Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation supports marine conservation in the Southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean Basin, with an emphasis on fisheries and fragile ecosystems.
IP TAKE: The Munson Foundation’s main area of grantmaking is conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems in Florida, Alabama, Washington D.C. and the Caribbean Basin. This funder makes multi-year grants, so it will be difficult, but not impossible for new organizations to get through the door. It does support a range of organizations, including well-established national outfits and local conservation efforts. Munson is an accessible foundation for organizations working in its specific areas of interest. It accepts two-page letters of inquiry for its two annual grantmaking cycles on the first Friday of April and the second Friday of September each year.
PROFILE: Established in 1987, The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation is run by Wolcott Henry, an underwater photographer and president of both the CEM Foundation and the Henry Foundation. Wolcott Henry's partner, Angel Braestrup, worked in environmental policy in the U.S. House of Representatives early in her career, before eventually becoming executive director of the foundation in 1994. Based in Washington, D.C., this foundation is mainly focused on marine conservation and names the Florida coasts, Alabama, Washington D.C. and the Caribbean Basin as geographic areas of interest.
The foundation has made a few grants for environmental conservation, wildlife conservation and climate change in recent years, but marine and freshwater ecosystems remain the main focus of its grantmaking.
Grants for Marine Conservation and Climate Change
The Munson Foundation’s recent grantmaking has focused on supporting ecosystems and sustainable fishing practices in its geographic areas of interest through direct interventions, policy development and public awareness and education programs. The Munson Foundation prioritizes:
Marine resource conservation and management with priority given to fisheries.
South Florida Ecosystems (Treasure Coast, Lake Okeechobee, Everglades, Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay, and Florida Keys).
Alabama environmental issues.
D.C. Metro area environmental issues.
Population and environment initiatives.
One recent grant supported the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Capitol Hill Oceans Week events in the Florida Keys. Another grantee, the Cuba Marine Research and Conservation Program, used funding for a two-year research project on the biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Strait.
Other recent grantees include Alabama’s Mobile Baykeeper, the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Everglades Law Center and the Reef Environmental Education Foundation.
Important Grant Details:
The Monson Foundation generally makes about $1.2 million in grants a year. Grants generally range from $10,000 to $40,000: Average grant: $15,000 to $20,000.
While the foundation does fund some renown organizations, smaller groups with compatible missions have a solid chance of securing a grant from Munson as well. To see a list of previous grantees, click here.
The foundation accepts letters of inquiry of up to two pages via email. Letters should include a brief description of the organization, project timeline and estimated budget, along with a copy of an IRS 501 (c) (3) letter and EIN number. Letters are due on first Friday of April and the second Friday of September each year, and if requested, full proposals are due by May 14 and October 16. For general inquiries, contact the foundation via email or telephone at 202-887-8992.
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