The Volgenau Foundation

Private operating foundation · EIN 54-1738281 · since 1995volgenaufoundation.org·United States·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$13.4M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$50,000 to $400k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$113k

Typical grant (median)

60 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

The Volgenau Foundation funds conservation across land, freshwater and marine ecosystems, wildlife protection and connectivity, education, and classical music, so a good fit is likely only if your work sits within one of these themes.
Most grants to organisations fall between $50,000 and $400,000, with a median of $100,000, so pitch a request in that range rather than a much larger sum unless your project clearly matches the scale of its biggest grants.
The foundation states plainly that it does not accept unsolicited requests and operates by invitation only, so a grant writer should not send a cold application; instead, look for ways to be introduced or become known to the foundation before approaching it.
More than half of its grant dollars go to organisations it had already funded in the previous two years' filings, which suggests it favours ongoing relationships over one-off asks, so patience and relationship-building matter more than a single well-written proposal.
Geographic focus is given simply as the U.S., so there is no narrower area to worry about meeting.

Overview

The Volgenau Foundation is a US private foundation based in Mclean, VA.

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's grantmaking spans conservation, wildlife, education and classical music. It supports the preservation of natural resources across land, marine and freshwater ecosystems, including policy change, practical conservation work, research and education for sustainability. Its wildlife work addresses habitat protection and movement, safe passage, coexistence between people and wildlife, and public education. In education, it focuses on access for under-resourced communities, conservation and STEM learning, and young people's leadership. Its classical music work engages youth through music education and instrument access, new composition, and connections between music and nature. The foundation describes its approach as collaborative, with practical solutions for conservation and opportunities for young people.

Themes

Land, freshwater, marine conservation
Wildlife protection and connectivity
Education
Classical music

Geographic Focus

The U.S.

How to apply

The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 56% 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 165 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

It supports policy change that promotes conservation and responsible resource management.
It supports organisations that address wildlife movement and habitat protection.
It invests in conservation-focused education that connects young people with preserving the natural world.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

District of Columbia18%

Virginia16%

California16%

Montana13%

New York12%

Texas6%

6 other states: 16%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 3%

The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 56% of grant dollars went to organisations The Volgenau Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
19% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

60 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $113k

How much do they typically give?

Share of 60 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$25k–$50k5%

$50k–$100k23%

$100k–$250k45%

$250k–$500k23%

$500k–$1M2%

$1M and over2%

Median $113k (tax year 2024)

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

Volgenau Climate Initiative · 2 payments toward 2023 3-year pledge
$4,146,6282024 tax year
Plastic Solutions Fund · Plastic solutions fund
$500,0002024 tax year
Center for Large Landscape Conservation · Catalyzing landscape conservation and connectivity in the u.s.
$400,0002024 tax year
Greater Yellowstone Coalition · Protecting the engine of the ecosystem: greater yellowstone wildlife migrations
$400,0002024 tax year
National Parks Conservation Association · Protecting national park wildlife
$400,0002024 tax year
Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative · General operating support - connecting and protecting wildlife habitat
$400,0002024 tax year
NatureBridge West Coast · Naturebridge access, growth and leadership
$350,0002024 tax year
Land Trust Alliancecbfn · To advance nature-based climate solutions through land conservation
$300,0002024 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Lauren Volgenau-Knapp — Director and VP, Environment
Lisa Volgenau — Director and VP, Environment
Ernst Volgenau — President
Andrea Pearl — Executive Director
Jonathan Kaledin — Board Member / Executive VP
Chris Decardy — Board Member
Jennifer Volgenau Wiley — Director and VP, Administration

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$11,571,135	$10,073,880	$128,354,104	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$14,205,015	$11,438,686	$154,624,111	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$15,502,864	$13,446,628	$166,183,467	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.