GrantmakersDistrict of Columbia

World Wildlife Fund Inc

Washington, DC · EIN 52-1693387. Reported 244 grants totalling $31.0M to 157 organizations across tax years 2020-2023, on Form 990 Schedule I.

157organizations funded
$51,984median reported grant
$31.0Mgranted, 2020-2023
43%of grantees funded again the next year
10%of dollars to its largest recipient

Does this grantmaker accept applications?

Its tax return does not say, and we will not guess. Private foundations file Form 990-PF, which asks outright whether they fund only organizations they select themselves -- 78% say yes, and that one answer is what lets the rest of this site tell you which foundations are worth approaching. Grantmaking charities like this one file a regular Form 990 instead, and the IRS never puts the question to them. Anyone claiming to know the answer from the filing is inventing it.

Three things in the filing do bear on it:

  1. What kind of organization it is. For World Wildlife Fund Inc, the IRS classifies it under environment rather than as a grantmaker (NTEE C30) -- it is an operating charity that also makes grants.
  2. How spread out its giving is. 157 distinct organizations, with 10% of the dollars going to the largest single recipient. That is genuinely spread out -- the mark of a funder making many independent decisions rather than underwriting one institution.
  3. How much its list changes. 43% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 3 year-to-year transitions. That is below the 57% median for grantmaking charities, and well below the 67% private foundations manage. A list that turns over this much is one a newcomer can realistically join.

How big are its grants?

The median reported grant is $51,984. Half of what it reported fell between $24,668 and $161,816; the smallest was $5,344 and the largest $2,301,305. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong organization.

Schedule I only reports grants over $5,000. Form 990 requires a charity to list recipients it paid more than that and lets it omit the rest, so every grant-size figure on this page describes the grants it reported, not all of them. Its real median is lower and its real recipient count is higher. This is also why these numbers cannot be compared with the private-foundation figures elsewhere on this site -- Form 990-PF has no reporting floor, so the two are different populations rather than two samples of one.
$5,000 - $10,000
16 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
46 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
51 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
46 grants
$100,000 - $250,000
51 grants
$250,000 Or More
34 grants

