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Kalliopeia Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.8M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.5M

Kalliopeia Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,840,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $500,000
  • Average Grant: ~$40,000
  • Geographic Focus: United States, including Alaska and Hawaii
  • Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

Overview

Founded in 1997 by Barbara and Tom Sargent, the Kalliopeia Foundation is an independent operating foundation dedicated to cultivating connections between ecology, culture, and spirituality. The foundation's name means "beautiful voice" and refers to the first of the nine Greek muses. With approximately $116 million in assets (2019-2021 average), Kalliopeia has evolved from supporting spiritual values in institutions to a focused emphasis on Indigenous-led initiatives, regenerative agriculture, and projects that honor sacred relationships with the living Earth. In recent years, the foundation has significantly increased its grantmaking, growing from $1.6 million in 2021 to $6.84 million in 2023. Barbara Sargent retired from leadership in 2017, and she and Tom fully stepped away in 2021. Beyond grantmaking, the foundation operates two educational initiatives: Emergence Magazine (exploring ecology, culture, and spirituality through storytelling) and the Global Oneness Project (K-12 multimedia curricula emphasizing universal values).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Kalliopeia supports U.S.-based organizations through two primary approaches:

  • Direct Grants: $5,000 - $500,000 for general operating support or specific projects to organizations aligned with their mission
  • Regranting Partnerships: Major investments in Native-led intermediary organizations that distribute funds to grassroots Indigenous projects nationwide. For example, since 2002, Kalliopeia has funded First Nations Development Institute's Native Youth and Culture Fund, which annually awards grants to Native American youth programs supporting traditional ecological knowledge and spirituality.

The foundation provides both general operating support and project-specific funding. At least 39% of 2021 disbursements were unrestricted general operating support, exceeding recommended thresholds for trust-based philanthropy.

Priority Areas

Kalliopeia prioritizes "land-based projects that regenerate soil, soul and community" with leadership that is visionary yet grounded. Specifically, they fund:

  • Indigenous Rights and Land Stewardship: Native-led land conservancies, Indigenous language preservation, traditional ecological knowledge, and cultural revitalization
  • Regenerative Agriculture and Food Sovereignty: Sustainable farming initiatives, particularly those led by BIPOC communities, addressing food system equity
  • Spiritual-Ecological Integration: Organizations blending contemplative practices with environmental action (e.g., Buddhist ecology groups, interfaith environmental initiatives)
  • Environmental Justice: Community-based projects addressing the intersection of racial justice, equity, and environmental conservation
  • Media and Storytelling: Content exploring ecology and culture, particularly Indigenous perspectives

The foundation emphasizes organizations that:

  • Demonstrate reverent connection to land
  • Foster intergenerational leadership
  • Show strong management and measurable results
  • Use communications to inspire beyond single communities
  • Integrate inner spiritual work with outer action

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals, even with a fiscal sponsor (except for media projects with 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship)
  • Organizations focusing exclusively on ecological, spiritual, or cultural work in isolation
  • Projects whose impact "don't translate beyond a niche audience: e.g., academia, specific religious communities"

Governance and Leadership

Historical Leadership:

  • Barbara Sargent (Founder): Practiced Sufi Islam and articulated the foundation's spiritual philosophy: "To facilitate a lasting effect, our outer actions must grow from ever-deepening contact with our inner selves." She emphasized that Indigenous peoples "know how to be true stewards of our earth and its varieties of life."
  • Tom Sargent (Co-Founder): Founding principal of San Francisco-based Equity Community Builders LLC and president of Highlands SRI

Barbara retired from leadership in 2017, and both she and Tom fully stepped away in 2021. The couple also formed Tamalpais Trust in 2012 (providing grants to Indigenous-led organizations) and New Field Foundation (2003-2016, supporting rural women in West Africa).

Current Leadership: The foundation has approximately 11-16 employees as of 2025, but specific current board and staff names are not publicly disclosed on their website or in readily available public documents.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Kalliopeia operates on an invitation-only model and does not accept unsolicited proposals. The foundation focuses primarily on its existing network of grantee partners.

