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Wyss Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Wyss Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$149M
Granted FY2023
124
Grants FY2023
32
States reached
$24M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02Its granteesRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Environment$126MScience & Tech$81MRecreation & Sports$57MEducation$57MPhilanthropy$41MAnimals$37MHuman Services$36MPublic Benefit$18MOther$0
02FY2023 · 124 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 124 grants below total $140,992,919, the rows itemized in this filing. The $149,392,735 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $8,399,816 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2023

  • Under $10k4 grants · $9k
  • $10k–50k18 grants · $480k
  • $50k–250k46 grants · $4.4M
  • $250k+56 grants · $136M
$200,000
Median grant
32
States reached
$1.7B
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Wyss Center for Bio & Neuro Engineering$24,064,756
African Parks Foundation of America$18,600,000
New Venture Fund$12,500,000
Foundation Beyeler$10,040,161
Fundacion Rewilding Argentina$7,465,000
The Trust for Public Land$5,132,350
The Conservation Fund$5,000,000
ReWild$3,855,000
New York University$3,522,181
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation$3,500,000
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities$3,000,000
Frankfurt Zoological Society - U.S., Inc.$2,900,000
Aves Argentinas Asociacion Ornitologica Del Plata$2,211,600
The Wilderness Society$2,124,700
Resources Legacy Fund$1,670,000
02Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

79%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$371M · 120 repeat orgs$97M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +35% since the first grant, against +11% for those funded once.

120 repeat relationships: 99 still active in FY2023, 21 since wound down; 21 grantees were first funded in FY2023 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

120
37

Total granted

$371M
$91M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+35%
+11%

Still filing today

74%
57%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 95% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $6.5M went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’20’21’22’23
EnvironmentHuman ServicesHealthArts & CultureFood & NutritionEducationOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • THE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT CORPORATION
    3× · 2020–2023 · $26M · revenue +26%
  • THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND
    4× · 2020–2023 · $19M · revenue +113%
  • FZ
    FRANKFURT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY - US INC
    4× · 2020–2023 · $12M · revenue +53% · 31% of their budget

Funded once

  • WZ
    Wyss Zurich Foundation
    one grant, 2022 · $34M
  • EP
    Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    one grant, 2020 · $20M
  • FM
    Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza A.C.
    one grant, 2021 · $9.3M
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Native Plant Trust Inc

The organization's mission is to conserve and promote new england's native plants to ensure healthy, biologically diverse landscapes.

Environment
2
Eastern National

Eastern national promotes the public's understanding and support of america's national parks and other public trust partners by providing quality educational experiences, products and services.

Recreation & Sports
3
Environmental Investigation Agency

To establish and promote programs to protect the global climate, forests, wildlife and the natural environment, through research, advocacy, and investigation.

International
4
Wildearth Guardians

Wildearth guardians works to protect and restore the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the american west.

Unclassified
5
The Montana Land Reliance

The mission of the montana land reliance (mlr) is to partner with landowners to provide permanent protection for private lands that are significant for agricultural production, fish and wildlife habitat, and open space.

Environment
6
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

To sustain, restore, and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats.

Animals
7
The Union of Concerned Scientists Inc

The union of concerned scientists puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future.

International
8
Cuenca Los Ojos

Cuenca los ojos works to preserve and restore the biodiversity of the us/mexican borderlands through land protection, habitat restoration and wildlife reintroduction.

Environment
9
The Water Research Foundation

The purpose of the water research foundation (wrf) is a definitive research organization to advance the science of all things water to better meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. to engage exclusively in…

Environment
10
Conservation Legacy

Conservation legacy engages future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation's lands through community-based service.in 2024, conservation legacy engaged 2,524 participants who completed over 1.5 million service hours on public…

Youth Development
11
Wildlands Trust Inc

The wildlands trust works throughout southeastern massachusetts to conserve and permanently protect native habitats, farmland, and lands of high ecologic and scenic value that serve to keep our communities healthy and our residents…

Environment
12
Colorado Open Lands

Colorado open lands' mission is to preserve the significant open lands and natural heritage of colorado through private and public partnerships, innovative land conservation, and strategic leadership.

