Nature Defense Foundation
Nature Defense Foundation (Hudson, NY) is a private foundation that supports nonprofits working on animal welfare, environmental protection, and sustainable energy. The site's contact page lists the EIN (47-3469805) and a foundation email ([email protected]), and the site includes history, board, and grant application/recipients pages. Recent Form 990-PF filings listed on ProPublica show active grantmaking activity.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A registered nonprofit working in animal welfare or environmental conservation with programs similar to previously funded rescues, conservation groups, or marine initiatives; organizations able to demonstrate clear program impact and capacity to manage either modest or occasionally large grants are a good fit.
Good Fit
- • Mission focused on animal welfare, rescue, rehabilitation, or environmental conservation.
- • Demonstrated program track record and clear use for unrestricted or project support.
- • Capacity to absorb mid‑to‑large grants (some prior awards have been six‑figures).
- • Geographic relevance (operations in New York or other states the foundation has funded).
- • Existing relationships or credible introductions to the foundation’s leadership are available.
Geography
Grants have been made across multiple states (six states in 2024 and eleven distinct states seen in 2022), though 2024 dollars were concentrated in New York (about 69%).
Recipient Variety
The foundation funded many distinct organizations in observed years (24 recipients in 2022, 16 in 2023, and 8 in 2024), showing a historically broad recipient set despite recent concentration in award dollars.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of new grantees exists (2023 and 2024 show high rates of new recipients), and a public application/contact route is visible; however, the foundation's stated 'preselected' policy introduces some ambiguity about unsolicited approaches.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
