With nearly four decades of experience, I help donors and foundations execute grantmaking programs designed for impact and results.


Kicking the Tires

Strategic analysis of your current program, kicking the tires, posing questions and helping you make adjustments in approach if needed


Protecting and Strengthening Democracy

American democracy is under serious threat, with challenges to the rule of law and electoral integrity and growing distrust in the Supreme Court. Rising authoritarianism and corruption demand urgent action. Amid deepening division and violence, the time is now to invest in organizations that strengthen civic engagement, promote transparent governance, ensure fair elections, and foster greater national cohesion.


Convening for Collaboration

Convening your grantees and/or related stakeholders to help ensure maximum collaboration and synergy around shared goals


Addressing the Polycrisis

Holistic analysis and program development exploring the inter-related challenges of climate change, fragile democracies, rise of conflict, loss of non-human species, displaced people and rising migration, racism, extreme inequality, artificial intelligence and the role of our economic norms and structures in propelling the polycrisis. I can only do this in partnership with others so that together, we see the larger system and dynamics at play.


Grant Recommendations

Crafting an impact framework and grant recommendations for addressing the climate and related threats


Prioritizing Nature

Nature-based climate solutions represent a bold, promising approach to conserving and restoring ecosystems and strengthening communities. Our soils, forests, grasslands, wetlands, and coastal systems help us sequester and store carbon from the atmosphere while providing lasting co-benefits, from clean water to increased biodiversity and added resilience against climate extremes. These solutions, rooted in reciprocity with the natural world, offer up robust layers of returns for people and the planet.


Nature-based solutions like agroforestry offer
co-benefits for biodiversity, the climate, and humanity.
Explore how nature is leading the way.

“Betsy Taylor's deep knowledge of the environmental field as well as her excellent process and facilitation skills ensured a successful planning retreat for the Stranahan Foundation. We are grateful to Betsy for the critical role she played in helping us both educate and engage multiple generations in exploring and defining pathways for making a difference with our ecological grant making!”

— Pam Howell-Beach, CEO, Stranahan Foundation

Maine Community Foundation

Volgenau Foundation

Janelia Foundation

Town Creek Foundation

Merck Family Fund

Energy Foundation

Children's Investment Fund Foundation

Stranahan Foundation

European Climate Foundation

Flora Family Foundation

Ottinger Foundation

Stern Family Fund

Patricia Chernoff Charitable Trust

Louise Ottinger Charitable Trust

Individual Anonymous Donors

Maine Community Foundation Volgenau Foundation Janelia Foundation Town Creek Foundation Merck Family Fund Energy Foundation Children's Investment Fund Foundation Stranahan Foundation European Climate Foundation Flora Family Foundation Ottinger Foundation Stern Family Fund Patricia Chernoff Charitable Trust Louise Ottinger Charitable Trust Individual Anonymous Donors

Clients

Featured Grantee

American Oversight

American Oversight is a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that advances truth, accountability, and democracy by enforcing the public’s right to government records. https://americanoversight.org/

Recent Grants

The grants posted below were made at my recommendation by two donor-advised funds at the Maine Community Foundation and by the Janelia Foundation. I do not accept unsolicited fundraising proposals on behalf of these clients.

Advancing Natural Climate Solutions


  • American Forests

    For a national Tree Equity Initiative, addressing the rising threats of extreme heat in low-income inner city neighborhoods

  • Austin State Peay University Foundation

    To support the Southeastern Grasslands Institute and efforts to conserve and restore American grasslands.

  • Carbon Cycle Institute

    To advance regenerative agriculture in California through technical assistance, partnerships, advocacy, and communications.

  • The Climate Center

    To advocate for natural carbon sequestration practices, policies and outcomes in California as a model for other states.

  • Earth Island Institute

    For the California Climate and Agriculture Coalition

  • Earthjustice

    For general support of efforts to conserve and protect public lands and forests in Alaska and the American West from the threats of fracking, development, mining and excessive timber cuts.

  • Food System 6 Accelerator

    For development of innovative low-cost finance tools for under-served farmers and ranchers adopting regenerative and perennial agriculture practices.

  • Global Justice Ecology Project

    To support standing trees and efforts to conserve old growth and mature forests on public lands in New England.

  • Interlace Commons

    To help provide technical assistance to farmers and demonstrate the potential of agroforestry practices for carbon sequestration, biodiverse landscapes, and rural economies in New York and New England.

  • Mad Agriculture

    For support of technical assistance and outreach to farmers and ranchers in the midwest, intermountain west and southeastern United States.

  • Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association

    For support of soil health programming and technical assistance to farmers in Maine and New England, working to advance climate mitigation, resilience, and organic, healthy food for all.

  • Missouri Prairie Foundation

    To engage policy makers, investors and the public to protect, expand, and steward the prairies and grasslands of Missouri.