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Conservation Colorado Education Fund; the most unlike its peers is The Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the grantee network

129 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 129 of the 184 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

9
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
23
Early backer (in before they grew)
129/129
Grantees still filing
96/129
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Wyss Center for Bio & Neuro Engineering: $61,178,357 · OtherWyss Center for Bio & Neuro EngineeringWyss Zurich Foundation: $33,527,382 · OtherWyss Zurich FoundationUniversity of Bern: $31,979,496 · OtherUniversity of BernEcole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne: $19,736,258 · OtherEcole Polytechnique Federale de LausanneFoundation Beyeler: $14,944,351 · Other+122 more: $122,109,590 · Other+122 moreNEW VENTURE FUND: $33,500,000 · EnvironmentNEW VENTURE FUNDTHE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $25,867,241 · EnvironmentTHE CONSERVATION FUND A N…THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND: $19,232,350 · EnvironmentTHE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDOCEANA INC: $9,730,000 · EnvironmentOCEANA INCRESOURCES LEGACY FUND: $7,955,000 · EnvironmentRESOURCES LEGACY FUNDTHE GRAND CANYON TRUST INC: $4,000,000 · Environment+28 more: $15,882,493 · Environment+28 moreAFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA: $53,611,930 · Recreation & SportsAFRICAN PAR…FRANKFURT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY - US INC: $11,679,000 · AnimalsREWILD: $5,435,000 · Animals+1 more: $100,000 · AnimalsCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities: $9,500,000 · Public BenefitAmericans for Financial Reform Education Fund: $2,527,000 · Public BenefitDEMOS A NETWORK FOR IDEAS AND ACTION LTD: $1,650,000 · Public BenefitPUBLIC PRIVATE STRATEGIES INSTITUTE: $1,400,000 · Public BenefitINSTITUTE ON TAXATION AND ECONOMIC POLICY: $1,000,000 · Public BenefitNew York University: $6,544,362 · EducationGEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: $2,840,000 · EducationTHOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY: $2,000,000 · EducationTHE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA FOUNDATION: $789,319 · EducationPresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $600,000 · Education+3 more: $672,120 · EducationCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE: $3,850,000 · PhilanthropyINTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $3,000,000 · PhilanthropyThe Pew Charitable Trusts: $2,334,000 · PhilanthropyROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS INC: $748,100 · Philanthropy+2 more: $190,000 · Philanthropy
Other$283,475,434Environment$116,167,084Recreation & Sports$53,611,930Animals$17,214,000Public Benefit$16,077,000Education$13,445,801Philanthropy$10,122,100

