The Windward Fund is an environmentalist fiscal sponsor organization in the network of “dark money” organizations controlled by philanthropic consultancy Arabella Advisors. The Fund was created in February 2015 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with startup funding of $5.25 million provided by an unknown source. According to its bylaws, Windward will promote “conservation and environmental protection issues” through grants and fiscal sponsorship. ^[1]

In 2020, Windward Fund’s revenues were nearly $158 million, a single-year increase of 264 percent from $43 million in 2019. ^[2]

Until 2020, the Windward Fund was notably smaller than the other Arabella-controlled funds, however; its revenues fell from $15.8 million in 2016 to $12.7 million in 2017. ^[3]

The Windward Fund often operates alongside its “sister” nonprofits, primarily the 501(c)(4) Sixteen Thirty Fund and 501(c)(3) New Venture Fund, which both provides similar funding and fiscal sponsorship services to center-left advocacy organizations. All three funds are administered by Arabella Advisors, a Washington, D.C.-based philanthropy consulting firm that caters to left-leaning clients. The Hopewell Fund, another 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is also managed by Arabella Advisors and performs similar functions, particularly concerning fiscal sponsorship of other left-of-center groups. ^[4]

Windward Fund describes itself as a fiscal sponsor of “various ‘projects,'” which focus on a range of environmental issues. Windward provides legal compliance, finance, and HR services to its projects, and additionally seeks to help its projects create greater impact through facilitating connections, providing access to information, and capacity building.” ^[5]

“Fake Groups” and Environmentalism

The Hopewell Fund, like all four nonprofits managed by the for-profit consultancy Arabella Advisors, primarily exists to sponsor a number of “fake” groups: websites designed to look like standalone nonprofits. These “fake” groups rarely become fully-fledged nonprofits; instead, they typically exist to effect an issue advocacy campaign pushing left-wing policies and may disappear after the campaign is finished. The Hopewell Fund is one of the newer of Arabella’s four nonprofits, founded in 2015, and most of the “fake” groups it sponsors are focused on expanding abortion access and criticizing President Donald Trump’s healthcare policies. ^[6]

Windward describes its mission as “seek[ing] to build a more impactful environmental movement by connecting people across diverse geographies, sectors, and communities, enabling them to share expertise and resources, and providing a vehicle for effective, community-based, grassroots grant[making].” ^[7]

While the Windward Fund sponsors at least 9 projects, most are not known. The following are examples of groups identified as Windward Fund projects, more of which are listed at the bottom of this profile (under “Child Organizations”).

Water Funder Initiative

The Water Funder Initiative is a Windward Fund project promoting “water sustainability” in conjunction with the center-left Energy, Hewlett, Packard, Walton, S.D. Bechtel, Mitchell, and Rockefeller Foundations. Among other things, the Initiative seeks to create a “water fee” in key states such as Texas, California, and Colorado to pay for “affordable basic [water] supplies for disadvantaged communities”; “reform municipal and green bond rules” to encourage more public financing of environmentalist projects; and support politicians who want to alter water rate structures in order to “incentivize conservation.” ^[8][9]

Institute for the New Food Economy

The Institute for the New Food Economy is an investigative journalism project of Windward Fund that reports on genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), cell-cultured meat, pesticides, and the food industry in general.

Known Windward Fund Projects

• Castanea Fellowship
• Climate Resilience Fund (CRF)
• Earthrise Alliance
• Farm to Fork Initiative
• Food Systems Leadership Fellowship
• Institute for the New Food Economy
• Liquid Assets Project
• Rewiring America
• The Heartland Fund
• The Ocean Agency
• Water Funder Initiative (WFI)

Leadership

Board of Directors

The following were board members and officers for Windward Fund in 2020: ^[10]

Lee Bodner (board chair): President of the New Venture Fund (2020 compensation: $349,432) ^[11] and chair of the Hopewell Fund, both “sister” nonprofits to Windward Fund. He formerly worked as managing director of Arabella Advisors, the consultancy which created and manages all four nonprofits (including the Sixteen Thirty Fund.) ^[12]

Harry Drucker (board secretary): Environmental activist, realtor, and former board member for the New Venture Fund, a Windward Fund “sister” group. He also served on the board of the National Environmental Policy and Law Center and the Illinois chapter of the Nature Conservancy. ^[13]

Bruce Boyd: Also works as the senior managing director for Arabella Advisors. ^[14]

Kristen Grimm: Also a fellow at the Aspen Institute and founder of Spitfire Strategies, a consultancy firm which caters to left-leaning clients. ^[15]

Jasmine Hall Ratliff (since 2020).

Former Board Members and Officers

Past Windward Fund board members and officers included: ^[16]

Eric Kessler (former board chair through 2016): Kessler is the founder and senior managing director at Arabella Advisors. ^[17]

Charles “Chuck” Savitt (board treasurer through Dec. 2020): Founder of environmentalist publishing company Island Press, which has published books by population control advocate Paul Ehrlich. ^[18]

Bill Gallegos (2018 through March 2020): Gallegos is executive director of Communities for a Better Environment, an “environmental justice” organization. ^[19]

Andrew Schulz (general counsel from 2015 to2019): He is also general counsel for Arabella Advisors; at varying times Shulz was general counsel for all four Arabella-run nonprofits. ^[20]

Jumana Vasi (from 2018 to March 2020): Vasi is a principal at the consulting firm Jvasi Consulting, and provides services to center-left environmental nonprofits. She is a board member for the Environmental Grantmakers Association. ^[21]

Wilbur Priester (from 2015 to 2019): He also works as the chief financial officer for Arabella Advisors. ^[22]

