THE WILLIAM H DONNER FOUNDATION INC
Annual Giving
$10.4M+4584% YoY
Grants
288
Median Grant
$20K
Organizations Funded
441
Is this foundation right for you?
SciRise maps the network of who funds whom to surface your next funders. Enter your nonprofit to check your fit.
Foundation Overview
Mission
The William H. Donner Foundation is a family foundation that invests in creative solutions to society most pressing problems. Originally concentrating on such areas as Canadian Studies in the United States, the interrelationship of food policy, nutrition and preventive health care, and developing American Indian leadership and institutions, the foundation then developed a focus on policy research. Today, the third, fourth, and fifth generations of William Donner family are active participants in the foundation, whose grants support a wide range of charitable work.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
Indian Land Tenure Foundation and Save Mount Diablo in California (environmental grantmaking); Amazon Watch, Nature Conservancy, Global Greengrants Fund supporting grassroots environmental groups in Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America and Pacific; Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society, Flora and Fauna International, United Animal Nations (animal welfare); Equine Advocates, RezQdogs, Warrior Canine Connections, Freedom Service Dogs (domesticated animal support)
How to Apply
Granting is by invitation-only. Each year, foundation staff, members, and advisors engage with current partners and wider charitable sector to identify opportunities. Does not regularly respond to letters of inquiry or unsolicited requests for funding. Contact: 914-524-0407 for general inquiries.
Does Not Fund
Does not accept unsolicited applications; all decisions at trustee discretion; must be 501(c)(3) organizations; invitation-only funding approach; progressive political organizations should look elsewhere due to center-to-right political orientation; operates through strategic partnerships rather than open grants
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$10.4M
Grants
288
Median
$20K
States
33
$222K
Grants
17
Median
$12K
States
8
$14.0M
Grants
347
Median
$20K
States
38
Grant Size Distribution
$20K
Typical Grant (Median)
$3K
Smallest
$10K
25th Pctile
$47K
75th Pctile
$354K
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $10K and $47K.
Largest Recent Grants
$354K
2024
GRASSROOTS INTERNATIONAL INC
MA · GENERAL SUPPORT
$250K
2024
SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK INC
CT · GENERAL SUPPORT
$250K
2024
HUMANITY IN ACTION INC
NY · GENERAL SUPPORT
$249K
2024
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
MA · GENERAL SUPPORT
$238K
2024
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM FOUNDATION
CA · GENERAL SUPPORT
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.