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetAFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA: $53,611,930 over 4y, 64% of budgetNEW VENTURE FUND: $33,500,000 over 3y, 1.9% of budgetTHE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $25,867,241 over 3y, 5.0% of budgetTHE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND: $19,232,350 over 4y, 3.6% of budgetFRANKFURT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY - US INC: $11,679,000 over 4y, 31% of budgetOCEANA INC: $9,730,000 over 4y, 7.7% of budgetCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities: $9,500,000 over 4y, 9.3% of budgetRESOURCES LEGACY FUND: $7,955,000 over 4y, 5.9% of budgetNew York University: $6,544,362 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetREWILD: $5,435,000 over 2y, 7.2% of budgetChildren's Hospital Los Angeles: $4,000,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetTHE GRAND CANYON TRUST INC: $4,000,000 over 4y, 15% of budgetCenter for Responsible Lending: $3,912,500 over 3y, 27% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE: $3,850,000 over 4y, 2.8% of budgetTHE WILDERNESS SOCIETY: $3,624,700 over 2y, 5.4% of budgetConservation Lands Foundation: $3,225,000 over 2y, 22% of budgetINTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $3,000,000 over 3y, 7.3% of budgetGEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: $2,840,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetAmericans for Financial Reform Education Fund: $2,527,000 over 2y, 37% of budgetThe Pew Charitable Trusts: $2,334,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetSHERIFF'S MEADOW FOUNDATION: $2,174,993 over 2y, 11% of budgetTHOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY: $2,000,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetDEMOS A NETWORK FOR IDEAS AND ACTION LTD: $1,650,000 over 3y, 7.7% of budgetOPEN SPACE INSTITUTE INC: $1,595,000 over 4y, 24% of budgetPAMS FOUNDATION INC: $1,500,000 over 4y, 34% of budgetPUBLIC PRIVATE STRATEGIES INSTITUTE: $1,400,000 over 2y, 13% of budgetTETON YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES: $1,375,000 over 3y, 23% of budgetHabitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area: $1,300,000 over 2y, 21% of budgetLEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND: $1,170,000 over 4y, 1.4% of budgetOne22 Inc: $1,100,000 over 3y, 11% of budgetNATIONAL HEALTH LAW PROGRAM INC: $1,100,000 over 4y, 3.3% of budgetINSTITUTE ON TAXATION AND ECONOMIC POLICY: $1,000,000 over 2y, 23% of budgetNATIONAL PARK TRUST INC: $800,000 over 4y, 7.7% of budgetTHE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA FOUNDATION: $789,319 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetTHE CENTER FOR ADVANCED DEFENSE STUDIES: $750,000 over 3y, 2.3% of budgetTHE CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER INC: $750,000 over 1y, 3.5% of budgetROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS INC: $748,100 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCONSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER: $725,000 over 3y, 13% of budgetPresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $600,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetISLAND AUTISM GROUP INC: $555,000 over 2y, 37% of budgetGREATER YELLOWSTONE COALITION: $500,000 over 1y, 3.7% of budgetSOCIETY OF FAMILY PLANNING: $500,000 over 2y, 28% of budgetSIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION: $420,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetMENTAL HEALTH & RECOVERY SERVICES OF JACKSON HOLE: $420,000 over 3y, 6.6% of budgetWORLD HEALTH DENTAL ORGANIZATION: $400,000 over 4y, 60% of budgetJACKSON HOLE COMMUNITY HOUSING TRUST: $400,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetADVOCATES FOR YOUTH: $400,000 over 1y, 4.1% of budgetOREGON NATURAL DESERT ASSOCIATION: $382,500 over 4y, 7.3% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds AFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA ↗
  • Who funds NEW VENTURE FUND ↗
  • Who funds THE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND ↗
  • Who funds FRANKFURT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY - US INC ↗
  • Who funds OCEANA INC ↗
  • Who funds Center on Budget and Policy Priorities ↗
  • Who funds RESOURCES LEGACY FUND ↗
  • Who funds New York University ↗
  • Who funds REWILD ↗
  • Who funds Children's Hospital Los Angeles ↗
  • Who funds THE GRAND CANYON TRUST INC ↗
  • Who funds Center for Responsible Lending ↗
  • Who funds COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE ↗
  • Who funds THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds Conservation Lands Foundation ↗
  • Who funds INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund ↗
  • Who funds The Pew Charitable Trusts ↗
  • Who funds SHERIFF'S MEADOW FOUNDATION ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Resources Legacy FundWestern Conservation …PatagoniaorgThe Wilderness SocietyThe William & Flora H…Conservation Lands Fo…Wilburforce FoundationThe Pew Charitable Tr…National Forest Found…The Nature ConservancyChester County Commun…New Venture Fund
Resources Legacy FundCA50.7× affinity24 shared granteesties to 10 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Resources Legacy Fund · Western Conservation Foundation · Patagoniaorg · The Wilderness Society · The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation · Conservation Lands Foundation · Wilburforce Foundation · The Pew Charitable Trusts · National Forest Foundation · The Nature Conservancy · Chester County Community Foundation · New Venture Fund

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.
04Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Wyss Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Wyss Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 184 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2023, released 2023. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2024) is on record and reports $223M of grant expense with no grantee named in the published copy. A private foundation itemizes every grant it makes, so a return carrying none has filed its list as an attachment that the public copy does not include. The figures above are therefore from FY2023, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Wyss’ filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home