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Cause Social scienceAll States1,292 funders

Foundations that fund social science

1,292 private foundations with a return in the last two years gave $405.5 million to social science organizations in 2,288 grants. The median grant was $35,000, and 357 of these foundations accept applications.

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 social science

Top 50

Grants in each foundation’s latest return to organizations whose IRS category is social science.

  1. Gates FoundationSeattle, WA · tax year 2024 62 grants Accepts applications $48,985,574 to social science
  2. The Robert Wood Johnson FoundationPrinceton, NJ · tax year 2024 56 grants Accepts applications $24,679,979 to social science
  3. Lilly Endowment IncIndianapolis, IN · tax year 2025 4 grants Accepts applications $24,396,797 to social science
  4. Laura and John Arnold FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 57 grants Preselected only $10,036,945 to social science
  5. The Bloomberg Family Foundation IncNew York, NY · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $9,205,000 to social science
  6. The William & Flora Hewlett FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 31 grants Accepts applications $8,668,475 to social science
  7. John D and Catherine T MacArthur FoundationChicago, IL · tax year 2024 17 grants Preselected only $8,306,000 to social science
  8. Carnegie Corporation of New YorkNew York, NY · tax year 2024 16 grants Accepts applications $7,296,400 to social science
  9. The Ford FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 30 grants Accepts applications $7,070,696 to social science
  10. Hevolution Foundation USBoston, MA · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $6,215,890 to social science
  11. Beth and Ravenel Curry FoundationErie, PA · tax year 2025 6 grants Preselected only $6,066,000 to social science
  12. Alfred P Sloan FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 27 grants Accepts applications $5,972,752 to social science
  13. Peter G Peterson FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 25 grants Accepts applications $5,670,250 to social science
  14. The Andrew W Mellon FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 9 grants Accepts applications $5,601,000 to social science
  15. WK Kellogg FoundationBattle Creek, MI · tax year 2024 20 grants Accepts applications $5,594,902 to social science
  16. The Susan Thompson Buffett FoundationOmaha, NE · tax year 2025 2 grants Preselected only $5,556,392 to social science
  17. Conrad N Hilton FoundationWestlake Village, CA · tax year 2024 17 grants Accepts applications $5,533,000 to social science
  18. Annie E Casey Foundation IncBaltimore, MD · tax year 2024 40 grants Preselected only $5,234,016 to social science
  19. Resnick FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $5,050,000 to social science
  20. The Rockefeller FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 13 grants Preselected only $4,548,087 to social science
  21. John Templeton FoundationWest Conshohocken, PA · tax year 2024 9 grants Accepts applications $4,338,450 to social science
  22. Sergey Brin Family FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $3,905,764 to social science
  23. Glenn Foundation for Medical Research IncEdmond, OK · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $3,898,143 to social science
  24. The Kresge FoundationTroy, MI · tax year 2024 18 grants Accepts applications $3,799,630 to social science
  25. The Schmidt Family FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $3,759,117 to social science
  26. Sarah Scaife Foundation IncorporatedPittsburgh, PA · tax year 2024 16 grants Accepts applications $3,707,855 to social science
  27. Walton Family Foundation IncBentonville, AR · tax year 2024 16 grants Preselected only $3,566,546 to social science
  28. The David and Lucile Packard FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $3,562,000 to social science
  29. Mastercard Impact FundPurchase, NY · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $3,545,929 to social science
  30. Novo FoundationHurley, NY · tax year 2024 10 grants Preselected only $3,330,000 to social science
  31. The Donald and Paula Smith FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $3,200,000 to social science
  32. The Lewis FoundationAspen, CO · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $3,200,000 to social science
  33. Pivotal Philanthropies FoundationRedmond, WA · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $3,000,000 to social science
  34. Foundation to Promote Open SocietyNew York, NY · tax year 2024 8 grants Preselected only $2,831,796 to social science
  35. Hutchins Family Foundation IncNew York, NY · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $2,750,000 to social science
  36. Wellspring Philanthropic Fund IncNew York, NY · tax year 2023 12 grants Preselected only $2,654,000 to social science
  37. The Prudential FoundationNewark, NJ · tax year 2025 5 grants Preselected only $2,615,000 to social science
  38. Omidyar Network Fund IncRedwood City, CA · tax year 2024 11 grants Preselected only $2,560,000 to social science
  39. BHP FoundationWashington, DC · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $2,413,130 to social science
  40. Wal-Mart FoundationBentonville, AR · tax year 2024 2 grants Accepts applications $2,402,426 to social science
  41. The Wallace FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 8 grants Preselected only $2,272,288 to social science
  42. Wells Fargo FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2025 16 grants Preselected only $2,265,000 to social science
  43. The Carmel Hill FundNew York, NY · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $2,191,571 to social science
  44. Smith Richardson Foundation IncGreensboro, NC · tax year 2024 17 grants Accepts applications $2,136,377 to social science
  45. The Commonwealth FundNew York, NY · tax year 2024 19 grants Accepts applications $2,039,734 to social science
  46. JPMorgan Chase FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2025 16 grants Preselected only $2,021,282 to social science
  47. The Patrick J McGovern Foundation IncBoston, MA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $2,000,000 to social science
  48. Knight FoundationBeaverton, OR · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $2,000,000 to social science
  49. Lumina Foundation for Education IncIndianapolis, IN · tax year 2024 10 grants Accepts applications $1,960,000 to social science
  50. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $1,870,000 to social science

