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Cloud Mountain Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.4M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.4M

Cloud Mountain Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6.4 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (does not accept unsolicited applications)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $420,000
  • Median Grant: $40,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (31+ states, 70+ cities across the US)
  • Total Assets: $91.6 million (2024)

Contact Details

  • Address: 237 W 35th St, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10001-1950
  • Website: None (the foundation does not maintain a public website)
  • Email: Not publicly available
  • Phone: Not publicly available

Overview

Cloud Mountain Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1999 in Massachusetts and later relocated to New York City. The foundation was founded by Benjamin Friedman, who serves as president and sole listed officer. With total assets of approximately $91.6 million and annual grantmaking of around $6.4 million, Cloud Mountain Foundation is a significant funder in the environmental and civic engagement space.

The foundation accomplishes its charitable purposes solely through a program of making charitable gifts and does not conduct any direct charitable activities or make program-related investments. Cloud Mountain Foundation maintains a low public profile, with no dedicated website and minimal public information available. The foundation relies primarily on investment income (dividends, interest, and asset sales) to fund its grantmaking activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation made 110 grants in 2023, with a median grant size of $40,000 and grants ranging from $5,000 to $420,000. The average grant size is approximately $58,705.

Primary Focus Areas (based on 2023 grants):

  • Environmental initiatives: ~50 grants
  • Civic/governance projects: ~40 grants
  • Media & information: ~5 grants
  • Educational programs: ~1 grant

Recent Grant Recipients (2023)

OrganizationLocationAmount
Science & Environmental Health NetworkEugene, OR$420,000
Columbus Institute for Contemporary JournalismColumbus, OH$270,000
Sustainable Markets FoundationNew York, NY$270,000
New World FoundationNew York, NY$200,000
True North ResearchEncinitas, CA$200,000
Community Environmental Legal Defense FundMercersburg, PA$175,000
Story of Stuff-$160,000
Bold Alliance-$150,000

Historical Grantees (notable recipients over time)

  • Center for Media and Democracy (over $500,000 since 2012)
  • Food and Water Watch
  • Democracy Now!
  • Proteus Fund
  • Ruckus Society
  • Democracy 21
  • Movement Strategy Center
  • UnKoch My Campus

Priority Areas

  • Environmental advocacy and protection
  • Progressive media and journalism
  • Civic engagement and democracy initiatives
  • Social justice and grassroots organizing
  • Opposition to agricultural biotechnology/GMOs
  • Campaign finance reform advocacy

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Based on the pattern of grants, they do not appear to fund:

  • Individual applicants
  • Organizations outside their established network
  • Unsolicited requests for funds

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Benjamin Friedman - President, Founder, and sole listed officer

  • Dedicates approximately 15 hours per week to the foundation
  • Receives no compensation for his role
  • Sole contributor to the foundation (contributed $133,678 in 2017)

Sarah Stranahan - Consultant

  • Senior Editorial Associate for the Democracy Collaborative
  • Holds positions with the New Economy Coalition

The foundation operates with minimal staff (only two known personnel) and maintains a deliberately low public profile.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Cloud Mountain Foundation has explicitly indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. The foundation identifies grantees through its existing networks and relationships rather than through an open application process.

There is no grant portal, application form, or documented submission process available to the public.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's lack of public application process, organizations seeking funding should consider:

  1. Alignment with funding patterns: The foundation has consistently supported progressive environmental organizations, investigative journalism outlets, civic engagement groups, and grassroots organizing initiatives. Organizations in these sectors with established track records may be more likely to come to the foundation's attention.

  2. Network connections: The foundation's consultant Sarah Stranahan is connected to the Democracy Collaborative and New Economy Coalition, suggesting potential pathways through progressive economic and civic networks.

  3. Sector visibility: Many grantees appear to be well-established organizations with significant visibility in environmental advocacy, independent media, and democratic reform movements.

  4. Fiscal sponsors: Some grants appear to go through fiscal sponsors like New World Foundation and Sustainable Markets Foundation, suggesting these may be channels for smaller organizations.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation does not publish information about its internal review or decision-making processes.

Success Rates

According to one analysis, approximately 12% of the foundation's grants go to "new applicants" (organizations not previously funded). However, since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, this likely reflects proactive outreach by the foundation rather than a competitive application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not maintain a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since Cloud Mountain Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on the pattern of grants, organizations that receive funding share these characteristics:

Common traits of funded organizations:

  • Progressive orientation on environmental and civic issues
  • Focus on investigative journalism, research, or advocacy
  • Opposition to corporate influence in politics and agriculture
  • Grassroots organizing capacity
  • Established track record in environmental protection or democratic reform

Types of work supported:

  • Environmental health research and advocacy
  • Investigative journalism and media watchdog activities
  • Campaign finance and electoral reform
  • Community organizing and direct action training
  • Anti-GMO and food system advocacy

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. No public application process: The foundation explicitly states it does not accept unsolicited applications and only funds preselected organizations. Cold applications are not reviewed.

  2. Strong environmental and progressive focus: Nearly all grants go to organizations working on environmental protection, progressive media, civic engagement, or democratic reform.

  3. Substantial grants available: With grants ranging from $5,000 to $420,000 and a median of $40,000, the foundation provides meaningful support to its chosen grantees.

  4. Relationship-based grantmaking: Success requires being within the foundation's existing networks rather than through a competitive application process.

  5. Low public profile: The foundation deliberately maintains minimal public presence with no website and limited publicly available information.

  6. Consistent multi-year support: Many grantees receive funding over multiple years, suggesting the foundation builds long-term relationships with organizations it supports.

  7. Geographic reach but thematic focus: While grants reach organizations across 31+ states, the thematic focus remains concentrated on environmental and civic causes.

References

Research conducted December 2025

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