V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 46-2283123 · since 2014vkrf.org·International·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$8.1M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$10,000 to $685k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$458k

Typical grant (median)

18 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

This foundation funds international-level work on unsustainable consumption, environmental resilience, cultural resilience, global leadership and nature's inherent value, so it suits organisations whose projects carry an international perspective even when locally based.
Grants to organisations typically range from $10,000 to $685,000, with half of its 68 grants at or below about $245,000, so a request in that range is realistic.
It runs two grant cycles a year through invitation-only or Open Call processes and does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry outside a Call for Proposal, though its programme staff welcomes discussions with those in the thematic field or questions from potential applicants.
With 31% of its grant dollars in its latest filing going to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, there is some weight toward continuing relationships, but the process otherwise runs through set calls rather than open applications at any time.
Do not apply if you are a for-profit organisation, lack U.S. IRS 501(c)(3) charitable certification or equivalency if international (unless using a fiscal sponsor with certification), are seeking core funding of NGOs, support for candidates for political office, conservation projects focused on a single species, government organisation funding, individual scholarships or other individual support, medical research, health care, re-grants, capital construction or endowment campaigns, or benefits or annual fund-raising campaigns.

Overview

V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation addresses the urgency of unsustainable consumption and its impacts on natural systems, and supports a transition to a more environmentally resilient, stable and sustainable planet. It works primarily on international-level issues, engaging in a few national and place-based local projects when these support international learning tools and resources for meaningful action. Its work includes cultural resilience and global leadership under environmental breakdown, systems-level responses to ecological, economic and social stresses, and nature’s inherent value; it seeks to inspire a nature-centric worldview that fosters cooperation, co-existence and resilience. Its typical grantees are innovative non-profit organisations with demonstrated leadership in specialised strategies, communicating their vision and effective project performance. It favours systems approaches addressing root causes and original, experimental thinking.

Themes

Unsustainable consumption
Environmental resilience
Cultural resilience
Global leadership
Nature’s inherent value

Geographic Focus

Priority: International-level.

What They Don't Fund

For-profit organizations
Organizations without U.S. IRS 501(c)(3) charitable certification or equivalency if international (fiscal sponsors with certification can be used)
Core funding of NGOs
Candidates for political office
Conservation projects focused on a single species
Government organizations
Individual scholarships or other individual support
Medical research
Health care
Re-grants
Capital construction or endowment campaigns
Benefits or annual fund-raising campaigns

How to apply

The foundation typically offers two grant cycles a year, using invitation-only or Open Call processes. It does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry outside a Call for Proposal. Program staff welcomes discussions with actors in the thematic field or questions from potential applicants.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 31% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 68 grants to organisations were about $245,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

It favours projects that consider all life equally important.
It favours projects that use a systems approach to address root causes and achieve change.
It favours projects that take stock of and tell the truth about the scale, complexity, and urgency of environmental problems.
It favours projects based on original thinking, creative ideas, and experimentation.
It favours projects that alter power dynamics related to decision-making and influence.
It favours projects with international significance and perspective, even if they are locally based.
Grantee reports help the foundation monitor, evaluate and learn from funded projects.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

District of Columbia25%

New York6%

California5%

Massachusetts4%

North Carolina2%

Oregon2%

3 other states: 2%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 54%

The largest single recipient received 23% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 31% of grant dollars went to organisations V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
54% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, Australia).
24% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

18 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $458k

How much do they typically give?

Share of 18 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$1k–$2.5k6%

$2.5k–$5k0%

$5k–$10k6%

$10k–$25k0%

$25k–$50k0%

$50k–$100k6%

$100k–$250k11%

$250k–$500k33%

$500k–$1M28%

$1M and over11%

Median $458k (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

United Nations Foundation · In support of asra's operations and core activities
$1,000,0002024 tax year
United Nations Development Programme · In support of "advancing nature in undp development thinking and practice for human development" project
$1,000,0002024 tax year
University of Copenhagen · In support of the center for applied ecology
$809,5322024 tax year
University of Sydney · In support of the "including the more-than-human in decision making" project
$620,2682024 tax year
Transition Network · In support of the project "accelerating nature-centric decision-making and living systems through bioregional governance partnerships"
$549,0812024 tax year
Transition Network · In support of the project "field recordings from a thrutopian future"
$530,8452024 tax year
Urban Sustainability Directors Network · In support of carbon neutral cities alliance's project "designing urban climate governance for regenerative futures"
$500,0002024 tax year
Oregon State University · In support of "aligning nature-centrism with organizational structure and purpose" project
$496,8832024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Diane Ives — Director
Kristian Cedervall Lauta — Director
Andrew Bowman — Director And Treasurer
Astrid Kann-Rasmussen See STMT 14 — Director And Vice Chair
Kristian Kann Rasmussen — Director And Chair

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$9,098,331	$7,595,423	$94,569,167	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$8,755,662	$7,461,013	$88,235,809	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$9,396,712	$8,105,392	$85,269,622	Filing for 2024 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

vkrf.org

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