Environment grants for nonprofits in Wisconsin
470 private foundations reported 1,070 environment grants to organizations in Wisconsin on IRS 990-PF returns for tax year 2022 or later, $21.7M in all. 246 of them are based in Wisconsin.
Foundations that fund environment in Wisconsin
20 of the 470: profiles in our foundation directory first, then by the number of environment grants to Wisconsin organizations on their latest return. Each shows its largest such grants.
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Amazonsmile Foundation
Seattle, WA · latest return: tax year 2023- Wild Ones -- Natural Landscapers Ltd, Neenah - General support$573
- Monarch Butterfly Fund, Madison - General support$458
- Wisconsin Conservation Voices, Madison - General support$425
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Gave $2.4M in 2025
Alliant Energy Foundation Inc
Madison, WI · latest return: tax year 2025- Rock River Coalition, Jefferson - Beloit area neighborhood forest project$25,000
- Clean Lakes Alliance Inc, Madison - 2025 sponsorships$10,000
- Friends of the Welty Environmental Center Inc, Beloit - Welty west wing project$10,000
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Gave $3.6M in 2024
Green Bay Packers Foundation
Green Bay, WI · latest return: tax year 2024- National Railroad Museum, Green Bay - Fox river expansion$200,000
- The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin, Madison - The east river collaborative: nature-based, community-driven solutions to build flood resilience within the…$60,000
- Kenosha Public Museums Foundation, Kenosha - Weaving cultural and environmental narratives: honoring native women and protecting our waters$4,500
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Gave $7.7M in 2024
Xcel Energy Foundation
Minneapolis, MN · latest return: tax year 2024- Wild Rivers Conservancy of the St Croix & Namekagon, Osceola - Environmental sustainabilitymatch a previous donation (501(C)3) grant$25,100
- Cable Natural History Museum Inc, Cable - Environmental sustainability$6,500
- Friends of Beaver Creek Reserve Inc, Fall Creek - Environmental sustainability$5,000
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Gave $115.2M in 2024
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Clean Wisconsin, Madison - General operating$250,000
- Milwaukee Water Commons Inc, Milwaukee - General operating$100,000
- River Alliance of Wisconsin Inc, Madison - General operating$100,000
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Gave $9.2M in 2025
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc
Brookfield, WI · latest return: tax year 2025- Taliesin Preservation Inc, Spring Green - Donation$500,000
- Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona - Donation$250,000
- Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona - Donation$25,000
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Caerus Foundation Inc
Northbrook, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Fund for Lake Michigan, Milwaukee - Western Lake Michigan Pooled Fund$200,000
- Wisconsin Conservation Voices, Madison - General Support$175,000
- Northwoods Land Trust Inc, Eagle River - Conservation Easement Projects$125,000
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Edward Jones Foundation
St Louis, MO · latest return: tax year 2024- Outdoor Recreation Alliance of the Seven Rivers Region Inc, LA Crosse - Parks & playgrounds$2,500
- Friends of Clear Lake Inc, Hartland - Environmental quality, protection and beautification$1,000
- Delavan Rotary Gardens Foundation Inc, Delavan - Environmental quality, protection and beautification$350
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Gave $145.9M in 2024
The McKnight Foundation
Minneapolis, MN · latest return: tax year 2024- RENEW Wisconsin Inc, Madison - for general operating support$250,000
- Clean Wisconsin Inc, Madison - for general operating support$200,000
- Walnut Way Conservation Corp Charitable Org, Milwaukee - to support the Environmental Justice Infrastructure Initiative and general capacity building for policy…$150,000
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Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc
Milwaukee, WI · latest return: tax year 2024- Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee - To fund approved public charities$100,000
- Wisconsin Conservation Voices, Madison - To fund approved public charities$30,000
- Milwaukee Parks Foundation, Milwaukee - To fund approved public charities$25,000
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Patagoniaorg
Ventura, CA · latest return: tax year 2024- Savanna Institute, Madison - To support environmental projects.$30,000
- 350 Wisconsin Inc, Madison - To support environmental projects.$15,000
- Midwest Environmental Advocates Inc, Madison - To support environmental projects.$15,000
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Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY · latest return: tax year 2025- Urban Ecology Center Inc, Milwaukee - Matching contribution (general operating support)$1,040
