Okavango Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work concerns ocean and waterway conservation, wildlife and animal protection, or mental health advancements, it matches the foundation's stated initiatives, and it invites nonprofits whose work aligns with them to get in touch.
- Most of its grants to organisations are modest: half of its 78 were $9,600 or less, and a request between $2,550 and $50,000 is typical, though its largest grant was $100,000.
- Start by contacting the foundation through the contact page on its website to learn about the donation process and becoming a beneficiary, since no further application stages are given and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Repeat funding is significant, with 51% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had funded in earlier filings, but nothing in the filing or on its website rules out a first approach.
- The filing shows grants mainly in North Carolina, Utah, New York, Florida and California, yet no geographic focus is stated, so that pattern should not be read as a limit on who may apply.
Overview
Okavango Foundation is a US private foundation based in Chapel Hill, NC.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Okavango Foundation provides donations to nonprofits and organisations furthering its mission to restore and protect the health of the planet, including its animals and people. It works through three initiatives: ocean and waterway conservation, wildlife and animal protection, and mental health advancements. Its environmental support includes research and restoration, and significant contributions go to shelters, sanctuaries and programmes defending animal welfare. In mental health, it supports research into the causes of severe mental illness and the search for effective treatments. The foundation invites nonprofits whose work aligns with its initiatives to contact it to learn about the donation process and becoming a beneficiary.
Themes
- Ocean and waterway conservation
- Wildlife and animal protection
- Mental health advancements
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in North Carolina, Utah, New York, Florida and California.
How to apply
Nonprofits can contact the foundation through its contact page to learn about the donation process and becoming a beneficiary; the site gives no further application stages.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 51% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 78 grants to organisations were $9,600 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Nonprofits should align with the foundation’s initiatives and contact it to learn about the donation process.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
4 other states: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 19% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 51% of grant dollars went to organisations Okavango Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 28 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Best Friends Animal Society · Support sanctuary for homeless animals$85,0002025 tax year
- Duke University · General$50,0002025 tax year
- American Friends of the Ocean Cleanup Foundation · Preserve and protect the natural ocean environment for the benefit of the public$50,0002025 tax year
- Beautiful Together · Support rescue of animals who have been abused, neglected or abandoned$25,0002025 tax year
- Siembra NC · General$25,0002025 tax year
- The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA · Support the rehabilitation and rescue of orphaned elephants$15,0002025 tax year
- Beautiful Together · Support rescue of animals who have been abused, neglected or abandoned$10,0002025 tax year
- National Immigrant Justice Center · General$10,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Richard Keefe — Vice President & Treasurer
- Caren Gadigian-Keefe — President & Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $569,447 | $464,800 | $9,842,851 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $520,951 | $406,375 | $9,846,217 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $483,372 | $379,600 | $9,787,373 | Filing for 2025 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
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At a glance
Applying to Okavango Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chapel Hill, NC
- okavango-foundation.com
Applying to Okavango Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chapel Hill, NC
- okavango-foundation.com