Adam Eichberg (founding board member): He previously worked as a deputy legislative director to Democratic Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. He also works as an environmentalist consultant running the Denver based Headwater Strategies, a legislative advocacy organization that focuses mainly on environmental issues. ^[23]

Aileen Lee (through August 2019): Lee is a venture capitalist operating mainly out of California. ^[24]

Key Staff

According to the Windward Fund’s 2018 IRS Form 990 filing (archived here), its “sister” nonprofit the New Venture Fund (NVF) served as paymaster to the nonprofit through February 2017: “NVF paid the salary and immediately invoiced Windward, which pays the full amount back. After this time, Windward administered its own payroll.” ^[25] In 2018, Windward paid $1,273,269 in employee salaries and compensation. ^[26] In 2017, Windward paid $2,949,170 in employee salaries and compensation. ^[27] The two organizations likely had a similar arrangement in 2019 as well; according to Windward Fund’s Form 990 for 2019 (archived here), “the organization did not directly compensate any officers or key employees” although it reported paying $2,664,204 in salaries and other employee compensation. ^[28]

In 2020, Windward Fund reported the following salaried employees: ^[29]

Melanie R. Allen (project co-director): Total compensation in 2020 of $246,107.

Eric Rogers (project co-director): Total compensation in 2020 of $233,872.

Casey Rand (project director): Total compensation in 2020 of $217,984.

David Wigder (project director): Total compensation in 2020 of $209,687.

Nicole Conroy (project director): Total compensation in 2020 of $182,741.

Past Windward Fund employees, or those not reported on its 2020 Form 990 filing, include: ^[30]

John Nordgren (2019 total compensation: $226,491) is a project director for Windward Fund. Nordgren is the managing director of the Climate Resilience Fund, an environmental advocacy project of Windward Fund based in Washington state. ^[31] In 2018, Norden received total compensation of $223,305. ^[32]

Mary McBryde is a Windward project director (unlisted in the organization’s 2019 Form 990). In 2018, she received total compensation of $132,375. ^[33]

Dorcas Robinson is a Windward project director (unlisted in the organization’s 2019 Form 990). Robinson is the director of the Windward Fund’s Resilience Measurement, Evidence & Learning Community of Practice. ^[34] In 2018, she received total compensation of $188,917. ^[35]

Lori Garver (2019 total compensation: $271,691) is a Windward Fund project director and CEO of for Earthrise Alliance, a Windward Fund project that advocates for climate policy. ^[36]

Jason Kessler (2019 total compensation: $136,327) is a project director for the Windward Fund and director of partnerships for Earthrise Alliance, a Windward Fund project that advocates for climate policy. ^[37] In 2018, he received total compensation of $119,989. ^[38]

Cassie Lee (2019 total compensation: $203,861) is a Windward Fund project director and chief operating officer for Earthrise Alliance, a Windward Fund project that advocates for climate policy. ^{[39] [40]}

Richard Tate (2019 total compensation: $181,880) is a Windward Fund project director. ^[41]

Funding

Financial Overview

The Windward Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Between 2019 and 2020, its revenues rose from $43 million to $158 million, an increase of 264 percent. In 2019 alone, the organization’s total revenues, total expenditures, and grants paid were roughly double that raised or spent between 2015 and 2018, showing its rapid growth. ^[42]

An overview of the group’s finances from 2015 to 2020 is provided below: ^[43]

	Windward Fund: Financial Overview
	Total Revenues	Total Expenditures	Grants Paid	Net Assets
2020	$158,611,799	$70,257,223	$44,017,016	$126,081,808
2019	$44,404,708	$20,844,825	$8,115,107	$40,449,379
2018	$19,238,519	$13,579,180	$3,955,493	$16,889,496
2017	$12,656,323	$11,024,111	$2,476,502	$11,230,157
2016	$15,812,062	$8,359,238	$2,339,698	$9,597,945
2015	$1,297,000	$1,238,707	-	$1,238,707
Total:	$252,020,411	$125,303,284	$60,903,816

Lobbying

Between 2015 and 2018, Windward reported spending $2,064,465 in lobbying expenses: ^[44]

• 2018: $828,959
• 2017: $701,206
• 2016: $522,641
• 2015: $11,659

Funds Spent on “Fake” Group Activism

In 2019, the Windward Fund spent $15.7 million on “environmental programs” and $3.4 million on agriculture, food, [and] nutrition programs.” ^[45]

According to its 2018 IRS Form 990 filing (archived here), the Windward Fund identified two program areas in which it spent money:

Windward spent $9,962,514 on “environmental (climate, conservation, and energy) programs,” of which $3,755,493 was paid out as grants to other nonprofits. ^[46]

Windward Fund’s environmental programs focus on a range of conservation[,] climate, and energy issues in the U.S. and abroad. These issues include water solutions in the American West, climate resilience, alternative energy sources, reduction of deforestation, and conservation planning.

Our work primarily includes convening, grantmaking, communications, cooordination [sic] among stakeholders, civic and media engagement, and public awareness campaigns.

Windward spent $2,461,232 on “agriculture, food, nutrition,” of which $200,000 was paid out as grants to other nonprofits. ^[47]

Windward Fund’s agriculture, food, and nutrition programs focus on a range of issues aimed at transforming food systems to greater accessibility and sustainability, working on topics such as regenerative stewardship of agricultural lands and an enabling infrastructure and policy environment for a healthy food system. Activities conducted include coordination among stakeholders, grantmaking, communications, and public awareness campaigns.

