Kingfisher Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Kingfisher Foundation’s grantmaking largely revolves around sustainable fisheries management, protecting marine and freshwater ecosystems and East Asian art history.
IP TAKE: The Kingfisher Foundation prioritizes the foundation’s home state of California, but several national and global organizations have also received funding in recent years. Kingfisher does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding at this time, so networking will be important here. Though it is not accessible or transparent, this foundation welcomes contact and an email has been provided below.
PROFILE: Founded in 1998, the California-based Kingfisher Foundation aims to “[r]estore and preserve the health and resilience of marine fish populations through the reduction of illegal, destructive and economically unviable fishing practices.” Kristine Dattels serves as executive director of the foundation.
Timothy David Dattels received his bachelor's degree from University of Western Ontario, and his MBA from Harvard Business School. He began his career at Wood Gundy, a brokerage and investment firm in Toronto. He joined Goldman Sachs in the 1990s, eventually becoming a partner and managing director. In 2004, Dattels joined the private equity firm TPG Capital, where he serves as partner and co-head of Asian business. Kristine Dattels is a graduate of Whitman College.
Grants for Marine and Environmental Conservation
Through its Environment Grants program, Kingfisher works to “help public agencies and resource stakeholders find, integrate and use the high quality information they need to understand, anticipate and work together to respond to accelerated changes in aquatic ecosystems.” Grantmaking through this program strives to:
Develop data governance structures.
Build connections and capacity.
Use Data in decision processes.
The foundation also supports organizations working on economic incentives and public policymaking promoting sustainable fishery management and effective conservation efforts.
Recent grantees include the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, San Francisco’s Greater Farallones Association and the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation.
Grants for Art History
In 2020, Kingfisher launched its Art History Grants program, which focuses on the pre-modern art and material practice of the East Asian region as well as the significance and depth of North American museum collections.” This program focuses on three areas:
Materials-based study.
Immersive training opportunities in second language.
Support for institutions planning and hosting symposia or workshops.
Past giving to the arts in previous years have supported arts organizations in the San Francisco-area, including the Asian Art Museum, the Merola Opera, the San Francisco Ballet and SFJAZZ.
Grants for Higher Education
Though not named on the Kingfisher website, the Dattelses have broadly supported higher education in past years. They’ve supported their alma maters, supporting athletics at Whitman College and providing regular support to the University of Western Ontario. They have also supported Pitzer College in suburban Los Angeles.
Important Grant Details:
In a recent year, this funder made grants totaling about $900,000. Kingfisher does not award many grants each year, often fewer than 15, ranging in amount from $10,000 to $150,000.
Grants have gone to a broad range of global, national and local conservation organizations.
Grantmaking prioritizes but is not strictly limited to the state of California.
The Kingfisher Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funding. General inquiries may be directed to the foundation at info@kingfisherfoundation.org.
PEOPLE:
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