What COmON Foundation does

COmON Foundation is a private charitable foundation established by Dutch entrepreneur Wijnand Pon and headquartered in Leusden, Netherlands. It provides invitation-only grants to landscape restoration projects worldwide, with a 2024 program investment of more than €21 million directed at long-term ecosystem recovery across multiple continents. The foundation is led by Executive Director John Loudon, in role since 2016, and added Program Director Marthe Jongmans in 2024 to formalize programmatic leadership as the portfolio scaled.

The foundation's core methodology is the 4RETURNS Framework, developed by long-standing partner Commonland, which structures grant-making around integrated returns across four dimensions (natural, social, financial, and inspirational). Its work is further guided by the Blue Line Society philosophy, a registered trademark that frames landscape restoration as a long-horizon, values-driven endeavor rather than a series of short-term interventions. COmON does not operate field projects directly; instead, it channels capital through a curated partner network anchored by four core organizations (Commonland, Charles Darwin Foundation, Wetlands International, and Peace Parks Foundation) plus a broader tier of major and minor implementation partners.

The business model is private philanthropy: capital is sourced from individual donors and founder-affiliated wealth, then deployed as multi-year restricted and core grants to selected partners. Revenue is not transactional; rather, the foundation's 'scale' is measured by annual grant outlay, geographic reach (active in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Australia), and the breadth of ecosystems it touches, including terrestrial restoration, regenerative agriculture (notably the SEKEM Egypt program for approximately 40,000 farmers), and blue carbon (mangroves and kelp forests). The foundation's 2024 'Hope for the Future' documentary and 10-year commemorative publication mark an emerging emphasis on brand-building and public fundraising alongside its invitation-only grant model.

Name

COmON Foundation

Legal name

COmON Foundation

Website

https://comon.earth

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

COmON Foundation is a private charitable foundation providing invitation-only grants to landscape restoration projects worldwide. Founded in 2015 by Wijnand Pon and based in Leusden, Netherlands, it deploys the 4RETURNS Framework to support long-term ecosystem recovery across multiple continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Grant-making Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Biodiversity, Conservation & Natural Capital Funds (FSANAJAG), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Landscape restoration funding
• Nature conservation grants
• Regenerative agriculture support
• Environmental foundation grants
• Community empowerment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Leusden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Disbursements: COmON is a privately funded foundation that provides grants to organizations undertaking landscape restoration and nature conservation projects. Resources are dedicated exclusively to organizations creating long-term inspirational, ecological, social, and financial returns through their projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

COmON Foundation is a private, charitable fund that provides grants by invitation only to innovative landscape restoration and nature conservation projects worldwide. The foundation funds organizations undertaking projects that restore degraded landscapes, empower local communities, optimize sustainable land use, and nurture nature, guided by the 4RETURNS methodology and Blue Line Society philosophy. In 2024, the foundation invested more than €21 million across transformative programs globally.

Product overview

COmON Foundation operates as a private charitable fund dedicated to landscape regeneration and re-greening of degraded areas worldwide. Rather than a technology product company, it functions as a grant-making foundation that supports partner organizations implementing restoration projects. Its core offerings include grant programs for landscape restoration initiatives, an interactive Map of Projects displaying funded initiatives globally, and COmON Publications documenting annual activities and impact. The foundation's work is guided by two complementary frameworks: the 4RETURNS Methodology for systematic landscape restoration, and the Blue Line Society philosophy advocating sustainable resource use. The foundation funds projects through key partners including Commonland, Charles Darwin Foundation, Peace Parks Foundation, and Wetlands International, with grant-making being invitation-only.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• COmON Foundation Grant Programs A private charitable fund that provides grants by invitation only to innovative landscape restoration and nature conservation projects undertaken by organizations that recognize the value of healthy soil and ecosystems. Grants are flexible and multi-year, focused on impact rather than short-term results, and support organizations combining local knowledge with global ambition.
• COmON Publications Annual overviews for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 plus a commemorative 10-year anniversary publication '10 Years of COmON, Don't Dream but Do!' documenting the foundation's activities, partnerships, and positive impacts created with communities.
• Map of Projects An interactive mapping platform showcasing the foundation's funded restoration projects globally, displaying initiatives across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Quantifiable outcome

• €21 million+ invested in 2024 for transformative programs worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core/key partner, major partner and minor partner.