The Windward Fund also reported spending $12,423,746 on other unidentified program services. ^[48]

Donors to Windward Fund

Windward Fund has received a number of major grants from left-of-center advocacy philanthropies. While the group is not required to publicly disclose its donors under IRS rules, the biggest grants Windward received in 2018 were $2,650,000; two grants of $2,500,000; $2 million; $1,593,000; and $1,260,000. ^[49]

In 2020, Windward Fund reported donations of: ^[50]

• $43,068,484
• $23,390,124
• $17,250,000
• $14,918,630 (in “publicly traded securities” donated on Nov. 18, 2020)
• $8,850,000
• $7,383,000
• $5,450,000
• $5,001,000
• $5,000,000
• $4,700,000
• $4,551,550
• $4,166,250
• $3,825,000

In 2019, Windward Fund reported donations of: ^[51]

• $8.5 million
• $8,414,171
• $4 million
• $2 million
• $2 million
• $1,797,652
• $1,735,000
• $1.5 million
• $1,058,000
• $994,783
• $890,696

In 2019, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation granted $7.3 million in 3 grants to the Windward Fund. ^[52]

The Rockefeller Foundation has made multiple grants to Windward Fund totaling $2.1 million between 2016 and 2017. ^[53] The Agua Fund, a left-leaning philanthropic foundation, made a $45,000 grant to Windward Fund in 2017. ^[54] Walton Family Foundation, philanthropic organization associated with Walmart founder Sam Walton’s family, made grants totaling more than $2.5 million between 2016 and 2018. ^[55] Wallace Global Fund II, a left-leaning philanthropic organization, made a $100,000 donation to the Windward Fund in 2018. The Gates Family Foundation, a Colorado foundation associated with the founder of the Gates Rubber Company (not to be confused with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), has made grants to the Windward Fund  of at least $600,000 since 2016. ^{[56] [57]} Other major donors include the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. ^[58]

By far the largest and most consistent donor to the Windward Fund is the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, which gave $17,770,526 to Windward between 2016 and 2017, including a 2017 grant of $3 million and a 2016 grant of $2,944,000. ^[59]

