Defenders of Wildlife
Washington, District of Columbia · EIN 530183181 · Private foundation
Defenders of Wildlife is a private foundation based in Washington, District of Columbia. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $1.3M in grants paid and $48.3M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 194 individual grants from this funder — $6.0M awarded across 2017–2025 — including its support for arts & culture. Below is its full funding profile.
What Defenders of Wildlife funds
Defenders of Wildlife's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, education, environment & conservation, higher education, substance use & recovery.
Populations it has supported include black communities, hispanic communities, indigenous, older adults.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Defenders of Wildlife, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Nature Conservancy Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | Arlington, VA | $356K | 2018 |
| The Nature Conservancy Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | Arlington, VA | $331K | 2019 |
| The Nature Conservancy Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | Arlington, VA | $313K | 2020 |
| The Wilderness Society Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | Washington, DC | $240K | 2018 |
| The Wilderness Society Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | Washington, DC | $209K | 2017 |
| The Wilderness Society Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | Washington, DC | $205K | 2019 |
| National Resources Defense Council Inc Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | New York, NY | $203K | 2018 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council Inc Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | New York, NY | $203K | 2019 |
| The Wilderness Society Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | Washington, DC | $192K | 2020 |
| National Resources Defense Council Inc Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | New York, NY | $179K | 2017 |
| Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund To support the Colorado wolf reintroduction ballot measure on the ballot in Colorado regarding the reintroduction of wolves to the state | Lafayette, CO | $176K | 2020 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council Inc Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | New York, NY | $169K | 2020 |
| The Nature Conservancy Sub-grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to facilitate and expedite the sensitive siting of renewable energy projects through the | Arlington, VA | $158K | 2017 |
| Fort Belknap Indian Community To be used for range expansion for Tribal buffalo herds, fencing, water development and other habitat needs for Tribally owned and managed b | Harlem, MT | $136K | 2017 |
| County of Dare To re-fence to Dare County Transfer Station on Cub Road in Manns Harbor, NC. | Manteo, NC | $120K | 2025 |
Defenders of Wildlife giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at defenders.org.
Is Defenders of Wildlife the right funder for your nonprofit?
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Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about Defenders of Wildlife
- Does Defenders of Wildlife accept grant applications?
- Defenders of Wildlife's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does Defenders of Wildlife fund?
- Defenders of Wildlife's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include The Nature Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does Defenders of Wildlife give in grants?
- Defenders of Wildlife reported $1.3M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $6.0M over 194 grants.
- Where is Defenders of Wildlife located?
- Defenders of Wildlife is based in Washington, District of Columbia. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 530183181.
- How can I find foundations similar to Defenders of Wildlife?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Defenders of Wildlife, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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