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Cedar Tree Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$9.3M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.2M
Decision Time
5mo
Success Rate
8%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,318,134 (2023)
  • Success Rate: ~8% (based on Rooted in Justice program data)
  • Decision Time: 4-6 months (application to award)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $175,000 (multi-year grants typical)
  • Geographic Focus: United States only
  • Total Assets: $86,624,071

Contact Details

Address: 225 Franklin Street, Floor 26, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 617-695-6767
Website: https://cedartreefound.org

Overview

Cedar Tree Foundation is a private family foundation established in the mid-1990s by the late Dr. David H. Smith, a pediatrician and entrepreneur who invented the vaccine for meningitis. With over $86 million in assets, the foundation made 105 awards totaling $9.3 million in 2023. Cedar Tree's mission reflects Dr. Smith's belief in "the power of individuals and organizations to make significant changes in the world." The foundation focuses on environmental health, sustainable agriculture, environmental education, environmental justice, and civic engagement. In recent years, Cedar Tree has evolved from traditional grantmaking to incorporate participatory grantmaking models and has increasingly prioritized racial equity, particularly supporting organizations led by people of color working in communities of color.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Rooted in Justice Program (Open for new applications in 2025-2026)

  • $25,000 per year for 2 years, plus $3,000 for professional development
  • Supports youth-led programming (ages 12-20) in urban greening, food justice, and climate justice
  • Uses participatory grantmaking model with outside reviewers
  • Application cycle opens early September 2025; awards announced in April
  • Since 2021, has funded 21 multi-year grants and 10 one-time grants

Children's Environmental Health Initiative (Currently closed to new applicants)

  • Multi-year grants ranging from $50,000-$125,000 per year
  • Supports campaigns to reduce children's exposure to toxic chemicals
  • Focus on communities of color and environmental justice
  • Currently supporting existing grantees with renewal grants

Regenerative Grazing Initiative (Currently closed to new applicants)

  • Multi-year grants ranging from $90,000-$175,000 per year (typically 2-3 years)
  • Promotes regenerative grazing practices to build soil health
  • Supports both national organizations and regional programs
  • Currently focused on renewal grants to existing grantees

Civic Engagement Program (No public application process)

  • Multi-year grants through third-party consultants
  • 2022-2025: Over $3.4 million to 13+ organizations
  • Geographic focus: Texas, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina
  • Supports community-informed approaches led by Black, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous organizations

David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship Program

  • Administered by Society for Conservation Biology
  • Two-year postdoctoral fellowships: $72,100 (Year 1), $74,263 (Year 2)
  • Application through separate portal: apply.smithfellows.org

CEE-Change Fellowship

  • Co-funded with Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation
  • Administered by North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)
  • Supports civics and environmental education leaders with 5+ years experience
  • 12-month fellowship with professional development and networking

Priority Areas

  • Environmental justice and racial equity
  • Youth leadership development (ages 12-20)
  • Children's environmental health and toxic chemical reduction
  • Sustainable and regenerative agriculture
  • Conservation science and research
  • Environmental education linked with civic engagement
  • Community-led environmental initiatives in communities of color

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital improvements
  • Scholarships or grants to individuals
  • Projects outside the United States
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Joan M. Smith, President (widow of founder Dr. David H. Smith)
  • Andrea L. Smith, Vice President

Staff:

  • Sophia M. Kolehmainen, JD, MPH - Executive Director (since 2002)
  • Gregory R. Horner - Senior Program Officer
  • Dana Karlsson - Grants and Communications Manager
  • Debra Moniz - Director of Administration and Finance

The foundation operates as a family foundation continuing the vision of Dr. David H. Smith, who believed that toxic chemicals pose particular threats to children and that environmental solutions require supporting both scientific research and grassroots community action.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Rooted in Justice (2025-2026 cycle):

  • Request for Proposals (RFP) released early September 2025
  • Online application through foundation portal
  • Over 50 organizations typically apply for 4 main cohort positions
  • Participatory grantmaking model with outside review panel
  • Awards announced in April

For Other Programs: Most Cedar Tree programs are currently closed to new applicants or operate without public application processes. The foundation works primarily with consultants and third-party organizations to identify grantees, particularly for Civic Engagement work. They do not accept unsolicited applications for Civic Engagement funding.

