Wilderness River Foundation concentrates its modest giving on outdoor and nature-focused education, funding both a progressive environmental college and national children’s nature programming. Grants are directed to general operating support, suggesting a preference for sustaining organizations’ core activities rather than project-specific grants. The foundation appears mission-driven toward connecting youth and higher-education audiences with nature and outdoor stewardship.
Concentrated and repeat giving: a small number of relatively large grants (4 grants totaling $114k) focused on two repeat grantees, with awards directed to general operations rather than one-off projects.
Wilderness River Foundation’s largest recent grant went to Prescott College: $50,000 for general operations in 2024, followed by another $24,000 general operating grant in 2023. That pattern points to a funder that supports organizations over time rather than through isolated project awards. The foundation’s recent giving centers on outdoor and nature-related education, with grants also reaching Children and Nature Network for national children’s nature programming and Wilderness Inquiry for general operations. Across the grant list, the same operational support language appears repeatedly, showing a preference for core support that helps grantees sustain staff, facilities, and day-to-day programming. Its portfolio includes a mix of environmental education, children’s nature advocacy, and outdoor access work. Several awards also go to place-based groups in Arizona, Minnesota, and North Dakota, suggesting a regional approach rather than a single-city focus. The presence of repeat grantees in the recent record, including Prescott College and Children and Nature Network, indicates ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
Environmental and higher-education work appears at the center of the foundation’s giving. Prescott College received $50,000 in 2024 and $24,000 in 2023, both for general operations, tying the funder to experiential environmental education. Children and Nature Network received $20,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for general operations, linking the foundation to national advocacy around children’s access to nature and outdoor play. The foundation also supports outdoor access and programming through Wilderness Inquiry, which received $10,000 in 2024 and $9,000 in 2023 for general operations. Beyond those core themes, the grant list includes support for youth-serving and community organizations such as Young Life, Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch, and River Valley Riders, all funded with general operating support.
Wilderness River Foundation’s recent grants cluster tightly at one level: the p25, median, and p75 are all $4,000. That makes $4,000 the dominant award size, even though a few larger grants stand out above it. The grant list also shows repeat support across years, including multiple organizations funded in both 2023 and 2024, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. All grants shown are general operating support, and the foundation is classified as a regular funder. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$288K
$4.6M
$1.9M
$326K
Most grants fall between $4K and $4K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$4K
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Notable grantees: Prescott College, Children and Nature Network, Regional outdoor/environmental education organizations (representative)
The foundation gives most often in North Dakota, while 37% of grants go to recipients in Minnesota. Recent grants also reach Arizona through several Prescott-based organizations, including Prescott College, Launch Pad Teen Center, Northland Cares, and the Natural History Institute. Fargo and Prescott appear repeatedly in the grant list, alongside Minnesota cities such as Minneapolis, Detroit Lakes, Eden Prairie, Stewartville, and Woodbury. All recorded recipient grants are in the United States.
Its recent grants center on outdoor and nature-focused education, environmental higher education, and children’s nature programming. Examples in the record include Prescott College, Children and Nature Network, Wilderness Inquiry, and several place-based youth or outdoor organizations funded with general operating support.
Yes. Every grant in the recent list is marked general operations. That includes major awards such as $50,000 to Prescott College and repeated $4,000 operating grants to organizations like River Valley Riders, showing a consistent preference for unrestricted core support.
The distribution is tightly concentrated: p25, median, and p75 are all $4,000. Most recent awards are at that level, with a smaller number of larger grants such as $50,000, $24,000, $20,000, $10,000, and $9,000.
Yes. Prescott College appears in both 2023 and 2024, Children and Nature Network appears in both years, and Wilderness Inquiry also receives grants in both years. Several smaller recipients recur as well, including River Valley Riders, Tnt Kids Fitness, and St Gabriel's Episcopal Church.
