Woodtiger Fund

The Woodtiger Fund is a private foundation founded in 2009 by R. Bruce Wallace and Susan Wallace when they split their philanthropic activities from the Wallace Global Fund, which traces its roots to a foundation created by former U.S. Vice President Henry Wallace. The Fund operates from Erwinna, Pennsylvania, with Executive Director Damon Aherne managing day-to-day operations. Woodtiger takes a proactive, pre-selected approach to grantmaking, identifying and funding organizations that align with its environmental protection mission rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. The Fund is particularly focused on environmental advocacy, climate change, opposition to natural gas exploration, environmental journalism, and wildlife conservation. Susan Wallace also serves as Vice Chairman of Defenders of Wildlife, reflecting the personal environmental commitment of the founders. The Fund maintains a relatively minimal public profile — its website provides almost no information — consistent with its pre-selected grantmaking model that does not seek or require public applications.

The Woodtiger Fund distributed $5.2 million across 42 grants in 2024, from an asset base of approximately $85 million. This represents a significant increase from 2022 ($3.1 million, 57 grants) and demonstrates growing philanthropic ambition. Individual grants range from $1,500 to $2.54 million, with a median around $40,000, suggesting a mix of small community-level grants and large strategic investments. The Fund shows a pattern of concentrated geographic giving in Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and New York, though grants also reach organizations across multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. The environmental focus is consistent, with particular emphasis on opposing natural gas exploration and fracking, supporting environmental investigative journalism, and funding wildlife conservation. The number of grants has decreased from 57 (2022) to 42 (2024) while total giving has increased, suggesting a shift toward fewer but larger awards.

The Woodtiger Fund operates in the environmental philanthropy space alongside other private foundations focused on climate and conservation.

The Woodtiger Fund is notable as a Wallace family foundation spinoff that has carved out a distinctive niche in environmental journalism and anti-fossil fuel advocacy. While smaller than peers like the Energy Foundation, its focused approach allows concentrated impact in specific campaigns and conservation efforts.

In 2024, the Woodtiger Fund distributed $5.2 million across 42 grants, representing the highest annual giving in the Fund's history by dollar amount. The Fund continued its focus on environmental protection, climate advocacy, and conservation. Susan Wallace remains active as Vice Chairman of Defenders of Wildlife, maintaining the Fund's close connections to the wildlife conservation community. The Fund's geographic footprint continues to center on Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and New York, with additional grants reaching organizations across a dozen other states. The trend toward fewer but larger grants (42 in 2024 vs. 57 in 2022) suggests increased strategic focus and deeper investment in key organizations. The Fund's environmental journalism portfolio continues to support investigative reporting on fossil fuel industry practices and environmental policy. As an offshoot of the Wallace Global Fund, Woodtiger maintains connections to the broader Wallace family philanthropic network while pursuing its own distinctive environmental agenda.

1. Do not submit unsolicited proposals. The Woodtiger Fund explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. There is no application form or public process.

2. Build visibility in environmental advocacy. The Fund proactively identifies organizations working in environmental protection, climate change, and conservation. Having a strong public track record and media presence in these areas increases the likelihood of being identified.

3. Focus on anti-fossil fuel and conservation work. The Fund has a known interest in opposing natural gas exploration and fracking, environmental journalism, and wildlife conservation. Organizations doing cutting-edge work in these specific areas are most aligned.

4. Geographic proximity may help. While the Fund gives nationally, its concentration in Pennsylvania, DC, and New York suggests organizations in these areas may have an advantage, particularly for smaller grants.

5. Environmental journalism organizations take note. The Fund's support for environmental journalism is a distinctive funding priority that many other environmental foundations do not share. Independent media and investigative journalism outlets covering environmental issues may find natural alignment.

6. Connect through the environmental philanthropy network. Susan Wallace's role at Defenders of Wildlife and the Fund's roots in the Wallace Global Fund network provide potential connection points. Engaging with these networks through conferences and collaborative campaigns may increase visibility.