Fifty of the world's major foundations ranked by endowment — from Denmark's Novo Nordisk Foundation at roughly $109 billion down through the great American, British, German, Italian and Asian philanthropies — plus two spotlights and six documented exclusions. Every entry gives the endowment, what the grants fund, the founder, the leadership, the signature event, and how to apply.
Figures come from Form 990-PF filings, audited statements, or annual reports, with the year of each figure. "UNVERIFIED" marks what could not be confirmed — never guessed.
RANKED BY ENDOWMENT
1. NOVO NORDISK FOUNDATION
Hellerup, Denmark (Tuborg Havnevej 19, 2900 Hellerup).
Endowment: DKK 694 billion (~US$109bn / ~€93bn) in assets managed by its wholly owned investment arm Novo Holdings A/S on behalf of the foundation — year-end 2025 (down from DKK 1,060bn at year-end 2024, reflecting the Novo Nordisk share price decline).
What it funds: Vision: "improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet"; mission: research and innovation in prevention/treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases and the green transition. Grants fund biomedicine/biotechnology, life sciences, natural and social sciences, plus general practice/family medicine, nursing and art history. In 2024 (centenary year) it awarded close to DKK 10.1bn (~€1.35bn) in grants and philanthropic investments across nearly 1,800 new projects; DKK 37.7bn through 4,610+ grants in 2020–2024.
Established: 1924 (official dating; foundation's own history traces origins to 1922; the merged Novo Nordisk Foundation created in 1989).
Founder(s): August Krogh (Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, 1920), H.C. Hagedorn (physician) and August Kongsted (pharmacist) — founders of the Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium foundation structure (1923–24); Thorvald and Harald Pedersen — founders of the Novo Foundation (1951). The two foundations merged in 1989 to form the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Director / CEO: Chief Executive Officer — Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen; Chair — Lars Rebien Sørensen (since 2018). CEO of Novo Holdings — Kasim Kutay. No other named chief officers of the foundation published.
C-suite: Chief Executive Officer — Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen; Chair — Lars Rebien Sørensen (since 2018). CEO of Novo Holdings — Kasim Kutay. No other named chief officers of the foundation published.
How to apply: Open competitive calls published at novonordiskfonden.dk/en/grant; applications submitted through the Foundation's electronic application system NORMA (register a profile; assessment notifications sent from norma-noreply@novo.dk). No preliminary application stage — full proposals prepared to the call's published guidelines, with host-institution support letters where required. The Foundation gives no feedback on declined applications.
2. LILLY ENDOWMENT INC.
Indianapolis, IN.
Endowment: $79.9B (2024 Form 990-PF; InfluenceWatch $79,917,437,633 vs. Grantable $79,907,328,537 — slight discrepancy between sources; figure rounded).
What it funds: Community development, education, and religion, with priority to Indianapolis and Indiana.
Established: 1937.
Founder(s): J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons Eli Lilly Jr. and Josiah K. Lilly Jr.
Director / CEO: N. Clay Robbins (Chairman & CEO); Jennett M. Hill (President).
C-suite: Ben W. Blanton, VP/Secretary/General Counsel; Christopher L. Coble, VP for Religion; Diane M. Stenson, VP & Treasurer; Peter A. Buck, VP for Investments & Grants Administration; Ronni N. Kloth, VP for Community Development; Ted Maple, VP for Education; Jaclyn P. Dowd, VP for Evaluation.
How to apply: Begins with a preliminary letter sent by regular or overnight mail (no online application portal); rolling intake. Board considers grants quarterly (March, June, September, December). Eligible: 501(c)(3) nonprofits in program areas. Exclusions: individuals, debt discharge, healthcare projects, mass media, endowments/endowed chairs, public libraries outside Marion County IN, building campaigns/K-12/arts/human services/general operating/neighborhood projects outside Indianapolis.
Website: lillyendowment.org
3. GATES FOUNDATION
Seattle, WA (per official site).
Endowment: $78.7B (2024 Form 990-PF; InfluenceWatch $78,673,465,696; Grantable $78.7B).
What it funds: "Create a world where every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life." (official site). Global health, development, US education.
Established: 2000.
Founder(s): Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates.
Director / CEO: Mark Suzman (CEO); Chair Bill Gates.
C-suite: Trevor Mundel, President, Global Health; Hari Menon, President, Global Growth & Opportunity; Alex Reid, Chief Communications Officer; Shana Tarbell, Chief Operating Officer; Ankur Vora, Chief Strategy Officer and President, Africa & India; June Yoshinari Davis, Chief People Officer; Anita Zaidi, President, Gender Equality (official foundation leadership pages).
Signature event: Goalkeepers — annual event held each September in New York City during UN General Assembly week (Jazz at Lincoln Center; 2026 edition held Sept 21).
How to apply: Mostly direct contact/invitation-based; some posted RFPs including Grand Challenges. No unsolicited proposals; no standing deadlines.
Website: gatesfoundation.org
4. WELLCOME
London, United Kingdom (Euston Road, London NW1).
Endowment: Investment portfolio £39.9 billion; total funds (portfolio less liabilities) £35.7 billion — financial year to 30 September 2025. 10.2% total return in GBP for the year.
What it funds: "Support science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone" — discovery research into life, health and wellbeing plus three priority health challenges: mental health, infectious disease, and climate & health. Charitable expenditure £1.9bn in 2024/25; ambition to spend £16bn over the ten years to 2032. As of September 2025: 2,723 active grants to 1,443 organisations in 133 countries, totalling £7.3bn.
Established: 1936.
Founder(s): Sir Henry Wellcome (pharmaceutical magnate; established from his legacies; founder of Burroughs Wellcome, a predecessor of GSK plc).
Director / CEO: Chief Executive Officer — John-Arne Røttingen; Chair — Julia Gillard; Co-Chief Investment Officers (Managing Partners) — Lisha Patel and Fabian Thehos (succeeded Nick Moakes). No other named chief officers published.
C-suite: Chief Executive Officer — John-Arne Røttingen; Chair — Julia Gillard; Co-Chief Investment Officers (Managing Partners) — Lisha Patel and Fabian Thehos (succeeded Nick Moakes). No other named chief officers published.
Signature event: None found (no annual gala or convening). Note: in May 2026 Wellcome announced a new Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science (with Nature, US$1m grand prize, winner announced "next year") — inaugural, not yet an established annual event.
How to apply: Open funding schemes (Early-Career Awards, Career Development Awards, Discovery Awards, and themed calls) for researchers at eligible administering organisations worldwide.
5. MASTERCARD FOUNDATION
Toronto, Canada (offices also in Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, Addis Ababa).
Endowment: US$50.3 billion total assets — audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 (investments US$50.17bn; fund balances US$50.29bn). ~US$53bn in assets reported in audited 2025 statements (press summary).
What it funds: Young Africa Works — enable 30 million young people, especially young women, to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030, across education, agriculture, digital economy, financial inclusion, climate; plus education for Indigenous youth in Canada (US$235m committed to 30 post-secondary institutions/organisations). ~US$1.89bn in program disbursements in 2025 (~US$1.41bn in 2024).
Established: 2006.
Founder(s): Mastercard — created "through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company"; operates independently of the company.
Director / CEO: President and CEO — Sewit Ahderom (took helm January 2026; previously co-founder & COO of Gro Intelligence); predecessor CEO Reeta Roy (18 years, stepped down 2025). Board Chair — Zein Abdalla. No other named chief officers published (no public COO/CFO names).
C-suite: President and CEO — Sewit Ahderom (took helm January 2026; previously co-founder & COO of Gro Intelligence); predecessor CEO Reeta Roy (18 years, stepped down 2025). Board Chair — Zein Abdalla. No other named chief officers published (no public COO/CFO names).
Signature event: Baobab Summit — the flagship annual convening of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program community (Scholars, Alumni, partner institutions). 2025 edition: Nairobi, Kenya, 17–19 October 2025 (hybrid); 2026 edition: virtual. Participation is by invitation only.
How to apply: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Grants are initiated through Expressions of Interest or Requests for Proposals issued by the Foundation tied to its strategic priorities (single-source, closed, or open EOIs depending on how well it knows the prospective partner market).
6. HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE
Chevy Chase, MD.
Endowment: $27.3B (fiscal year ended August 31, 2024, official audited financial statements; $27,296,896 thousand) (hhmi.org).
What it funds: "Advancing the discovery and sharing of scientific knowledge for the benefit of humanity." Biomedical research.
Established: 1953.
Founder(s): Howard Hughes.
Director / CEO: Erin O'Shea (President).
C-suite: Donald Koch, VP & Chief Investment Officer (succeeded Landis Zimmerman, per official HHMI announcement). Other chief officers: none found published.
How to apply: Runs open competitions rather than accepting rolling proposals. HHMI Investigator Program — next competition opens September 28, 2027 and closes March 7, 2028. Eligibility: tenured or tenure-track faculty at eligible institutions with 7+ years of lab-head experience. Application details on hhmi.org.
Website: hhmi.org
7. OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS
224 W 57th St, New York, NY.
Endowment: ~$23B (2025, per Wikipedia citing OSF); US filing entity Foundation to Promote Open Society reported $10.8B (Form 990-PF, per Grantable).
What it funds: "Work to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable to their people." (official OSF about description).
Established: 1993 (April 1993).
Founder(s): George Soros.
Director / CEO: Binaifer Nowrojee (President, since June 2024); Chair Alex Soros.
C-suite: None found beyond the President.
How to apply: Varies by program — some issue RFPs, some accept letters of inquiry/concept papers, many are invitation-only; the vast majority of grants go to organizations OSF approaches directly. Eligible: organizations and individuals; informal groups via fiscal sponsors. No universal deadlines; check program-specific pages (osf.to/grants).
Website: opensocietyfoundations.org
8. FORD FOUNDATION
New York, NY.
Endowment: $17.5B (2024 Form 990-PF; $17,482,000,476 per InfluenceWatch).
What it funds: Advancing human welfare; work to disrupt inequality in all its forms (official site).
Established: 1936 (January 15, 1936).
Founder(s): Edsel Ford and Henry Ford.
Director / CEO: Heather Gerken (President, since November 2025, succeeding Darren Walker); Chair Francisco G. Cigarroa.
C-suite: Noorain Khan, VP & Chief Innovation Officer (appointed November 2025); Debra Kroszner, VP & Chief External Affairs Officer (joined January 2026) (official foundation announcements).
How to apply: Does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone. BUILD grants are invitation-only to current grantees. Other opportunities posted on the foundation's grant opportunities page; rolling.
Website: fordfoundation.org
9. WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION
Menlo Park, CA.
Endowment: $14.2B (2024 Form 990-PF, per Grantable).
What it funds: "Help people build measurably better lives." Focus: education, environment, global development & population, performing arts, philanthropy, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Established: 1966.
Founder(s): William R. Hewlett, Flora Lamson Hewlett, and their eldest son Walter B. Hewlett (MIT News; Stanford GSB).
Director / CEO: Amber D. Miller (President, succeeding Larry Kramer, 2012–2024); Board Chair Tino Cuéllar.
C-suite: Edna Cruz, Chief People Officer (joined October 27, 2025, per official hewlett.org announcement). Other chief officers: none found published.
How to apply: Predominantly proactive (staff approaches potential grantees); some programs accept unsolicited letters of inquiry — check program-specific guidelines on hewlett.org. Grantees managed via the Grantee Center portal (GMS). No organization-wide deadlines.
