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Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$0.3M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Henry David Thoreau Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $301,398 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $11,755,025
  • Success Rate: ~8-10 awards from applicant pool (scholarships)
  • Decision Time: ~12 weeks (February 1 deadline, April 30 notification)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 (scholarships) - $40,000 (faculty grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts (scholarships), National (faculty grants)

Contact Details

Address: 265 Medford Street, Suite 102, Somerville, Massachusetts 02143

Phone: 617-666-6900

Email: jackie@thoreauscholar.org

Website: https://www.thoreauscholar.org/

Online Application Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=henrydavidthoreaufoundation

Key Contact: Jackie Miller, Senior Administrator

Overview

Founded in 1949 and established as a grant-making foundation in 1999, the Henry David Thoreau Foundation is a charitable trust that propels environmental leadership across disciplines. Since its establishment as a grant maker, the foundation has distributed over $7 million to support environmental work. With total assets of approximately $11.8 million, the foundation contributed $301,398 in grants across 27 awards in 2023. The foundation operates two distinct programs: undergraduate scholarships for Massachusetts high school seniors pursuing environmental studies, and faculty grants for visionary university programs at U.S. colleges and universities. Led by President Dr. Jennifer Galvin, a scientist with degrees from Brown, Yale, and Harvard, the foundation describes itself as a "catalyst to action" that makes strategic investments in individuals and institutions to develop fearless environmental leaders. The foundation has cultivated nearly 200 alumni scholars now working globally on environmental challenges, and has funded innovative faculty-led programs at prestigious institutions including Cornell, Duke, University of Vermont, and College of the Atlantic.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Undergraduate Scholarships: $25,000 over four years per scholar

  • 8-10 scholarships awarded annually
  • Open application process through online portal
  • Annual deadline: February 1
  • Includes potential environmental internship stipend
  • Restricted to Massachusetts high school seniors

Faculty Grants: Up to $40,000 per grant

  • Multiple awards annually
  • Invitation-only application process
  • No fixed deadlines
  • Supports undergraduate-focused environmental initiatives at U.S. colleges and universities

Priority Areas

For Undergraduate Scholarships:

  • Interdisciplinary environmental studies
  • Students demonstrating environmental leadership potential
  • Commitment to safeguarding environmental welfare of future generations
  • Strong academic performance combined with environmental passion
  • Students pursuing diverse environmental career paths (policy, education, bench science, etc.)

For Faculty Grants:

  • Undergraduate-focused programs (the more students involved, the better)
  • Projects that build institutional capacity and create new environmental program branches
  • Initiatives requiring startup funding that can achieve sustainability through future institutional support
  • Programs strengthening partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, and businesses
  • Hands-on research and leadership opportunities for students
  • Service-learning projects addressing local and global environmental challenges
  • Climate and energy education
  • Environmental and cooperative economics
  • Restoration ecologies and workforce training
  • Community-engaged data science for environmental applications

What They Don't Fund

For Scholarships:

  • Students who are not Massachusetts residents in their final year of high school
  • Students who are not U.S. citizens
  • Graduate students
  • Students not pursuing environmental coursework (minimum 25% of undergraduate coursework must be environment-related)

For Faculty Grants:

  • "One-hit wonders" - projects without potential for institutional sustainability
  • Programs not focused on undergraduate students
  • Unsolicited proposals (faculty grants are invitation-only)

Governance and Leadership

Staff

Dr. Jennifer P. Galvin — President

  • Email: jennifer@thoreauscholar.org
  • ScD in Environmental Health (Harvard School of Public Health)
  • MPH in Environmental Epidemiology (Yale University)
  • BS in Aquatic Biology (Brown University)
  • Founder of reelblue, LLC (documentary filmmaker connecting art and science)
  • Long-time member since the Foundation's inception

Jackie Miller — Senior Administrator

Board of Trustees

  • John R. Galvin
  • Scott D. Ellis
  • Jennifer P. Galvin

Scholarship Selection Committee

  • Jennifer P. Galvin (Chair)
  • Christopher D. Golden
  • Scott D. Ellis
  • Marilee Jones
  • David R. Magnussen

Leadership Philosophy

Dr. Galvin has stated: "How do you build resilient, energetic, environmental leaders? I want them to think of themselves as fearless leaders now, whether interested in policy or education or bench science, whatever drives them the most." She describes the foundation's approach as making "big bets on individuals and institutions – more of a social venture," and notes that "The seeds are growing. The dots are connecting, top down and bottom up."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Undergraduate Scholarships:

  • Apply exclusively through the online application portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=henrydavidthoreaufoundation
  • Only online applications accepted (no hand-delivered applications)
  • Application opens: October 15
  • Deadline: February 1 for application and all supplementary materials
  • References are submitted through the online system (no separate submission required)
  • Foundation provides guidance documents for resume writing and requesting reference letters
  • SAT/ACT scores are NOT required

Faculty Grants:

  • Invitation-only application process
  • No public application portal
  • Interested faculty should contact the foundation directly at jackie@thoreauscholar.org or 617-666-6900
  • Review past faculty grant recipients on the foundation's website for context on competitive projects