Every organization it funded

This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by the EIN the filer reported, not by name, so an organization that was typed differently in two years appears once rather than twice.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Center for Heirs Property PreservationN Charleston, SC$3,076,305332023
Windward FundWashington, DC$1,215,196222023
Conservation International FoundationArlington, VA$1,203,086332023
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean SciencesEast Boothbay, ME$1,198,680332023
Nonprofit Enterprise and Self-Sustainability Team IncSt Petersburg, FL$1,156,646442023
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions IncWashington, DC$1,120,391332023
World Resources InstituteWashington, DC$1,064,685442023
Rosebud Economic Development CorporationMission, SD$1,054,619332023
The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit CorporationArlington, VA$930,755112022
Nature ConservancyArlington, VA$698,645442023
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors IncNew York, NY$685,000222022
Climate ConservationBozeman, MT$631,181332023
Conservation Strategy FundArcata, CA$568,001332023
RewildAustin, TX$505,064222023
Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY$503,154332023
Ceres IncBoston, MA$500,000222022
East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC$489,363222022
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityStanford, CA$464,048332023
Cdp North America IncNew York, NY$443,420222023
Aquarium of the PacificLong Beach, CA$430,533222022
Winnett Aces IncWinnett, MT$428,530432023
Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWoods Hole, MA$413,917222022
Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere IncAtlanta, GA$366,840112023
United Nations Foundation IncWashington, DC$360,000112021
American Bird ConservancyMarshall, VA$309,480332023
Wildlife Conservation SocietyBronx, NY$305,121332023
The Regents of the University of California DavisDavis, CA$300,166332023
National Institute for Standards and TechnologyPortland, OR$300,000112021
Pacific Institute for Studies in Development Environment and SecuriOakland, CA$283,413222023
University System of New HampshireConcord, NH$275,000112020
Pheasants Forever IncSaint Paul, MN$273,223442023
Global Water ChallengeArlington, VA$264,276112020
Maine Aquaculture Innovation CenterWalpole, ME$259,687332023
Buffalo Nations Grasslands AllianceLower Brule, SD$252,206222023
New Venture FundWashington, DC$250,000332023
Ranchers Stewardship Alliance IncMalta, MT$247,340222022
George Mason UniversityManassas, VA$240,821222021
Duke UniversityDurham, NC$234,867112020
Defenders of WildlifeWashington, DC$231,474222023
Maine Aquaculture AssociationGardiner, ME$220,252332023
Nebraska Community FoundationLincoln, NE$217,565332023
MultiplierSan Francisco, CA$205,000112022
Rio Grande ReturnLamy, NM$197,055112023
Environmental Defense Fund IncorporatedNew York, NY$192,425112023
Trout Unlimited IncArlington, VA$190,000112023
South Dakota State University FoundationBrookings, SD$188,814112020
Pew Charitable TrustsWashington, DC$188,000112023
Rainforest Alliance IncNew York, NY$184,607112023
Maliasili Initiatives IncEssex, VT$162,701332023
Aaniiih Nakoda CollegeHarlem, MT$160,351332023
Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation IncJuneau, AK$154,494222022
Maine Aquaculture AssociationGardiner, ME$150,000112020
Texas Southern University FoundationHouston, TX$150,000112022
Usda Aphis Wildlife ServicesSt Louis, MO$145,336332022
Island InstituteRockland, ME$144,570112022
Resolve IncWashington, DC$143,243222023
Sandhills Task ForceBroken Bow, NE$136,173112020
Alaska Conservation FoundationAnchorage, AK$130,975222022
Second Nature IncCambridge, MA$125,000112021
Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine ScienceSeward, AK$120,000112021
Thunder Valley Community Development CorporationPorcupine, SD$120,000112021
University of WashingtonSeattle, WA$119,060442023
University of Vermont and State Agricultural College FoundationBurlington, VT$114,537112023
Environment and Culture PartnersTacoma, WA$99,000222022
Inter-Tribal Council IncMiami, OK$99,000112023
Mississippi River Cities & Towns InitiativeSaint Louis, MO$99,000112022
Indigenous Peoples Council for Marine MammalsAnchorage, AK$95,746112020
North Dakota Natural Resources Trust IncBismarck, ND$95,089112023
Division of Agriculture of the University of ArkansasLittle Rock, AR$84,918112022
United States Naval Academy Foundation IncAnnapolis, MD$81,208112020
Woodrow Wilson International Center for ScholarsWashington, DC$80,560112020
Aglaunch InitiativeMemphis, TN$80,000222023
University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceCambridge, MD$80,000222022
University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation IncAmherst, MA$77,995222022
United States Endowment Forforestry and Communities IncGreenville, SC$75,000222021
Florida International University Foundation IncMiami, FL$69,391112021
Tides FoundationSan Francisco, CA$67,500112023
Alaska Nannut Co-Management CouncilAnchorage, AK$66,553222023
Gulf of Maine Research InstitutePortland, ME$65,023112021
Marine Exchange of Alaska IncJuneau, AK$60,000112021
University of Arkansas Foundation IncFayetteville, AR$60,000112020
Nebraska Grazing Land CoalitionMullen, NE$55,000222022
Native ConservancyCordova, AK$54,300112021
Auburn University FoundationAuburn, AL$50,276112020
Council on the Environment IncNew York, NY$50,000112020
Health in Harmony IncPortland, OR$50,000112023
Homelands Research GroupIthaca, NY$50,000112020
Refed IncChicago, IL$50,000112020
Wildlife Conservation Network IncSan Francisco, CA$50,000112023
Women in Ranching IncCohagen, MT$49,751112023
Florida International UniversityMiami, FL$49,000222023
Boxerwood Education Association IncorporatedLexington, VA$48,000112021
Childrens First Fund the Chicago Public School FoundationChicago, IL$48,000112021
Mountainside Education and Enrichment IncGaithersburg, MD$48,000112021
Sustain Dane IncMadison, WI$48,000112021
Wedontwaste IncDenver, CO$48,000112021
Earth Innovation InstituteBerkeley, CA$44,585112023
Climate Policy Initiative IncSan Francisco, CA$42,499112022
Fort Belknap Indian CommunityHarlem, MT$41,574222023
Cooperative for Assist & Relief (care)Atlanta, GA$41,394112020
Ocean FoundationWashington, DC$40,889112023
The Terrell Green Acres LLCHay Springs, NE$40,000112022
Health Care Without HarmReston, VA$39,500112022
B and G Land LLC Dba Taylor Creek RanchBozeman, MT$39,249112022
Wildlife Ecology InstituteHelena, MT$38,159112020
Western Sustainability ExchangeLivingston, MT$36,000112023
Veebaray CoGreat Falls, MT$35,604222023
Indian Land Tenure FoundationLittle Canada, MN$35,000112021
Southern Group of Foresters IncWashington, DC$35,000112023
Lower Brule Sioux TribeLower Brule, SD$34,940112022
Louie Petrie RanchTurner, MT$32,890112022
Global Conservation NetworkApple Vallet, MN$30,599112021
Meridian InstituteDrexel Hill, PA$30,145222021
Southern Illinois University- CarbondaleCarbondale, IL$30,000112023
We Mean Business Coalition IncNew York, NY$29,000112023
Girl Plus Environment CorporationAtlanta, GA$28,750112023
Montana Association of Conservation DistrictsHelena, MT$28,345222023
Mahlstedt Ranch IncCircle, MT$28,201112023
Makoce Agriculture DevelopmentPorcupine, SD$27,500222022
Northern Jaguar Project IncTucson, AZ$27,000112023
United States Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association IncNew London, CT$26,000112020
Bird Alliance of Central New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM$25,000112020
Make Food Not WasteDetroit, MI$25,000112023
Native Village of KotzebueKotzebue, AK$25,000112022
SeedsTraverse City, MI$25,000112023
Richard Holzer LLCDenver, CO$24,289112023
Native Village of UnalakleetUnalakleet, AK$24,181112023
Montana Conservation Corps IncBozeman, MT$23,812222022
Amherst Community FoundationAmherst, NY$22,500112023
Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT$22,000112020
Field Museum of Natural HistoryChicago, IL$20,280112022
Coastal Enterprises IncBrunswick, ME$20,270112022
City of ShishmarefShishmaref, AK$20,000112023
Crow Tribe of IndiansCrow Agency, MT$20,000112022
Last Mile Food RescueCincinnati, OH$20,000112023
4ROOTS Foundation IncOrlando, FL$19,677112022
Native Village of DiomedeDiomede, AK$18,918112021
Oakland Chinatown Improvement CouncilOakland, CA$17,500112022
City of WalesLake Wales, FL$17,475112023
Aleut FoundationAnchorage, AK$17,073112023
Turner Endangered Species FundBozeman, MT$16,220222022
Sdsn Association IncNew York, NY$15,800112022
Broward Education Foundation IncFt Lauderdale, FL$15,500112023
OceansalaskaKetchikan, AK$15,000112022
SymbioseasCarolina Bch, NC$15,000112020
Usda Forest Service - WiMadison, WI$12,884112022
Native Village of DiomedeDiomede, AK$12,612112020
Working Dogs for Conservation FoundationMissoula, MT$11,490112021
Rural Dynamics IncGreat Falls, MT$11,104112021
University of Georgia Research Foundation IncAthens, GA$10,498112021
Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education IncBeals, ME$10,000112022
Keewaydin FoundationSalisbury, VT$7,580112023
Friends of Alaskan Nationalwildlife RefugesHomer, AK$7,500112020
Ocean Approved IncBiddeford, ME$7,500112022
Hawaii Pacific UniversityHonolulu, HI$5,971112022
Borderview Bell Ranch LpOpheim, MT$5,872112022
Institute of Food Techologists IncChicago, IL$5,344112021