Windward Fund: Grantors	Amount	Year	Grant Description
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$3,000,000	2017	Funds To Support A Consumptive Use Estimation Program, A Three-Year Project To Advance Open And Accessible Data About Agricultural Water Use As Part Of The Foundation'S Water Data Initiative.
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$2,944,000	2016	Funds To Develop A New Statewide Conservation Approach Called Regional Conservation Frameworks And To Test This Approach In A Number Of Locations
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$1,923,947	2016	Funds To Advance The Adoption And Implementation Of New State Policies That Better Protect Natural Systems Through Improved Habitat Mitigation, Including Regional Conservation Investment Strategies And Regional Advance Mitigation Programs
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$1,300,000	2017	Funds To Support Openet, A Collaborative Effort Between Agricultural Leaders And The Research Community To Improve Information About Agricultural Water Use.
Gordon E And Betty I Moore Foundation	$1,250,000	2017	In Support Of The Development Of A Data Platform That Will Make Low-Cost, Automated, And Widely Accessible Evapotranspiration Data Available At User-Defined Scales And Timeframes Through A Web-Based User Interface
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$1,250,000	2016	Funds For The Second Phase Of The Water Funder Initiative, A Collaborative Effort To Identify And Activate Promising Water Solutions Through Strategic Philanthropic Investments In The United States
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$1,117,000	2017	Funds To Create The Policies And Mechanisms To Support Implementation Of Dynamic Conservation In New Ways.
Walton Family Foundation Inc	$1,090,050	2016	River Conservation
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$1,001,579	2017	Funds To Create The Policies And Mechanisms To Support Implementation Of Dynamic Conservation In New Ways.
John D & Catherine T Macarthur Foundation	$1,000,000	2017	In Support Of The Climate Resilience Fund.
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$1,000,000	2017	Funds To Support A Sustained Water Table As A Forum For Water Funders To Work Together To Further Strategies, Collaboration And Fundraising For The Water Field, Continuing Efforts Launched Through The Water Funder Initiative.
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$800,000	2016	Funds To Support Data Demonstration Projects As Part Of The Data Funding Action Plan'S Goal To Work With Water Users To Solve Specific Water Management Challenges And Demonstrate The Value Proposition Of Data To The Water Community
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$750,000	2017	Funds For The Second Phase Of The Water Funder Initiative, A Collaborative Effort To Identify And Activate Promising Water Solutions Through Strategic Philanthropic Investments In The United States, Starting In The West Where Scarcity And Reliability Of
The Schmidt Family Foundation	$630,000	2016	Support Regenerative Agriculture Foundation Project
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$559,000	2017	Funds To Develop A New Statewide Conservation Approach Called Regional Conservation Frameworks And To Test This Approach In A Number Of Locations.
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$500,000	2017	Funds To Support A Forum For Water Funders To Work Together To Further Strategies, Collaboration And Fundraising For The Water Field, Continuing Efforts Launched Through The Water Funder Initiative.
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$500,000	2016	Funds For The Liquid Assets Project, Which Seeks To Pilot Four Impact Investment Approaches, With A Goal Of Deploying Roughly $350 Million In Investment Funds To Advance Sustainable Water Solutions Across The American West
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$500,000	2016	Funds To Support Data Demonstration Projects As Part Of The Data Funding Action Plan'S Goal To Work With Water Users To Solve Specific Water Management Challenges And Demonstrate The Value Proposition Of Data To The Water Community
Silicon Valley Community Foundation	$500,000	2017	Environment
The Rockefeller Foundation	$500,000	2016	For Use By Its Water Funder Initiative Toward The Costs Of Developing And Coordinating The Implementation Of Funding Action Plans To Address Water Challenges Impacting Communities And Freshwater Ecosystems In The U S West
The Rockefeller Foundation	$500,000	2016	Toward The Costs Of Implementing The Resilience Measurement, Evidence And Learning Community Of Practice, A Project Which Brings Together Leading Resilience Measurement Experts And Practitioners To Jointly Advance The Concept And Practice Of Resilience M
The Rockefeller Foundation	$500,000	2015	In Support Of Its Project, Resilience Measurement Community Of Practice, To Bring Together Leading Resilience Measurement Experts And M &E Practitioners To Advance The Practice Of Resilience Measurement And Build The Evidence Base For Investments In Resi
The Rockefeller Foundation	$300,000	2016	In Support Of Its Project, Resilience Measurement Community Of Practice, To Bring Together Leading Resilience Measurement Experts And M & E Practitioners To Advance The Practice Of Resilience Measurement And Build The Evidence Base For Investments In Res
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation	$300,000	2016	For The Water Funder Initiative
John D & Catherine T Macarthur Foundation	$250,000	2015	In Support Of Developing And Launching A National Climate Resilience Fund.
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$250,000	2017	Supplemental Funds For The Liquid Assets Project As It Seeks To Close Its First Agricultural And Municipal Deals.
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$250,000	2017	Funds To Scope A Water Innovation Fund That Leverages Capital From Clean Water State Revolving Funds And Seeks To Influence Broader Srf Capital Flows.
The David And Lucile Packard Foundation	$242,500	2016	Conservation And Science
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation	$225,000	2017	75000 Uniting Health, Sustainability, Hunger, And
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation	$200,000	2017	For The Water Funders Initiative
W K Kellogg Foundation	$200,000	2017	Support Collaboration Among Food System, Sustainable Agriculture, Health, Nutrition And Anti-Hunger Groups To Align Efforts And Promote Food And Agriculture Strategies That Promote Equitable Food Systems And Access To Healthy Foods
John D & Catherine T Macarthur Foundation	$150,000	2016	For Developing And Launching A National Climate Resilience Fund
Pisces Foundation	$150,000	2017	To Protect Water Resources
The Rockefeller Foundation	$150,000	2016	For Use By Its Water Funder Initiative Toward The Costs Of Developing And Coordinating The Implementation Of Six Action Plans To Address Water Challenges Impacting Communities And Freshwater Ecosystems In The U S West
The Rockefeller Foundation	$150,000	2017	For Use By Its Water Funder Initiative Toward The Costs Of Developing And Coordinating The Implementation Of Six Action Plans To Address Water Challenges Impacting Communities And Freshwater Ecosystems In The U S West
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation	$100,000	2016	Environment - To Support The Climate Resilience Fund
Gates Family Foundation	$100,000	2016	Natural Resources - Project Support
Gates Family Foundation	$100,000	2017	Natural Resources - Project Support
The Keith Campbell Foundation For The Environment	$100,000	2017	Advancement Of H2O Sustainability Via Financing
Wallace Global Fund II	$100,000	2016	Project Support For Work To Improve Energy Access For The World'S Poor
Wallace Global Fund II	$97,000	2015	Project Support For Work To Improve Energy Access For The World'S Poor
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund	$75,000	2017	For Grant Recipient'S Exempt Purposes
Agua Fund	$50,000	2016	National And International Environment- For The Liquid Assets Project
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$50,000	2016	Funds For An Effort To Identify And Profile Candidates Most Likely To Be Appointed To Key Conservation Cabinet And Subcabinet Positions By A Next Presidential Administration
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$50,000	2017	Support In Conjunction With October Funder Events, Including Recognition Of Support From Moderator.
Schwab Charitable Fund	$50,000	2016	Environmental/Animals
Town Creek Foundation Inc	$40,000	2016	Food System Reform Program - Chesapeake Bay Regional Food Funding Landscape
The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation	$30,000	2017	Liquid Assets Project: Promoting Water Sustainability Through Deployment Of Lmpact- Focused Private Capital
Claneil Foundation Inc	$25,000	2017	Farm To Fork Initiative
S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation	$25,000	2016	Funds For The Second Phase Of An Effort To Profile And Vet Candidates Most Likely To Be Appointed To Key Conservation Cabinet And Sub-Cabinet Positions By The Next Presidential Administration
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation	$25,000	2017	75000 Uniting Health, Sustainability, Hunger, And
Hanley Foundation	$20,000	2016	Support For Environmental Projects
Seattle Foundation	$20,000	2017	Food Systems Leadership Fellowship
Sandor Family Foundation	$15,000	2017	General Operating Support
Ann H Symington Foundation	$10,000	2017	General
H & S Foundation	$10,000	2016	Support For Education
Sandor Family Foundation	$10,000	2015	General Operating
Sandor Family Foundation	$10,000	2016	General Operating Support
Town Creek Foundation Inc	$7,500	2016	Sustainability Program - Washington Regional Food Funders
The Marcus Foundation	$5,000	2018	General
Grand Total:	$27,057,576

Grants from Windward Fund

In 2020, the Windward Fund reported paying out $44 million in grants to other, largely left-leaning, nonprofits. ^[60] In 2019, it paid out $8.1 million in grants; $4 million in 2018; and $2.5 million in 2017. ^[61]

Between 2015 and 2019, Windward paid out $61 million in grants:

Grant Recipient	Amount	Year
TIDES CENTER	$4,013,868	2020
WATER FOUNDATION	$2,176,000	2020
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY	$2,073,704	2020
NEW VENTURE FUND	$1,666,000	2020
HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE	$1,101,500	2020
SIERRA HEALTH FOUNDATION CENTER FOR HEALTH PROGRAM MAN	$1,027,000	2020
THE EARTH GENOME	$949,747	2020
PROGEORGIA STATE TABLE	$810,000	2020
SOUTHERN WISCONSIN LAND CONSERVANCY INC	$800,000	2020
INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT	$694,000	2020
BOARD OF REGENTS NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	$648,604	2020
DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT	$590,000	2020
NEW GEORGIA PROJECT INC	$585,000	2020
SIXTEEN THIRTY FUND	$500,000	2020
US WATER PARTNERSHIP	$500,000	2020
JOLT INITIATIVE INC	$470,000	2020
CERES INC	$452,139	2020
TURNER FARM PRESERVATION FOUNDATION INC	$449,894	2020
BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE INC	$435,000	2020
GRASSROOTS COLLABORATIVE	$407,000	2020
BLACK MALE VOTER PROJECT	$395,000	2020
THE OCEAN AGENCY	$390,213	2020
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA	$355,182	2020
NORTH CAROLINA BLACK ALLIANCE	$350,000	2020
EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE	$341,651	2020
TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK EDUCATION FUND	$320,000	2020
NDN COLLECTIVE INC	$310,000	2020
SUNRISE MOVEMENT EDUCATION FUND	$310,000	2020
THE CENTER FOR CULTURAL POWER	$310,000	2020
MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION	$304,052	2020
ASU FOUNDATION FOR A NEW AMERICAN UNIVERSITY	$300,000	2020
LINK HOUSTON	$300,000	2020
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT	$300,000	2020
PUBLIC ALLIES	$300,000	2020
THE HOPEWELL FUND	$300,000	2020
THE SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION	$300,000	2020
WOMENS EARTH AND CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK	$300,000	2020
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	$295,382	2020
BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	$257,000	2020
FOUNDATION FOR LOUISIANA	$250,000	2020
NATIONAL VOTE AT HOME INSTITUTE	$250,000	2020
SCHOOL BOARD OF ORANGE COUNTY FLORIDA	$250,000	2020
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY FLORIDA	$250,000	2020
WORC EDUCATION PROJECT	$245,000	2020
THE PEOPLE'S LOBBY EDUCATION INSTITUTE	$240,000	2020
PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA	$233,661	2020
RENEW NEW ENGLAND ALLIANCE (VENDOR)	$232,500	2020
TIDES FOUNDATION	$230,000	2020
MISSOURI ORGANIZING AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT COLLABORATION	$225,000	2020
AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON	$210,000	2020
GEORGIA CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND	$210,000	2020
CITY OF BOSTON	$200,428	2020
ASIAN AMERICAN ADVANCING JUSTICE ATLANTA	$200,000	2020
ISAIAH	$200,000	2020
MAINE PEOPLES RESOURCE CENTER	$200,000	2020
MINNESOTA VOICE	$200,000	2020
NEW MEXICO ACEQUIA ASSOCIATION	$200,000	2020
ONE ARIZONA	$200,000	2020
RURALORGANIZING.ORG EDUCATION FUND	$200,000	2020
TEXAS TRIBUNE	$200,000	2020
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA	$200,000	2020
9TO5 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKING WOMEN INC	$195,000	2020
VILLAGE & WILDERNESS PROJECT INC	$188,000	2020
WISCONSIN VOICES	$185,000	2020
IOWA CITIZENS FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT	$180,000	2020
NEW FLORIDA MAJORITY EDUCATION FUND	$175,000	2020
UNITED FOR RESPECT EDUCATION FUND	$175,000	2020
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY INC	$168,442	2020
CITIZEN ACTION OF WISCONSIN EDUCATION FUND INC	$165,000	2020
ALTERNATE ROOTS INC	$160,000	2020
HARAMBEE HOUSE INC	$160,000	2020
BLUEPRINT NORTH CAROLINA	$150,000	2020
FAITH IN INDIANA	$150,000	2020
FAITH IN PUBLIC LIFE INC	$150,000	2020
ONE FAIR WAGE INC	$150,000	2020
PROGRESS MICHIGAN EDUCATION	$150,000	2020
SOUTHERN VISION ALLIANCE	$150,000	2020
SOWEGA RISING INC	$150,000	2020
THE CENTER FOR ENERGY EDUCATION	$150,000	2020
WISCONSIN CONSERVATION VOICES	$150,000	2020
KENTUCKY COALITION INC	$137,500	2020
WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE	$132,660	2020
BRIGHTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL	$130,000	2020
FAITH IN FLORIDA INC	$125,000	2020
OHIO ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE	$125,000	2020
PENNSYLVANIA VOICE	$125,000	2020
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA	$122,242	2020
NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION	$120,505	2020
RIGHTS & DEMOCRACY EDUCATION FUND	$115,000	2020
ACHIEVING COMMUNITY TASKS SUCCESSFULLY	$110,000	2020
ALLIED MEDIA PROJECTS INC	$110,000	2020
COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION INC	$105,000	2020
URBAN SCHOOL FOOD ALLIANCE	$100,020	2020
ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING	$100,000	2020
BEHAVIORAL IDEAS LAB INC	$100,000	2020
BUSINESS EDUCATION FUND	$100,000	2020
CASA DE MARYLAND INC	$100,000	2020
CENTER FOR COALFIELD JUSTICE	$100,000	2020
CENTER FOR RURAL STRATEGIES INC	$100,000	2020
LOUD LIGHT	$100,000	2020
LOUISIANA BUCKET BRIGADE	$100,000	2020
MISSOURI RURAL CRISIS CENTER	$100,000	2020
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION	$100,000	2020
NORTH CAROLINA A PHILIP RANDOLPH INSTITUTE INC	$100,000	2020
OHIO VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION	$100,000	2020
PODER NC ACTION	$100,000	2020
SOCE NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION FOUNDATION	$100,000	2020
STAND UP NASHVILLE	$100,000	2020
STATE VOICES	$100,000	2020
THE SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION INC.	$100,000	2020
VOCES DE LA FRONTERA	$100,000	2020
WASHINGTON BUSINESS ALLIANCE FUND	$100,000	2020
WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER	$100,000	2020
WESTERN ORGANIZATION OF RESOURCE COUNCILS	$100,000	2020
WISCONSIN ALLIANCE FOR EXCELLENT SCHOOLS	$100,000	2020
ONE VOICE	$97,500	2020
ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS INC	$92,500	2020
TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT EDUCATION FUND	$90,000	2020
ALIGN: THE ALLIANCE FOR A GREATER NEW YORK	$85,000	2020
ASIAN PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK	$85,000	2020
COLORADO PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE (COPA)	$85,000	2020
GEORGIA STAND UP	$85,000	2020
LITTLE VILLAGE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION	$85,000	2020
OPAL	$85,000	2020
WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION FOUNDATION INC	$85,000	2020
