Serengeti Foundation

The Serengeti Foundation is a private operating foundation headquartered at 19100 Hamilton Pool Road in Dripping Springs, Texas, founded in 1997 by Bert and Christine von Roemer. Understanding its structural classification is the most critical first step for grant seekers: as an operating foundation, the majority of its charitable activity runs through directly operated programs — mustang sanctuaries across 45,000+ acres in Southwest Colorado, The Parker Project mobile veterinary clinic serving rural Texas, and a land donation supporting the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand. What is reported as 'total giving' on 990-PF filings ($900K–$1.6M in recent years) primarily reflects internal program operations, not competitive external grants.

External grants are made, but they are selective, relationship-driven, and concentrated in a narrow thematic lane. The grantee record reveals tight consistency: the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (Kenya) has received four separate grants totaling $110,000 — the most durable external partnership in the foundation's history — while Save Elephant Foundation received the single largest recorded award at $120,000, and Elephant Aid International received $15,000. These are not cold-application awards; they reflect deep alignment with Bert von Roemer's personal passion for elephant welfare and large mammal conservation built over years of direct engagement.

The foundation's formal application instructions are listed as none — there is no portal, no RFP cycle, no public grant announcement calendar. It is flagged as 'preselected only' in philanthropic databases. The two primary contact points are the phone at (512) 358-9595 and email at info@serengetifoundation.com. Organizations that have received support share common traits: they are established (the Sheldrick Trust is 45+ years old), they operate internationally in Africa or Asia, they have verifiable conservation impact metrics, and they embody the 'Connecting & Protecting Animals, Humans & Habitats' philosophy.

Successful grant seekers should approach this foundation as a relationship investment over 12 to 24 months. Engage with the foundation's content on social media, seek warm introductions from existing grantees, and make first contact via a brief introductory email that cites specific programmatic alignment — particularly around elephant welfare, anti-poaching operations, or land-based sanctuary models — rather than a formal proposal. The foundation's volunteer opportunities alongside partner organizations offer a practical, low-pressure entry point into the von Roemer network.

The Serengeti Foundation's financial profile requires careful interpretation because its 990-PF 'total giving' line conflates internal program operating costs with external grants. The 'grants_paid' figure — actual disbursements to outside organizations — is the relevant metric for grant seekers.

External grants paid by fiscal year: $190,921 (2019), $130,000 (2020), $175,637 (2021), $40,373 (2022), $35,000 (2023). The most recent filing shows approximately 3 awards in FY2024 and charitable disbursements of roughly $412,000, though a significant portion reflects internal operations. This year-to-year volatility — ranging from $35,000 to $190,921 over five years — indicates grant budgets are set opportunistically, not tied to a fixed payout ratio of assets.

Among documented grantees, Save Elephant Foundation received the largest single recorded grant at $120,000 in one award. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is the most consistent recipient, with four grants totaling $110,000 and an average of $27,500 per transaction. Elephant Aid International received $15,000 in a single grant. Smaller amounts — $400 to Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Inc, $200 to Mountain Valley Fire Department, $146 in miscellaneous contributions — indicate the foundation occasionally makes micro-grants for local emergency or community animal welfare needs alongside its signature conservation giving.

All documented external grants carry unrestricted purposes ('unrestricted grant to support the organization's exempt purpose'), confirming the foundation funds general operations of trusted partners rather than specific projects. Recent typical grant size data from a 990-PF filing period shows a range of $73 to $40,000 with a median of $150 — reflecting a blend of small community gifts and meaningful conservation awards.

Asset growth has been strong: from $6.9M (2011) to $35.3M (2025), a 412% increase over 14 years. However, contributed revenue fell sharply from $3.78M in FY2023 to $653K in FY2024/2025 — a 77% drop. Investment interest income provides a stable floor at roughly $240,000–$251,000 annually, but the decline in contributions will likely constrain the external grant envelope to the lower end of historical ranges ($35,000–$75,000) heading into 2025-2026.

