Agua Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send a cold proposal.
- Instead, it should look for an introduction that leads to an invitation, and check whether its work matches the stated priority areas of Virginia, Western Colorado, Indian Country, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania, or the themes of environmental protection, aging services, food access, domestic violence support and civic engagement.
- Typical grants fall between $15,000 and $80,000, with about 8 in 10 of its 203 grants in that band and a median of about $31,000, so a modest request fits, although its largest grant was about $495,000, to Agua Donor Fund, an organisation that regrants to others.
- The foundation favours general support where possible, so a request for flexible funding suits its stated approach, and it welcomes collaboration with other funders.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 93% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so a first-time applicant is entering a pool dominated by existing grantees, and the filing gives no timetable, so ask about timing when you make contact.
Overview
Agua Fund is a US private foundation based in Front Royal, VA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Agua Fund backs work to protect the natural environment, help disadvantaged people, give voice to underserved communities and strengthen democratic participation. Its environmental grantmaking supports organisations protecting water resources, agricultural and forested landscapes, and biodiversity, alongside sustainable water management, agriculture and forestry. It also supports services that help older people age with dignity and in place, locally grown food access for disadvantaged communities, and work against domestic violence in the Shenandoah Valley. In civic engagement and democracy, it provides general support mainly to state and local grassroots groups and Native-led partners. Its social-service general support is centred on the District of Columbia, with additional support for Native-led and Native-serving organisations. Where possible, it gives general support, leaving grantees to decide how to deploy funds, and welcomes collaboration with other funders.
Themes
- Environmental protection
- Aging services
- Food access
- Domestic violence support
- Civic engagement
Geographic Focus
Priority: Virginia; Western Colorado; Indian Country; the District of Columbia; Pennsylvania.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 93% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 203 grants to organisations were about $31,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Where possible, the foundation favours general support grants, trusting grantees to decide how to deploy the funds.
- The foundation welcomes collaboration with other funders to leverage its resources.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 11%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 6% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to organisations Agua Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 9% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 59 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $35,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley · For general support$150,0002025 tax year
- Piedmont Environmental Council · For general support$150,0002025 tax year
- National Wildlife Federation · For general support for the choose clean water coalition$115,0002025 tax year
- Southern Environmental Law Center · For general support$100,0002025 tax year
- New Virginia Majority Education Fund · For general support$95,0002025 tax year
- Virginia Organizing · For general support$80,0002025 tax year
- Native American Voting Rights Fund · For general support$75,0002025 tax year
- National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition · For general support$75,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Emily Francis — Director
- Kenyon Fields — Director
- Moshe Z Pasternak — Secretary
- Joy A Horwitz Esq — Chair & Director
- Ann Mills — President
- Linda Locke — Treasurer
- Catherine M Conover — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $3,983,885 | $3,257,108 | $11,724,599 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,818,435 | $3,070,000 | $9,321,890 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $3,306,738 | $2,514,000 | $13,472,788 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Agua Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- pasternak@aguafundinc.org
- Front Royal, VA
- aguafund.org
Applying to Agua Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- pasternak@aguafundinc.org
- Front Royal, VA
- aguafund.org