General Application Process:

  • Fully online grant application and reporting platform
  • Applications accepted only when specific programs announce open cycles
  • Check website regularly for updates on program openings

Decision Timeline

  • Rooted in Justice: Application in fall (September), decisions in spring (April) - approximately 6-7 months
  • General timeline: 4-6 months from application to award decision
  • Participatory review processes involve outside expert reviewers

Success Rates

  • Rooted in Justice Program: Approximately 8% success rate (4 main cohort members from 50+ applicants, though additional one-time grants may be awarded)
  • Overall Competitiveness: 105 awards from limited application windows suggests highly selective grantmaking
  • Foundation prefers to make fewer, larger, multi-year grants rather than many small grants

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly documented. However:

  • Current grantees may be eligible for renewal funding (typically after initial 2-3 year grant period)
  • Some programs (like Rooted in Justice) offer potential third-year funding to initial 2-year grantees
  • Foundation appears to maintain long-term relationships with successful grantees

Application Success Factors

Demonstrated Environmental Justice Commitment: The foundation explicitly states it gives "particular consideration to proposals demonstrating strong elements of environmental justice and conservation." Recent grantmaking shows clear prioritization of organizations led by people of color working in communities of color.

Multi-Year Impact Potential: Cedar Tree structures programs to provide "a smaller number of organizations with larger, multi-year grants." Applications should demonstrate capacity for sustained, long-term impact rather than one-off projects.

Youth Leadership Integration (for Rooted in Justice): Young people (ages 12-20) must play a role in planning and decision-making. Programs should develop youth leadership skills as a core component, not an add-on. Past successful grantees include urban agriculture programs, youth entrepreneurship initiatives, and community farming projects.

Alignment with Specific Program Focus: Each Cedar Tree program has distinct priorities:

  • Rooted in Justice: Youth food justice and urban greening programs serving communities experiencing historical or current injustice
  • Children's Environmental Health: Marketplace campaigns and community-based programs reducing toxic chemical exposures, especially for children of color
  • Regenerative Grazing: Farmer education and technical assistance promoting regenerative grazing for soil health

Community-Centered Approach: Cedar Tree values community-informed approaches and organizations with deep roots in the communities they serve. For Civic Engagement work, they specifically support "community-informed approach[es], led by and primarily working with Black, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous people."

Examples of Funded Organizations:

  • BK Rot Inc. (Brooklyn composting and youth development)
  • Cultivate Charlottesville (Youth Food Justice Leadership Program)
  • Dream of Wild Health (Native Youth Education Leadership Program)
  • Practical Farmers of Iowa (Regenerative grazing education, $175,000/year x 3 years)
  • Center for Environmental Health (Protecting children from hormone-disrupting chemicals)
  • West Harlem Environmental Action (Campaign Against Toxic Skin and Hair Products)

Risk-Taking and Innovation: The foundation has incorporated "higher risk grant making" into its strategy, suggesting openness to innovative approaches and emerging organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Timing is critical: Most programs are currently closed to new applicants. Mark your calendar for Rooted in Justice RFP in early September 2025, and monitor the website for future program openings.

  • Environmental justice is non-negotiable: Cedar Tree has evolved to center racial equity. Applications must demonstrate how programs address environmental injustice and serve communities of color.

  • Think multi-year, not project-by-project: Cedar Tree invests in long-term organizational relationships. Demonstrate capacity for sustained impact over 2-3 years.

  • Youth leadership must be authentic (for Rooted in Justice): Young people ages 12-20 should have genuine decision-making power and leadership development opportunities, not just participate in activities.

  • Leverage participatory processes: Cedar Tree uses participatory grantmaking for some programs. Understand that peer practitioners in your field will review applications.

  • Don't submit unsolicited proposals: For programs without open applications (like Civic Engagement), Cedar Tree works through consultants and partner organizations. Focus on programs with announced open cycles.

  • Highlight community leadership: Organizations led by people from the communities they serve are strongly preferred, particularly for environmental justice and civic engagement work.

References

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