Website: hewlett.org
10. COMPAGNIA DI SAN PAOLO
Turin, Italy.
Endowment: €13.1 billion at market values at 31 December 2025 (official asset-management page, updated ~June 2026). At 31/12/2024 the Foundation reported €10.1bn (strategic portfolio ~€5.2bn including the Intesa Sanpaolo shareholding ~€4.5bn; diversified portfolio ~€4.8bn). Assets derive from the 1990s privatisation of the Turin-based bank Istituto Bancario San Paolo di Torino.
What it funds: Culture, people, planet — under the 2025–2028 strategic plan: social cohesion and fight against inequalities/inclusion; demographic change and opportunities for young people; promotion of cultural heritage; environmental transition; one-health and healthcare innovation; quality of democratic structures and social infrastructure. Action is centred on North-West Italy with a national and international dimension. Interventions for institutional purposes estimated at €250m for 2025 (€175m + €40m complex projects + €35m national/philanthropic funds).
Established: 1563.
Founder(s): UNVERIFIED as a named individual — founded in Turin in 1563 (originally a confraternity).
Director / CEO: Chair (President) — Prof. Marco Gilli; Secretary General — Alberto Anfossi (appointed 27 July 2018; reappointed for 2020–2024; heads the Foundation's operational structure). No other named chief officers published.
C-suite: Chair (President) — Prof. Marco Gilli; Secretary General — Alberto Anfossi (appointed 27 July 2018; reappointed for 2020–2024; heads the Foundation's operational structure). No other named chief officers published.
How to apply: Applications are submitted through the "ROL Online Requests" procedure accessible from the Foundation's homepage (compagniadisanpaolo.it), selecting the dedicated form in the "List of Calls and Requests" section.
11. FONDAZIONE CARIPLO
Milan, Italy (via Daniele Manin 23, 20121 Milan).
Endowment: €13.05 billion total current assets at market value at 31/12/25 (official homepage, October 2026). Also reported: endowment of €8.21bn at December 2023 (Wikipedia, citing the Foundation).
What it funds: Four areas — Environment, Arts & Culture, Scientific Research, Social & Human Services — for social-utility projects in Lombardy and the provinces of Novara and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. Motto: "Tute servare, munifice donare" (preserve diligently, give generously). ~€3.7bn in grants over 30+ years supporting 35,000+ projects; on average 1,000+ projects a year. Strategic programmes include TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE (disability), ANITA (child welfare), LIMEN (justice-involved reintegration).
Established: December 1991 (under the Amato–Carli Law no. 218/1990; savings banks were split into a non-profit foundation and a commercial bank). Philanthropic tradition traces to the Cassa di Risparmio delle Provincie Lombarde, founded 1823.
Founder(s): UNVERIFIED as a named individual — established by statute; origins in the 1823 savings bank.
Director / CEO: President — Giovanni Azzone (since 2023; also President of Acri); General Secretary — Sergio Urbani. No other named chief officers published.
C-suite: President — Giovanni Azzone (since 2023; also President of Acri); General Secretary — Sergio Urbani. No other named chief officers published.
How to apply: Grants flow through Calls for Proposals (bandi), some with annual deadlines and some rolling (applications accepted at any time of year); plus local grants, sponsorships, landmark grants, transfers to community foundations, and foundation-initiated projects. Calls are listed at fondazionecariplo.it with online submission.
12. ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION
Princeton, NJ.
Endowment: $13.4B (2024, official audited financial statements; $13,417,636 thousand) (rwjf.org).
What it funds: Improve health and health equity in the United States ("Culture of Health").
Established: 1972 (became a national philanthropy in 1972).
Founder(s): Robert Wood Johnson II (via bequest).
Director / CEO: Richard E. Besser (President & CEO); Chair Starsky Wilson (since January 2025).
C-suite: May Ng, Chief Investment Officer; Melvin Galloway, Chief Operating Officer; Julie Morita, EVP (until August 2024).
How to apply: Calls for Proposals posted on the foundation's funding opportunities page. Often two-stage: concept paper/brief proposal first, then invited full proposal; submitted through the online portal. Eligibility varies by CFP — typically US-based nonprofits. Exclusions: basic biomedical research, drug/device research, lobbying.
Website: rwjf.org
13. GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION
UNVERIFIED city — United Kingdom (foundation registered in England & Wales; specific office address not verified).
Endowment: ~£9.9 billion — 2025 annual accounts (Charity Commission data, reported by Civil Society, October 2026; down from £12.7bn on the ABF/Wittington share-price fall). Endowment is largely a 46% indirect shareholding in Associated British Foods plc via Wittington Investments Limited. Record year: grant awards and social investments of nearly £140m in FY to 5 April 2025 (~3,000 grants; half for core running costs); nearly £1.7bn donated since 1958.
What it funds: Broad, responsive UK grantmaking with no strict thematic restrictions — arts, community, education, environment, faith, health, museums & heritage, welfare, youth. Funds capital, revenue/unrestricted core costs, and project work; emphasises flexibility and being "open for business" for small grassroots charities through to large national organisations; investment income (£65.9m in 2024/25) funds the grants.
Established: 1958.
Founder(s): W. Garfield Weston (Canadian businessman; the Chair describes the Foundation as "established by my grandfather in 1958").
Director / CEO: Director — Clare Gough; Chair — Sir Guy Weston (since 2000); Deputy Chair — Sophia Weston; nine-trustee board including George Weston (CEO of Associated British Foods), Alannah Weston, Geordie Dalglish. Former director Philippa Charles quoted in older accounts coverage. Small staff (~11 people); no other named chief officers published.
C-suite: Director — Clare Gough; Chair — Sir Guy Weston (since 2000); Deputy Chair — Sophia Weston; nine-trustee board including George Weston (CEO of Associated British Foods), Alannah Weston, Geordie Dalglish. Former director Philippa Charles quoted in older accounts coverage. Small staff (~11 people); no other named chief officers published.
Signature event: Weston Charity Awards — annual awards run in partnership with Pilotlight for charities (winners announced ~June/July; 2025 winners announced 7 July 2025). The Foundation is the funder/sponsor of the awards rather than the sole host.
How to apply: Official "How to apply" page at garfieldweston.org/for-grant-applicants/how-to-apply/. Steps: (1) take the eligibility quiz; (2) read the current application guidelines and write the proposal (PDF or Word); (3) prepare the latest annual return or independently examined/audited accounts; (4) Regular Grant (under £100,000): create an account on the Grants Portal and submit the online application — no deadlines, rolling, decision normally within 4 months; (5) Major Grant (£100,000+): complete the online Major Grant Expression of Interest Form via the Grants Management Portal; bespoke guidance within 6 weeks; considered by Trustees at one of eight board meetings a year.
14. "LA CAIXA" BANKING FOUNDATION
Barcelona, Spain (returned to Barcelona in March 2025).
Endowment: €11.84 billion total assets at 31 December 2025 (foundation's own financial statements; includes its 100% stake in CriteriaCaixa at book value €10.47bn). Its investment arm CriteriaCaixa reported gross asset value (GAV) €30.4bn and net asset value (NAV) €25.1bn at 31 December 2024. Social budget: €655m (2025, a record), €600m (2024).
What it funds: Obra Social — social programmes (CaixaProinfancia against child poverty; Incorpora/Reincorpora employment integration; end-of-life care; elderly programmes), culture and science (CaixaForum network, CosmoCaixa, CaixaForum+ platform), research and health (CaixaResearch Health and CaixaImpulse Innovation calls; the CaixaResearch Institute in immunology), education and fellowships (undergrad, postgrad, doctoral, postdoc; EduCaixa). 2025 budget split: ~60% social transformation (~€370m), ~20% culture/science (~€130m), 16% research/health (€105m), ~7% education/fellowships (~€49m).
Established: 2014 in its banking-foundation form; the foundation dates itself to the 1990 creation of the Caixa d'Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona (merger of Caixa de Barcelona, 1844, and Caixa de Pensions, 1904).
Founder(s): UNVERIFIED as a named individual — the Foundation is the product of the 1990 merger of two savings banks founded in 1844 and 1904 respectively.
Director / CEO: Chairman — Isidro Fainé Casas; General Director (General Manager) — Josep Maria Coronas Guinart (since January 2025); Deputy Director General for Research and Fellowships — Àngel Font. No other named chief officers published.
C-suite: Chairman — Isidro Fainé Casas; General Director (General Manager) — Josep Maria Coronas Guinart (since January 2025); Deputy Director General for Research and Fellowships — Àngel Font. No other named chief officers published.
Signature event: None found (no named annual gala; the Foundation holds fellowship award ceremonies, e.g., INPhINIT at CosmoCaixa, and an annual budget presentation).
How to apply: Grants are issued through annual open calls published on the Foundation's website (lacaixafoundation.org / fundacionlacaixa.org), each with an online proposal-submission system and its own timeline.
15. BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES
New York, NY.
Endowment: $12.1B (2024 Form 990-PF; $12,117,236,821 per InfluenceWatch).
What it funds: "Ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people." Five focus areas: public health, environment, education, government innovation, arts.
Established: 2006 (foundation); umbrella founded 2006 by Michael Bloomberg.
Founder(s): Michael Bloomberg.
Director / CEO: Patricia E. Harris (CEO).
C-suite: None found published by the foundation beyond the CEO (third-party org-chart sites list additional names — UNVERIFIED).
How to apply: Invitation-only; does not accept unsolicited proposals. Periodic open competitions/calls announced on bloomberg.org.
Website: bloomberg.org
16. GORDON AND BETTY MOORE FOUNDATION
Palo Alto, CA.
Endowment: $11.5B (December 31, 2024, official audited financial statements; $11,522,694 thousand) (moore.org).
What it funds: "Create positive outcomes for future generations." (official site). Focus: science, environmental conservation, patient care, San Francisco Bay Area.
Established: 2000.
Founder(s): Gordon E. Moore and Betty I. Moore.
Director / CEO: Aileen S Lee (President, effective January 1, 2026; succeeded Harvey V. Fineberg, President 2015–2025); Board Chair Ken Moore.
C-suite: Aileen S Lee served as Chief of Programs (chief program officer) before becoming President. Other chief officers: none found published.
How to apply: No unsolicited proposals accepted; the foundation allows a ~100-word concise inquiry via moore.org. Open competitions/RFPs in select programs (e.g., Moore Investigators in Experimental Physics — 2026 investigator competitions). Otherwise by invitation.
Website: moore.org
17. W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION
Battle Creek, MI.
Endowment: $9.4B (combined investment portfolios of the foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trust, as of August 31, 2024, official FY2024 audited financials; note: fiscal year, not calendar year; the foundation alone is smaller — the Trust holds most assets) (wkkf.org).
What it funds: Children, families, and communities thrive; focus on early childhood, health equity, and racial equity.
Established: 1930 (June 1930).
Founder(s): Will Keith Kellogg.
Director / CEO: La June Montgomery Tabron (President & CEO).
C-suite: Carlos Rangel, Chief Investments Officer; Donald Williamson, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer; Kahlil Williams, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary; Carla Thompson Payton, Chief Strategist & Impact Officer; Michael Murphy, Chief of Staff.
Signature event: National Day of Racial Healing — established by WKKF in 2017, observed annually on the Tuesday following Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January (dayofracialhealing.org).