ALLIANCE FOR A JUST SOCIETY	$80,000	2020
ALTERNATIVES FOR COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT INC	$80,000	2020
CENTER ON RACE POVERTY & THE ENVIRONMENT	$80,000	2020
COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT	$80,000	2020
COMMUNITY IN-POWER AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INC	$80,000	2020
COMMUNITY VOICES HEARD	$80,000	2020
NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND	$80,000	2020
PITTSBURGH UNITED	$80,000	2020
RURAL UTAH PROJECT EDUCATION FUND	$80,000	2020
ACTION CENTER INC	$76,000	2020
CENTER ON POLICY INITIATIVES	$75,000	2020
JUST TRANSITION ALLIANCE	$75,000	2020
MONTANA HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK	$75,000	2020
PENNSYLVANIA UNITED	$75,000	2020
PEOPLES ACTION INSTITUTE	$75,000	2020
WASHINGTON CAN EDUCATION & RESEARCH FUND	$75,000	2020
WISDOM INC	$75,000	2020
WORKING AMERICA EDUCATION FUND	$75,000	2020
CENTER FOR EARTH, ENERGY AND DEMOCRACY	$70,000	2020
COMMUNITIES UNITED FOR ACTION	$70,000	2020
DUWAMISH RIVER CLEANUP COALITION TAG	$70,000	2020
GREENROOTS INC	$70,000	2020
PROGRESSIVE MARYLAND EDUCATION FUND	$70,000	2020
SOUTHWEST ORGANIZING PROJECT	$70,000	2020
A BETTER WISCONSIN INSTITUTE	$65,000	2020
CENTRAL COAST ALLIANCE UNITED FOR A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY	$65,000	2020
CONNECTICUT CITIZEN RESEARCH GROUP INC	$65,000	2020
THE WELLNESS KITCHEN OF WARRENTON VA	$62,276	2020
CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY	$60,000	2020
INSTITUTE FOR WASHINGTONS FUTURE	$60,000	2020
NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR MASSACHUSETTS	$60,000	2020
PEOPLE ORGANIZED FOR WESTSIDE RENEWAL	$60,000	2020
PUBLIC POLICY AND EDUCATION FUND OF NEW YORK	$60,000	2020
RURAL ADVANCEMENT FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL USA	$60,000	2020
RURAL ARIZONA ENGAGEMENT	$60,000	2020
COOPERATION JACKSON	$55,000	2020
IRONBOUND COMMUNITY CORPORATION	$55,000	2020
URBAN TILTH	$55,000	2020
COMMUNITY NETWORKING RESOURCES	$54,000	2020
AMIGOS BRAVOS INC	$50,000	2020
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY CENTER OF THE MIDWEST	$50,000	2020
FAITH IN ACTION NETWORK	$50,000	2020
HOOSIER ACTION RESOURCE CENTER INC	$50,000	2020
IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR	$50,000	2020
JESUS PEOPLE AGAINST POLLUTION	$50,000	2020
LEADERSHIP COUNSEL FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY	$50,000	2020
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND	$50,000	2020
NATIVE VISION INC	$50,000	2020
NEO PHILANTHROPY INC	$50,000	2020
NORTHERN PLAINS RESOURCE COUNCIL	$50,000	2020
ONE NORTHSIDE	$50,000	2020
PHOENIX NEWSPAPERS INC	$50,000	2020
PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE OF NEVADA	$50,000	2020
PROGRESSNOW ARIZONA INSTITUTE	$50,000	2020
TAKEACTION MINNESOTA EDUCATION FUND	$50,000	2020
WOMEN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE NETWORK	$50,000	2020
WORKING PARTNERSHIPS USA	$50,000	2020
WORKERS CENTER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE	$48,000	2020
PODER	$45,000	2020
ACTION NOW INSTITUTE	$40,000	2020
CENTRO POR LA JUSTICIA	$40,000	2020
FOR WEST VIRGINIA'S FUTURE INC	$40,000	2020
MIAMI WORKERS CENTER	$40,000	2020
NATURES GARDEN FOR VICTORY AND PEACE	$40,000	2020
NEW VIRGINIA MAJORITY EDUCATION FUND	$40,000	2020
SOULARDARITY	$40,000	2020
HIGHLANDER RESEARCH & EDUCATION CENTER INC	$36,000	2020
FAMILY FARM ACTION ALLIANCE	$35,000	2020
LIVELIHOODS KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE NETWORK	$35,000	2020
EAST MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COUNCIL	$31,000	2020
UPROSE	$31,000	2020
HISPANICS IN PHILANTHROPY	$30,456	2020
EAST YARD COMMUNITIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE	$30,000	2020
WHYHUNGER INC	$30,000	2020
LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	$25,338	2020
FREEDOM INC	$25,000	2020
GEORGIA SHIFT	$25,000	2020
MONTPIRG LEADERSHIP FUND	$25,000	2020
WESTERN RESOURCE ADVOCATES	$25,000	2020
YWCA OF SYRACUSE & ONONDAGA CO INC	$25,000	2020
THE FUND FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC	$22,241	2020
DEEP SOUTH CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE	$21,000	2020
NC ASSOCIATION OF BLACK LAWYERS LAND LOSS PREVENTION	$21,000	2020
THE GREEN DOOR INITIATIVE	$21,000	2020
CIRCLE OF BLUE INC	$20,000	2020
KENWOOD OAKLAND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION	$20,000	2020
MONDO BIZARRO PRODUCTIONS	$20,000	2020
PROJECT SOUTH	$20,000	2020
ARCADIA FOOD, INC	$15,000	2020
EAST BAY ALLIANCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY	$15,000	2020
INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK	$15,000	2020
JANE ADDAMS SENIOR CAUCUS	$15,000	2020
LOGAN SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION	$15,000	2020
PEOPLE UNITED FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING	$15,000	2020
VOICES OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND LEADERS	$15,000	2020
DETROIT BLACK COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY NETWORK	$10,000	2020
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSFORMATION MOVEMENT OF FLINT	$10,000	2020
FARMWORKER ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA INC	$10,000	2020
MILWAUKEE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSORTIUM INC	$10,000	2020
MISSOURI JOBS WITH JUSTICE	$10,000	2020
NC WARN	$10,000	2020
NEW ALPHA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION	$10,000	2020
NEW JERSEY RESOURCE PROJECT INC	$10,000	2020
NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ALLIANCE	$10,000	2020
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NETWORK	$10,000	2020
OURSPACE WORLD INC	$10,000	2020
PEOPLE FOR COMMUNITY RECOVERY	$10,000	2020
SMARTMEME INC DBA CENTER FOR STORY-BASED STRATEGY	$10,000	2020
SOUTHERN MAINE WORKERS CENTER	$10,000	2020
TALLAHASSEE FOOD NETWORK INC	$10,000	2020
UNITED FOR A NEW ECONOMY	$10,000	2020
UNITED VISION FOR IDAHO	$10,000	2020
WEST ATLANTA WATERSHED ALLIANCE	$10,000	2020
WEST END REVITALIZATION ASSOCIATION	$10,000	2020
THE NEW FOOD ECONOMY INC	$5,242	2020
Earth Genome	$800,000	2019
American Rivers	$547,850	2019
World Resources Institute	$517,000	2019
University of Colorado Foundation	$370,000	2019
Trust for Conservation Innovation	$295,181	2019
University Corporation at Monterey Bay	$252,528	2019
Water Foundation	$250,000	2019
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors	$242,500	2019
Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska	$220,000	2019
