Who We Are

The Cedar Tree Foundation is a U.S. - focused family foundation created in the mid 1990’s by the late pediatrician and entrepreneur, Dr. David H. Smith.  Dr. Smith believed in the power of individuals and organizations to make significant changes in the world and Cedar Tree’s grantmaking continues to reflect that belief. Read more about Dr. Smith and his legacy here.

Cedar Tree Grantmaking 2002-2016

Early Cedar Tree grants were given in support of local conservation issues, but from 2002 to 2016, the Foundation focused most funding on two program areas:

Environmental Health: Cedar Tree supported efforts to protect and empower those most vulnerable to environmental health hazards, including women and children. Grants supported a variety of campaigns and strategies including efforts to provide clear and accessible scientific information to decision-makers, create environmentally healthier school systems, encourage industry to make voluntary changes to decrease exposures to toxic chemicals, and strengthen policy and advocacy work throughout the environmental health field.

Sustainable Agriculture: Cedar Tree supported initiatives across the US to build the next generation of sustainable farmers; reconnect urban populations with healthy, local food and agriculture; remove policy barriers and expand the market for sustainably grown foods.

In addition to these core program areas, Cedar Tree’s historical grantmaking included grants in:

Environmental Education: Cedar Tree supported organizations that focused on building environmental literacy and stewardship skills for youth, linking environmental science with youth leadership and outdoor, hands-on experiences.

Civic Engagement: Cedar Tree supported civic engagement organizations mainly focused on raising the voices and participation of people who are historically under-represented in democracy including youth, people of color and women.

Environmental Justice: Cedar Tree maintained environmental justice as a cross cutting theme in all grant programs, recognizing that communities of color were most vulnerable and most burdened by environmental contaminants and pollution, and therefore, crucial voices in finding solutions.

Most Cedar Tree grant programs were structured to provide a smaller number of organizations with larger, multi-year grants, with the incorporation of higher risk grant making. Click on the links above for further details of the programs and examples of some of the grants funded.  

Cedar Tree Grantmaking 2017 - Today

In 2016, the Foundation completed an intensive strategic visioning process to refine Cedar Tree’s funding focus.   In June 2017 the Cedar Tree Foundation launched two grantmaking programs: the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative and the Regenerative Grazing Initiative. Both programs are active, and available for inquiry at certain times of the year.  Click on the links in the titles to see grants lists, grant cycles, and information about applying for funding.

Cedar Tree continues to periodically support Civic Engagement grantmaking.  However, we do most of this work with consultants and through third party organizations and do not accept unsolicited applications for funding. 

Between 2016-2019,  Cedar Tree developed a grant program in Detroit. Starting with investments in urban agriculture, the Foundation’s support expanded over time into sustainable food systems and youth entrepreneurship. The Detroit Initiative brought together community, environmental, sustainability, and housing interests to build a collaborative strategy for sustainable redevelopment. Cedar Tree’s investments helped fund the creation of a sustainable redevelopment plan in the McDougall Hunt Neighborhood with a strong focus on community-led engagement. In January 2020, the Detroit Initiative transitioned out of the Cedar Tree Foundation and into the Alternative Foundation.

Beginning in 2017, the Cedar Tree Foundation made grants to assist communities fighting against fracking and other forms of energy extraction. The program, centered on organizations working in the Delaware River Valley, was closed to new applicants in 2021, although some grantees in our portfolio continue to receive funding for this work.

In late 2020, Cedar Tree unveiled its Rooted in Justice Program, which was designed to help amplify youth voices and actions in environmental and food justice movements. Inaugural grants were made in 2021 using a a participatory grantmaking model of practitioners in the fields of youth development, food justice and/or community and urban gardens. Read more about the program here.

The David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship Program

Cedar Tree is the sole funder of the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship Program.  Created by Dr. Smith in 1999, the Smith Fellows Program identifies and supports early career post-doctoral scientists working to solve real world problems in the application of conservation science. The Smith Fellowship provides two years of funding for a full time research project addressing a pressing conservation issue with relevance to the United States; a series of intensive trainings including communications, policy, and leadership; and a supportive network. The Program is administered by the Society of Conservation Biology.   To learn more, including how to apply for a fellowship, please click here.

Updated 9/2020