How to apply: Rolling letters of inquiry via the Fluxx portal (wkkf.org/grants). LOI response within 30 business days; invited full proposals receive a decision within 60 business days. No deadlines. Eligible: legal entities — nonprofits, public entities, schools, hospitals, religious institutions, and for-profits doing charitable work. Exclusions: individuals, capital investments, political parties/candidates.
Website: wkkf.org
18. THE J. PAUL GETTY TRUST
Los Angeles, California
What it funds: "Aims to further knowledge and nurture critical seeing through the growth and presentation of its collections and by advancing the understanding and preservation of the world's artistic heritage" — operates the J. Paul Getty Museum (Getty Center and Getty Villa), Getty Foundation, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Conservation Institute
Established: 1953
Founder(s): J. Paul Getty
Director / CEO: Katherine E. Fleming (since August 1, 2022; succeeded Jim Cuno)
C-suite: Katharine "K.C." Krieger (VP, Treasurer & Chief Investment Officer); Barbara Jesuele (Deputy Chief Investment Officer); Stephen W. Clark (VP, General Counsel & Secretary); Pierre Ouillet (EVP, Finance & Operations); Jenn Stringer (VP, Chief Digital Officer); Nancy Gibson (VP, Chief HR Officer); William G. Humphries (Controller); Kelly S. Moody (VP, Development & Institutional Advancement). Source: 2025 Form 990 via Influence Watch
Signature event: none found (no flagship annual public gala identified)
How to apply: Most Getty Foundation grants are by invitation; the signature competitive route is the Getty Scholars Program (annual research theme; 2026–27 theme "Provenance"; online application form on getty.edu, typically due Oct 1; decisions ~6 months later) and the Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships and Library Research Grants (researchgrants@getty.edu; (310) 440-7374). Note: due to the Getty Center's temporary closure from spring 2027 to spring 2028, no Library Research Grant applications for the 2027 year. Eligibility: established researchers (Scholar grants; PhD 5+ years or equivalent) and emerging scholars (fellowships); individuals apply (unusual among these foundations); international scholars eligible. No unsolicited general grant portal.
Website: getty.edu
19. JOHN D. AND CATHERINE T. MACARTHUR FOUNDATION
Chicago, IL.
Endowment: $9.3B (2024 Form 990-PF; $9,311,570,852 per InfluenceWatch).
What it funds: Support "creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world."
Established: 1970 (founding documents completed October 18, 1970, per official macfound.org history).
Founder(s): John D. MacArthur and Catherine T. MacArthur.
Director / CEO: John Palfrey (President, since September 2019).
C-suite: Susan E. Manske, VP & Chief Investment Officer; Kenneth M. Jones II, SVP & Chief Operating Officer; Joshua J. Mintz, VP/General Counsel & Secretary; Board Chair Martha L. Minow.
Signature event: The annual MacArthur Fellows announcement ("genius grants") — new fellows announced each fall (late September/October).
How to apply: Generally no unsolicited proposals; occasional open calls posted on macfound.org. 100&Change — a $100M single-grant competition, open to nonprofits and qualifying for-profits, repeated every three years (check macfound.org for the current cycle).
Website: macfound.org
20. DAVID AND LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION
Los Altos, CA.
Endowment: $8.5B (2024 Form 990-PF, per Grantable).
What it funds: "A just and equitable world where both people and nature flourish." (official site). Focus: conservation & science, population & reproductive health, children/families/communities.
Established: 1964.
Founder(s): David Packard and Lucile Salter Packard.
Director / CEO: Nancy Lindborg (President & CEO, since 2020); Board Chair Jason Burnett.
C-suite: Courtney Chandler, Chief Operating Officer; Kimberly Sargent, Chief Investment Officer; Felicia Madsen, Chief Communications Officer. (Third-party source; not independently verified on foundation's site.)
How to apply: No general open application process; fewer than 1% of grants come from unsolicited proposals. Periodic open calls announced on packard.org (e.g., June 2026 LOI round with the Kavli Foundation). Otherwise by invitation/program-staff outreach.
Website: packard.org
21. MARGARET A. CARGILL PHILANTHROPIES
Eden Prairie, Minnesota (6889 Rowland Road)
What it funds: "To provide meaningful assistance and support to society, the arts, and the environment" — seven grantmaking domains: Animal Welfare, Arts & Culture, Disaster Relief & Recovery, Environment, Legacy & Opportunity, Quality of Life, and Teachers & Students
Established: 1995 (began with the formation of Akaloa Resource Foundation to preserve the founder's anonymity; the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation came into existence upon Margaret Cargill's death in August 2006)
Founder(s): Margaret A. Cargill (1920–2006), Cargill agribusiness heir
Director / CEO: Heather Kukla, President (from April 2024, per the foundation's Form 990-PF); Paul Busch, President & CEO emeritus; Christine Morse, Board Chair.
C-suite: Naomi Horsager (Chief Financial Officer); Kurian Thomas (Vice President, Programs); Elizabeth C. Borer (General Counsel); Ted Chen (Vice President, Equity, Culture & Learning); Jayson Smart (Managing Director, Programs); Kim Christianson (Vice President, Human Resources & Administration). Source: The Org profile (2026)
Signature event: none found (no flagship public event identified)
How to apply: Invitation-based grantmaking process only (official site: "MACP conducts its grantmaking in highly defined interest areas and geographies. As a result, we have an invitation-based grantmaking process"). The Anne Ray Foundation may make grants only to beneficiary organizations specifically named by the founder. No public application portal; inquiries to info@macphil.org / (952) 540-4050. 392 grants totaling $313.77 million paid in 2024. Grantseekers typically enter through alignment with one of the seven domains and existing relationships with staff or grantees.
Website: macphilanthropies.org
22. ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION
New York, NY.
Endowment: $7.8B (Form 990-PF, per Grantable).
What it funds: Arts and humanities — "build just communities enriched by meaning and guided by critical thinking." (official site).
Established: 1969.
Founder(s): Ailsa Mellon Bruce and Paul Mellon (children of Andrew W. Mellon).
Director / CEO: Elizabeth Alexander (President).
C-suite: Sepi Sepasi, Chief Financial Officer (per a Philanthropy New York position specification for the role). Other chief officers: none found.
How to apply: Applications via the Fluxx Grants Portal. Periodic open calls (e.g., Higher Learning 2026 Open Call for Concepts: registration by December 1, 2025; concepts due February 17, 2026). Otherwise largely invitation-based. Check mellon.org for current opportunities.
Website: mellon.org
23. CONRAD N. HILTON FOUNDATION
Westlake Village, California (1 Dole Dr, Westlake Village, CA 91362)
Endowment: $7.4 billion (2024 IRS Form 990-PF); the foundation's own FAQ states approximately $8.3 billion (current statement, 2026)
What it funds: Improving the lives of individuals living in poverty and experiencing disadvantage worldwide; seven initiatives — Catholic Sisters, Refugees, Safe Water, Foster Youth, Opportunity Youth, Early Childhood Development, Homelessness — plus disaster relief and recovery and aviation
Established: 1944
Founder(s): Conrad N. Hilton (hotel entrepreneur)
Director / CEO: Peter Laugharn, President and CEO (since Jan. 1, 2016); Board Chair Linda Hilton (since Jan. 2024)
How to apply: There is no application process for general grants — no unsolicited proposals. (Good Neighbor Program: see hiltonfoundation.org for its separate guidelines.)
24. THE LEONA M. AND HARRY B. HELMSLEY CHARITABLE TRUST
New York, New York (230 Park Avenue; sole office)
What it funds: "Aspires to improve lives by supporting effective nonprofits in health and medical research, social services, education, and conservation" — six program areas: Crohn's Disease, Israel, Rural Healthcare, Type 1 Diabetes, Vulnerable Children in Sub-Saharan Africa, New York City
Established: 1999 (established by Leona Helmsley as a continuation of the couple's lifetime giving; active grantmaking since 2008)
Founder(s): Leona M. Helmsley and Harry B. Helmsley (trust administered by trustees selected by Leona Helmsley)
Director / CEO: Trustee-led — Walter Panzirer, Trustee (grandson of Leona M. Helmsley); the Trust publishes no president/CEO.
C-suite: Joshua W. Fenton (Chief Investment Officer, from Jan 1, 2024); Nicholas J. Schiavo (Chief Financial Officer); Jacqueline F. Bausch (General Counsel); trustees: Sandor Frankel, David Panzirer, Walter Panzirer. (Highperformr lists Stephanie Cuskley as COO, April 2025 — unverified against the 990.) Source: 2024 Form 990-PF (helmsleytrust.org)
Signature event: none found (no flagship public event identified)
How to apply: By invitation only — unsolicited inquiries are not reviewed (official policy; confirmed by Inside Philanthropy, Aug 2026). Program staff identify prospective partners; invited organizations submit a pre-proposal/Concept Note, then a full application. Occasional open RFPs posted on helmsleytrust.org with stated deadlines (e.g., Type 1 Diabetes innate-immunity RFP: register via helmsley.fluxx.io, Concept Note due noon PST April 30, 2025). Onboarded grantees use the Helmsley Grants Portal; general inquiries to grants@helmsleytrust.org or (212) 679-3600. Grants range from ~$100,000 to $1 million+ (FY2025: ~$441 million in grants).
Website: helmsleytrust.org
25. WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION
Bentonville, Arkansas (offices in Denver, Colorado; Jersey City, New Jersey; Washington, D.C.)
What it funds: "A family-led foundation that tackles tough social and environmental problems with urgency and a long-term approach to create access to opportunity for people and communities" — three programs: K-12 education, environment (rivers, oceans, water, climate-friendly agriculture), and home region (Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta)
Established: 1987
Founder(s): Sam Walton and Helen Walton (Walmart founders)
Director / CEO: Executive Director Stephanie Cornell (announced July 2023, succeeding Caryl Stern). STATUS UNVERIFIED — leadership in flux: Cornell told staff in August 2025 she would step down by the end of December 2025 (Chronicle of Philanthropy); no successor announcement surfaced in public reporting as of Oct 18, 2026 (the foundation's site was still running a new five-year plan in Sept 2026; Influence Watch's leadership listing, crawled Oct 2026, still names Cornell). Treat the top leadership as to-be-verified.
C-suite: none published beyond the executive director; Board: Annie Proietti (chair), Carrie Walton Penner, Lukas Walton, Tom Walton (Wikipedia); Influence Watch also lists Brad Sikorski as a board member.
Signature event: none found (no flagship public event identified)
How to apply: Does not accept unsolicited grant proposals — "an organization interested in applying for a grant needs first to send a brief letter of inquiry" describing the organization, project, relevance to a funding area, and estimated request (official grants page, waltonfamilyfoundation.org/grants/grant-proposals/). LOIs mailed to: Walton Family Foundation, ATTN: Letter of Inquiry, P.O. Box 2030, Bentonville, AR 72712. Formal proposals only by invitation. One standing open exception: the Public Charter Startup Grant Program (authorized charter schools in startup mode; tiered funding by network size; ineligible if prior grant reports outstanding). ~$500M+/year in grants ($525M in 2019; $745.9M in 2020).
Website: waltonfamilyfoundation.org
26. THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
New York, New York (420 Fifth Avenue)
What it funds: "To promote the well-being of mankind throughout the world" — health (women & children), nutritious food systems, clean energy, economic mobility
Established: 1913 (incorporated in New York State, April 24, 1913; charter granted May 14, 1913)
Founder(s): John D. Rockefeller Sr., John D. Rockefeller Jr., Frederick Taylor Gates
Director / CEO: Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President (since March 2017).