- Big Portage Lake Riparian Owners Association Incorporated, Land O Lakes - Matching contribution (general operating support)$440
- Riveredge Nature Center Inc, Saukville - Matching contribution (general operating support)$250
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Gave $52.2M in 2024
The Joyce Foundation
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Clean Wisconsin Inc, Madison - Environment$385,000
- Wisconsin Conservation Voices Inc, Madison - Democracy$105,000
- Wisconsin Department of Administration, Madison - Environment$100,000
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Gave $72.5M in 2025
Fred C and Katherine B Andersen Foundation
Bayport, MN · latest return: tax year 2025- Philadelphia Community Farm Inc, Osceola - General operating$100,000
- Friends of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks Inc, Hudson - General operating$40,000
- Kinnickinnic River Land Trust, River Falls - General operating$30,000
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Gave $9M in 2025
Kohler Foundation Inc
Kohler, WI · latest return: tax year 2025- Pecatonica Educational Charitable Foundation Inc, Hollandale - Grandview paul bunyan conservation$10,000
- Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg - Outdoor education and experiential learning for sheboygan county kids$5,600
- Summit Players Theatre, Milwaukee - Summit players theatre shakespeare in the state parks tour$5,000
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The Argosy Foundation
Milwaukee, WI · latest return: tax year 2024- Renew Wisconsin, Madison - General support$50,000
- Restoring Lands, West Bend - General support$50,000
- Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee - General support$50,000
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Builders Vision Foundation
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- The Savanna Institute, Madison - to support a research project involving the scaling of agroforestry nationwide$325,000
- Milwaukee Water Commons Inc, Milwaukee - to provide general operating support$250,000
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Gave $18.8M in 2024
Joseph and Vera Zilber Family Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI · latest return: tax year 2024- Walnut Way Conservation Corp, Milwaukee - Ec. empowerment for environmental leadership$324,000
- Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg - General operations$5,000
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Gave $170M in 2024
The Kresge Foundation
Troy, MI · latest return: tax year 2024- Milwaukee Water Commons Inc, Milwaukee - Project support grant focused on environmental and climate resilience efforts in milwaukee and to aid climate…$155,000
- Milwaukee Water Commons Inc, Milwaukee - Project support to aid milwaukee water commons' efforts to increase climate and water infrastructure.$105,000
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Gave $19.3M in 2024
Wilburforce Foundation
Seattle, WA · latest return: tax year 2024- Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources, Madison - Environmental - crown of the continent institute$150,000
- Society for Conservation Biology North America, Hales Corners - Environmental - scbna operations$75,000
Search more environment funders giving in Wisconsin →
Organizations several of these foundations fund
Wisconsin organizations that received environment grants from two or more of the foundations above, on the same returns.
| Organization | Funders | Grants total |
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| Clean Wisconsin Inc Madison | 6 | $910,348 |
| Milwaukee Water Commons Inc Milwaukee | 5 | $700,000 |
| Wisconsin Conservation Voices Madison | 5 | $410,425 |
| Riveredge Nature Center Inc Newburg | 5 | $14,075 |
| Taliesin Preservation Inc Spring Green | 4 | $503,271 |
| Renew Wisconsin Inc Madison | 4 | $375,046 |
| Urban Ecology Center Inc Milwaukee | 4 | $151,345 |
| River Alliance of Wisconsin Inc Madison | 4 | $115,136 |
| Olbrich Botanical Society Inc Madison | 4 | $29,644 |
| Clean Lakes Alliance Inc Madison | 4 | $12,068 |
How to use this list
A foundation is listed because its own latest tax return itemizes grants to organizations in Wisconsin that we classify as environment, by the purpose the foundation wrote or by the recipient's IRS activity code. Their typical grant is the middle of the funders' own typical grants across everything they fund. Start with funders whose typical grant is close to what you need and whose past recipients look like your organization, then open the profile for all of its grants and any application instructions.
Of these 470 foundations, 173 describe how to apply on their latest return; many others give only to organizations they already know. A badge such as Gave $1.2M in 2024 repeats what the latest return reports; it does not mean the foundation is accepting proposals now.
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.