Vere Initiatives
OVERVIEW: Vere Initiatives is the philanthropic vehicle of Dirk and Natasha Ziff. It supports environmental causes and, to a lesser extent, journalism, democracy and place-based initiatives.
IP TAKE: Vere Initiatives prioritizes “funding for under-resourced but high-potential projects in a way that complements the resources and efforts of other supporters.” Vere Initiatives has replaced the Natasha and Dirk Ziff Foundation as the couple’s main philanthropic vehicle. Some of its earliest engagements resulted in powerful collaborations with leading environmental funders. Vere does not review proposals at this time, but this is a funder to watch, especially for its work in ocean conservation, sustainable agriculture and independent journalism. Grantmaking and engagement are global in scope. Network with staff via LinkedIn to get on this funder’s radar.
PROFILE: Vere Initiatives is the philanthropic vehicle of Dirk and Natasha Ziff. It was established in New York City in 2022. Dirk Ziff is an heir to the Ziff Davis Media fortune. He is a graduate of Columbia University and earned an MBA from Harvard University. At age 26, he convinced his family to start an investment company with $500 million. For about 20 years, he and his brothers, Daniel and Robert, ran Ziff Brothers Investments. Each brother became a billionaire several times over, and Dirk went on to establish is own firm, Ziff Capital Partners, in 2015. He is a founding board member of New York City’s Robin Hood Foundation.
Natasha Ziff earned a degree in Political Science and Art History from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. She is a co-owner of the World Surf League and a partner at MTheory, a management company for musical artists.
The mission of Vere Initiatives is “to both create and inspire change that meaningfully impacts the future of the planet.” Grants and investments focus on a broad range of environmental causes and, to a lesser extent, “journalism, democracy, and geographic-based projects.” According to its website, giving targets “earlier-stage efforts where we see a path to significant impact.”
Grants for Climate Change, Environmental & Marine Conservation, and Sustainable Agriculture
Vere Initiatives is not registered as a tax-exempt organization, making it difficult to know many particulars of its giving. However, a significant portion of Vere’s support appears to focus on environmental causes and climate change. The entity names “improving the health of our oceans and expanding regenerative agriculture” as two of its main areas of engagement. In 2023, Vere joined with a group of funders including the Bezos Earth Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies at the Our Ocean Conference in Panama to pledge $5 million to help developing countries stay on track for the U.N.’s 30×30 conservation goals.
Vere has also contributed to the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance, the Platform for Climate and Agriculture Transformation and the Center for Climate Journalism and Communication at the University of Southern California at Annenberg.
Earlier giving through the Ziffs’ foundation went to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and the National Audubon Society, among others.
Grants for Journalism and Democracy
Vere Initiatives also names journalism and democracy as areas of interest, although it does not name specific goals for its giving in these areas. Vere has provided support to Newsmatch, a “collaborative fundraising movement to support independent, public service journalism,” and Report for America, which works “to strengthen our communities and our democracy through local journalism that is truthful, fearless, fair and smart.”
Other Grantmaking Opportunities:
Vere articulates interest in supporting “geographic-based projects.” Based on the Ziffs’ past giving, New York City and Martha’s Vineyard, where the couple vacation, are likely destinations for Vere support. Through their foundation, the Ziffs have supported New York City organizations including Lincoln Center, the New York Public Library, the Museum of Modern Art, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of New York, the New York Blood Center and the Gay Men’s Health Crisis.
The foundation also provided ongoing support to Trinity School, which Dirk attended in his youth, and the Brearly School, a prestigious girls’ school on the Upper East Side.
Giving for Martha’s Vineyard has gone to the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival and the FARM Institute, a nonprofit agricultural and educational center.
Important Grant Details:
Because Vere Initiatives is not registered as a tax-exempt organization in the U.S., it is difficult to know specific amounts of grants and donations. Giving for ocean conservation appears to be in the millions of dollars.
This funder has shown a propensity for collaborative work with other leading environmental grantmakers.
Vere Initiatives does not accept unsolicited proposals but welcomes contact via email at info@vere.org. It also maintains a page on LinkedIn.
PEOPLE:
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