• Commonlandcore/key partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON Foundation's largest and most impactful investment programme. Commonland pioneered the 4RETURNS methodology and is working to restore 25% of degraded planet surface. Projects include Baviaanskloof in South Africa, Altiplano Estepario in Spain, and Western Australia Wheatbelt. Commonland was initially made possible through COmON's ongoing long-term grant.
• Charles Darwin Foundationcore/key partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON supports landscape restoration projects including Galapagos Verde 2050 programme, funds a large proportion of CDF's annual overhead costs, and supports redevelopment of Charles Darwin Research Center as sustainable building example.
• Peace Parks Foundationcore/key partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of COmON's first major projects was in Mozambique demonstrating landscape restoration in buffer zones of cross-border parks. COmON is reproducing this model at Simalaha Conservancy in Zambia and supporting various national parks across southern Africa.
• Wetlands Internationalcore/key partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON supports Wetlands International to achieve greater impact for wetlands worldwide, focusing on mobilizing and upscaling wetland solutions through strengthened fundraising, visibility, and strategic partnerships.
• WWFmajor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for KAZA Collective landscape program and various conservation initiatives. WWF-NL collaborates with COmON, Commonland, and Peace Parks Foundation on transboundary conservation across southern Africa.
• One Acre Fundmajor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON supports One Acre Fund's largest agroforestry project planting 1 billion trees in Rwanda, Malawi, Kenya, and Nigeria. The project exceeded its 250 million tree target, reaching 300 million by 2024.
• WeForestmajor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON supports WeForest's Mpumba Forest Corridor project in Zambia, aiming to restore 68,000 hectares of landscape connecting LavushiManda and South Luangwa National Parks, with potential expansion to 350,000 hectares.
• SEKEMmajor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON launched support programme in 2023 to convert 40,000 farmers in Egypt to regenerative farming practices through SEKEM's sustainable social enterprise model.
• The Nature Conservancymajor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON is a leading partner in the Reforestation Accelerator helping TNC and WRI accelerate progress towards 2030 goal to reforest 150 million hectares. Also supports blue carbon projects in Australia and Texas.
• Southern African Wildlife Collegemajor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON provided core funding in 2025 to ensure continuity of one of Africa's most vital conservation institutions that has trained more than 25,000 graduates from 63 countries.
• Red Crossmajor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON contributed to Red Cross' Green Pearls project in Haiti and supports Princess Margriet Fund promoting prevention, climate adaptation, and Nature-based Solutions.
• The Hunger Projectmajor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON supported The Hunger Project with travel fund for meetings and conferences to share knowledge of their 'epi-centre' strategy and integrate with partners.
• Kelp Forest Foundationminor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON Foundation recognizes the vital role of kelp forests in combatting climate change, supporting KFF's work on research, awareness, and restoration of wild and cultivated kelp forests.
• Global Mangrove Watchminor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON supports The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International in testing Global Mangrove Watch platform with satellite images and maps for monitoring mangroves worldwide.
• UEF/CoCoSTminor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON supports University of Groningen's CoCoST programme for sustainable future of wildlife and communities in Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem, including five PhD students.
• Our Planet Our Futureminor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON was the first partner in this 10-year campaign to inspire and mobilize 1.5 billion people to take measurable climate action through various positive campaigns.
• Aardpeerminor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOmON is one of funders of Aardpeer Project initiated by Stichting Wij.land to establish investment fund acquiring agricultural land for transition to sustainable food system in Netherlands.
• Wide Open Agricultureminor partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommonland became founding shareholder of Wide Open Agriculture, Western Australia's leading regenerative food company using 4 Returns framework to transform degraded landscapes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Commonland: Commonland is the developer of the 4RETURNS framework that COmON embraces and its largest grantee. As a peer landscape restoration organization with shared methodology, it represents both a strategic partner and the most directly comparable organization in COmON's space.
• Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF): CIFF is a major private philanthropic foundation making large-scale grants to climate, nature, and sustainable development initiatives globally. Its scale and approach to deploying private capital into environmental outcomes make it a strong direct peer to COmON.
• European Climate Foundation: The European Climate Foundation is a major Netherlands-based philanthropic foundation funding climate and nature solutions across Europe and globally. Its regional base and focus on climate/nature grant-making make it a closely comparable European peer to COmON.
• Robertson Foundation: The Robertson Foundation is a U.S. private foundation making large grants for climate solutions and land conservation. As a privately endowed foundation funding environmental restoration at meaningful scale, it parallels COmON's private-funder, landscape-restoration-focused model.
• Wyss Foundation: The Wyss Foundation is a major U.S. private foundation funding large-scale land conservation and landscape restoration globally, including a $1B+ pledge to protect 30% of the planet by 2030. It is highly comparable to COmON as a privately funded foundation deploying patient capital into conservation projects.
• Stichting Doen: Stichting Doen is a leading Dutch grant-making foundation funding innovative projects in sustainability, nature, and social enterprise. Its Netherlands base, private funding model, and focus on innovative environmental initiatives make it a direct Dutch peer to COmON.
• Bezos Earth Fund: The Bezos Earth Fund is a $10B philanthropic commitment to fight climate change and protect nature, making grants to conservation, restoration, and food systems transformation organizations. Like COmON, it channels private wealth into nature-based solutions and partners with major environmental NGOs.

Broad incumbents

• Bloomberg Philanthropies: Bloomberg Philanthropies deploys billions annually across multiple causes including a significant environment and climate program. As a large private foundation with environmental focus, it represents the broader incumbent peer set that COmON operates alongside in the environmental philanthropy space.
• The Nature Conservancy: TNC is one of the world's largest environmental organizations, operating across conservation, restoration, and climate. While COmON is a funder and TNC a grantee/partner (Reforestation Accelerator), TNC's portfolio breadth in landscape conservation is a comparable scale and methodology reference for COmON.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): WWF is the world's largest independent conservation organization with global programs in species, habitat, and climate. Although COmON funds WWF-NL for the KAZA Collective and other initiatives, WWF's scale and conservation portfolio represent the broader institutional landscape COmON operates within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/comon-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about COmON Foundation