D N Batten Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• EIN: 54-1864288
• Annual Giving: $5,910,560 (2023)
• Number of Awards: 22 grants (2023)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Charlottesville, VA; Chesapeake Bay region; International (South America and Africa)
• Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

Address: 101 W Main St, Suite 700, Norfolk, VA 23510-1624
Phone: 757-625-7670
Website: https://dnbattenfoundation.org/
Management: Signature Family Wealth Advisors (a subsidiary of Brown Advisory Incorporated)

Important Note: The foundation does not accept or respond to unsolicited grant proposals, inquiries, or letters of intent. Grant applications are by invitation only.

Overview

The D N Batten Foundation was established in 1997 by Dorothy Batten, daughter and heiress of Frank Batten, the billionaire founder of The Weather Channel and head of Landmark Communications. The foundation is a private grantmaking organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, that distributed approximately $5.9 million across 22 grants in 2023. The foundation's mission is to "create opportunities for people to live healthy, fruitful lives, especially through the promotion of healthier environmental conditions." Dorothy Batten, a lifelong conservationist raised on the banks of the Atlantic Ocean and Virginia's tidewater rivers, has dedicated her philanthropy to protecting nature and animals while empowering those who lack resources for wellbeing. The foundation takes a strategic approach to grantmaking, directing significant environmental investments to South America and Africa, while maintaining strong local commitments in Virginia, particularly in Charlottesville and the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates an invitation-only grantmaking program across four primary areas:

Water & Species Conservation: $5,000 - $1,000,000

• Chesapeake Bay Watershed protection and restoration
• Large mammal species conservation in Africa (elephants, rhinos, lions, wild dogs)
• Tropical Andes conservation in South America
• Anti-deforestation initiatives
• Marine habitat and biodiversity protection

Youth Development: Grant amounts vary

• Promotes adolescents' physical, social/emotional, cognitive, and identity wellbeing
• Educational programs related to environmental stewardship
• Programs educating future generations about natural resources

Innovation in Healthcare: Grant amounts vary

• Integration of advanced technology in treatments
• Focus on mental health prevention and care
• Support for focused ultrasound research and applications

Community Needs (Charlottesville Focus): Grant amounts vary

• Direct services for urgent needs
• Education initiatives
• Hunger and homelessness programs
• Job skills training
• Support for women and children

Priority Areas

Environmental Conservation Focus:

• Anti-deforestation efforts in South America (Peru, Bolivia) and Africa
• Water quality and watershed protection (Chesapeake Bay)
• Biodiversity conservation and species protection
• Market-based sustainability strategies
• Sustainable agriculture practices and stormwater management
• Climate change mitigation

Geographic Priorities:

• Local: Charlottesville, Virginia (top local priority); Chesapeake Bay watershed
• International: South America (Amazon Basin in Peru and Bolivia); Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe)

Organizational Preferences: The foundation seeks programs that:

• Provide original, creative, "out of the box" solutions
• Employ market-based strategies guided by scientific research
• Are led by visionaries passionate about their mission
• Demonstrate willingness to take risks and be pioneers
• Show potential for lasting behavioral change
• Involve local communities in conservation efforts

Known Grantees

Environmental Organizations:

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation
• African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) - for elephant, rhino, lion, and wild dog conservation in transboundary landscapes
• Wildlife Conservation Society
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC) - particularly for agricultural practices in Chesapeake Bay region
• Amazon Conservation Association - for anti-deforestation work in Peru and Bolivia
• Rare (conservation organization) - Dorothy Batten serves as Board Chair and made a $10 million challenge grant for unrestricted support

Local Virginia Organizations:

• Charlottesville Works at PVCC
• Darden School Foundation at University of Virginia

Healthcare:

• Focused Ultrasound Foundation (Dorothy Batten served as founding board member for 14 years)

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's narrow focus suggests they do not fund:

• Projects outside their four priority areas (environmental conservation, youth development, healthcare innovation, Charlottesville community needs)
• Organizations without clear conservation, education, or community impact missions
• Initiatives not aligned with their geographic focus areas
• General operating support outside their strategic priorities

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership

Dorothy Batten - President and Founder Dorothy Batten is the daughter of Frank Batten, founder of The Weather Channel and Landmark Communications. She is a lifelong conservationist who states: "Today, I dedicate my philanthropy to preserving and protecting nature and animals and empowering those who lack resources for wellbeing." She believes "that people and nature can coexist in an equitable manner" and envisions "a world that echoes the joy and inspiration of my childhood."