C-suite: Ashvin Dayal (Chief Operating Officer, named May 14, 2026; succeeded Natalye Paquin, retired Aug 1, 2026); Elizabeth Yee (Executive Vice President); Erica Guyer (General Counsel and Corporate Secretary); Keith Olson (Chief Financial Administrative Officer); Mark Wattley (SVP and Chief People Officer); Mike Muldoon (Chief of Staff and Counselor); Maha Eltobgy (SVP, Program Integration); John Gans (SVP, Strategic Communications and Policy); Elena Gelosa (SVP, Bellagio Program); Deepali Khanna (SVP and Head of Asia). Source: official leadership page, rockefellerfoundation.org
Signature event: none found (no flagship public gala or annual convening identified; known for the Bellagio Center residencies/convenings)
How to apply: No unsolicited proposals accepted — staff identify organizations and invite proposals (official policy; confirmed by Inside Philanthropy, Aug 2026). Invited grantees use the Rockefeller Salesforce Portal (proposal toolkit at rockefellerfoundation.org/toolkit-for-prospective-and-active-grantees/). Public application routes exist only via occasional open calls: the Bellagio Center Residency Program (periodic calls; 2026 round opened March 2025), the Big Bets Fellowship, and RFAs such as "Cities Deliver: AI Solutions for Public Services" (call opened Oct 14, 2026; Round 1 proposal + video due Nov 29, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET). No standing deadlines for general grants.
Website: rockefellerfoundation.org
27. CHILDREN'S INVESTMENT FUND FOUNDATION — CIFF
London, UK (offices also in Addis Ababa, Beijing, Nairobi, New Delhi). (Source: en.wikipedia.org; billionaires.africa; ciff.org)
Endowment: Total assets US$6,058.6 million, net assets US$5,994.5 million (31 December 2024; 2023 net assets US$5,754.6m). Disbursed US$631 million in 2024; approved charitable investments totalling US$923 million. (Source: CIFF 2024 audited accounts via opencharities.uk/ew/1091043/files/2024-12-31-accounts.pdf; hinchilla.com)
What it funds: Child-focused global development — child nutrition (largest cause), child health and infectious diseases, sexual and reproductive health and rights, climate change, child protection, "Girl Capital" (women's and girls' economic prospects). Large-scale, data-driven, systemic-change programmes with governments and institutions. (Source: en.wikipedia.org; ciff.org; billionaires.africa)
Established: 2002. (Source: en.wikipedia.org; influencewatch.org)
Founder(s): Sir Chris Hohn and Jamie Cooper-Hohn (then married), as the philanthropic arm of Hohn's hedge fund TCI Fund Management. (Source: en.wikipedia.org; influencewatch.org; billionaires.africa)
Director / CEO: CEO — Kate Hampton (since March 2016; previously CIFF's climate change team head since 2009). Founder & Chair of Board of Trustees — Chris Hohn. Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published on public pages found. (Source: ciff.org/finance-and-governance/; skoll.org; influencewatch.org)
C-suite: CEO — Kate Hampton (since March 2016; previously CIFF's climate change team head since 2009). Founder & Chair of Board of Trustees — Chris Hohn. Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published on public pages found. (Source: ciff.org/finance-and-governance/; skoll.org; influencewatch.org)
Signature event: None found as a public flagship convening/prize.
How to apply: Proactive, invitation-led grant-making — "We identify opportunities by talking to and meeting individuals and organisations working within our priority areas. We do not normally accept unsolicited proposals." (ciff.org/grant-portfolio/our-grant-making-process/). Funds governments, NGOs and institutions delivering large-scale transformational programmes; seeks transformational impact, evidence-based approach, cost-effectiveness, scale and sustainability. Occasional open funding opportunities announced when CIFF expands programmes.
28. THE DUKE ENDOWMENT
Charlotte, North Carolina (800 East Morehead Street)
What it funds: Strengthening communities in North and South Carolina — nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds, enriching spirits (four program areas)
Established: 1924 (Indenture of Trust signed Dec 11, 1924; centennial celebrated 2024)
Founder(s): James Buchanan Duke
Director / CEO: Rhett N. Mabry, President (since July 1, 2016); Charles C. Lucas III, Chair.
C-suite: Program directors: Philip H. Redmond Jr. (Child & Family Well-Being), Lin B. Hollowell III (Health Care), Kristi K. Walters (Higher Education), Robert R. Webb III (Rural Church), Meka S. Sales (Special Initiatives); investments managed by DUMAC Inc. (Durham, N.C.); Board Chair Charles C. Lucas III, Vice Chairs Dennis M. Campbell and Jean G. Spaulding. Source: dukeendowment.org; Influence Watch (2026)
Signature event: none found (no flagship public event identified)
How to apply: Online portal (Blackbaud grantee portal); two-step pre-application → invitation → full application. Published deadlines: Health Care — pre-app May 15 & Nov 15, full app June 15 & Dec 15 (portal open ~6 weeks before each deadline); Rural Church — pre-app May 10 & Oct 3; Child & Family Well-Being — pre-app June 15 & Dec 15. Eligibility: select 501(c)(3) organizations in North and South Carolina (nonprofit hospitals, academic health centers, accredited children's organizations, rural United Methodist churches on the eligibility list, etc.). 480 grants totaling $251.2 million in 2024 (median $200,000).
Website: dukeendowment.org
29. ROBERT BOSCH STIFTUNG
Stuttgart, Germany (in the founder's former home); office in Berlin. (Source: Springer RWE; owler.com HQ listing)
Endowment: Foundation capital around €5 billion (as of 2024). Total charitable spending 2024: €219 million; 2023: €97 million; over €2.3 billion invested over 60 years. (Source: Springer RWE "around 5 billion euros as of 2024"; bosch-stiftung.de/en/story/robert-bosch-stiftung-annual-report-2024 — "219 Mio. EUR the Foundation invested"; 60th-anniversary press release)
What it funds: Three funding areas — Health, Education, Global Issues. Funds patient-centred healthcare (Bosch Health Campus), educational equality (schools/preschools), democracy, humane migration and Ukraine civil-society reconstruction (€20m to at least 2028). Mix of own-operating projects and partner-led project funding. (Source: bosch-stiftung.de/en/funding; 60th-anniversary press release)
Established: 1964. (Source: onthinktanks.org; bosch-stiftung.de — "celebrating the 60th anniversary" in 2024)
Founder(s): Robert Bosch (entrepreneur; foundation established in accordance with his will). The Foundation holds large parts of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH. (Source: Springer RWE; bosch-stiftung.de founder page)
Director / CEO: CEO (Managing Director) — Dr. Bernhard Straub (joined from 30+ years at the Robert Bosch Group). Change announced: Board appointed Atje Drexler as CEO effective 1 May 2027; Straub retires 31 May 2027 after two terms. Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published on public pages found. (Source: bosch-stiftung.de/en/node/4407; bosch-stiftung.de homepage leadership announcement)
C-suite: CEO (Managing Director) — Dr. Bernhard Straub (joined from 30+ years at the Robert Bosch Group). Change announced: Board appointed Atje Drexler as CEO effective 1 May 2027; Straub retires 31 May 2027 after two terms. Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published on public pages found. (Source: bosch-stiftung.de/en/node/4407; bosch-stiftung.de homepage leadership announcement)
Signature event: German School Award (Deutscher Schulpreis) — annual flagship prize honouring outstanding schools; 2026 winners announced at an award ceremony in Berlin. (Source: bosch-stiftung.de — "German School Award 2026" story; #IchStehAuf initiative, June 2024 day of action with 1,700 schools, patron German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier)
How to apply: Funding exclusively through open calls for proposals — "we are unfortunately unable to review or respond individually to unsolicited funding requests or project proposals" (bosch-stiftung.de/en/funding). Calls announced on the website; as of the current check no calls for proposals are open. Eligible applicants vary per call (NGOs, schools, civil-society organisations in Germany, Europe, West Africa, West Asia, Ukraine).
30. VOLKSWAGENSTIFTUNG
Hanover (Hannover), Germany. (Source: volkswagenstiftung.de/en/news/publication-foundation/status-2024-annual-report-volkswagen-foundation — "The Foundation has its offices in Hanover")
Endowment: Foundation capital €4.3 billion (July 2026 assets statement; "status 2025" annual report: "The Foundation capital currently amounts to around 4.3 billion euros"). 2024 approvals: €728.8 million for scientific projects; 2025 approvals: >€300 million (more than 300 million euro approved in 2025 per About page; note: 2024 figure unusually high at €728.8m). (Sources: volksanwagenstiftung.de — Assets_Volkswagen_Foundation_July_2026.pdf; status-2024 and status-2025 annual report pages)
What it funds: Promotion of science and technology in research and higher education — humanities, social sciences, science and technology. Four profile areas: Exploration; Social Transformations; Understanding Research — Reflecting on and Practice of Science; zukunft.niedersachsen (joint programme with Lower Saxony Ministry of Science, funded from VW-share dividends). Pioneering, risk-taking pilot projects; early-career researchers; transnational/interdisciplinary projects. (Source: volksanwagenstiftung.de "About us"; status-2024 report page)
Established: 1961. (Source: foundation "established more than 60 years ago by the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Lower Saxony as an independent, non-profit foundation under civil law" — volksanwagenstiftung.de; 1961 date standard in reference works — exact founding instrument date UNVERIFIED)
Founder(s): The Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Lower Saxony (founded from proceeds of the conversion of Volkswagenwerk to a joint-stock company, ~€0.5bn starting capital). Not a corporate foundation and not affiliated with the Volkswagen automobile company. (Source: volksanwagenstiftung.de "About us" and Assets pages)
Director / CEO: Secretary General (Generalsekretär) / CEO — Dr. Georg Schütte. Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published on public pages found. (Source: volksanwagenstiftung.de "About us" — "Dr. Georg Schütte, CEO")
C-suite: Secretary General (Generalsekretär) / CEO — Dr. Georg Schütte. Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published on public pages found. (Source: volksanwagenstiftung.de "About us" — "Dr. Georg Schütte, CEO")
Signature event: None found as a single flagship public convening. The Foundation runs an extensive scientific-events programme at the Herrenhausen Palace Conference Centre in Hanover (e.g. Herrenhausen Conferences/Symposia such as the International Science & Policy Symposium 2026 and the Feb 2027 "Rethinking Neurodegeneration" conference). (Source: volksanwagenstiftung.de events pages)
How to apply: Per funding-initiative competitive calls; applications submitted via the online portal portal.volksanwagenstiftung.de. Outline proposals typically invited after draft discussion with programme managers. Funds outstanding scholars/scientists in Germany and abroad (universities/research institutions); some calls open to international consortia. Does not fund overheads in some calls (e.g. Global Issues calls: "Does not cover overheads").
31. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
Los Angeles, California (downtown; offices in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno, San Diego)
What it funds: "Expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians" — health equity/social justice across California
Established: 1996 (created when Blue Cross of California converted to for-profit WellPoint Health Networks)
Founder(s): UNVERIFIED — no individual founder; established via the Blue Cross of California health-plan conversion. Treat as "created from the conversion of Blue Cross of California (1996)."
