High Meadows Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The High Meadows Foundation’s grantmaking supports environmental science, research, education, policy development and more. The foundation was started by financier Carl Ferenbach.
IP TAKE: This is not an accessible funder, but it is open to inquiries. While the foundation has no stated geographical limitations, it tends to prioritize efforts in the Northeastern United States. This funder has limited funding set aside for special projects, if your work doesn’t fit into any of its grant programs but upholds the foundation’s mission. It’s progressive and unafraid of taking risks to further its mission.
PROFILE: The High Meadows Foundation was established in 2007 by Carl Ferenbach, co-founder of Boston-based private equity firm Berkshire Partners. It invests in and promotes “workable yet creative ideas to address the complex environmental and societal issues facing the world.” Ferenbach and his wife Judy own High Meadows Associates, which owns and operates farmland in Vermont, sustainably producing maple syrup, wood products and even grass for biofuel. Ferenbach has also served as chairman of the Environmental Defense Fund since 2008, among other green group boards. The foundation primarily invests in the environment, education, and business and society.
Grants for Environmental Conservation, Climate Change and Food Systems
High Meadows Foundation’s environmental grantmaking centers on improving environmental education, conservation research and science, conserving wilderness and landscapes, land management practices, and sustainable food systems. It has also made investments in related climate change work. Its limited website does not name further conservation or conservation education strategies, preferring to broadly fund organizations rather than limit what kinds of organizations it funds. Past grantees include the Environmental Defense Fund, Climate Central, the Food Project and the High Meadows Fund, which works in Vermont to help mitigate the effects of climate change. The foundation also funds conservation work at the local, regional and national levels. Carl Ferenbach also co-founded High Meadows Institute, which is focused on “exploring the role of business leadership in building sustainable economic and social progress in the global community.”
High Meadows also supports environmental efforts through its Business and Society focus area, which encourages business leaders and entrepreneurs to “strengthen the networking capabilities in this area,” “building effective leadership,” and “increasing collaboration in the pursuit of responsible business practices.” It generally works by providing seed funding to develop and carry out business ventures and initiatives that align with the foundation’s mission.
Grants for Education
The High Meadows Foundation’s education grantmaking centers around incorporating “concepts of environmental responsibility and stewardship in the education of future generations.” It funds in-school, after-school, and out-of-school programs for children and college students, with a focus on “interdisciplinary approaches to solving the environmental issues of the 21st century.” It also supports other issues of concern relating to education, including childhood development, teacher training, underserved communities, and arts education. Grantees include Princeton Environmental Institute, EduCare DC, Foundation for Student Communication, IgniteSTEM and the Woodrow Wilson Graduate School of Teaching and Learning.
Important Grant Details:
Grants generally range from $100,000 to $1 million. Grantseekers may review the foundation's past grants for more information on its past grantmaking habits.
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Its website states that the foundation is “happy to answer questions related to work in progress and inquiries from organizations wishing to collaborate.” Inquiries may be submitted via email or telephone at (617) 249-2091
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