  • Multiplier

    For the Conservation Finance Network and efforts to support field leaders and land stewards with innovative approaches to conservation finance for natural climate solutions.

  • Natural Capitalism Solutions

    To advance transformational climate solutions in the context of global climate negotiations and conferences

  • The Nature Conservancy

    To support long-term protection of mature forests in the Appalachian region, with a focus on areas where enduring carbon storage and sequestration is possible and where steps to permanently protect land are underway.

  • New England Forestry Foundation, Inc.

    For the Exemplary Forestry Center

  • Nisqually Community Forest

    For general support of efforts to restore, protect, and improve management of the Nisqually Community Forest (NCF) to maximize carbon storage and other social and ecological benefits

  • Northeast Wilderness Trust

    For general support of efforts to permanently protect mature and old growth forests in the northeastern region of the United States.

  • Pacific Forest Trust

    For general support of Pacific Forest Trust’s conservation, restoration and management of private forests in California and the Pacific Northwest for climate mitigation and other public benefits.

  • Quivera Coalition

    For the Carbon Ranch Initiative which builds the capacity of producers, land managers, and technical service providers to implement and monitor land management practices focused on mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.

  • Regenerative Agriculture Foundation

    For the Funders for Regenerative Agriculture

  • Savanna Institute

    For general support of efforts to scale up agroforestry, particularly in the Midwest

  • Savanna Institute

    For support of the Agroforestry Coalition

  • Silvix Resources

    To support maintenance of a database on key issues and legal resources related to protection of public lands.

  • Society for the Protection of Underground Networks

    To support a global network of scientists and advocates in mapping, educating and advocating on behalf of the world’s mycorrhizal fungi networks.

  • Southern Environmental Law Center

    For legal, educational and related work to protect public forests, wetlands and grasslands in the southeastern United States.

  • State Innovation Exchange

    To educate state policymakers and local partners about the potential and positive impact of natural climate solutions through agriculture and food systems

  • Trust for Public Land

    For protection of mature and old growth forests in New England, development of an enhanced conservation easement tool prioritizing carbon storage and sequestration, and development of new conservation financing options.

  • Trust for Public Land

    To advance natural climate solutions finance at the state level across the country.

  • University of California - Berkeley

    For research in Dr. Whendee Silver’s lab on the role of nitrogen in soil carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation following compost amendments.

  • Virginia Tech Foundation Inc

    To support the Virginia Soil Health Coalition

  • The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

    For support of efforts to advance climate and pollinator friendly agriculture in the state of California.

Promoting and Defending Democracy


  • All Voting is Local

    For non partisan education and organizing to support free and fair elections at the local and state level.

  • All Voting is Local

    For support of the Election Safeguards Response Network.

  • American Oversight

    To advance transparent government and the public’s right to know about governmental actions, rule making, and budgets.

  • Asians Rising Georgia Alliance

    General support

  • Civic TN

    To promote fair and free elections and non partisan voter participation in Tennessee.

  • Democracy Forward Foundation

    For communications, advocacy and litigation in defense of democracy and the rule of law.

  • Fair Elections Center

    To advance voting rights and fair elections for all.

  • Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund

    To defend democracy, advance climate solutions, and promote a more just and sustainable Georgia.

  • Good Nation Foundation

    For the Bigger Tent Education Fund

  • Heartland Fund

    For the Rural Democracy Initiative and efforts to advance non partisan rural voter participation.

  • Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project

    To provide direct legal services to immigrants and their families in Maine

  • Indivisible Civics

    For public education, advocacy and civic participation in defense of democracy.

  • Indivisible Civics

    For efforts to safeguard our democracy and election integrity.

  • League of Conservation Voters Education Fund

    For Chispa, a Latino climate justice group advancing civic participation in support of a more just and sustainable Arizona.

  • Maine Center for Economic Policy

    To support an economy that works for all Maine residents and to strengthen our democracy

  • Maine People's Resource Center

    To promote grassroots organizing and civic participation for a more just, democratic, and sustainable Maine

  • National Federation of Community Broadcasters

    To provide a free, independent, and trusted source of news through the strengthening of community radio stations across the country.

  • Neo Philanthropy

    For the Alaska Voter Hub and non-partisan efforts to support civic participation and education in the state of Alaska

  • New Venture Fund

    For the Moxie Fund.

  • North Carolina Asian Americans Together

    To support non-partisan voter education and efforts to support civic participation by Asian Americans in North Carolina.

  • North Carolina Black Alliance

    To support non-partisan civic engagement and voting rights in North Carolina.

  • Ohio Progressive Collaborative Education Fund

    To support of non-partisan voter education and civic participation.

  • One Pennsylvania Activist United

    For efforts to educate and support civic participation by lower-income and African American voters in Pennsylvania

  • Power Coalition for Equity and Justice

    To protect voting rights and promote civic engagement in Louisiana

  • Pro-Democracy Center

    For support of non-partisan efforts to bolster civic participation and voter education in Pennsylvania.

