High Meadows Foundation

OVERVIEW: The High Meadows Foundation supports the environment, education and the connection between business and society in Boston, Massachusetts and beyond.

FUNDING AREAS: Environment, education, business, society

IP TAKE: The foundation’s leader, Carl Ferenbach, has deep roots in Boston, and therefore, many of HMF’s environmental and educational grants stay within the city limits. However, this is not a particularly accessible funder, making it a tough nut to crack.

PROFILE: Established in 2007, the High Meadows Foundation (HMF) is a private grantmaking foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is led by Carl Ferenbach as the chairman and Lynne Ball as the chief operating officer. Ferenbach is a co-founder of Berkshire Partners, LLC, a Boston-based private equity investment firm. He co-founded HMF and the High Meadows Fund, and he is ialso involved with the Environmental Defense Fund, the Princeton Environmental Institute and numerous other organizations. The foundation “focuses on investing in and promoting workable yet creative ideas to address the complex environmental and societal issues facing the world.” It funds local efforts for environment, education and the connection between business and society

The High Meadows Foundation regularly funds programs for environmental science, research and education. It also supports policies that foster a safer and cleaner environment. Land management, conservation strategies, high-impact environmental business ventures and strengthening the role of business in society are HMF interests. Meanwhile, HMF awards sustainable food systems grants to food projects for youth. HMF also supports a few special purpose projects outside of these main interest areas that are approved by the board. Overall, the HMF approach is to build capacity at existing organizations and also invest in new groundbreaking ideas with great potential.

Grants range between about $20,000 and $3 million. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on Boston, Massachusetts and other places of interest to the foundation officers and board. HMF has also awarded grants in Washington, DC, Vermont, New Jersey and Colorado. Past local grantees include Real Food Challenge, WBUR, North Bennet Street School and the Conservation Law Foundation.

This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. Direct general questions to the staff at info@highmeadowsgroup.org or 617-249-2091.

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