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Moose Foundation
The Moose Foundation incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in late 2023 to build an endowment supporting the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project. President Jeff Holden, a...
Moose Foundation
The Moose Foundation incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in late 2023 to build an endowment supporting the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project. President Jeff Holden, a two-decade Moosewatch expedition leader and author of Dead Moose on Isle Royale, heads a board populated by the study's lead scientists. Michigan Technological University manages the foundation's endowment fund and provides institutional backing for the project, which has run continuously since 1958. Donations flow into the endowment to fund field research on wolf and moose population dynamics. The study's work centers on Isle Royale National Park, a closed island ecosystem where scientists track single apex predator and single primary prey interactions. In-field activities include annual Moosewatch expeditions that send volunteer-led crews off trail to locate moose skeletal remains. The endowment aims to replace episodic grants from collaborators like the W.K. Kellogg Foundation with predictable annual distributions from invested principal. The foundation operates as an all-volunteer board with an administrative post office box in Chelsea, Michigan. Ex-officio board members include distinguished professors John Vucetich and Sarah Hoy, who serve as the project's lead researchers. In January 2024, a record-warm El Niño winter forced the cancellation of the annual Winter Study after only two weeks — an operational disruption that underscores the endowment's purpose in insulating multi-decade research from short-term funding and climate variability. The foundation participates in The Stewardship Network's annual conferences. The foundation's architecture separates charitable fundraising from academic governance. Michigan Tech holds and administers the endowment, while the foundation's board directs grantmaking to the Wolf-Moose Project. This shared-custody model preserves the university's compliance infrastructure while giving on-the-ground scientists a dedicated fundraising vehicle with its own 501(c)(3) authority.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
2023
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Mooseheart
Corporate office
Mooseheart, MI, United States
Principals
Jeff Holden
President
Erin Parker
Vice President
April Willbur
Treasurer
Amanda Griggs
Secretary
Sarah Hoy
Ex-Officio Board Member
Rolf Peterson
Ex-Officio Board Member
John A. Vucetich
Ex-Officio Board Member
Douglas Smith
Ex-Officio Board Member
Karen Bacula
Board Member
Michael George
Founding Board Member
Adrienne Detanico
Founding Board Member
Izzy Evavold
Board Member
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What does the Moose Foundation endowment actually fund?
The foundation's endowment distributions fund the annual field operations of the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Project, including the Winter Study and Moosewatch expeditions. Michigan Technological University manages the invested endowment assets and disburses funds directly to the research project. The goal is to replace unpredictable grant income with a permanent funding source.
Who makes the grantmaking decisions?
The foundation's board of directors controls grantmaking. Ex-officio board members include the project's lead scientists — Rolf Peterson, John Vucetich, and Sarah Hoy — giving the research team direct input on funding priorities. The board also includes Moosewatch expedition leaders and philanthropy professionals.
How is the foundation related to Michigan Technological University?
Michigan Tech serves as the institutional host for the Wolf-Moose Project and manages the foundation's endowment fund. The foundation operates as a separate 501(c)(3) entity with its own board, allowing it to raise funds independently of the university's general fundraising apparatus. This dual structure lets the research team access both university resources and direct donor support.
Does the Moose Foundation accept gifts beyond cash donations?
The foundation accepts tax-deductible cash contributions and mailed checks. There is no public disclosure of a planned-giving program or vehicle for donating appreciated securities, real estate, or other complex assets. Donors seeking alternative giving structures would need to contact the foundation directly.
How did the foundation's seed capital get raised?
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation provided matching grants during the foundation's formation period. Founding board member April Willbur, a former W.K. Kellogg Foundation philanthropy professional, brought institutional fundraising expertise to the launch. The foundation has not publicly disclosed total assets raised to date.
What research does the Wolf-Moose Project actually produce?
The project has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers on wolf ecology, predator-prey dynamics, and the effects of climate, disease, and inbreeding on island populations. Current lead researchers John Vucetich and Sarah Hoy publish actively, and Vucetich authored Restoring the Balance (2021) and The Biology and Conservation of Animal Populations (2024). The study's data has informed federal wolf-reintroduction policy, including testimony before both houses of Congress.
Is the Moose Foundation's board compensated?
No board compensation is disclosed. The foundation operates as an all-volunteer organization, consistent with its 2023 incorporation as a small charitable vehicle. Ex-officio board members hold salaried academic appointments at Michigan Technological University separate from their foundation roles.
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