Director / CEO: Brenda Solórzano (since ~September 2024; succeeded Dr. Robert K. Ross, who retired 2024)
C-suite: Martha Jiminez (Executive Vice President and Endowment Counsel, per Influence Watch); Dr. Tony Iton (Senior Vice President, per Influence Watch); board chair Dr. Katherine A. Flores (per Oct 2026 reporting). Other C-suite officers: none confirmed.
Signature event: none found (no flagship public event identified)
How to apply: Invitation only — "unsolicited letters of intent or proposals are not accepted. Funding opportunities are by invitation only" (official Bonds page, calendow.org/bonds/). ~$200 million in customary annual grantmaking; the board approved doubling spending for a three-year period (Oct 2026). The foundation is shifting its entire ~$4B endowment toward impact investing ("Going All In," 2024). Programs include the Social Bond and health/social-justice grantmaking. Eligibility: California 501(c)(3) nonprofits, community foundations, and academic institutions working on health equity, community health, civic engagement, and social justice, with emphasis on organizations led by or serving communities of color and economically disadvantaged populations. EIN 95-4523232.
Website: calendow.org
32. THE ANDREW CARNEGIE FOUNDATION
New York, New York (437 Madison Avenue)
What it funds: "To promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding" — education, democracy, and peace; reducing political polarization
Established: 1911 (chartered June 9, 1911)
Founder(s): Andrew Carnegie
Director / CEO: Dame Louise Richardson, President (13th president, since January 2023); Janet L. Robinson, Chair of the Board.
C-suite: Jon-Michael Consalvo (Chief Investment Officer; promoted from managing director, oversees $4.2B endowment); Stephen J. Del Rosso (Vice President, as of Jan 1, 2025); Janet L. Robinson (Chair of the Board). CFO, COO, general counsel: none published.
Signature event: The Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy (biennial award); the annual Andrew Carnegie Fellows program (26 fellows announced annually)
How to apply: Does not accept or review unsolicited proposals or funding requests — "our program staff identify organizations that can implement projects" (official grants page, carnegie.org/grants/). No standing application process; occasional open calls/RFPs are posted on the website with their own eligibility and deadlines (e.g., the one-time science journalism grants program; joint Carnegie–MacArthur calls via an online LOI portal). A grants database of past awards is public.
Website: carnegie.org
33. SIMONS FOUNDATION
New York, New York (160 Fifth Avenue)
What it funds: "To advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences" — grants in Mathematics & Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Autism & Neuroscience, and Science, Society & Culture; runs the Flatiron Institute (in-house computational science, opened 2016); funds Quanta Magazine and Spectrum
Established: 1994
Founder(s): Jim Simons and Marilyn Simons
Director / CEO: David Spergel, President (since July 2021).
C-suite: Euan W. Robertson (Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, joined April 2019); Marlow Kee (Chief Financial Officer); Brett Dakin (General Counsel and Secretary, SVP); Marian Carlson (EVP, Life Sciences); Ivvet Modinou (SVP, Science, Society and Culture). Source: Cause IQ (from 990 filings, 2025); simonsfoundation.org
Signature event: none found (no flagship public gala or annual convening identified)
How to apply: Program-specific Requests for Applications published on simonsfoundation.org/funding; online portal is the "Simons Award Manager" (SAM). Staged process: letter of intent → invitation → full proposal; timelines vary by program (examples for 2027 cycles: Simons Centers of Excellence at HBCUs — LOI due noon ET Nov 12, 2026; Fellows-to-Faculty — full application due noon ET Jan 13, 2027; Scientific Software Research Faculty Award — LOI due noon ET Jan 21, 2027; Targeted Grants in MPS — rolling LOI, decision within ~4 months). Eligibility: researchers and institutions (typically universities, nonprofit research institutes; some programs U.S.-only, e.g., plant biology postdoctoral fellowships require awards to U.S. nonprofit research universities); indirect costs capped (e.g., 20% of applicable direct costs); foundation employees (including Flatiron) may not apply. Oct 15, 2026: $15M joint open call with Anthropic and OpenAI for mathematics/AI workshops and projects.
Website: simonsfoundation.org
34. THE KRESGE FOUNDATION
Troy, Michigan (moving to the Marygrove Conservancy campus in northwest Detroit; announced Sept 2025, completion 2028)
What it funds: "To promote human progress" — building equity and opportunity for low-income people in American cities (American Cities, Arts & Culture, Detroit, Education, Environment, Health, Human Services, Social Investment)
Established: 1924
Founder(s): Sebastian Spering Kresge (founder of S.S. Kresge Company, forerunner of Kmart)
Director / CEO: Rip Rapson
C-suite: John Barker (VP & Chief Investment Officer); Amy B. Robinson (VP, CFO & CAO, Treasurer); Benjamin S. Kennedy (VP, Programs); Zenna Elhasan (General Counsel & Board Secretary); Cecilia Muñoz (Board Chair, Trustee per 2024 990). Source: 2024 Form 990-PF via Influence Watch
Signature event: none found (no flagship public event identified; foundation hosts occasional Detroit-area convenings)
How to apply: Mostly by invitation; the seven programs and Social Investment Practice do not accept unsolicited proposals, but program teams occasionally issue open calls and initiatives use RFPs — all posted on the "Current Funding Opportunities" page (kresge.org/grants-social-investments/). Process typically begins with a letter of inquiry after invitation (or per the open call), then a full proposal if advanced; review takes ~10–12 weeks. Examples: Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus (KIP:D+) applications via Submittable (written or audio), open to Detroit/Hamtramck/Highland Park nonprofits and community groups. Eligibility: nonprofits; Detroit programs require Detroit-based 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor. 570 grants totaling $177.8 million in 2025.
Website: kresge.org
35. CHARLES STEWART MOTT FOUNDATION
Flint, Michigan
What it funds: "Promote a just, equitable and sustainable society." Four grantmaking programs: Flint Area, Youth Engagement, Environment, Civil Society.
Established: 1926
Founder(s): Charles Stewart Mott (automotive pioneer, GM board)
Director / CEO: Ridgway H. White, President, CEO & Trustee-Chairman (per the foundation's Form 990).
C-suite: Ridgway White (President & CEO, Board Chair); Kevin Perkins (Chief Financial Officer & Vice President, Administration — appointed Sept 2024, per mott.org news); Neal Hegarty (Vice President, Programs, per Flint Courier News Jan 2026). Program directors: Benita Melton (Youth Engagement), Sam Passmore (Environment).
How to apply: The Foundation no longer accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals (policy change in effect as of Jan 2025; grantees are identified through staff research and engagement). Invited applicants only. Invited proposals: submit at least 60 days before the start of the grant period; proposal normally 10–15 pages (cover letter, objectives, line-item budget, institutional budget, audited financials/annual report, IRS determination letter for first-time domestic grantees). Single and multi-year grants (typically not more than three years); project-support and general-purposes tracks (mott.org/grantee-resources/).
Website: mott.org
36. THE LEVERHULME TRUST
London, UK — 1 Pemberton Row, London EC4A 3BG. (Source: Trustees' Annual Report 2024 — office address; register-of-charities accounts)
Endowment: ~£2.8 billion in total assets per the most recent Charity Commission "25 wealthiest charities" data (published 2026, civilsociety.co.uk); the Trust reported a >£100m decrease in assets in 2023-24 (ukgrantmaking.org). Investment income 2024: £103.7 million. Exact 2024 year-end total-funds figure: UNVERIFIED (2024 accounts balance sheet not extracted). (Sources: civilsociety.co.uk "Twenty five wealthiest charities"; ukgrantmaking.org 2025; Trustees' Annual Report 2024 SOFA via Charity Commission)
What it funds: All-subject, "blue skies" research funding, mainly UK universities — research project grants, fellowships (Research, Major Research, Early Career, Emeritus), doctoral scholarships, research centres, visiting professorships, and the Philip Leverhulme Prizes. All disciplines except medicine; ~£120m annual investment. Centenary (2025): £100m Leverhulme Centenary Awards (research centres, doctoral scholarships, rising leaders). (Source: researchoutreach.org interview with Director Anna Vignoles; timeshighereducation.com July 2025; hinchilla.com funder directory)
Established: 1925. (Source: prospeo.io company overview; Trustees' Annual Report 2024 — "Established under the Will of the First Viscount Leverhulme")
Founder(s): William Hesketh Lever, First Viscount Leverhulme (founder of the soap company that became part of Unilever), via his will. (Source: civilsociety.co.uk; Trustees' Annual Report 2024)
Director / CEO: Director — Professor Anna Vignoles CBE FBA (appointed 2021). Chairman of Trustees — Alan Jope CBE (from 6 August 2024; succeeded Dr Niall FitzGerald). Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published on public pages found. (Source: Trustees' Annual Report 2024 — legal and administrative details)
C-suite: Director — Professor Anna Vignoles CBE FBA (appointed 2021). Chairman of Trustees — Alan Jope CBE (from 6 August 2024; succeeded Dr Niall FitzGerald). Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published on public pages found. (Source: Trustees' Annual Report 2024 — legal and administrative details)
Signature event: None found as a public flagship convening. The Trust awards the annual Philip Leverhulme Prizes (2027 cycle upcoming) and celebrated its centenary in 2025. (Source: leverhulme.ac.uk closing-dates page)
How to apply: Scheme-based competitive funding with fixed closing dates; applications via the Trust's Grant Management System. Research Project Grants use a two-stage outline-then-detailed application; fellowships are single-stage. Funds UK-based (mainly university) researchers and institutions across all academic disciplines except medicine; excludes medical/clinical research, policy advocacy, commercial research, database development and general training programmes.
37. ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION
Baltimore, Maryland (701 St Paul Street)
What it funds: Building a brighter future for children, youth, families and communities in the U.S. — strengthening families, building paths to economic opportunity, transforming communities; publisher of the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book
Established: 1948 (Seattle; moved to Baltimore 1994)
Founder(s): James E. Casey (founder of UPS) and siblings George, Harry, and Marguerite; named for their mother, Annie E. Casey
Director / CEO: Lisa M. Hamilton (since Jan 1, 2019; first woman and first person of color to lead it)
C-suite: Katie Tetrault (Vice President, Finance and Grants Management); Leslie Boissiere (Vice President, External Affairs); Sandra Gasca (Vice President, Center for Systems Innovation). Source: aecf.org financials page; Council on Foundations
Signature event: none found (signature product: the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book release; also the CaseyCast podcast)
How to apply: By invitation only — "We don't accept or review unsolicited proposals, and there is no avenue for organizations to request an invite" (official FAQ, aecf.org/contact). Organizations cannot register for the grantee portal unless already working with the foundation. Staff identify and invite organizations; occasional targeted open RFPs (e.g., juvenile probation research, $100K each, 2020; Rising Leaders for Results fellowship applications). In 2025: 1,526+ grants and consultant agreements to ~1,085 organizations, ~$128.9 million, average grant $74,857. No funds or services to individuals. Work is national, with deep place-based commitments in Baltimore and Atlanta.
Website: aecf.org
38. THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
San Francisco, California (office in downtown Los Angeles)
What it funds: A California where all low-income workers have the power to advance economically — work and economic opportunity, worker power, civic engagement
Established: 1937 (tax-exempt since November 1939)
Founder(s): James Harvey Irvine Sr. (James Irvine)
Director / CEO: Don Howard (previously directed Irvine's grantmaking as Executive Vice President)
C-suite: none published beyond the CEO.