Open to applications

25 foundations

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

  1. Gates FoundationSeattle, WA · tax year 2024 62 grants Accepts applications $48,985,574 to social science
  2. The Robert Wood Johnson FoundationPrinceton, NJ · tax year 2024 56 grants Accepts applications $24,679,979 to social science
  3. Lilly Endowment IncIndianapolis, IN · tax year 2025 4 grants Accepts applications $24,396,797 to social science
  4. The William & Flora Hewlett FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 31 grants Accepts applications $8,668,475 to social science
  5. Carnegie Corporation of New YorkNew York, NY · tax year 2024 16 grants Accepts applications $7,296,400 to social science
  6. The Ford FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 30 grants Accepts applications $7,070,696 to social science
  7. Alfred P Sloan FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 27 grants Accepts applications $5,972,752 to social science
  8. Peter G Peterson FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 25 grants Accepts applications $5,670,250 to social science
  9. The Andrew W Mellon FoundationNew York, NY · tax year 2024 9 grants Accepts applications $5,601,000 to social science
  10. WK Kellogg FoundationBattle Creek, MI · tax year 2024 20 grants Accepts applications $5,594,902 to social science
  11. Conrad N Hilton FoundationWestlake Village, CA · tax year 2024 17 grants Accepts applications $5,533,000 to social science
  12. John Templeton FoundationWest Conshohocken, PA · tax year 2024 9 grants Accepts applications $4,338,450 to social science
  13. The Kresge FoundationTroy, MI · tax year 2024 18 grants Accepts applications $3,799,630 to social science
  14. The Schmidt Family FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $3,759,117 to social science
  15. Sarah Scaife Foundation IncorporatedPittsburgh, PA · tax year 2024 16 grants Accepts applications $3,707,855 to social science
  16. The David and Lucile Packard FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $3,562,000 to social science
  17. Wal-Mart FoundationBentonville, AR · tax year 2024 2 grants Accepts applications $2,402,426 to social science
  18. Smith Richardson Foundation IncGreensboro, NC · tax year 2024 17 grants Accepts applications $2,136,377 to social science
  19. The Commonwealth FundNew York, NY · tax year 2024 19 grants Accepts applications $2,039,734 to social science
  20. Lumina Foundation for Education IncIndianapolis, IN · tax year 2024 10 grants Accepts applications $1,960,000 to social science
  21. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $1,870,000 to social science
  22. McKnight Brain Research FoundationOrlando, FL · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $1,543,700 to social science
  23. Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationKansas City, MO · tax year 2024 6 grants Accepts applications $1,531,936 to social science
  24. John S and James L Knight FoundationMiami, FL · tax year 2024 8 grants Accepts applications $1,526,719 to social science
  25. The Joyce FoundationChicago, IL · tax year 2024 9 grants Accepts applications $1,515,000 to social science

By State

Where the funders are based