Decision Timeline

Undergraduate Scholarships:

  • Application deadline: February 1
  • Decision notification: By April 30 (via email)
  • Total timeline: Approximately 12 weeks from deadline to notification

Faculty Grants:

  • Timeline varies based on invitation and proposal review
  • No fixed decision schedule

Success Rates

Undergraduate Scholarships:

  • 8-10 scholars selected annually
  • Specific application volume not publicly disclosed
  • Foundation emphasizes seeking "outstanding young leaders" with demonstrated environmental leadership potential

Faculty Grants:

  • Multiple awards made annually (recent examples include 2-4 grants per year based on public profiles)
  • Success rate not disclosed
  • Invitation-only process means pre-screened pool of applicants

Reapplication Policy

The foundation's website does not explicitly address reapplication policies for unsuccessful scholarship applicants. Given that scholarships are limited to high school seniors, students would not typically have an opportunity to reapply. For faculty grants, the invitation-only nature of the process means reapplication would depend on future invitations from the foundation.

Application Success Factors

For Undergraduate Scholarships

Demonstrate Environmental Leadership Potential: The foundation seeks students who show they can become "fearless leaders" in environmental work. Based on successful scholar profiles, this includes:

  • Founding or leading environmental initiatives in high school or community
  • Taking action on environmental issues, not just studying them
  • Example: Scholar David Solomon Poritz launched Equitable Origin while at Brown, developing the first certification system for oil and gas companies meeting environmental and social standards

Emphasize Interdisciplinary Approach: The foundation specifically values interdisciplinary environmental studies. Successful applicants demonstrate interest in connecting environmental work across multiple fields - science, policy, economics, education, art, etc.

Show Resilience and Long-term Commitment: Dr. Galvin emphasizes building "resilient, energetic, environmental leaders." Applications should demonstrate sustained commitment to environmental work and ability to persist in facing environmental challenges.

Academic Excellence with Purpose: While strong academics matter (scholars must maintain above 2.5 GPA), the foundation emphasizes the combination of academic performance with demonstrated passion for environmental issues. Scholar Aheli Chattopadhyay noted the award was "about so much more than the financial support—it's about being connected with like-minded peers, finding inspiration in their own interests and passions."

Leverage the Support Resources: The foundation provides specific guidance documents for resume writing and requesting reference letters. Using these resources demonstrates attention to their process and increases application quality.

For Faculty Grants

Focus on Undergraduate Impact: Faculty grant proposals must center on undergraduate students. As the foundation states: "The more undergraduates involved the better." Proposals should clearly articulate how students will benefit and develop as environmental leaders.

Build for Sustainability: The foundation explicitly states they don't fund "one-hit wonders." They seek "projects that can grow institutional legs." Successful proposals demonstrate:

  • How the program will continue after initial grant funding ends
  • Potential for institutional adoption and ongoing support
  • Example: College of the Atlantic's program led to establishment of the Cody van Heerden Chair in Economics & Quantitative Social Science

Strengthen Partnerships: The foundation values programs that develop collaborations with community organizations, government agencies, and businesses. Faculty grants should show how the program extends beyond campus.

Provide Hands-on Opportunities: Successful faculty grants provide hands-on research and leadership opportunities for students. The foundation's "funding has proven to be an effective catalyst for a range of innovative service-learning projects that have presented solutions to pressing local environmental problems."

Recent Funded Examples Include:

  • Cornell University: "Thoreau Planetary Solutions Initiative"
  • University of Vermont: "The Fellowship for Restoration Ecologies and Cultures: Training Leaders for the Green Work Force"
  • University of New Hampshire: "UNH Climate Action Clinic"
  • Duke University: "Duke University Marine Laboratory Scholars Program"
  • Georgia Southern University: "Bridging Art and Science to Improve Coastal Resiliency"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Two distinct programs: Undergraduate scholarships (open application, MA residents only) and faculty grants (invitation-only, national scope). Ensure you're applying to the appropriate program.

  • Leadership over credentials: The foundation emphasizes developing "fearless leaders" rather than just supporting strong students. Applications should demonstrate leadership potential and action, not just academic achievement or environmental awareness.

  • Interdisciplinary is essential: Both programs prioritize interdisciplinary approaches to environmental work. Connect environmental studies to policy, economics, art, science, or other fields.

  • Think long-term and systemic: Whether applying for scholarships or faculty grants, demonstrate how the support will lead to lasting impact. For faculty grants, show institutional sustainability; for scholarships, show career trajectory toward environmental leadership.

  • Use the online system correctly: For scholarships, only online applications are accepted. Take advantage of the foundation's guidance documents and follow their specific instructions for references and materials.

  • Faculty grants require an invitation: Don't submit unsolicited faculty grant proposals. Instead, contact the foundation directly to explore whether your project might be a fit for future invitations. Study past recipients to understand what they fund.

  • Connect with the network: The foundation emphasizes community and connection among scholars and grantees. Applications that show understanding of and interest in the HDT Network and collaborative approach may stand out.

References

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