Signature event: The James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards — annual awards honoring innovative Californians solving the state's biggest challenges; nominations cycle runs yearly (2026 nominee narrative forms closed April 30, 2026, noon PT; recipients announced February 2027)
How to apply: Does not accept applications for funding; grantees are preselected (invitation only) — "Irvine's grantmaking approach" page; invited organizations submit proposals through the online Grantee Portal (username is the primary email; invitations come from a program associate). Unsolicited organizations are invited to share ideas via the online contact page; phone (415) 777-2244. Typically over $160 million/year in grants, ranging from $10,000 to $11 million ($158.7 million in 2024). Eligibility: primarily California nonprofits serving low-income working populations; Irvine's charter limits grants to causes "not enjoying substantial support through taxation."
Website: irvine.org
39. JOHN TEMPLETON FOUNDATION
West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania (outside Philadelphia)
Endowment: $3.597 billion net assets (2024, per 990-based analysis); the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported approximately $4.3 billion in assets (October 2026)
What it funds: Interdisciplinary research and public engagement that inspire awe and wonder — foundational questions in science, religion and spirituality, individual freedom, and character development; administers the annual Templeton Prize
Established: 1987
Founder(s): Sir John Templeton (contrarian investor)
Director / CEO: Dr. Timothy Dalrymple, President and CEO (took office July 31, 2025; first non-family CEO; succeeded Heather Templeton Dill)
How to apply: Templeton does not accept unsolicited full proposals. Every application begins with an Online Funding Inquiry (OFI) — a brief screening form submitted through the Templeton Portal (templeton.org/grants). Invited applicants then submit a full proposal (also via the portal); review of full proposals can take up to 4.5 months.
40. RICHARD KING MELLON FOUNDATION
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Endowment: $3.465 billion (2024 IRS Form 990: $3,464,902,651); the foundation's press materials cite $3.1 billion in 2024 year-end net assets
What it funds: Prosperity in Southwestern Pennsylvania and environmental conservation across the United States; 2021–2030 Strategic Plan organized around Conservation, Economic Development, Economic Mobility, Health & Well-Being, plus Organizational Effectiveness and Social-Impact Investments
Established: 1947
Founder(s): Richard King Mellon (longtime president and chairman of Mellon National Bank)
Director / CEO: Sam Reiman, Director (since 2019).
How to apply: The foundation's application portal is always open — the General Application accepts proposals on a rolling basis for Conservation, Economic Development, Economic Mobility, and Health & Well-Being. There is no Letter of Intent process. The foundation also periodically issues Requests for Proposals with specific timelines.
41. THE HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG FOUNDATION
Baltimore, Maryland (also a Honolulu office)
Endowment: $3.112 billion (2024 IRS Form 990: $3,112,069,898); the foundation's own site stated the fortune had grown to $3.1 billion (2024)
What it funds: Meeting the basic needs of vulnerable people and families experiencing poverty — grants fund direct services (shelter, nutrition, health, socialization) with emphasis on older adults, the Jewish community, and priority communities: Maryland, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, rural U.S. communities, and the State of Israel. The charter directs roughly 25% of donations to Jewish organizations, 25% to non-Jewish organizations, and 50% to organizations serving no particular "color, creed or race."
Established: 1959
Founder(s): Harry Weinberg (1908–1990), Baltimore and Honolulu real estate and transit businessman; named for Harry and his wife Jeanette Weinberg
Director / CEO: Rachel Garbow Monroe, President and CEO
How to apply: Step 1 — submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) of no longer than three pages (in English), accepted throughout the year (rolling; no fixed cycle). Step 2 — within 30 days the foundation confirms receipt by email; within 60 days the applicant is either invited to submit a full grant proposal or notified the LOI was declined. Step 3 — the full proposal (project description and narrative, project and organizational budgets, financials) is due within 60 days of the invitation.
42. BARR FOUNDATION
Boston, Massachusetts
What it funds: Invests in human, natural, and creative potential — rooted in Greater Boston and New England. Core programs: Arts & Creativity, Climate, Education; special initiatives on Boston's waterfront and racial wealth equity.
Established: 1997 (official Barr history; evolved from the Hostetter Foundation, started 1987, renamed "Barr" — Amos Hostetter's middle name — in 1999)
Founder(s): Barbara W. Hostetter and Amos B. Hostetter Jr. (cable-television fortune: Continental Cablevision, sold to US West for $11B in 1996)
Director / CEO: Ali Noorani, President (announced August 13, 2025); Jim Canales, Board Chair (president 2014–2025).
C-suite: Ali Noorani (President, eff. Dec 1, 2025); Jim Canales (Board Chair, ex-President); Lynn Harwell (VP for Administration); Pamela Jensen (VP of Human Resources); Mariella Puerto (Director of Climate; Interim VP for Strategy and Programs); Roger Nozaki (VP Programs — stepped down May 2025).
How to apply: No formal open application. Majority of grants are staff-initiated or awarded through periodic open RFPs (barrfoundation.org/grantmaking "Our Grantmaking Process"). "Inquiries From Potential New Partners" are welcome: review program pages and submit via the inquiry forms there (Arts has an online inquiry form; Education invites a 300–400-word email to education@barrfoundation.org). 2025 grantmaking budget: $130 million; most grants under $150,000, some over $1 million.
Website: barrfoundation.org
43. EWING MARION KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION
Kansas City, Missouri
What it funds: Help individuals attain economic independence by advancing educational achievement and entrepreneurial success. Current strategic priorities: college access & completion, workforce & career development, entrepreneurship — centered on economic mobility in Kansas City.
Established: 1966
Founder(s): Ewing Marion Kauffman (founder of Marion Laboratories; former owner of the Kansas City Royals)
Director / CEO: DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed.D., President and CEO (since 2023).
C-suite: DeAngela Burns-Wallace (President & CEO); Allison Greenwood Bajracharya (Chief Impact and Strategy Officer); Ben Clouse (Chief Financial Officer, effective Nov 11, 2025); Lisa Murray (Chief Investment Officer); John Tyler (General Counsel); Brandy Johnson (Chief People Officer); Susan Klusmeier (Chief of Staff); Yvonne Owens Ferguson (Program Strategy); Gloria Jackson-Leathers (Community Engagement).
Signature event: None found (operates programs incl. FastTrac and 1 Million Cups; no flagship annual convening identified).
How to apply: Competitive open calls on kauffman.org/funding: Capacity Building grants (one-time $100,000–$250,000); Project grants (multiyear); Research grants (minimum $150,000/year); Collective Impact grants (planning up to $500,000; implementation $5M–$20M). Process: take the online eligibility quiz, then submit a full proposal through the application portal on kauffman.org (research grants follow a phased review incl. peer academic review). Cycles announced on the site (e.g., research-grant cycles ran in 2025–2026).
Website: kauffman.org
44. JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION
Miami, Florida (2850 Tigertail Avenue, Suite 600)
What it funds: "Ignite in every person the power to shape thriving communities" — quality journalism, arts and culture, research on media and democracy, community development in 26 Knight communities; support a more effective democracy
Established: 1950 (December)
Founder(s): John S. Knight, James L. Knight
Director / CEO: Maribel Pérez Wadsworth (since January 2024; first woman to lead the foundation)
C-suite: Juan J. Martinez (Vice President / Chief Financial Officer); Rebecca Carland (Chief Investment Officer, appointed 2025; foundation moved to an in-house investment team model); board chair Chris Austen.
Signature event: Knight Media Forum — annual, February, Miami (19th annual, Feb 10–13, 2026; 1,100+ journalists, funders, artists, policymakers)
How to apply: No always-open application process — most grantmaking flows through strategy-driven, program-officer-initiated invitations; occasional open calls posted on knightfoundation.org with full eligibility and deadlines (e.g., relaunched Knight Cities Challenge, arts calls). Application portal is Fluxx ("Submit a Funding Proposal" → online letter of inquiry); note: Knight paused its LOI process in 2025 pending a refreshed process announced for spring 2025. Eligibility: typically U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits, educational institutions, government agencies; place-based grants require work in one of the 26 Knight communities; national journalism/arts programs open nationwide. Board prefers not to fund: fundraising events, operating deficits, religious propagation, political candidates, medical research, international programs (exceptions: U.S.-based organizations supporting a free press globally), conferences/travel. ~$140M/year in giving.
Website: knightfoundation.org
45. MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION
Minneapolis, Minnesota
What it funds: "Advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and the planet thrive." Programs: Vibrant & Equitable Communities (Minnesota), Arts & Culture, Midwest Climate & Energy, Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems, Neuroscience.
Established: 1953
Founder(s): William L. McKnight (early leader of 3M) and Maude L. McKnight (independently endowed; no direct ties to 3M)
Director / CEO: Tonya Allen, President (since 2021).
C-suite: Tonya Allen (President); Neeraj Mehta (Vice President of Programs); Nichol Higdon (Vice President for Finance and Operations); Elizabeth McGeveran (Director of Investments, since 2019 — built McKnight's net-zero investment program). Titles per InfluenceWatch profile and mcknight.org.
Signature event: McKnight Distinguished Artist Award — annual $100,000 award presented since 1998 honoring one Minnesota artist or culture bearer for lifelong contributions to the state's cultural life (2026: poet Heid E. Erdrich; 2025: Carolyn Holbrook; per mcknight.org).
How to apply: One-step application process, rolling basis, via the online application and Fluxx grantee portal (mcknight.org "How to Apply" pages; portal tutorials on the site's "Grant Application and Reporting Portal" page). Programs with open applications: Vibrant & Equitable Communities, Arts & Culture, Midwest Climate & Energy (MN/WI/IA orgs) — contact program staff first (encouraged, not required); decision typically within ~3 months (submit by Sept 1 for same-calendar-year funding). Neuroscience Scholar Awards: annual competitive cycle — portal opens early August; 2026 deadline: Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 5 PM Central. Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems is primarily invitation-only with periodic thematic open calls.
Website: mcknight.org
46. THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
What it funds: "Help [the] region thrive as a whole and just community, and through that work to model solutions to major national and global challenges" — southwestern Pennsylvania; strategies include Arts & Culture, Civic Participation, Climate, Environment & Health, Community & Economic Development, Food Systems, Veterans, Workforce.
Established: The two constituent endowments date to the mid-20th century — Howard Heinz Endowment established 1941 (bequest of Howard Heinz, 1877–1941, former president of H.J. Heinz Co.); Vira I. Heinz Endowment from the estate of Vira I. Heinz (d. 1983). The combined entity "The Heinz Endowments" took its present form in 2007 (per Instrumentl profile).
Founder(s): Howard Heinz and Vira I. Heinz
Director / CEO: Christopher DeCardy, President.
C-suite: Christopher DeCardy (President); Edward F. Kolano (Vice President); Michele Sullenger (Vice President, Finance); Andrew S. McElwaine (Vice President, Sustainability); Carmen Anderson (Vice President, Learning/Chief Equity Officer); Philip Johnson and Robert Stephany (Senior Program Directors). Titles per 2024 Form 990-PF officer listings (via InfluenceWatch) and press releases.
How to apply: Open process: (1) review strategy pages and grants database; (2) complete a brief eligibility quiz on heinz.org/grants; (3) submit an LOI (for those not already in contact with staff — staff respond within 45 days) or a general application (for those with positive staff feedback) through the online grantee portal at heinz.org/grants. Applications and LOIs accepted on a rolling basis; supported proposals typically take 60–90 days from approval to funding. Some strategies (e.g., Creative Learning) have fixed deadlines (e.g., Feb 15 and Jul 15 cycles).
