John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,000,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 1-2 months (May and October/November)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $250,000
• Geographic Focus: California Central Coast and neighboring regions (Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties)

Contact Details

Website: https://johnskiewitmemorialfoundation.org/

Address: 200 E Carrillo St Suite 400, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Note: Contact information for specific inquiries available on the foundation's website contact page.

Overview

The John S. Kiewit Memorial Foundation was established in 2000 by Ralph and Oralee Kiewit of Malibu, California, in memory of their son John S. Kiewit, who had a deep love for surfing and photography focused on the natural landscapes of the California coast. The foundation currently manages assets of approximately $57.6 million and distributes approximately $3 million annually in grants. The foundation's mission is to protect the land and other natural resources of the California Central Coast and neighboring regions from the effects of development through methods such as land purchase, conservation easements, education, and other preservation strategies. The foundation operates with an all-volunteer board of trustees who meet twice annually to review grant applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grant program with two annual funding cycles:

• General Conservation Grants: $1,000 - $250,000
• Application method: Online application portal (rolling with fixed deadlines)
• First cycle: March 31 deadline (decisions in May)
• Second cycle: September 30 deadline (decisions in October/early November)

Priority Areas

Land Conservation and Protection

• Land trust support and operations
• Conservation easement acquisition and monitoring
• Land acquisition for preservation
• Habitat restoration and stream restoration

Environmental Education

• Tide pool education programs
• Youth wilderness and nature education
• Public access to preserved lands

Agricultural Preservation

• Rangeland conservation
• Protection of agricultural character of coastal regions

Wildlife and Biodiversity Protection

• Native species habitat protection
• Biodiversity research and restoration
• Audubon and bird conservation initiatives

Geographic Focus

The foundation strictly focuses on the California Central Coast and neighboring regions, which includes:

• Santa Cruz County
• San Benito County
• Monterey County
• San Luis Obispo County
• Santa Barbara County
• Ventura County

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not consider grants outside of their mission statement or geographic area. Applications for projects outside the California Central Coast region will not be considered.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (all volunteer):

• Eric P. Hvolboll - President and Attorney, Gaviota
• David W. Van Horne - Treasurer
• Wendy M. Edmunds - Secretary and Professional Fiduciary, Santa Barbara
• Beverly Boise-Cossart - Vice President and Private Financial Advisor, Goleta
• Jose Baer - Land Manager, Gaviota and Chico
• Rick Ridgeway - American Mountaineer and Author, Ojai; former VP of Environmental Affairs at Patagonia (2005-2020); serves on multiple conservation boards including Tompkins Conservation and the Turtle Conservancy
• Lisa Pike Sheehy - Environmental and Philanthropic Advisor, Montecito
• Nita Vail - Agricultural Consultant, Santa Ynez Valley

The board brings diverse expertise in land management, conservation, law, finance, and environmental stewardship. Rick Ridgeway's extensive background in conservation leadership, including co-founding Cascale (formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition), and his work on initiatives like Freedom to Roam and the Responsible Economy Campaign at Patagonia, reflects the foundation's commitment to strategic environmental protection.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online. The foundation provides access to the application portal, which requires:

• Completion of online application form
• IRS determination letter demonstrating 501(c)(3) public charity status
• Project description and budget
• Supporting documentation as requested

Applicants should visit the foundation's website at johnskiewitmemorialfoundation.org for access to the application portal and current requirements.

Decision Timeline

First Cycle:

• Application deadline: March 31
• Trustee review meeting: May
• Decision notification: May

Second Cycle:

• Application deadline: September 30
• Trustee review meeting: October/early November
• Decision notification: October/early November

Typical timeline from submission to decision: 4-8 weeks after the application deadline

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose application statistics, success rates, or the number of applications received per cycle. In 2024, the foundation awarded grants to 23 organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly disclosed. Applicants are encouraged to contact the foundation directly with questions about reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's funding history and mission, successful applications demonstrate:

Strong alignment with conservation mission: The foundation prioritizes projects that directly protect land and natural resources from development. Recent grantees include established conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, California Rangeland Trust, and Land Trust for Santa Barbara County.

Geographic specificity: Projects must clearly fall within the California Central Coast region (Santa Cruz through Ventura counties). The foundation has shown particular interest in the Gaviota Coast and Santa Barbara County areas, with multiple grants supporting the Arroyo Hondo Preserve and similar projects.

Tangible conservation outcomes: Successful projects include land acquisitions, conservation easements, habitat restoration, and stream restoration—methods that produce measurable, lasting protection of natural resources.

Combination of preservation and education: The foundation supports both direct land protection and educational programs that connect people to preserved landscapes, such as tide pool education and wilderness youth programs.

Organizational credibility: The foundation's 2024 grantees include well-established land trusts and conservation organizations with proven track records in land stewardship and conservation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic boundaries are strict: Ensure your project falls clearly within the California Central Coast counties (Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura) before applying.
• Two chances per year: Plan your application timeline around the March 31 or September 30 deadlines; the foundation only reviews applications twice annually.
• Wide grant range accommodates various project sizes: The $1,000 to $250,000 range allows both small educational initiatives and large land acquisition projects to compete for funding.
• Board composition matters: The all-volunteer board includes land managers, environmental advisors, and conservation leaders with deep expertise in the field—applications should demonstrate sophisticated understanding of conservation practices.
• Focus on prevention and preservation: The foundation's mission emphasizes protecting land "from the effect of development," so applications should clearly articulate how projects prevent environmental degradation.
• Multiple funding strategies supported: The foundation supports various conservation methods including purchase, conservation easements, and education—applicants can propose creative approaches beyond land acquisition.
• Established organizations receive consistent support: The foundation provides ongoing funding to successful projects like the Arroyo Hondo Preserve, suggesting they value long-term relationships with effective conservation partners.

References

• John S. Kiewit Memorial Foundation Official Website: https://johnskiewitmemorialfoundation.org/ (accessed January 2026)
• "How to Apply," John S. Kiewit Memorial Foundation: https://johnskiewitmemorialfoundation.org/how-to-apply/ (accessed January 2026)
• "Board of Directors," John S. Kiewit Memorial Foundation: https://johnskiewitmemorialfoundation.org/board-of-directors-2/ (accessed January 2026)
• "Funding History," John S. Kiewit Memorial Foundation: https://johnskiewitmemorialfoundation.org/funding-history/ (accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, John S Kiewit Memorial Foundation (EIN 95-4794542): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954794542 (accessed January 2026)
• "Arroyo Hondo Stream Restoration," The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County: https://www.sblandtrust.org/land/arroyo-hondo-stream-restoration/ (accessed January 2026)
• "Rick Ridgeway," AAE Speakers Bureau: https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/rick-ridgeway (accessed January 2026)
• "Central Coast (California)," Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Coast_(California) (accessed January 2026)