Maki Foundation Grants for Environmental Conservation

The Maki Foundation, established in 1981, is a private grantmaking organization focused on the environmental protection of the Rocky Mountain West in the United States. Rooted in a deep reverence for land, as reflected in its name derived from the Lakota word for "earth," the Foundation supports grassroots environmental efforts that promote ecological preservation, sustainable public lands management, and biodiversity conservation. The geographic priority areas include New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, emphasizing regional environmental challenges and community-driven solutions. The Foundation's funding scope includes projects that advance wilderness and wildlands protection, river and wetlands conservation, and biodiversity initiatives. Organizations working on public lands policy improvements and defending ecosystems from activities like mineral development, unmanaged off-road vehicle use, and water infrastructure threats are prioritized. The Maki Foundation is particularly interested in projects where modest financial support can make a meaningful difference, with typical grant awards ranging between $1,000 and $5,000. However, applicants with annual budgets exceeding $1 million are rarely considered due to the Foundation’s limited resources. Notably, the Foundation imposes strict limitations on the use of its funds. It does not support requests for construction or acquisition of buildings, community recreation centers, municipal parks, or reservoirs. Additionally, funding is not available for projects such as wildlife rehabilitation, zoo operations, recycling programs, tree planting, toxic waste cleanups, film productions, or fellowships. These exclusions help ensure that limited funds are directed toward the Foundation’s core environmental mission. The application process is bifurcated based on whether the applicant is a previous grantee. New applicants must first submit a one-page letter of inquiry by email to the Foundation’s Grant Director, Anais Tomezsko, at [email protected]. Upon approval, applicants may proceed to submit a full proposal. In contrast, previous grantees may apply directly without a letter of inquiry, although those who haven’t received a grant in over five years are advised to contact Anais before applying again. Full applications must include a completed 2026 Application Form, a narrative proposal (up to four pages) detailing the mission, history, and goals of the project, along with the proposed timeline and evaluation plans. Applicants must also provide a current financial statement (not including tax returns), both organizational and project budgets with funding sources and requests, a list of board members and key staff (with brief bios for staff), and a federal tax exemption ruling. Proposals are submitted electronically via two PDFs: one containing the application and narrative, and the second containing all supporting documents. The Foundation’s Board of Directors meets once annually in mid-summer. To be considered in 2026, all application materials must be submitted via email by April 30, 2026. Award decisions will be announced by or before September 30, 2026. There is no explicit performance period mentioned, and the funding cycle appears to be annual, as grants are awarded once per year.

New applicants must submit a letter of inquiry before applying; returning applicants must contact the grant director if it has been more than five years.