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. The Windward Fund is smaller than the other Arabella-controlled Funds, and revenues fell from $15.8 million in 2016 to $12.7 million in 2017. [1]
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. [2]
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.” [3]
“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. [4]
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].” [5]
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.” [6][7]
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
- The Heartland Fund
- The Ocean Agency
- Water Funder Initiative (WFI)
Leadership
Board of Directors
The Windward Fund’s board of directors in 2018 consisted of the following individuals: [8]
Lee Bodner is the board chair of Windward Fund and president of the New Venture Fund, as well as board chair of the Hopewell Fund. Bodner is the former managing director of Arabella Advisors, where he played a leadership role in incubation projects housed within NVF and its lobbying affiliate, the Sixteen Thirty Fund, particularly concerning environmentalist groups. [9]
Eric Kessler is the former board chair for Windward Fund before he was replaced by Lee Bodner in 2016; Kessler is not listed on Windward’s board of directors in its 2018 IRS Form 990 filing. Kessler is the founder and senior managing director at Arabella Advisors. [10]
Bruce Boyd is a member of the board of directors for Windward Fund. He also works as the senior managing director for Arabella Advisors. [11]
Andrew Schulz serves as general counsel for the Windward Fund. He is also general counsel for Arabella Advisors and its other three nonprofits. [12]
Wilbur Priester is a member of the board of directors for Windward Fund. He also works as the CFO of Arabella Advisors. [13]
Adam Eichberg was a member of the founding board of directors for Windward Fund. 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. [14]
Harry Drucker is a member of Windward’s founding board of directors and a board member for the New Venture Fund. Drucker is an environmental activist and realtor. He also served on the board of the National Environmental Policy and Law Center and the Illinois chapter of the Nature Conservancy. [15]
Charles “Chuck” Savitt is the treasurer of the board of directors for Windward Fund. He is the founder of environmentalist publishing company Island Press, which has published books by population control advocate Paul Ehrlich. [16]
Kristen Grimm is a member of the board of directors for Windward Fund. She is also a fellow at the Aspen Institute and founder of Spitfire Strategies, a consultancy firm which caters to left-leaning clients. [17]
Aileen Lee is a member of the board of directors for Windward Fund. Lee is a venture capitalist operating mainly out of California. [18]
Bill Gallegos is a Windward board member, beginning in 2018. Gallegos is executive director of Communities for a Better Environment, an “environmental justice” organization. [19]
Jumana Vasi is a Windward board member, beginning in 2018. 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. [20]
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.” [21] In 2018, Windward paid $1,273,269 in employee salaries and compensation. [22] In 2017, Windward paid $2,949,170 in employee salaries and compensation. [23]
John Nordgren 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. [24] In 2018, Norden received total compensation of $223,305. [25]
Mary McBryde is a Windward project director. In 2018, she received total compensation of $132,375. [26]
Dorcas Robinson is a Windward project director. Robinson is the director of the Windward Fund’s Resilience Measurement, Evidence & Learning Community of Practice. [27] In 2018, she received total compensation of $188,917. [28]
Jason Kessler is a project director for the Windward Fund and director of partnerships for Earthrise Alliance, a Windward Fund project. [29] In 2018, he received total compensation of $119,989. [30]
Funding
Financial Overview
The Windward Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. An overview of the group’s finances from 2015 to 2018 is provided below: [31]
| Windward Fund: Financial Overview (2015-2018) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total: | $49,003,904 | $34,201,236 | $8,771,693 | |
| Total Revenues | Total Expenditures | Grants Paid | Net Assets | |
| 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 |
Lobbying
Between 2015 and 2018, Windward reported spending $2,064,465 in lobbying expenses: [32]
- 2018: $828,959
- 2017: $701,206
- 2016: $522,641
- 2015: $11,659
Funds Spent on “Fake” Group Activism
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. [33]
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. [34]
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. [35]
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. [36]
The Rockefeller Foundation has made multiple grants to Windward Fund totaling $2.1 million between 2016 and 2017. [37] The Agua Fund, a left-leaning philanthropic foundation, made a $45,000 grant to Windward Fund in 2017. [38] 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. [39] Wallace Global Fund II, a left-leaning philanthropic organization, made a $100,000 donation to the Windward Fund in 2018. Gates Family Foundation has made grants totaling $325,000 since 2016. [40] 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. [41]
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. [42]
| 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 2018, the Windward Fund reported paying nearly $4 million in grants to other nonprofits. [43] In 2017, it paid out just under $2.5 million in grants. [44]
| Windward Fund Grantees (2018) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total: | $3,804,216 |
| California Institute of Technology | $750,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund | $492,746 |
| Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education | $460,495 |
| Lower Sugar River Watershed | $276,266 |
| The Nature Conservancy | $270,000 |
| University Corporation at Monterey Bay | $187,459 |
| Leland Stanford Junior University | $160,500 |
| University of Maryland | $158,750 |
| The Earth Genome | $125,000 |
| Missouri Coalition for the Environment Foundation | $120,000 |
| ASU Foundation for a New American University | $100,000 |
| Iowa Citizens for Community | $75,000 |
| MOVE | $75,000 |
| Land Stewardship Project | $75,000 |
| Environmental Incentives LLC | $60,000 |
| Sea to Snow LLC | $45,000 |
| American Society of Adaptation Professionals | $25,000 |
| Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy | $25,000 |
| Climate Access | $25,000 |
| EcoAdapt | $25,000 |
| Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat | $25,000 |
| Little Village Environmental Justice Organization | $25,000 |
| Missouri Rural Crisis Cente | $25,000 |
| Model Forest Policy Program | $25,000 |
| Natural Capitalism Solutions | $25,000 |
| Progress Michigan Education | $25,000 |
| The Commonwealth Club of California | $23,500 |
| Council for a Strong America | $20,000 |
| Future Harvest | $20,000 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists | $20,000 |
| Sacramento River Settlement Contractors | $19,500 |
| National Immigration Law Center | $10,000 |
| New Venture Fund | $10,000 |
Consulting and Management Fees
Since 2015, Windward has paid nearly $3 million to Arabella Advisors for management services. [45]
| Windward Fund: Consulting Fees | Total (2015-2018) |
|---|---|
| Total | $9,271,879 |
| Arabella Advisors | $2,758,388 |
| Institute for the New Food Economy | $1,784,767 |
| Susan Bell and Associates | $1,585,245 |
| Redstone Strategy Group | $1,020,708 |
| Conservation Strategy Group | $841,043 |
| ICF Jones and Stokes | $502,631 |
| Culp and Kelly LLP | $428,127 |
| Maliha Khan | $231,258 |
| Frances J. Seymour | $119,712 |
Financial Documents
The Windward Fund’s Form 990 IRS filings obtained by the Capital Research Center are available here:
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.