The Garfield Foundation
The Garfield Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Oakland, CA focused on environmental sustainability, collaborative networks, and systems-change practices. The site lists contact information ([email protected]), program areas, and a staff/team page and states it does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Established nonprofits focused on environmental sustainability, systems-change, or collaborative network work that either already have a relationship with the foundation or could be nominated/invited as strategic partners.
Good Fit
- • Clear program alignment with environmental sustainability or systems-change strategies.
- • Existing relationship or referral from a current grantee or a trustee/staff contact.
- • Project scale matching typical awards (many small general-purpose grants under ~$25K, with occasional large strategic grants).
- • Geographic relevance to California or New York networks and national environmental partners.
Geography
Observed grants in the latest year went to organizations in five states, showing a multi-state footprint even though large dollars concentrated in New York and California.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 20 distinct recipients and repeated support to many independent organizations across three observed years, indicating a broad recipient set despite dollar concentration in a few large grants.
New Applicants
The foundation's website and filings state it does not accept unsolicited proposals and only funds preselected organizations; while a few new grantees appear in the data, the visible policy and high repeat rate (17 returning recipients) make unsolicited entry unlikely.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
