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Foundation Lookup

Cause Public affairsAll States4,299 funders

Foundations that fund public affairs

4,299 private foundations with a return in the last two years gave $699.1 million to public affairs organizations in 7,785 grants. The median grant was $10,000, and 1,314 of these foundations accept applications.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Foundations with a return in the last two years, each by its latest return (tax years 2023 to 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

Ranked by giving to public affairs

Top 50

Grants in each foundation’s latest return to organizations whose IRS category is public affairs.

  1. The Robert Wood Johnson FoundationPrinceton, NJ · tax year 2024 69 grants Accepts applications $34,321,247 to public affairs
  2. Palladium FoundationSalt Lake City, UT · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $27,510,000 to public affairs
  3. The Ford FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 97 grants Accepts applications $26,301,659 to public affairs
  4. Freedom Together FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 31 grants Preselected only $21,672,000 to public affairs
  5. Gates FoundationSeattle, WA · tax year 2024 34 grants Accepts applications $20,388,177 to public affairs
  6. Good Ventures FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 8 grants Preselected only $20,020,724 to public affairs
  7. Wellspring Philanthropic Fund IncNew York, NY · tax year 2023 29 grants Preselected only $19,237,500 to public affairs
  8. The William & Flora Hewlett FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 64 grants Accepts applications $16,734,732 to public affairs
  9. John D and Catherine T MacArthur FoundationChicago, IL · tax year 2024 24 grants Preselected only $12,105,000 to public affairs
  10. Capital One Foundation IncMcLean, VA · tax year 2025 7 grants Preselected only $11,455,000 to public affairs
  11. The Susan Thompson Buffett FoundationOmaha, NE · tax year 2025 17 grants Preselected only $10,965,655 to public affairs
  12. Laura and John Arnold FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 48 grants Preselected only $10,707,299 to public affairs
  13. WK Kellogg FoundationBattle Creek, MI · tax year 2024 40 grants Accepts applications $10,663,794 to public affairs
  14. Valhalla FoundationWoodside, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $10,000,000 to public affairs
  15. The James Irvine FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 20 grants Preselected only $9,357,500 to public affairs
  16. Pivotal Philanthropies FoundationRedmond, WA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $7,935,000 to public affairs
  17. Walton Family Foundation IncBentonville, AR · tax year 2024 20 grants Preselected only $7,774,777 to public affairs
  18. Carnegie Corporation of New YorkNew York, NY · tax year 2024 17 grants Accepts applications $7,378,100 to public affairs
  19. Peter G Peterson FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 30 grants Accepts applications $7,366,175 to public affairs
  20. The California EndowmentLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 19 grants Preselected only $6,360,878 to public affairs
  21. Crankstart FoundationSan Jose, CA · tax year 2024 6 grants Preselected only $6,360,000 to public affairs
  22. Sarah Scaife Foundation IncorporatedPittsburgh, PA · tax year 2024 15 grants Accepts applications $6,247,000 to public affairs
  23. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI · tax year 2024 26 grants Accepts applications $6,046,000 to public affairs
  24. Annie E Casey Foundation IncBaltimore, MD · tax year 2024 55 grants Preselected only $5,888,051 to public affairs
  25. The David and Lucile Packard FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 24 grants Accepts applications $5,680,361 to public affairs
  26. Democracy Fund IncWashington, DC · tax year 2024 27 grants Preselected only $5,600,000 to public affairs
  27. Musk FoundationAustin, TX · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $5,450,000 to public affairs
  28. Diana Davis Spencer Foundation IncBethesda, MD · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $5,000,000 to public affairs
  29. JPMorgan Chase FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2025 63 grants Preselected only $4,487,312 to public affairs
  30. Wal-Mart FoundationBentonville, AR · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $4,345,240 to public affairs
  31. Conrad N Hilton FoundationWestlake Village, CA · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $4,297,500 to public affairs
  32. The Searle Freedom TrustMadison, WI · tax year 2024 20 grants Preselected only $4,047,000 to public affairs
  33. The Heising-Simons FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 18 grants Preselected only $3,810,005 to public affairs
  34. Waverley Street FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $3,675,000 to public affairs
  35. The Schmidt Family FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 14 grants Accepts applications $3,529,000 to public affairs
  36. Houston Endowment IncHouston, TX · tax year 2024 11 grants Accepts applications $3,523,000 to public affairs
  37. Susquehanna FoundationBala Cynwyd, PA · tax year 2025 2 grants Preselected only $3,500,000 to public affairs
  38. Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation IncorporatedWinstonsalem, NC · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $3,500,000 to public affairs
  39. The McKnight FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 17 grants Accepts applications $3,430,000 to public affairs
  40. Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable TrustNew York, NY · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $3,200,000 to public affairs
  41. Lilly Endowment IncIndianapolis, IN · tax year 2025 8 grants Accepts applications $3,075,300 to public affairs
  42. Foundation to Promote Open SocietyNew York, NY · tax year 2024 11 grants Preselected only $2,944,979 to public affairs
  43. The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable TrustNew York, NY · tax year 2024 5 grants Preselected only $2,944,111 to public affairs
  44. The Kresge FoundationTroy, MI · tax year 2024 18 grants Accepts applications $2,774,000 to public affairs
  45. The BlackRock Charitable FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $2,750,000 to public affairs
  46. The Rockefeller FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 10 grants Preselected only $2,745,000 to public affairs
  47. Catena FoundationCarbondale, CO · tax year 2024 6 grants Preselected only $2,715,000 to public affairs
  48. The Tepper FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 8 grants Preselected only $2,675,000 to public affairs
  49. The Chris and Carrie Shumway FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $2,550,000 to public affairs
  50. The Andrew W Mellon FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $2,520,000 to public affairs