Bonneville Environmental	$175,000	2019
Profress Michigan Education	$150,000	2019
Regents University of California Los Angeles	$146,416	2019
University of Maryland	$135,155	2019
Public Policy Institute of California	$133,661	2019
Regents of the University of California	$125,243	2019
Power	$110,000	2019
Alaska Community Action on Toxics	$100,000	2019
ASU Foundation for a New American University	$100,000	2019
Grassroots Collaborative	$100,000	2019
Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Collaborative	$100,000	2019
Texas Environmnetal Justice Advocacy	$100,000	2019
Nature Conservancy	$100,000	2019
The People's Lobby Education Institute	$100,000	2019
Harambee House	$85,000	2019
Michigan United	$85,000	2019
Got Green	$80,000	2019
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement	$80,000	2019
New Food Economy	$78,658	2019
Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund	$75,000	2019
Movement Strategy Center Climate Justice Alliance	$75,000	2019
Provieence Youth Student Movement	$75,000	2019
Puget Sound Sage	$75,000	2019
TakeAction Minnesota Education Fund	$75,000	2019
West Virginia Citizen Action Education Fund	$75,000	2019
Environmental Defense Fund	$70,313	2019
New Jersey Resource Project	$60,000	2019
Community Labor United	$57,500	2019
Duke University	$50,000	2019
Farmworker Association of Florida	$50,000	2019
Grassroots Global Justice	$50,000	2019
KHEPRW Institute	$50,000	2019
Land Stewardship Project	$50,000	2019
Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy	$50,000	2019
People's Action Institute	$50,000	2019
Texas Tribune	$50,000	2019
WORC Education Project	$50,000	2019
Allied Media Projects	$44,600	2019
Illinois People's Action	$44,000	2019
A Greener World	$40,000	2019
Fund for the City of New York	$40,000	2019
Sin Fronteras Farm and Food	$40,000	2019
Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy	$38,500	2019
EcoAdapt	$30,000	2019
Indigenous Environmental Network	$30,000	2019
Ruckus Society	$30,000	2019
Neighborhood Funders Group	$29,000	2019
Little Village Environmental	$28,184	2019
Empower Missouri	$25,000	2019
Faith in Indiana	$25,000	2019
Faith in Place	$25,000	2019
Headwaters Economic	$25,000	2019
Iowa Interfaith Power and Light	$25,000	2019
Mapping Action Collective	$25,000	2019
Missouri Rural Crisis Center	$25,000	2019
Model Forest Policy Program	$25,000	2019
Ourspace World	$25,000	2019
University of Northern Iowa Foundation	$25,000	2019
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability USA	$24,976	2019
James Beard Foundation	$20,000	2019
The Morton Arboretume	$20,000	2019
350 Kishwaukee	$14,600	2019
Big Blacks in Green	$14,600	2019
Dakota Resource Council	$14,600	2019
East Michigan Environmental Action Council	$14,600	2019
Environmental Health Watch	$14,600	2019
Grow Greater Englewood	$14,600	2019
Juxtaposition	$14,600	2019
Milwaukee Environmental	$14,600	2019
Milwaukee Water Commons	$14,600	2019
New City Church	$14,600	2019
Owe Aku International Justice Project	$14,600	2019
The Green Door Initiative	$14,600	2019
Women's Funding Network	$10,000	2019
Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe Chippewa Indians	$8,000	2019
Native American Educational Technologies	$8,000	2019
Tides Foundation	$8,000	2019
Lower Sugar River Watershed Association	$7,225	2019
California Institute of Technology	$750,000	2018
Environmental Defense Fund	$492,746	2018
Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education	$460,495	2018
Lower Sugar River Watershed	$276,266	2018
Nature Conservancy	$270,000	2018
University Corporation at Monterey Bay	$187,459	2018
Leland Stanford Junior University	$160,500	2018
University of Maryland	$158,750	2018
The Earth Genome	$125,000	2018
Missouri Coalition for the Environment Foundation	$120,000	2018
ASU Foundation for a New American University	$100,000	2018
Iowa Citizens for Community	$75,000	2018
Land Stewardship Project	$75,000	2018
MOVE	$75,000	2018
Environmental Incentives LLC	$60,000	2018
Sea to Snow LLC	$45,000	2018
American Society of Adaptation Professionals	$25,000	2018
Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy	$25,000	2018
Climate Access	$25,000	2018
EcoAdapt	$25,000	2018
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat	$25,000	2018
Little Village Environmental Justice Organization	$25,000	2018
Missouri Rural Crisis Cente	$25,000	2018
Model Forest Policy Program	$25,000	2018
Natural Capitalism Solutions	$25,000	2018
Progress Michigan Education	$25,000	2018
The Commonwealth Club of California	$23,500	2018
Council for a Strong America	$20,000	2018
Future Harvest	$20,000	2018
Union of Concerned Scientists	$20,000	2018
Sacramento River Settlement Contractors	$19,500	2018
National Immigration Law Center	$10,000	2018
New Venture Fund	$10,000	2018
Redstone Strategy Group	$697,450	2017
News Deeply, Inc.	$250,000	2017
Water Foundation	$200,000	2017
Nature Conservancy	$184,422	2017
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy	$123,245	2017
Leland Stanford Junior University	$114,795	2017
UVA School of Architecture Foundation; UVA Office of Sponsored Programs	$110,000	2017
Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development	$75,000	2017
Geos Institute	$70,000	2017
Denver Water	$60,000	2017
Duke University	$50,034	2017
Sea to Snow LLC	$50,000	2017
Yolo Habitat Conservancy	$50,000	2017
Sustainable Markets Foundation	$49,981	2017
WildLandscapes International, Inc.	$45,000	2017
County of Yolo (CA)	$25,000	2017
EcoAdapt	$25,000	2017
Resources Legacy Fund	$25,000	2017
Sequoia Riverlands Trust	$25,000	2017
Texas State University	$25,000	2017
Defenders of Wildlife	$15,000	2017
Environmental Incentives LLC	$6,000	2017
Conservation Biology Institute	$620,000	2016
Sacramento River Settlement Contractors	$500,000	2016
Sustainable Conservation	$250,000	2016
Trout Unlimited	$200,000	2016
Point Reyes Bird Observatory	$150,000	2016
Carbon Cycle Institute	$100,000	2016
Nature Conservancy	$100,000	2016
Texas State University	$75,000	2016
Grantmakers in Health	$61,198	2016
Fibershed	$50,000	2016
Land Stewardship Project	$50,000	2016
Biodiversity for a Livable Climate	$25,000	2016
Holistic Management International	$25,000	2016
Quivira Coalition	$25,000	2016
Slow Food USA	$25,000	2016
Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority	$20,000	2016
Transition Habitat Conservancy	$20,000	2016
Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning	$18,500	2016
Defenders of Wildlife	$15,000	2016
Audubon California	$10,000	2016
Grand Total:	$59,820,978