  • Public Citizen Foundation

    For litigation, advocacy and education focused on defense of democracy against rising authoritarian forces in the United States

  • Public Citizen Foundation

    For efforts to educate the public about excessive military spending and the loss of social programs

  • Siembra NC

    For Somos Siembra and efforts to educate and empower Latino voters in North Carolina

  • Tides Foundation

    For Fair Fight Action Civic Engagement and Voter Protection Fund

  • Tides Foundation

    For the Lead Locally Education Fund

  • Tides Foundation

    For the Movement Voter Project.

  • Voter Project Fund

    For non partisan voter education and registration in Pennsylvania.

  • William J Brennan Jr Center for Justice

    To support free and fair elections and voting rights for all Americans regardless of race, gender or class.

  • Arizona Center for Empowerment

    To educate and support voters in lower income Latino communities in Arizona

Promoting Clean, Renewable Energy and the Phasing Out of Fossil Fuels


  • Better Future Project

    To advance a more just, sustainable, and clean energy future in Massachusetts

  • Center for Biological Diversity

    To advance sustainable consumption and production as a critical pathway for addressing the climate crisis.

  • Climate Economy Action Center of Addison County

    For the Energy Navigators program and efforts to advance energy efficient households.

  • The Conservation Law Foundation

    to promote solar power and zero waste programs and reduction of methane emissions from landfills as well as the phase out of fossil fuels in New England.

  • The Climate Initiative

    To support and empower teenagers to take a role in the struggle for climate and environmental solutions.

  • Good Jobs First

    To expose taxpayer and related subsidies to data centers and to support communities across the nation in challenging the harmful environmental impacts of data centers.

  • Green America

    To advance consumer demand for energy efficient and non-toxic products.

  • Institute for Policy Studies

    For a research project on the fossil fuel industry.

  • Institute for Policy Studies

    For the Climate Accountability Research Project

  • Liveable Arlington

    For grassroots advocacy to challenge pervasive fracking that threatens the health and wellbeing of the community.

  • Natural Resources Council of Maine

    To advance energy efficiency, solar energy, wind power and other programs to reduce carbon emissions and promote affordable energy for all.

  • Natural Resources Council of Maine

    To advance clean energy in Maine and New England

  • Public Citizen Foundation

    For the Climate and Energy Project.

  • Public Citizen Foundation, Inc.

    For the Climate and Energy Project

  • State Democracy Project

    For New York Renews and efforts to advance climate justice and clean energy in New York

  • Third Act Education Fund

    For general support of efforts to advance clean, renewable energy.

Advancing Peace and Human Rights


  • Friends Committee on National Legislation Education Fund

    To advance a just and compassionate immigration system.

  • Friends Committee on National Legislation Education Fund

    To promote a more just and humane foreign policy towards Palestine.

  • Hope Border Institute

    For general support of research and humanitarian action to support a more just  and coherent approach to immigration in the United States.

  • Lansing Area Peace Education Center

    To promote alternatives to rising violence and militarism and to support human rights, peace and democracy.

  • Lansing Area Peace Education Center

    General support of efforts to promote a more peaceful world.

  • Palestine Legal

    To defend the civil and constitutional rights of people who speak out for Palestinian rights.

  • Peace Action Fund of New York State

    For general support of efforts to promote non-violence, peace and a nuclear free world

  • Physicians for Social Responsibility of Los Angeles

    Back from the Brink and efforts to galvanize the public and local officials to press for abolition of nuclear weapons

  • Public Citizen Foundation

    For efforts to educate the public about excessive military spending and the loss of social programs.

  • Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Service

    To advance human and legal rights of immigrants to the United States

  • Southwest Research and Information Center

    Nuclear Watch New Mexico for efforts to expose the many hazards of expanding plutonium pit production.

  • Tri-Valley CARES

    To educate and alert the public and local officials to the threats posed by environmental, health, and existential threats posed by nuclear weapons production

  • Union of Concerned Scientists

    For the Global Security Program and efforts to educate and advocate about the risks and costs of plans to modernize the nuclear arsenal of the United States

  • US Campaign for Palestinian Rights

    To provide educational resources to the many groups working for a democratic and free Palestine.

Humanitarian Grants


  • African Women Rising

    To support girls and women in Uganda who need access to healthcare, education, and reproductive care.

  • Doctors for Global Health

    For the Kisoro Elders Project in Uganda

  • Doctors Without Borders

    To support medical care and humanitarian aid.

  • Palestine Children’s Relief Fund

    General Support

  • Sudan Relief Fund

    General support

I work with a limited number of philanthropic clients and only accept clients who are aligned with my values and who share my overriding sense of urgency. I am not available for fundraising contracts. I work best with those who actively listen, bring a sense of humility and a willingness to take risks, and those working for transformational change.