For organizations not currently in their network: Interested organizations that feel their work is strongly aligned with the foundation's mission may email grants@kalliopeia.org with information about their work. The foundation reviews these submissions but cannot respond to every inquiry. They only contact organizations they wish to explore further.

Getting on Their Radar

Kalliopeia identifies new grantee partners through:

  • Their existing networks: Current grantees and trusted advisors in the Indigenous rights, regenerative agriculture, and spiritual ecology fields
  • Field research: Foundation staff actively participate in and observe work in their focus areas
  • Gatherings: The foundation attends and hosts convenings at the intersection of ecology, culture, and spirituality

Specific Strategy: Given Kalliopeia's emphasis on regranting through Native-led intermediaries, organizations working in Indigenous communities might increase visibility by building relationships with their major regranting partners, such as First Nations Development Institute, Honor the Earth, and Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder focused on multi-year relationships with existing partners, decision timelines vary based on individual circumstances and relationship development.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation distributed approximately 105 grants across 29 states in 2021, but does not publish application-to-award ratios.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. Organizations declined after initial outreach may contact the foundation again if their work evolves to better align with Kalliopeia's mission.

Application Success Factors

While Kalliopeia doesn't have a traditional application process, their published guidance and funding patterns reveal what they value:

Leadership Philosophy: Founder Barbara Sargent emphasized that outer work must "grow from ever-deepening contact with our inner selves," signaling that they seek organizations integrating contemplative practice with action.

Indigenous Stewardship Priority: The majority of Kalliopeia's support flows to Native-led organizations. "By Native-led, the foundation means that they focus on supporting projects whose leadership and governance are primarily Indigenous." Organizations with Indigenous leadership and governance structures are strongly preferred.

Multi-Dimensional Impact: The foundation explicitly avoids organizations focusing on ecology, spirituality, or culture in isolation. Successful grantees demonstrate integration across these domains. For example, funded organizations like One Earth Sangha combine Buddhist practice with climate action, while Soul Fire Farm integrates Afro-Indigenous farming practices with food justice.

Visionary Yet Grounded: Kalliopeia seeks "land-based projects that regenerate soil, soul and community" with leadership that "foster[s] leadership in others" and demonstrates clear, measurable results. They want transformative vision paired with practical implementation.

Broad Reach: Projects must communicate and inspire "beyond a niche audience." While supporting grassroots work, they value organizations whose impact and message can influence broader movements.

Recent Funding Examples (2021):

  • Honor the Earth (Minnesota): $230,000 for regranting and capacity building
  • First Nations Development Institute (Colorado): $225,000
  • Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival: $220,000

Multi-Year Relationships: Kalliopeia is described as a "multi-year funder," indicating they prefer sustained partnerships over one-time grants.

Unrestricted Funding: With 39% of 2021 grants being general operating support, the foundation demonstrates trust in grantee decision-making, suggesting they value organizational autonomy and adaptive capacity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only means relationship-first: Direct applications won't succeed; focus on building authentic relationships through shared networks, conferences, and convenings in the ecology-culture-spirituality space
  • Indigenous leadership is central: The majority of funding flows to Native-led organizations or through Native-led intermediaries; non-Native organizations should demonstrate meaningful Indigenous partnership and governance
  • Integration is non-negotiable: Don't pitch solely environmental, spiritual, or cultural work—show how your organization weaves all three dimensions together
  • Land-based is literal: Kalliopeia funds organizations with direct connection to land stewardship, regenerative agriculture, or place-based cultural practice, not purely advocacy or policy work
  • Multi-year thinking: Position your organization for sustained partnership rather than project-specific funding; demonstrate capacity for long-term relationship
  • Leverage regranting pathways: Smaller grassroots organizations, particularly Indigenous-led projects, may find more success seeking funding through Kalliopeia's regranting partners like First Nations Development Institute than approaching the foundation directly
  • General operating support available: Kalliopeia provides significant unrestricted funding, so don't feel pressured to create a special project—strong organizational alignment and trust are what matter

References

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