North Dakota is the top state by grant count. Minnesota accounts for 37% of grants to recipients in the HQ state, and Arizona also appears frequently through multiple Prescott-based grantees.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESCOTT COLLEGE | PRESCOTT, AZ | $120,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WILDERNESS INQUIRY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ECOSA INSTITUTE | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DETROIT LAKES COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL CENTER | DETROIT LAKES, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| YOUNG LIFE | DETROIT LAKES, MN | $8,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| IRONWOOD SPRINGS CHRISTIAN RANCH | STEWARTVILLE, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PELICAN LAKE SAILING SCHOOL | FARGO, ND | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PRESCOTT CREEKS PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WHALE FOUNDATION | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST GABRIEL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH | SOLEN, ND | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| KAMP KACE | FARGO, ND | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| JONI AND FRIENDS INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY | AGOURA HILLS, CA | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LAUNCH PAD TEEN CENTER | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GRAND CANYON RIVER GUIDES | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| YAVAPAI EXCEPTIONAL INDUSTRIES | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| RIVER VALLEY RIDERS | WOODBURY, MN | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| UNSEEN - HUMAN TRAFFICKING | FARGO, ND | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NATURAL HISTORY INSTITUTE | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TNT KIDS FITNESS | FARGO, ND | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| VIVIENNE'S JOY | ST PAUL, MN | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GRANITE DELLS PRESERVATION FDN | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AMISTAD WORLDWIDE | FARGO, ND | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FRIENDS OF CHIMBOTE | WEST FARGO, ND | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AIN DAH YUNG CENTER | ST PAUL, MN | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NORTHLAND CARES | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PELICAN LAKES COMMUNITY FDN | DETROIT LAKES, MN | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PRESCOTT COLLEGE | PRESCOTT, AZ | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WILDERNESS INQUIRY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $11,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DETROIT LAKES COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL CENTER | DETROIT LAKES, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| YOUNG LIFE | DETROIT LAKES, MN | $8,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| IRONWOOD SPRINGS CHRISTIAN RANCH | STEWARTVILLE, MN | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GRANITE DELLS PRESERVATION FDN | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PELICAN LAKE SAILING SCHOOL | FARGO, ND | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| RIVER VALLEY RIDERS | WOODBURY, MN | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| YAVAPAI EXCEPTIONAL INDUSTRIES | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TNT KIDS FITNESS | FARGO, ND | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PELICAN LAKES COMMUNITY FDN | DETROIT LAKES, MN | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PRESCOTT CREEKS PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| JONI AND FRIENDS INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY | AGOURA HILLS, CA | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WHALE FOUNDATION | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| KAMP KACE | FARGO, ND | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST GABRIEL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH | SOLEN, ND | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FRIENDS OF CHIMBOTE | WEST FARGO, ND | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AIN DAH YUNG CENTER | ST PAUL, MN | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NATURAL HISTORY INSTITUTE | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| UNSEEN - HUMAN TRAFFICKING | FARGO, ND | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NORTHLAND CARES | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LAUNCH PAD TEEN CENTER | PRESCOTT, AZ | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
PRESCOTT COLLEGE
$120,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK
$40,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
WILDERNESS INQUIRY
$12,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ECOSA INSTITUTE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DETROIT LAKES COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL CENTER
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
YOUNG LIFE
$8,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
IRONWOOD SPRINGS CHRISTIAN RANCH
GENERAL OPERATIONS
PELICAN LAKE SAILING SCHOOL
$6,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PRESCOTT CREEKS PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
WHALE FOUNDATION
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ST GABRIEL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
KAMP KACE
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
JONI AND FRIENDS INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
LAUNCH PAD TEEN CENTER
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GRAND CANYON RIVER GUIDES
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
YAVAPAI EXCEPTIONAL INDUSTRIES
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
RIVER VALLEY RIDERS
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
UNSEEN - HUMAN TRAFFICKING
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
NATURAL HISTORY INSTITUTE
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
TNT KIDS FITNESS
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
VIVIENNE'S JOY
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GRANITE DELLS PRESERVATION FDN
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
AMISTAD WORLDWIDE
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
FRIENDS OF CHIMBOTE
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
AIN DAH YUNG CENTER
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
NORTHLAND CARES
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PELICAN LAKES COMMUNITY FDN
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PRESCOTT COLLEGE
$100,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK
$20,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
WILDERNESS INQUIRY
$11,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DETROIT LAKES COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL CENTER
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
YOUNG LIFE
$8,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
IRONWOOD SPRINGS CHRISTIAN RANCH
$6,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GRANITE DELLS PRESERVATION FDN
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PELICAN LAKE SAILING SCHOOL
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
RIVER VALLEY RIDERS
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
YAVAPAI EXCEPTIONAL INDUSTRIES
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
TNT KIDS FITNESS
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PELICAN LAKES COMMUNITY FDN
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PRESCOTT CREEKS PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
JONI AND FRIENDS INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
WHALE FOUNDATION
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
KAMP KACE
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ST GABRIEL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
FRIENDS OF CHIMBOTE
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
AIN DAH YUNG CENTER
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
NATURAL HISTORY INSTITUTE
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
UNSEEN - HUMAN TRAFFICKING
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
NORTHLAND CARES
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
LAUNCH PAD TEEN CENTER
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS