Zg Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,000,000 - $1,200,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not disclosed
• Grant Range: $30,000 - $250,000
• Geographic Focus: National/International (U.S. and abroad)

Contact Details

The Zg Foundation does not maintain a public website or publicly listed contact information. Administrative correspondence can be directed to:

Address: c/o Marcum LLP, Morristown, NJ (also listed as East Hanover, NJ in some records) EIN: 84-3845961

Overview

Established in 2021, the Zg Foundation Inc is a private family foundation focused on combating climate change and environmental challenges. With total assets of approximately $24.9 million as of 2024, the foundation disburses roughly $1 million annually in unrestricted grants to established environmental organizations. The foundation is led by Craig Harrison, founder and former CEO of C Technologies Inc., a spectroscopy products manufacturer acquired by Repligen Corporation in 2019 for approximately $240 million. The foundation's investment portfolio is managed by BBR Partners, a boutique wealth management firm serving high-net-worth families. The foundation's grantmaking strategy focuses on supporting large, established organizations conducting multiple projects both domestically and internationally to halt climate warming and assist populations in adapting to changing climate conditions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides unrestricted general operating support grants with no designated programs or specific funding cycles. Based on 2022 data, nine organizations received grants ranging from $30,000 to $250,000.

Priority Areas

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

• Organizations working to halt global warming progression
• Projects supporting fossil fuel transition
• Climate adaptation initiatives for affected populations

Environmental Conservation

• Forest preservation and sustainable land management
• Creative financing mechanisms for conservation
• Land protection and open space preservation

Climate Advocacy and Education

• Climate policy and advocacy organizations
• Climate action networks
• Research and strategic planning for climate solutions

What They Don't Fund

The foundation focuses exclusively on climate and environmental issues. Based on available data:

• No grants to organizations outside environmental/climate sectors
• Appears to support only established organizations with proven track records
• No evidence of grants to small grassroots organizations or startup initiatives
• No grants to individual projects or individuals

Governance and Leadership

Trustees: Craig Harrison, Joan Harrison, Kyle Harrison, Jamie Harrison

The foundation is governed by the Harrison family with no reported trustee compensation.

Craig Harrison (President): Founder and former CEO of C Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of spectroscopy products used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The company was acquired by Repligen Corporation in 2019 for approximately $240 million, after which Harrison served as Senior VP, Analytics at Repligen. C Technologies recorded $23.7 million in revenue in 2018, led by its SoloVPE product line, considered a gold standard for measuring protein concentration in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Zg Foundation operates as a private family foundation without publicly available application guidelines, deadlines, or contact information for grant seekers.

The foundation proactively identifies and funds established organizations aligned with its climate and environmental mission. All grants awarded in 2022 were unrestricted general operating support, suggesting the foundation prioritizes organizational flexibility over project-specific funding.

Getting on Their Radar

Specific information about how the Zg Foundation identifies potential grantees is not publicly documented. The foundation's 2022 grantees were all large, nationally or internationally recognized environmental organizations with substantial operations and proven track records in climate work.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private foundation without an open application process, decision timelines are at the discretion of the trustees.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Zg Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following observations are based on their documented grantmaking patterns:

Organization Profile Preferences:

• Large, established organizations with national or international reach
• Organizations conducting multiple simultaneous projects addressing climate change
• Recipients include both U.S.-based and internationally-focused organizations

Funding Approach:

• All documented grants (2022) were unrestricted general operating support
• Grant amounts varied significantly ($30,000 to $250,000), suggesting consideration of organizational size and scope
• Focus on organizations working on both climate mitigation (halting warming) and adaptation (supporting affected populations)

Sector Focus:

• Organizations working to end fossil fuel use
• Forest preservation and conservation finance innovators
• Land protection and open space conservation
• Climate advocacy and policy organizations
• Women-led and gender-focused climate initiatives

2022 Grant Recipients (illustrative of funding priorities):

• Forest Trends: $250,000 (conservation finance)
• Open Space Institute: $200,000 (land protection)
• Project Drawdown: $125,000 (climate solutions research)
• EcoTrust: $90,000 (Pacific Northwest forest preservation)
• Protect Our Winters: $50,000 (climate advocacy)
• Women's Earth and Climate Action Network: $35,000 (women-led climate action)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This is a private family foundation that proactively identifies grantees rather than accepting applications
• Unrestricted funding model: The foundation provides general operating support, not project-specific grants
• Established organizations only: All documented grantees are large, nationally or internationally recognized organizations
• Climate and environment exclusive: Funding is entirely focused on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and environmental conservation
• Wide grant range: Awards from $30,000 to $250,000 suggest flexibility based on organizational scope
• Investment-funded: The foundation's grantmaking is supported entirely by investment returns, managed by BBR Partners
• Family governance: Managed by the Harrison family with no external staff or advisors evident in public records

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Zg Foundation Inc (EIN 84-3845961). Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/843845961 (Accessed January 2026)
• InfluenceWatch - Zg Foundation Profile. Available at: https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/zg-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Charity Navigator - Zg Foundation Inc Profile. Available at: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/843845961 (Accessed January 2026)
• IRS Form 990-PF filings for tax years 2021-2023 (via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
• Globe Newswire (April 26, 2019) - "Repligen Corporation Announces Agreement to Acquire Process Analytics Innovator C Technologies." Available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/04/26/1810480/0/en/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Cause IQ - ZG Foundation Profile. Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/zg-foundation,843845961/ (Accessed January 2026)