Open to applications

25 foundations

The return gives an application contact and does not check the preselected-only box.

  1. The Robert Wood Johnson FoundationPrinceton, NJ · tax year 2024 69 grants Accepts applications $34,321,247 to public affairs
  2. The Ford FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 97 grants Accepts applications $26,301,659 to public affairs
  3. Gates FoundationSeattle, WA · tax year 2024 34 grants Accepts applications $20,388,177 to public affairs
  4. The William & Flora Hewlett FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 64 grants Accepts applications $16,734,732 to public affairs
  5. WK Kellogg FoundationBattle Creek, MI · tax year 2024 40 grants Accepts applications $10,663,794 to public affairs
  6. Carnegie Corporation of New YorkNew York, NY · tax year 2024 17 grants Accepts applications $7,378,100 to public affairs
  7. Peter G Peterson FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 30 grants Accepts applications $7,366,175 to public affairs
  8. Sarah Scaife Foundation IncorporatedPittsburgh, PA · tax year 2024 15 grants Accepts applications $6,247,000 to public affairs
  9. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI · tax year 2024 26 grants Accepts applications $6,046,000 to public affairs
  10. The David and Lucile Packard FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 24 grants Accepts applications $5,680,361 to public affairs
  11. Wal-Mart FoundationBentonville, AR · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $4,345,240 to public affairs
  12. Conrad N Hilton FoundationWestlake Village, CA · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $4,297,500 to public affairs
  13. The Schmidt Family FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 14 grants Accepts applications $3,529,000 to public affairs
  14. Houston Endowment IncHouston, TX · tax year 2024 11 grants Accepts applications $3,523,000 to public affairs
  15. Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation IncorporatedWinstonsalem, NC · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $3,500,000 to public affairs
  16. The McKnight FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 17 grants Accepts applications $3,430,000 to public affairs
  17. Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable TrustNew York, NY · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $3,200,000 to public affairs
  18. Lilly Endowment IncIndianapolis, IN · tax year 2025 8 grants Accepts applications $3,075,300 to public affairs
  19. The Kresge FoundationTroy, MI · tax year 2024 18 grants Accepts applications $2,774,000 to public affairs
  20. The Andrew W Mellon FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $2,520,000 to public affairs
  21. Park Foundation IncIthaca, NY · tax year 2024 24 grants Accepts applications $2,450,000 to public affairs
  22. Open Society InstituteNew York, NY · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $2,101,500 to public affairs
  23. John Templeton FoundationWest Conshohocken, PA · tax year 2024 7 grants Accepts applications $1,829,970 to public affairs
  24. Dogwood Health TrustAsheville, NC · tax year 2024 7 grants Accepts applications $1,828,565 to public affairs
  25. The Joyce FoundationChicago, IL · tax year 2024 14 grants Accepts applications $1,636,000 to public affairs

By State

Where the funders are based