Conservation Philosophy: "I learned that conservation doesn't have to be about setting something aside and keeping people away. That conservation can involve people, and coexist with people still doing things in a good way."

Dorothy Batten serves on numerous nonprofit boards including:

• Chair of Rare's Board of Trustees (elected 2021; joined board 2016)
• UVA Alumni Board of Trustees
• Former board member of Norfolk Academy, Peabody School, Amazon Conservation Association, Paramount Theater
• Former positions with UVA Jefferson Scholars Foundation, Fralin Museum of Art Advisory Board, Virginia Film Festival Council of Friends, and Virginia Arts Council

Management

The foundation is professionally managed by Signature Family Wealth Advisors (located at the same address), which became a wholly owned subsidiary of Brown Advisory Incorporated in November 2018. Signature provides integrated wealth management services to high net worth individuals, families, and charitable foundations.

Foundation Philosophy

The foundation's guiding principle states: "In order for humans to thrive, we must nurture the natural habitats in which we live and the species with which we share the planet."

Dorothy Batten's personal vision for conservation: "The Rare name and brand to be the most well-thought-of and recognizable name in conservation, to be known as the organization best at inspiring hope and motivating people to work together towards change."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The D N Batten Foundation does not have a public application process. Dorothy Batten does not accept or respond to unsolicited grant proposals, inquiries, or letters of intent. All grant applications are by invitation only.

The foundation identifies potential grantees through:

• Dorothy Batten's extensive board service and conservation network
• Relationships developed through organizations where she serves as trustee or advisor
• Strategic initiatives aligned with the foundation's focus areas
• Recommendations from current grantees and conservation partners

Getting on Their Radar

Organizations seeking to build relationships with the foundation should consider:

1. Strong Presence in Foundation Priority Geographies:

• Chesapeake Bay watershed conservation
• Charlottesville, Virginia community services
• Amazon Basin (Peru/Bolivia) or East/Southern Africa conservation

2. Connections Through Dorothy Batten's Network:

• Rare (where Dorothy serves as Board Chair) - partners and collaborators
• African Wildlife Foundation partnerships
• University of Virginia connections, particularly Darden School
• Focused Ultrasound Foundation community

3. Demonstrated Alignment with Foundation Values:

• Innovative, "out of the box" approaches to conservation
• Market-based, scientifically-guided strategies
• Community-involved conservation (not exclusionary models)
• Behavioral change methodologies
• Long-term sustainability focus

4. Specific Conservation Focus Areas: Organizations working on the foundation's documented priorities have the strongest potential:

• Large mammal conservation in Africa (elephants, lions, rhinos, wild dogs)
• Chesapeake Bay water quality and species conservation
• Amazon rainforest protection and sustainable agriculture
• Youth environmental education
• Mental health innovation through technology

5. Professional Excellence and Pioneer Spirit: The foundation explicitly seeks "visionaries who are passionate about their mission and are willing to take risks and be pioneers." Demonstrated innovation and thought leadership in conservation appears valued.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available as the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis without fixed application deadlines. Given the private foundation structure with 22 grants distributed in 2023, decisions likely occur throughout the year as strategic opportunities arise and through Dorothy Batten's ongoing engagement with the conservation community.

Success Rates

With only 22 awards made in 2023 from an invitation-only pool, the foundation maintains a highly selective grantmaking approach. Success rates for unsolicited inquiries are effectively 0% as the foundation does not accept or respond to such requests.

Reapplication Policy

No public reapplication policy exists. Given the invitation-only structure, ongoing relationships with grantees appear to be managed through direct communication and board networks rather than formal reapplication processes.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Within the Foundation's Network:

The following factors appear critical based on the foundation's documented priorities and Dorothy Batten's statements:

1. Innovative Conservation Approaches The foundation explicitly supports "programs that provide original, creative, 'out of the box' solutions." Organizations should demonstrate novel approaches rather than traditional conservation models. Market-based strategies that incentivize sustainable behaviors are particularly valued.

2. Scientific Grounding All solutions must be "guided by scientific research." The foundation supports evidence-based approaches to conservation, particularly those that can demonstrate measurable impact on species and habitat protection.

3. Community-Inclusive Models Reflecting Dorothy Batten's philosophy that "conservation can involve people, and coexist with people still doing things in a good way," successful initiatives integrate local communities rather than excluding them. The foundation has supported organizations like Rare that focus on behavioral change and local empowerment.