56 of 157 (36%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold. Remember the $5,000 floor: an organization funded every year at $3,000 shows up here as never funded at all.

It also reported 4 groups of grants to individuals -- scholarships, emergency assistance and similar. Schedule I reports these by category with a headcount and never by name, so there is nothing here we could publish about the recipients even if we wanted to.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose column of its filings, largest first. This is the closest thing to a statement of what it funds, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By each recipient's own IRS classification, for the 116 of 157 recipients we could match to a registered organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses -- Schedule I reports the recipient's EIN, so this is a lookup rather than a name match.

Environment
34 orgs
Education
22 orgs
Animal Welfare
15 orgs
Philanthropy & Grantmaking
8 orgs
Food & Nutrition
8 orgs
International Affairs
4 orgs
Community Improvement
4 orgs
Human Services
4 orgs

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants reportedTotalMedian grant
202048$6,894,455$70,649
202154$5,627,868$53,000
202272$7,969,488$39,750
202370$10.5M$50,000

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- Form 990 arrives about a year after the year it covers, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a grantmaker winding down.

Where its money goes

15% of its giving went to organizations in District of Columbia. Community foundations and federated funds are usually the most geographically bounded funders there are -- being outside the footprint is normally disqualifying in a way that a weak programme fit is not.

District of Columbia
$4.7M
Virginia
$3.9M
South Carolina
$3.2M
New York
$2.5M
California
$2.5M
Maine
$2.1M
Montana
$1.9M
South Dakota
$1.7M

Down to the city

Washington, DC
$4.7M
Arlington, VA
$3.3M
N Charleston, SC
$3.1M
New York, NY
$1.6M
East Boothbay, ME
$1.2M
St Petersburg, FL
$1.2M

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Funders that support the same organizations

These grantmakers and private foundations gave to organizations this one also funded. Shared grantees are the strongest signal available that two funders have overlapping priorities -- and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund71 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc62 shared recipientsVanguard Charitable Endowment Program50 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc49 shared recipientsNational Philanthropic Trust46 shared recipientsAmerican Endowment Foundation43 shared recipients

How to approach this grantmaker

  1. Look for a published programme first. Unlike most private foundations, organizations of this kind often do run open, deadlined grant cycles with written guidelines. Its own website is the authority on that; this page is the authority on who it has actually paid.
  2. Check you are its size. The median reported grant is $51,984 -- and because grants under $5,000 need not be reported, it very likely writes smaller cheques than this page can see.
  3. Check you are in its geography. Its giving concentrates in District of Columbia.
  4. Read the recipient list for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer and a cheap one to get.

Related guides

Foundations funding environment in District of ColumbiaEvery funder in this group, rankedFoundations funding education in District of ColumbiaEvery funder in this group, rankedFoundations funding education in VirginiaEvery funder in this group, ranked

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from World Wildlife Fund Inc's own Form 990 Schedule I filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2020-2023). Nothing here is scraped, inferred or estimated.

On its most recent return it told the IRS it made grants to 69 section 501(c)(3) organizations and 0 other organizations. That is the filer's own count for one year; the totals above cover every year we hold.

Address of record on the latest return: 1250 24TH Street Nw, Washington, DC, 20037.

EIN 52-1693387 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Form 990 is published about a year after the tax year it covers. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this organization has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next.

Is something here wrong about your organization? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.