The Serengeti Foundation occupies an asset tier of $32M–$39M alongside five peer environmental foundations, all of which operate with similarly limited public disclosure of grant programs.

Serengeti Foundation stands out among its asset-peers for having a documented public-facing website and disclosed grantee relationships — most comparable foundations at this size publish minimal grant history. Its external grant budget ($35K–$191K/year) is modest relative to its $35M asset base, which is consistent with its operating foundation structure: internal programs absorb the majority of charitable expenditures. Grant seekers who have exhausted relationship-building paths with Serengeti should consider Walking Softer (Wyoming-based land conservation, publicly accessible website) and Nurture Nature Foundation (East Coast environmental work) as alternative targets depending on program geography.

The most recent Form 990-PF was submitted March 3, 2026, reporting net assets of $35,313,892 — a steady climb from $19.1M in 2019 and $27.3M in 2020, representing 85% asset growth in six years. Charitable disbursements in the most recently reported year were $294,342, down from approximately $412,000 in the prior period. Revenue declined sharply to $938,960 (from $4.07M in FY2023), driven by lower donor contributions ($653,069 versus $3.78M in FY2023) — likely reflecting the completion of a major gift cycle.

No press releases, leadership changes, or new program announcements were identified during web research conducted June 2026. Staff appears highly stable: Ranch Manager TJ Holmes has served since 2011, Infrastructure Director Robert Lawrence for 12+ years, Wildlife Director Holly Myers since 2017, and Parker Project Manager Alex Allison since 2018. Bert von Roemer remains the sole Director listed across all recent 990-PF filings, with Jeff Whitmire and Marc Carlson alternating as Treasurer.

The foundation's website documents program activity through Engler Canyon Ranch (187 mustangs, established 2017), the Disappointment Valley Mustang Ranch (33 senior mustangs), and The Parker Project mobile veterinary unit. The Facebook page (@serengetifoundation) and Twitter/X account (@serengetifound) show periodic animal sanctuary updates but no grant-related announcements. Approximately 3 external grants were awarded in 2024, consistent with the foundation's historically concentrated approach of 2–6 external awards per year.

The single most critical fact: the Serengeti Foundation does not operate a public grant application process. There is no portal, no published RFP cycle, and no grant announcement calendar. Treating this funder as you would a standard open-application foundation will produce no results.

Optimal timing: The foundation shows no defined grant cycle in its filings — disbursements occur across fiscal years without a predictable deadline. However, given the revenue decline in FY2024/2025 (contributions fell 77%), calibrate external grant expectations to the $35,000–$100,000 range. Target initial outreach in Q3–Q4, when foundations with calendar fiscal years are typically planning the following year's giving.

What resonates: All documented external grants are unrestricted general operating support to organizations with decades-long track records. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (45+ years old) and Save Elephant Foundation pattern reveals a preference for established, credible international conservation organizations over newer or domestic-only programs. The Parker Project model — free veterinary services at the intersection of human community need and animal welfare — demonstrates that programs bridging both human and animal benefit carry strong appeal.

Proposal framing language: Use the foundation's core tagline, 'Connecting & Protecting Animals, Humans & Habitats,' as a rhetorical anchor. Emphasize sanctuary models (land-based, hands-off care), anti-poaching operations with quantifiable metrics, and community benefit alongside wildlife protection. Avoid framing work as research, policy advocacy, or captive exhibition — the foundation's own programs and grantees are action-oriented, field-based, and sanctuary-focused.

Common mistakes: Do not send a formal grant application without prior relationship contact — it will not be processed. Do not request project-specific or restricted funding. Do not pitch domestic-only US programs without an international conservation dimension; every documented grant of $15,000 or more has gone to organizations with Africa or Asia field operations.

First contact template: A 3–4 paragraph email to info@serengetifoundation.com noting specific admiration for a Serengeti Foundation program (cite Engler Canyon or the Sheldrick Trust partnership by name), one paragraph of organizational impact with a concrete metric, and a request for a brief call — not a grant. Follow up by phone at (512) 358-9595 if no response in three weeks.