Sally Mead Hands Foundation
The organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting various charitable causes, with a strong emphasis on environmental conservation and sustainability. Its mission reflects a commitment to funding organizations that focus on climate change, wildlife preservation, and community engagement, as evidenced by its significant contributions to groups such as the World Wildlife Fund and Citizens Climate Education Corp. Additionally, the foundation supports health-related charities, including Planned Parenthood, indicating an interest in social justice and health advocacy. The foundation primarily serves a diverse range of nonprofit organizations across the United States.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A mission-driven charity working on environmental conservation, climate, or related health/advocacy issues with an established track record and a need for operating support, ideally with existing connections to the foundation’s network or national intermediaries.
Good Fit
- • Focus on environmental conservation, climate policy, or related advocacy and health work.
- • Seeks general operating support rather than a narrowly defined project grant.
- • Has an established reputation or prior relationship with national/state environmental organizations.
- • Works in one of the states the foundation has funded or operates at a national level.
- • Is a recognized 501(c)(3) with measurable impact and financial transparency.
Geography
Observed grants in the latest year went to organizations in 15 states, with only about 18% remaining in the foundation's home state and the rest distributed out of state, indicating a broad multi-state footprint.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 44 distinct grantees and three years of similar activity (50+ recipients in prior years); while some larger national organizations appear repeatedly, the funder supports a wide set of independent charities.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of turnover is limited—only five new recipients in the latest year and a high returning-recipient rate—and the foundation's filings indicate grants go to preselected organizations with no public application pathway, so unfamiliar applicants are unlikely to gain access without introductions.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
