEW VENTURE FUND
$250,000ENVIRONMENTAL - SALMONSTATE: TRANSBOUNDARY CONSERVATION
GRAND CANYON TRUST
$250,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024
YELLOWSTONE TO YUKON CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
$250,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024
HEART OF THE ROCKIES INITIATIVE
$250,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024
WILDLANDS NETWORK
$240,000ENVIRONMENTAL - SOUTHWEST CRESCENT PROGRAM 2024
THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY
$225,000ENVIRONMENTAL - COMMUNITY-BASED, LANDSCAPE-SCALE CONSERVATION IN THE HIGH DIVIDE AND CROWN OF THE CONTINENT 2024
THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
$210,000ENVIRONMENTAL - BEACONS PROJECT SUPPORT 2024
SKY ISLAND ALLIANCE
$200,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024
COAST CONSERVATION ENDOWMENT FUND FOUNDATION
$200,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GREAT BEAR SEA PROJECT FINANCE FOR PERMANENCE
CANADIAN PARKS AND WILDERNESS SOCIETY
$200,000ENVIRONMENTAL - BC CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES
THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY
$190,000ENVIRONMENTAL - PROTECTING AMERICAS ARCTIC
CANADIAN PARKS AND WILDERNESS SOCIETY
$190,000ENVIRONMENTAL - LAND USE PLANNING IN THE YUKON 2024
ECOADAPT
$180,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL OPERATIONS AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT
HEADWATERS ECONOMICS
$180,000ENVIRONMENTAL - ECONOMICS SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$175,000ENVIRONMENTAL - TRANSBOUNDARY RESEARCH SCIENTIST
WILDSIGHT
$175,000ENVIRONMENTAL - ROCKY AND COLUMBIA MOUNTAINS CORRIDOR 2024
COMPASS SCIENCE COMMUNICATION INC
$175,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA FOUNDATION
$175,000ENVIRONMENTAL - TRANSBOUNDARY RIVERS SCIENCE AND POLICY PROJECT 2024
NEW VENTURE FUND
$175,000ENVIRONMENTAL - SALMONSTATE: TONGASS CONSERVATION
NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
$175,000ENVIRONMENTAL - TRANSBOUNDARY CROWN CONSERVATION INITIATIVE 2024
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$160,000ENVIRONMENTAL - HABITAT CONNECTIVITY IN A CHANGING CLIMATE, SUPPORT FOR BLUEPRINT FOR A RESILIENT CASCADIA
OUTDOOR ALLIANCE
$160,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT
WILD SALMON CENTER
$155,000ENVIRONMENTAL - SKEENAWILD CONSERVATION TRUST: SKEENA WATERSHED CONSERVATION
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
$150,000ENVIRONMENTAL - LAW AND POLICY PROJECTS
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
$150,000ENVIRONMENTAL - LAW AND POLICY PROJECTS
DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE
$150,000ENVIRONMENTAL - COEXISTENCE WITH WILDLIFE AND MEXICAN WOLF RECOVERY 2024
CENTRAL COUNCIL OF THE TLINGIT AND HAIDA INDIAN TRIBES OF ALASKA
$150,000ENVIRONMENTAL - SEACOAST INDIGENOUS GUARDIANS NETWORK
WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER
$150,000ENVIRONMENTAL - WILBURFORCE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE NWSW REGION 2024
INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM AND NATURAL RESOURCES
$150,000ENVIRONMENTAL - CROWN OF THE CONTINENT INSTITUTE
MAKEWAY CHARITABLE SOCIETY
$150,000ENVIRONMENTAL - RAINFOREST SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT AND KWIAKAH FIRST NATION
ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE
$150,000ENVIRONMENTAL - ARCTIC DEFENSE CAMPAIGN
UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
$140,000ENVIRONMENTAL - PROMOTING STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT DECISIONMAKING TO SAFEGUARD OUR DEMOCRACY, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THE ENVIRONMENT
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$140,000ENVIRONMENTAL - A CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR DATA-POOR SPECIES
TROUT UNLIMITED
$140,000ENVIRONMENTAL - TONGASS CONSERVATION
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
$135,000ENVIRONMENTAL - TAKU TO TRANSBOUNDARY: COLLABORATIVE SCIENCE TO ADVANCE WATERSHED RESILIENCE
SITKA CONSERVATION SOCIETY
$135,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT
RESOURCE MEDIA
$130,000ENVIRONMENTAL - MULTICULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY BUILDING
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
$130,000ENVIRONMENTAL - SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY
CONSERVATION SCIENCE PARTNERS
$130,000ENVIRONMENTAL - DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE SCIENCE CAPACITY FOR CONSERVATION 2024/25
FRIENDS OF NEVADA WILDERNESS
$125,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024
THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY
$125,000ENVIRONMENTAL - BLM PUBLIC LANDS RULE: DEFENSE AND IMPLEMENTATION
SAGELAND COLLABORATIVE
$125,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024
SUSTAINABILITY NETWORK
$120,000ENVIRONMENTAL - VISION2030: BUILDING CANADIAN ENGO CAPACITY FOR A GREENER FUTURE
SPRUCE ROOT
$120,000ENVIRONMENTAL - TONGASS PLANNING AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
KLAMATH SISKIYOU WILDLANDS CENTER
$120,000ENVIRONMENTAL - GENERAL SUPPORT 2024