Consulting and Management Fees

Between 2015 and 2020, Windward Fund paid $21.5 million in management and contractor fees, including $7.8 million to Arabella Advisors for management services. ^[62]

Windward Fund: Consulting Fees	Total (2015-2020)
Arabella Advisors	$7,836,721
Institute for the New Food Economy	$3,091,048
Susan Bell and Associates	$2,607,790
Conservation Strategy Group	$2,355,283
RomanSales Inc.	$1,813,525
Redstone Strategy Group	$1,020,708
Potential Energy Coalition Inc.	$1,000,000
Factore Ventures PBC	$552,000
ICF Jones and Stokes	$502,631
Culp and Kelly LLP	$428,127
Maliha Khan	$231,258
Frances J. Seymour	$119,712
Total:	$21,558,803

Financial Documents

The Windward Fund’s Form 990 IRS filings obtained by the Capital Research Center are available here:

• 2020 IRS Filing (Form 990)
• 2019 IRS Filing (Form 990)
• 2018 IRS Filing (Form 990)
• 2017 IRS Filing (Form 990)
• 2016 IRS Filing (Form 990)

The Windward Fund filed its Application for Recognition of Exemption from income tax with the IRS (Form 1023) in 2015. The document is available here.

The Windward Fund’s IRS Form 1023 application for recognition of tax exempt status is available here; the file also includes:

• a description of Windward’s charitable activities, including “fiscal sponsorship”;
• Windward’s founding board of directors (Eric Kessler, Adam Eichberg, and Harry Drucker), as well as their “qualifications”;
• Windward’s articles of incorporation, filed with the District of Columbia on February 2, 2015;
• the nonprofit’s bylaws; and
• an administrative agreement between the Windward Fund and Arabella Advisors authorizing the latter to provide paid management services to the nonprofit.

Windward received IRS recognition of its tax exempt status on June 8, 2015; the IRS letter is available here.