4. Long-Term Vision with Risk-Taking The foundation seeks "visionaries who are passionate about their mission and are willing to take risks and be pioneers." Projects should demonstrate both commitment to lasting impact and willingness to try unproven approaches.

5. Strategic Geographic Alignment Organizations must work in the foundation's priority geographies:

• Chesapeake Bay watershed for water and species conservation
• Charlottesville, VA for community needs
• Specific regions in Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, DRC) for large mammal conservation
• Amazon Basin (Peru, Bolivia) for rainforest protection

6. Capacity for Significant Projects With grants ranging from $5,000 to $1,000,000 and an average grant size of approximately $268,660 (based on $5.9M divided by 22 grants), the foundation appears to support organizations with capacity to implement substantial conservation initiatives.

7. Multi-Faceted Impact Potential The foundation's support for organizations addressing multiple dimensions (e.g., environmental protection plus youth education, or conservation plus community economic development) suggests value placed on integrated approaches.

8. Alignment with Dorothy Batten's Personal Passions Given the foundation's close connection to Dorothy Batten's vision, organizations working on issues where she has demonstrated personal commitment (large mammals, water conservation, focused ultrasound medical technology, youth empowerment) may have stronger alignment.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-Only Structure: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organizations cannot apply directly and should not attempt to send proposals, letters of intent, or inquiries.

• Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: Access to funding requires being within Dorothy Batten's extensive conservation and philanthropic network, or being identified through her board service with organizations like Rare, African Wildlife Foundation partnerships, or University of Virginia connections.

• High-Impact Conservation Focus: The foundation makes relatively few but substantial grants (22 grants totaling $5.9M in 2023, averaging ~$269K per grant), suggesting preference for organizations capable of implementing significant conservation initiatives.

• Innovation and Risk-Taking Valued: Explicitly seeks "out of the box" solutions and "pioneers" willing to try new approaches, particularly market-based strategies for conservation.

• Geographic Specificity Essential: Strong alignment required with Chesapeake Bay, Charlottesville VA, Amazon Basin (Peru/Bolivia), or East/Southern Africa (particularly Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, DRC).

• Scientific Rigor Required: All supported programs must be guided by scientific research and demonstrate evidence-based approaches.

• Community-Inclusive Conservation Philosophy: The foundation favors models where "people and nature can coexist" rather than exclusionary conservation approaches, reflecting Dorothy Batten's belief that local communities should be partners in conservation.

References

1. D N Batten Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/541864288 (Accessed March 11, 2026)

2. The DN Batten Foundation Official Website. https://dnbattenfoundation.org/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

3. D.N. Batten Foundation - InfluenceWatch. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/d-n-batten-foundation/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

4. D.N. Batten Foundation | Inside Philanthropy. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/virginia-and-west-virginia-grants/dn-batten-foundation (Accessed March 11, 2026)

5. The DN Batten Foundation | Norfolk, VA | Cause IQ. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/d-n-batten-foundation,541864288/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

6. D N Batten Foundation - GuideStar Profile. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/54-1864288 (Accessed March 11, 2026)

7. D N Batten Foundation - Instrumentl 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/d-n-batten-foundation (Accessed March 11, 2026)

8. About Dorothy Batten - The DN Batten Foundation. https://dnbattenfoundation.org/about-dorothy-batten/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

9. "A Sit-Down with the Chair" - Rare. https://rare.org/story/a-sit-down-with-the-chair/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

10. "Conservation Is a Long Game. Dorothy Batten Is More Than Ready." - Darden Report Online. https://news.darden.virginia.edu/2024/10/30/dorothy_batten_oakencroft/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

11. Water & Species Conservation Large Mammal Species - The DN Batten Foundation. https://dnbattenfoundation.org/philanthropy/large-mammal-species/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

12. Water & Species Conservation Chesapeake Bay Watershed - The DN Batten Foundation. https://dnbattenfoundation.org/philanthropy/chesapeake-bay/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

13. Youth Development - The DN Batten Foundation. https://dnbattenfoundation.org/philanthropy/youth-development/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

14. "Family Matters: Jane and Dorothy Batten Are on a Mission to Advance Focused Ultrasound" - Focused Ultrasound Foundation. https://www.fusfoundation.org/posts/family-matters-jane-and-dorothy-batten-are-on-a-mission-to-advance-focused-ultrasound/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

15. Corporate and Foundation Partners - African Wildlife Foundation. https://www.awf.org/about/partners/corporate-foundation-partners (Accessed March 11, 2026)

16. Frank Batten - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Batten (Accessed March 11, 2026)