Organizations:
The organizations listed in this section support efforts related to community, spirituality, and Earth stewardship by providing funding and other forms of capacity building support.
For Artists: An excellent list of organizations supporting artists whose work is community- and/or healing-oriented is available on the Arts & Healing Network website: http://www.artheals.org/artist_support/grants.php
Vessel Garden funder resource email list: If you would like to be notified when a new funder is added to this page, send an email to info@vesselgarden.net with the words "funder mailing list" in the subject line.
Compton Foundation: Environment & Sustainability Program
Redwood City, CA
In its Environment and Sustainability grantmaking, the Compton Foundation seeks a balanced and healthy relationship between humans, other life, and the planet. The Foundation believes it is possible to pursue a holistic and sustainable vision that blends concern for environmental conservation and economic viability, links urban and rural priorities, and views humans as one part of the natural world.
A Coracle Foundation
Pasadena, CA
A Coracle Foundation was founded in the year 2000 to provide travel funding to individuals for Spiritual Pilgrimage -- defined as travel to a site sacred to the pilgrim to seek inspiration and purpose toward the healing of self, others, of the Earth; Personal Quest -- defined as journeying in answer to a compelling personal call to direct the energies of the soul to higher purpose; or Imbued Research -- defined as travel to a setting imbued with the quality of sacredness, for the purpose of experiencing first-hand the essence of the site being researched and/or to access the treasures therin. We are guided by the belief that individuals drive all change in the world, and that the act of pilgrimage provides focus and inspiration and serves to unite one's spiritual developement with one's worldly pursuits.
Catherine Donnelly Foundation (Canada only)
Toronto, Ontario
The Foundation will consider applications that advance inter-religious/cultural cooperation on ecological issues; promote public engagement in environmental education and advocacy; advance community based environmental research; advocate ecologically sustainable communities that demonstrate ecological integrity. The Foundation takes a pro-active approach to support environmental initiatives that focus their efforts on creative, imaginative projects that promote a new sense of "interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the human family and the larger living world". (Earth Charter) The CDF believes that radical changes in human activities, communities, and values are required to restore ecological balance. We wish to support groups that demonstrate strong leadership in projects that are prophetic, peaceful, concerned for justice and honor and support earth balance for all life forms.
Dharma Gaia Trust
Lismore, Australia
The mission of the Dharma Gaia Trust is to nurture awareness of the complementarity of Buddhism and ecology. [We focus on] generating funds for Buddhist-inspired ecological projects in Asia and the developing world; building mutually respectful and responsible East-West partnerships; publicizing the efforts of engaged Buddhists working on environmental projects; motivating Buddhist communities to actively engage in the ecological challenges of our time by providing education and inspiration.
Foundation for Global Community
Palo Alto, CA
FGC is dedicated to supporting projects that carry forward the following philosophy:
We believe our purpose is to discover, live, and communicate what is needed to build a world that functions for the benefit of all life. Our water planet Earth is cradled in a universe of beauty, mystery, and unfolding drama. Everything from the largest galaxies to the smallest particles, is part of one unified whole, interconnected system. Therefore, we affirm that all is one and that we are called upon to become conscious co-creators of the future in cooperation with the laws of the Universe. We envision a world in which love is the prevailing human function. Therefore, we will act with integrity, maintain a spirit of goodwill, and learn how to love in every situation. Our common destiny rests on the willingness of people to set aside narrow self-interests and to cooperate with other cultures, races, nations, and religions for the well-being of all life.
Foundation for Purposeful Living
Winston-Salem, NC
The mission of the Foundation for Purposeful Living is to stimulate, encourage, support and sustain endeavors that contribute to: (a) the expansion of human consciousness; (b) the proactive, creative and practical expression of human and spiritual goodwill; and (c) the manifestation of innate human goodness, all for the purpose of furthering personal and planetary transformation.
Further Foundation
Berkeley, CA
For a decade, Furthur Foundation has been giving money to progressive groups working on environmental and social change issues in the Bay Area and around the world. We focus on smart-thinking groups that are small and close to their target---groups that know their business, share our politics, and spend the money carefully, without a lot of bells and whistles, overhead, and wasted effort. Nearly all of our grants are between $1,000 and $5,000. We tend to support smaller, grassroots and community-based organizations whose orientation is to apply the money directly toward realizing their goals. These range from providing food and shelter to planting trees, from children's summer recreation programs to activist training camps, from educating about endangered plants to preserving the culture of endangered peoples.
Giant Steps Foundation
New York, NY
Giant Steps Foundation was created in 1998 with a desire to spark others to pursue their dreams, and to create a kinder, gentler and healthier world for ALL living creatures. GSF does this via three avenues: environmental preservation and education, wildlife advocacy & domestic animal rescue, and human health, fitness & empowerment activities (with a focus on underserved populations). Giant Steps is committed to treading lightly on our fragile earth and strongly encourages those it supports to engage in sustainable, humane and caring practices.
Hidden Leaf Foundation
Berkeley, CA
Supports organizations that use contemplative practices to further their social or environmental goals. [Note: website under construction. Contact: Tara Brown, Foundation Director, info@hiddenleaf.org]
Max and Anna Levinson Foundation
Santa Fe, NM
We make grants to individuals and groups committed to developing a more just, caring, ecological and sustainable world, in which people have a greater ability and opportunity to determine directions for the future.
Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development
Arcata, CA
The Seventh Generation Fund is an Indigenous non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and maintaining the uniqueness of Native peoples throughout the Americas. We offer an integrated program of advocacy, small grants, training and technical assistance, media experience and fiscal management, lending our support and extensive expertise to Indigenous grassroots communities. Our organization derives its name from a precept of the Great Law of Peace of the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy) which mandates that chiefs consider the impact of their decisions on the seventh generation yet to come. Learn about us, the programs and services we provide, our grantmaking guidelines and giving philosophies, upcoming events, on line publications and so much more!
(more coming soon!)