Website: heinz.org
47. DORIS DUKE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION (OPERATING AS DORIS DUKE FOUNDATION)
New York, New York (444 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10022)
Endowment: $2.18 billion (2023 IRS Form 990-PF, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Inc; 2023 audited consolidated total assets including related entities: $2.297 billion); a 2024 figure was not publicly available — 2024 UNVERIFIED; the foundation states financial assets "currently total over $2 billion" (dorisduke.org)
What it funds: To improve the quality of people's lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke's properties (Shangri La in Honolulu, Duke Farms in Hillsborough, N.J., and Rough Point in Newport, R.I.)
Established: 1996 (established by the will of Doris Duke, heir to the American Tobacco Company fortune, who died in 1993)
Founder(s): Doris Duke (1912–1993)
Director / CEO: Samsher (Sam) Gill, President and CEO
How to apply: If you are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose idea fits a program's priorities and there is no open mechanism, you may submit a Letter of Inquiry to the appropriate grantmaking program (per the foundation's published guidance). Programs: Performing Arts, Environment, Medical Research, Child Well-Being, and Building Bridges.
48. THE NIPPON FOUNDATION
Tokyo, Japan — 1–2–2 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo. (Source: encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com; en.nippon-foundation.or.jp)
Endowment: Net assets ¥317,352 million (~¥317.4 billion) at end of FY2024 (year ended 31 March 2025); revenue averaging ~¥90 billion/year (~US$600m) from Japanese motorboat-racing proceeds. The Foundation is not a conventional endowment — it is funded annually from a statutory share of motorboat-racing revenue. (Source: en.nippon-foundation.or.jp — statement of increase/decrease in net assets FY2024 (en_who_abo_fin_110.pdf); Finances 2024 page)
What it funds: Maritime and ocean affairs (worldwide), disability (Central/Southeast Asia), agriculture (Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America), Nikkei communities (worldwide), Japanese studies (worldwide), peacebuilding (Asia), primary education (Asia), human resource development (Asia); plus basic human needs, leprosy elimination, volunteer groups in Japan. Projects up to 5 years; admin expenses capped at 10% of budget. (Source: en.nippon-foundation.or.jp/involved/grant — grant opportunities and priorities; stgm.org.tr)
Established: 1962 (established 1 October 1962 as the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation; renamed The Nippon Foundation). (Source: encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com; sourcewatch.org; alliance magazine)
Founder(s): Ryoichi Sasakawa (1899–1995), businessman and philanthropist, who founded it under the Japanese Motorboat Racing Law to channel racing proceeds into philanthropy. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryōichi_Sasakawa; alchetron.com; en.nippon-foundation.or.jp)
Director / CEO: Chairman — Takeju Ogata (appointed 20 June 2025; previously President since 2005). President — Jumpei Sasakawa. Executive Directors: Mitsuyuki Unno, Ichiro Kabasawa, Kazuhiro Yoshikura, Hideo Sato, Kayo Aizawa, Takashi Arikawa. Honorary Chair — Yohei Sasakawa (son of the founder). (Source: en.nippon-foundation.or.jp — 20 June 2025 chairman announcement; Organization page (as of June 20, 2025))
C-suite: Chairman — Takeju Ogata (appointed 20 June 2025; previously President since 2005). President — Jumpei Sasakawa. Executive Directors: Mitsuyuki Unno, Ichiro Kabasawa, Kazuhiro Yoshikura, Hideo Sato, Kayo Aizawa, Takashi Arikawa. Honorary Chair — Yohei Sasakawa (son of the founder). (Source: en.nippon-foundation.or.jp — 20 June 2025 chairman announcement; Organization page (as of June 20, 2025))
Signature event: None found as a public flagship convening/prize.
How to apply: Rolling grant-making across the eight priority areas above. Four programmes accept applications from outside Japan (basic human needs, human resource development, leprosy, oceans). Funds civil-society projects worldwide to promote social welfare, human security and sustainable development; fosters public–civil-society–private cooperation.
49. PAUL RAMSAY FOUNDATION
Sydney, Australia — Darlinghurst, Sydney (sandstone headquarters building). (Source: cbinsights.com profile — "Headquartered in a sandstone building... in Sydney's Darlinghurst")
Endowment: ~A$3 billion total foundation size (June 2024), with an "available investment portfolio" (outside the establishing Ramsay Health Care shareholding) of over A$700 million (Altiorem, Feb 2025). Original bequest reported as ~A$4 billion (2014). Exact ACNC-reported 2024 total assets: UNVERIFIED. (Sources: altiorem.org; paulramsayfoundation.org.au)
What it funds: Breaking cycles of disadvantage in Australia — health, education, early childhood, justice and safety, housing, employment, First Nations self-determination, social impact evaluation. Funds charities, not-for-profits and social enterprises; ~A$1 billion granted to 200+ partners plus A$140m impact investments (per smileymovement.org, 2026). Also funds the separate Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation (A$37m in 2024–25). (Sources: smileymovement.org; paulramsayfoundation.org.au; cbinsights.com)
Established: 2006. (Source: newshub.medianet.com.au — "The late Paul Ramsay AO established the Foundation in his name in 2006")
Founder(s): Paul Ramsay AO (1936–2014), founder of the Ramsay Health Care private-hospital empire; after his death in 2014 he left most of his estate (~A$3–4 billion bequest) to the Foundation. (Source: newshub.medianet.com.au; paulramsayfoundation.org.au — "will fight poverty with $4bn Ramsay bequest," The Australian)
Director / CEO: CEO — Professor Kristy Muir (third CEO; UNSW Sydney professor of social policy). CFO — Chris Last (appointed effective 19 May 2025). Other named chief officers (COO/CIO): none published on public pages found. (Source: paulramsayfoundation.org.au — CEO announcement; newshub.medianet.com.au — CFO appointment)
C-suite: CEO — Professor Kristy Muir (third CEO; UNSW Sydney professor of social policy). CFO — Chris Last (appointed effective 19 May 2025). Other named chief officers (COO/CIO): none published on public pages found. (Source: paulramsayfoundation.org.au — CEO announcement; newshub.medianet.com.au — CFO appointment)
Signature event: None found as a public flagship convening/prize. The Foundation periodically runs themed open grant rounds (e.g. Experimental Methods for Social Impact evaluation round; First Nations Targeted Grant Round).
How to apply: Mix of strategic partnerships and periodic open grant rounds (EOI → full application). No standing general application window published; organisations register interest for future rounds. Funds Australian charities/not-for-profits/social enterprises working to end disadvantage.
50. THE ELI AND EDYTHE BROAD FOUNDATION
Los Angeles, California
What it funds: "Advance entrepreneurship for the public good" in K-12 education, scientific & medical research, and the visual & performing arts — heavily centered on Los Angeles (LAUSD, Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, The Broad museum, Broad Stage).
Established: 1999 (family foundation roots in the 1960s, per DoGood LA; The Broad Foundations formally took shape after the 1999 sale of SunAmerica)
Founder(s): Eli Broad and Edythe Broad
Director / CEO: Gerun Riley, President (since 2016).
C-suite: Gerun Riley (President); Isabel Acosta (Vice President of Programs); Suzy Jack (named Vice President and Chief of Staff, 2019 announcement — current status UNVERIFIED). (Per broadfoundation.org 2019 release; Inside Philanthropy 2026 article quotes Acosta as VP of Programs.)
Signature event: None found. (The Broad Prize for Urban Education and Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools — both discontinued; the 2018 charter-school prize was the last announced.)
How to apply: Does not accept unsolicited proposals and publishes no general application, LOI process, or annual grant deadline (per Inside Philanthropy, Jul 2026). The realistic route is through participation in LA initiatives or networks already aligned with Broad's strategy, or referral from existing grantees. General questions: (310) 954-5026.
Website: broadfoundation.org
SPOTLIGHTS
SHERWOOD FOUNDATION
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Endowment: $977.8 million total assets (FY2025 Form 990-PF, per 990 analysis); $943.4 million revenue FY2025; $296.3 million in grants paid FY2025 across 790 grants; total assets were ~$460 million in 2023. Note: stands to receive a large influx from Warren Buffett's estate over time (yearly Berkshire stock payouts; no lump-sum schedule published).
What it funds: "Promotes equity through social justice initiatives enhancing the quality of life in Nebraska." Categories: Urban Community Partnerships, Omaha Public Schools, Rural Community Partnerships, early childhood education (largest grantee: the Buffett Early Childhood Fund). Strong giving in human services, education, community/economic development, restorative justice, workforce development.
Established: 1999
Founder(s): Susan "Susie" Alice Buffett — eldest child (daughter) of Warren Buffett
Director / CEO: Founder and Chair Susan A. Buffett (also described as president in press coverage; Form 990-PF lists her reportable compensation at $585,000). Other named officers: UNVERIFIED — not published on the foundation's site.
C-suite: Founder and Chair Susan A. Buffett (also described as president in press coverage; Form 990-PF lists her reportable compensation at $585,000). Other named officers: UNVERIFIED — not published on the foundation's site.
How to apply: By invitation only — the official site states "Applications are available by invitation only." Per Inside Philanthropy: no unsolicited formal applications accepted; organizations begin with a public Inquiry Form, staff review it, may invite a conversation, and if there is alignment may invite a formal application. Deadlines: none published (invitation-only process). Who qualifies: 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government entities, schools, or churches serving Nebraska and in good standing with the IRS; grants must predominantly benefit Nebraska and address one of the foundation's categories.
Website: https://sherwoodfoundation.org/
THE MONARCH FOUNDATION (NEW YORK CITY)
New York City, New York, USA
Endowment: UNVERIFIED — no published endowment/990 asset figure found. Verified commitments: $16 million initial investment (2021, Bridge Project launch); Holly Fogle has committed over $35 million of her own money through the foundation (per Invisible Americans/Roosevelt House event).
What it funds: "Tough Problems. Bold Ideas. Simple Solutions." — eradicating child poverty (early childhood, the first 1,000 days from pregnancy to age three), unconditional direct cash to mothers (The Bridge Project — described as the nation's first and largest unconditional cash program for babies; up to ~$20,250 per mother over three years in current cohorts), climate justice (grassroots/minority-led organizations), and climate/sustainability impact investing. The monarch-butterfly migration (up to five generations per cycle) is the namesake metaphor for steady collective progress.
Established: Circa 2021 — UNVERIFIED exact year (founded around the 2021 launch of its flagship Bridge Project)
Founder(s): Holly Fogle (founder) and her husband, venture capitalist Jeffrey Lieberman; launched with a $16 million investment from the foundation
Director / CEO: Founder Holly Fogle leads the foundation; formal CEO/president title UNVERIFIED — not published on the foundation's site.
C-suite: Founder Holly Fogle leads the foundation; formal CEO/president title UNVERIFIED — not published on the foundation's site.
How to apply: UNVERIFIED — no public application process, portal, deadlines, or eligibility criteria published. The foundation operates through directly developed initiatives (e.g., the Bridge Project, run with community partners). Stated plainly: no public application route found; do not invent one.
Website: https://themonarchfoundation.org/
DOCUMENTED, NOT RANKED
STICHTING INGKA FOUNDATION (NETHERLANDS)
Leiden, Netherlands.
