Tortuga Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $7,762,816 (2023)
• Total Assets: $95,280,018 (2023)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $370,000
• Median Grant: $75,000
• Number of Grants: Approximately 100 grants annually
• Geographic Focus: Primarily northeastern United States (based on recent 990-PF records)
• Application Method: Invitation only/preselected organisations

Contact Details

• Address: Princeton, NJ
• EIN: 51-0245279
• Tax-Exempt Since: May 1980
• Classification: 501(c)(3) Private Grantmaking Foundation

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and does not publish contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Tortuga Foundation (also known as Tortuga Charitable Foundation) is the grantmaking foundation of the Livingston family, established in 1980. With total assets of $95.3 million and annual giving of approximately $7.8 million, the foundation supports nonprofit organisations working on land and water conservation, climate and clean energy, regenerative agriculture, and reproductive health issues. Until her death in 2018 at age 100, the family's philanthropic efforts were led by Joan Livingston Tweedy, who was previously married to Robert C. Livingston, an Olympic silver medalist hockey player and president of International Instruments. Since January 2022, the foundation has been led by Executive Director Karen Harris, who brings over 22 years of nonprofit consulting experience and extensive background in clean energy policy from her previous role at the John Merck Fund. The foundation administers approximately 100 grants annually, with most grantmaking concentrated on conservation efforts in the northeastern United States.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Tortuga Foundation focuses on four core programme areas:

Land and Water Conservation: The foundation's primary focus area, supporting land trusts, conservation organisations, and wildlife protection efforts primarily in the northeastern United States.

Climate and Clean Energy: Supporting climate policy organisations, renewable energy advocacy, and environmental law centres.

Regenerative Agriculture: Funding initiatives that promote sustainable and regenerative farming practices.

Reproductive Health: Supporting reproductive rights organisations, family planning services, and abortion access advocacy.

Grant amounts typically range from $5,000 to $370,000, with a median grant size of $75,000.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking patterns, the foundation actively funds:

• Conservation Organisations: Land trusts, wildlife conservation societies, nature centres, and environmental protection organisations
• Environmental Law and Advocacy: Environmental law centres, policy organisations, and public interest research groups focused on environmental protection
• Climate and Energy Policy: Organisations working on climate change mitigation, renewable energy policy, and clean energy advocacy
• Water Conservation: Organisations focused on watershed protection, creek conservancies, and marine conservation
• Reproductive Rights: Organisations supporting abortion access, family planning, and reproductive health services
• Social Services: Limited funding for social service organisations

Notable Grant Recipients

Recent grant recipients include:

• The Nature Conservancy ($370,000 in 2023)
• Rockefeller Family Fund ($250,000 in 2023)
• Environmental Integrity Project ($210,000 in 2022; $200,000 in 2023)
• New York Public Interest Research Group ($200,000 in 2023)
• Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust ($195,000 in 2023)
• Connecticut Audubon Society ($150,000 in 2022)
• Planned Parenthood ($150,000)
• National Institute for Reproductive Health ($75,000)
• Abortion Care Network ($50,000)
• Esopus Creek Conservancy
• Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
• Turtle Survival Alliance
• Land Trust Alliance
• Wildlife Conservation Society
• Southern Environmental Law Centre
• Centre for Biological Diversity

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's focus is clearly limited to environmental conservation, climate/energy, regenerative agriculture, and reproductive health. Organisations outside these areas are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Karen Harris, Executive Director (since January 2022)

Karen Harris leads the foundation after running her own nonprofit consulting firm, Karen Harris Consulting, for 22 years. Prior to consulting, she served as the clean energy programme director at the John Merck Fund for over 14 years. Her work has focused on renewable energy and climate policy, transportation, land conservation, international security, sustainable agriculture, and nonprofit capacity building.

