The Volgenau Foundation
Invitation OnlyMclean, Virginia · EIN 54-1738281 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$13.4M
Organizations funded60
Typical grant$100,000
Total assets$166.2M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $75,000 and $250,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
88% of grants went outside Virginia.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volgenau Climate Initiative | Mclean, VA | 2 payments toward 2023 3-year pledge | $4,146,628 |
| Plastic Solutions Fund a Sponsored Project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advi | New York, NY | Plastic solutions fund | $500,000 |
| Center for Large Landscape Conservation | Bozeman, MT | Catalyzing landscape conservation and connectivity in the u.s. | $400,000 |
| Greater Yellowstone Coalition | Bozeman, MT | Protecting the engine of the ecosystem: greater yellowstone wildlife migrations | $400,000 |
| National Parks Conservation Association | Washington, DC | Protecting national park wildlife | $400,000 |
| Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative | Bozeman, MT | General operating support - connecting and protecting wildlife habitat | $400,000 |
| Naturebridge- West Coast | Sausalito, CA | Naturebridge access, growth and leadership | $350,000 |
| Appalachian Trail Conservancy | Harpers Ferry, WV | Preserving a.t. landscape connectivity through collaborative conservation and resource stewardship | $300,000 |
| Indigenous Led a Project of Wild Foundation | Boulder, CO | Rising to the challenge of our collective planetary crises: the case for indigenous-led conservation | $300,000 |
| Land Trust Alliancecbfn | Washington, DC | To advance nature-based climate solutions through land conservation | $300,000 |
| Alaska Wilderness League | Washington, DC | Protecting america's arctic | $250,000 |
| Defenders of Wildlife | Washington, DC | Protecting alaskas biodiversity and restoring imperiled species | $250,000 |
| Earthjustice | San Francisco, CA | Dam free by 2030 | $250,000 |
| Shark Conservation Fund a Project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors | New York, NY | Protecting the world's sharks and rays | $250,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy of California | Sacramento, CA | Jack and laura dangermond preserve - the nature of discovery | $250,000 |
| The Wyldlife Fund | Buffalo, WY | Pooled migration fund | $250,000 |
| American Prairie Reserve | Bozeman, MT | Wild sky program support in 2025 | $200,000 |
| New England Aquarium | Boston, MA | Saving the na right whale: understanding and mitigating anthropogenic threats and fostering recovery | $200,000 |
| Wildlands Network | Salt Lake City, UT | Improving habitat connectivity and red wolf science to advance population recovery | $200,000 |
| Alaska Conservation Foundation | Anchorage, AK | Alaska mining impacts network/northern latitudes partnership | $175,000 |
| Trustees for Alaska | Anchorage, AK | Fighting climate change by keeping oil and gas in the ground and protecting public lands in alaska | $175,000 |
| Defenders of Wildlife | Washington, DC | Recovering two icons of wild america, the florida panther and the mexican gray wolf | $150,000 |
| From the Top | Boston, MA | Be the change: from the top at 25 | $150,000 |
| National Marine Sanctuary Foundation | Silver Spring, MD | Understanding and mitigating anthropogenic threats to our national marine sanctuaries | $150,000 |
| National Symphony Orchestra (Nso) of the John F Kennedy Center for the Perf | Washington, DC | The national symphony orchestras young peoples concerts | $150,000 |
| River Partners | Chico, CA | Restoring california river corridors: essential habitat connectivity for wildlife recovery | $150,000 |
| Smithsonian Institute | Chicago, IL | Responding to conservation challenges for threatened/endangered species: swift fox, red wolf & coral | $150,000 |
| National Marine Sanctuary Foundation | Silver Spring, MD | Ecology & vulnerability of top predators in stellwagen bank national marine sanctuary | $125,000 |
| People and Carnivores | Bozeman, MT | Expanding resources for expanding grizzly and black bears | $125,000 |
| Smithsonian Institute | Chicago, IL | Virginia grassland bird initiative (vgbi) | $125,000 |
| Arc a Project of See (Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs) | Calabasas, CA | Ensuring sustained investment in the next-generation of wildlife connectivity infrastructure | $100,000 |
| Audubon California a State Program of the National Audubon Society | New York, NY | Network of conserved lands and waters for birds in california and the pacific flyway | $100,000 |
| Endangered Species Coalition | Washington, DC | Rocky mountain wolf and grizzly protection and recovery | $100,000 |
| Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region | Baltimore, MD | Maritime e-stem voyages and kingman and heritage islands | $100,000 |
| Northern Chumash Tribal Council | Los Osos, CA | Chumash heritage national marine sanctuary designation 2024 | $100,000 |
| Piedmont Environmental Council | Warrenton, VA | Rappahannock-Rapidan conservation initiative | $100,000 |
| Point Blue Conservation Science | Petaluma, CA | Protecting iconic wildlife | $100,000 |
| Potomac Conservancy | Silver Spring, MD | Potomac headwaters conservation project | $100,000 |
| Project Coyote | Larkspur, CA | Coexisting with carnivores | $100,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy of California | Sacramento, CA | Thriving wetlands for birds: science to support improving and expanding habitat | $100,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | Migratory shorebirds & community education | $100,000 |
| Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust Inc | Exmore, VA | Campaign for rural lands and communities | $100,000 |
| Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts | Vienna, VA | 2024-2025 wolf trap institute early stem/arts program | $100,000 |
| California Marine Sanctuary Foundation | Monterey, CA | Protecting blue whales and blue skies: reducing ship strike risk on endangered whales in california | $85,000 |
| Bishop John T Walker School for Boys | Washington, DC | General operating support/scholarships | $75,000 |
| Center for Biological Diversity | Tucson, AZ | Safe pathways for the florida manatee: policy and public education initiative | $75,000 |
| Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens | Washington, DC | Intergenerational bridges: fostering conservation education at kenilworth aquatic gardens | $75,000 |
| Levine Music | Washington, DC | Supporting classical music instruction and the honors program | $75,000 |
| Greater Good Charities | Seattle, WA | Help save the bees | $65,000 |
| American Bird Conservancy | The Plains, VA | Saving imperiled birds in the west through research, habitat restoration, and stewardship | $50,000 |
| Lighthawk | Grand Junction, CO | Elevating conservation through aviation | $50,000 |
| Spark the Journey | Washington, DC | Mentorship as a means to building social capital for black and brown young adults in washington DC | $50,000 |
| The Clifton Institute Inc | Warrenton, VA | Hands-On educational experiences to get K-12 students outside | $50,000 |
| The Climate Center | Santa Rosa, CA | Accelerating natural carbon sequestration and carbon removal in california | $50,000 |
| The Ocean Foundation | Washington, DC | Ocean connectors: connecting youth for conservation | $50,000 |
| Wolf Haven International | Tenino, WA | Moving to coexistence: outreach and advocacy project | $50,000 |
| Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative | Bozeman, MT | Protecting the elusive wolverine: large landscape connectivity and conservation | $50,000 |
| California Ocean Alliance | Aptos, CA | Training and inspiring the next generation of marine mammal scientists | $25,000 |
| Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR | Conserving elusive carnivores in old-growth forests through research, education, and outreach | $25,000 |
| Yellowstone Safe Passages (Fiscal Sponsor the Common Ground Project) | Emigrant, MT | Capacity-Building for yellowstone safe passages | $25,000 |
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Nature Conservancy of California | Sacramento, CA | Restoring the kennebec river | $250,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $13,446,628 | 61 |
| 2023 | $11,438,686 | 51 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 14, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202503189349103715
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 54-1738281
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.