Endowment: UNVERIFIED — the Foundation publishes no official endowment figure. Press estimate: ~US$60 billion in assets (Space Daily, June 2026). Context: it is sole owner of Ingka Holding B.V. (Ingka Group), which reported total assets of €57.6bn at 31 August 2024 (FY24) and €46.7bn group equity at FY23 end.
What it funds: Charitable purpose "to create a better everyday life for the many people in need." It does not run its own grant programmes; it achieves the purpose principally by providing funding to the Stichting IKEA Foundation. Ingka Group reinvests ~85% of net profit and pays ~15% as dividend to the Stichting INGKA Foundation (FY24/FY25), which channels funds to the IKEA Foundation.
Established: 1982 (reported; the OECD dates the related Stichting IKEA Foundation to 1982, "established … alongside the INGKA Foundation").
Founder(s): Ingvar Kamprad (founder of IKEA; named as founder on the INGKA Foundation governance page).
Director / CEO: CEO — Anders Moberg; Chairperson of the Board — Jonas Kamprad; Board members — Johan Kuylenstierna, Krister Mattsson, Peter Kamprad (five-seat board; the Kamprad family may occupy up to two seats). The Foundation has ~10 co-workers (governance, finance, cash management, IT/Information Security, administration). No other named chief officers published.
C-suite: CEO — Anders Moberg; Chairperson of the Board — Jonas Kamprad; Board members — Johan Kuylenstierna, Krister Mattsson, Peter Kamprad (five-seat board; the Kamprad family may occupy up to two seats). The Foundation has ~10 co-workers (governance, finance, cash management, IT/Information Security, administration). No other named chief officers published.
How to apply: No public grant programme and no application process — the Foundation does not accept funding requests. Its charitable purpose is fulfilled through funding the Stichting IKEA Foundation (see next entry). Who qualifies: N/A.
IKEA FOUNDATION (NETHERLANDS)
Leiden, Netherlands.
Endowment: UNVERIFIED — no official endowment or balance-sheet figure published; the Foundation is primarily flow-funded via dividends from the Ingka Group through Stichting INGKA Foundation. Scale indicators (official/press): €404m paid out in grants in 2025 (56 new grants); €349m paid out in 2024 (44 new grants, an annual record); nearly €3bn in grants cumulatively since founding. OECD: US$330.9m in cross-border development disbursements in 2024 (100% grants).
What it funds: "Fighting global warming with and for the many people" — accelerating long-term change in high-emitting systems with direct impact on people's lives: Energy; Land, Food & Forests; Buildings & Transport; plus emergency response to humanitarian crises. Strategic, multiyear partnerships with 128+ active partners; priority regions India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and expanding in Brazil and Indonesia. Grant sizes range from several hundred thousand euros to €90m+ (e.g., €57.75m to Crux Alliance, €45m to SNV, €42.84m to Tilt Collective, €37.87m to Global Methane Hub).
Established: 1982.
Founder(s): Ingvar Kamprad (founder of IKEA; mandate expanded in 2009 from design/architecture to poverty and climate).
Director / CEO: CEO — Per Heggenes (first CEO, since 2009). No other named chief officers published.
C-suite: CEO — Per Heggenes (first CEO, since 2009). No other named chief officers published.
How to apply: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests (official FAQ: "Our in-house group of subject experts … scout for new partnerships and grants"). Grants are made through long-term strategic partnerships the Foundation itself identifies; there is no application portal and no open calls.
TATA TRUSTS (INDIA — GROUP OF TRUSTS)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India — Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Mumbai 400 001. (Source: en.wikipedia.org; link.springer.com RWE entry)
Endowment: UNVERIFIED as a consolidated figure — Tata Trusts do not publish a single consolidated endowment. Structural facts: the trusts collectively hold a 66% stake in Tata Sons (per storyboard18/Economic Times); Tata Sons' proposed merged-entity net assets were stated at ₹200,158 crore (~US$24bn) in a Sept 2025 regulatory filing (indiacsr.in). Annual disbursal: ₹902.32 crore in FY2024–25 (₹753.13 crore institutional + ₹149.19 crore individual). (Sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Trusts; indiacsr.in (FY24–25 disbursal; Tata Sons reorganisation filing); storyboard18.com)
What it funds: Healthcare, education, livelihoods, nutrition, rural development, water and sanitation, arts/crafts/culture, social justice and inclusion, skilling, digital literacy, sports, disaster relief. Institutional grants, endowment grants, small grants and individual grants (education, medical relief). Founded institutions including the Indian Institute of Science, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Tata Memorial Centre, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Trusts; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Ratan_Tata_Trust)
Established: 1892 (first trust: the J.N. Tata Endowment); Sir Ratan Tata Trust 1919 (established under the will of Sir Ratanji Tata); Sir Dorabji Tata Trust 1932. (Source: en.wikipedia.org — Tata Trusts (1892, Jamsetji Tata) and Sir Ratan Tata Trust (1919); indiacsr.in timeline; gkdutta.in (SDTT founded 1932 by Sir Dorabji Tata))
Founder(s): Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (1892 JN Tata Endowment, origin of the group); Sir Ratanji Tata (Sir Ratan Tata Trust, per his will); Sir Dorabji Tata (Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, 1932). (Source: en.wikipedia.org; indiacsr.in)
Director / CEO: Chairman (of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust) — Noel Tata (appointed 11 October 2024, after Ratan Tata's death). CEO of Tata Trusts — Siddharth Sharma (per Wikipedia). Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Trusts; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Ratan_Tata_Trust; thehindubusinessline.com (SDTT board composition))
C-suite: Chairman (of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust) — Noel Tata (appointed 11 October 2024, after Ratan Tata's death). CEO of Tata Trusts — Siddharth Sharma (per Wikipedia). Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Trusts; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Ratan_Tata_Trust; thehindubusinessline.com (SDTT board composition))
Signature event: Tata Transformation Prize — annual prize for Indian scientists solving national problems, run with the New York Academy of Sciences (one application per annual prize cycle). (Source: meiteialliance.com — Tata Transformation Prize flyer: eligibility verification, annual cycle)
How to apply: Indian NGOs/organisations aligned with the trusts' thematic portfolios; institutional, endowment, small and individual grants. Sir Ratan Tata Trust also gives individual education and medical-relief grants. Grant categories and cycles are not published as fixed annual windows on the official site (process below is third-party documented).
THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB CHARITIES TRUST (HONG KONG)
Hong Kong — 1 Sports Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong. (Source: charities.hkjc.com — "Apply for Grants" page: general enquiries, 1 Sports Road, Happy Valley)
Endowment: Not an endowment-based foundation — state plainly. It is a flow-through charitable trust funded annually from the Club's surplus. Approved donations: HK$9 billion in FY2024/25 (193 charities and community projects); HK$10.219 billion in FY2023/24 (including a HK$3.5bn donation to the Institute of Philanthropy). Ranked the leading corporate donor in Asia and 8th largest globally (Bridgespan, average US$774m approved donations 2020–2024). (Sources: charities.hkjc.com — "Our contributions" FY2024/25 highlights; HKJC annual report FY2023/24 (consvc.hkjc.com); menewsreport.com (Bridgespan research))
What it funds: Nine Impact Programmes across five sectors — Health, Education, Sports, Culture and Sustainability — targeting four priority communities: Children, Youth in Families, Older Adults, and Development of Professionals / Fairer Opportunities. Funds Hong Kong charities and community projects; also proactively initiates projects (e.g. HK$6.8bn seed grant establishing the Institute of Philanthropy, Sept 2023). (Source: charities.hkjc.com — apply-for-grants page; digiconasia.net)
Established: 1993 (established by The Hong Kong Jockey Club; the Club itself was founded in 1884). (Source: cambridgetrust.org — "charitable trust established by The Hong Kong Jockey Club in 1993"; digiconasia.net — "Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club")
Founder(s): The Hong Kong Jockey Club (funded from the Club's racing and wagering surplus — 91% of the Club's annual operating surplus is donated to the Trust). (Source: charities.hkjc.com — "91% of the Club's annual operating surplus donated to the Trust")
Director / CEO: The Board of Trustees comprises the Club's Stewards. Chairman (2024/25) — Mr Michael T H Lee; Deputy Chairman — The Hon. Martin Liao. Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published — the Trust does not publish a separate executive C-suite; it is administered through the Club. (Source: g3newswire.com — AGM 2024 steward re-elections; HKJC annual report FY2023/24 — trustees are the Stewards)
C-suite: The Board of Trustees comprises the Club's Stewards. Chairman (2024/25) — Mr Michael T H Lee; Deputy Chairman — The Hon. Martin Liao. Other named chief officers (CFO/COO/CIO): none published — the Trust does not publish a separate executive C-suite; it is administered through the Club. (Source: g3newswire.com — AGM 2024 steward re-elections; HKJC annual report FY2023/24 — trustees are the Stewards)
Signature event: Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum (PBC Forum) — flagship global philanthropy forum initiated 2016, held biennially in Hong Kong; the 10th-anniversary edition with gala dinner concluded September 2026 (~10,000 participants and 380+ speakers across the decade, 40+ countries/regions). (Source: menewsreport.com; digiconasia.net)
How to apply: Rolling applications — "We welcome applications from registered charities and non-profit making entities in Hong Kong." Funds projects aligned with the nine Impact Programmes; also proactively identifies and initiates projects. No fixed annual cycle.
CHAN ZUCKERBERG INITIATIVE (LLC — NOT A PRIVATE FOUNDATION)
Redwood City, California
What it funds: "Science-first" philanthropy — AI-powered biomedical research (virtual cells, imaging, inflammation/immune research) via the CZ Biohub network; education work continues through "Learning Commons"; place-based giving in San Mateo County, CA, and Kaua'i, HI. (In early 2025 CZI ended its DEI, immigration-reform, racial-equity and social-advocacy grantmaking, per reporting.)
Established: December 1, 2015 (announced alongside the birth of their daughter Max)
Founder(s): Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan
Director / CEO: Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, Co-founders and Co-CEOs.
C-suite: Mark Zuckerberg (Founder & Co-CEO), Priscilla Chan (Founder & Co-CEO), Lori Goler (President), Marc Malandro (Chief Operating Officer). Sources: Wikipedia infobox (crawled Oct 2026), theorg.com bio of Goler, Guardian reporting on Malandro.
How to apply: No general unsolicited proposals. Funding flows through periodic competitive RFAs (Letter of Intent → invited full proposal) posted at chanzuckerberg.com; applications submitted via the online grants portal at apply.chanzuckerberg.com (SurveyMonkey Apply). Biohub runs investigator and fellowship programs; "Rare As One" runs competitive patient-org cohorts; an annual Community Fund accepts applications from eligible San Mateo County nonprofits. Eligibility varies by RFA (nonprofits, universities, hospitals; some programs open internationally, subject to US sanctions rules).
Website: chanzuckerberg.com
EDNA MCCONNELL CLARK FOUNDATION
New York, New York (415 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017; later 477 Madison Avenue per some listings)
Endowment: $321,832,824 (2021 IRS Form 990-PF — the most recent filing showing an asset figure); the 2022 Form 990-PF shows no assets remaining (the foundation was spending down; see note below)
What it funds: Opportunities for low-income and economically disadvantaged youth (ages 9–24) in the United States; large, long-term, performance-based investments in high-performing youth-serving nonprofits; created and spun off Blue Meridian Partners
Established: 1969
Founder(s): Edna McConnell Clark (daughter of Avon Products founder David H. McConnell) and her husband Van Alan Clark