Lucy A. Winikoff, Grants Manager

Board of Trustees

As of 2022, four members of the Livingston family sit on Tortuga's board:

• Mildred Livingston, President and Trustee (uncompensated)
• Patricia Livingston, Secretary and Trustee (uncompensated)
• Additional Livingston family members (names not publicly disclosed)

Historical Leadership

Joan Livingston Tweedy (deceased 2018 at age 100) led the family's philanthropic efforts for decades. Beyond Tortuga, Tweedy was personally involved in funding numerous conservation groups, including the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Bronx Zoo, the Nature Conservancy, the New Canaan Nature Centre, and the Darien Nature Centre.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Tortuga Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

This means that organisations cannot submit grant applications through an online portal, by mail, or through any other standard application method. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organisations that have been identified and selected by the foundation's board and leadership.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation does not provide public guidance on how organisations can be considered for funding. Given the foundation's approach of supporting preselected organisations, grants are likely awarded based on:

• Existing relationships with the Livingston family and foundation leadership
• Organisations known to the board members through their personal involvement in conservation and environmental sectors
• Recommendations from trusted advisers and peer foundations
• Organisations already active in the foundation's core geographic focus area (northeastern United States)

The foundation's executive director, Karen Harris, has extensive networks in the clean energy, climate policy, and conservation sectors from her previous roles at the John Merck Fund and through her consulting work, which may inform the foundation's grantmaking decisions.

Application Success Factors

Since the Tortuga Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, based on the foundation's grantmaking patterns, organisations that align with the following characteristics have received funding:

Alignment with Core Mission Areas

Organisations that have received funding demonstrate clear focus on:

• Conservation in the Northeast: The foundation shows strong preference for land and water conservation efforts in the northeastern United States
• Environmental law and policy: Support for organisations that combine legal advocacy with environmental protection
• Established conservation organisations: Preference for well-known, established organisations with proven track records (The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, Land Trust Alliance)

Geographic Focus

The majority of funded organisations work in or focus on the northeastern United States, though the foundation has supported some organisations with national or broader geographic scope when they align closely with mission priorities.

Organisation Size and Capacity

The foundation supports organisations across a range of sizes, from small local land trusts (Esopus Creek Conservancy) to major national organisations (The Nature Conservancy, Planned Parenthood).

Multi-Year Support Patterns

The foundation demonstrates commitment to certain organisations through repeated grants year over year (e.g., Environmental Integrity Project received $210,000 in 2022 and $200,000 in 2023).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists: The Tortuga Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and only funds preselected organisations. Traditional grant writing strategies will not work with this funder.

• Geographic concentration matters: The foundation strongly prioritises conservation work in the northeastern United States. Organisations working outside this region are less likely to be considered unless they address climate/energy policy at a national level.

• Four core programme areas: Focus is clearly defined around land and water conservation, climate and clean energy, regenerative agriculture, and reproductive health. Organisations outside these areas should not expect funding.

• Relationship-driven grantmaking: Funding decisions appear to be based on existing relationships, board connections, and recommendations rather than competitive application processes. Building awareness within conservation and environmental philanthropy networks may be valuable for long-term positioning.

• Established organisations favoured: Grant recipients include both major national organisations and smaller regional groups, but all demonstrate established track records and proven impact in their fields.

• Substantial grant sizes: With a median grant of $75,000 and grants ranging up to $370,000, the foundation makes meaningful investments in its grantees, suggesting it values depth over breadth in its funding relationships.

• Family foundation structure: As a private family foundation controlled by the Livingston family, grantmaking reflects the family's values, interests, and long history of conservation philanthropy dating back to Joan Livingston Tweedy's leadership.

References

• Tortuga Foundation - GuideStar Profile
• Tortuga Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
• Tortuga Charitable Foundation | Foundation Directory | Candid
• Tortuga Foundation - InfluenceWatch
• Tortuga Charitable Foundation | Cause IQ
• Grantmakers.io Profile - Tortuga Foundation
• Tortuga Foundation | Instrumentl
• Karen Harris - Executive Director, Tortuga Foundation | LinkedIn
• TORTUGA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | Foundation Profile & Grants | Grantable

Information compiled from publicly available Form 990-PF filings, foundation databases, and nonprofit research sources. Accessed December 2024.