Family Foundations in the United States
64,179 foundations$66.2B annual giving$851.6B in assets$7K median grant54 states
Family foundations are private foundations where the founding family retains control over grantmaking decisions. They account for the largest share of US foundations by count.
Family Foundations Grantmaking at a Glance
Foundations
64,179
Total Annual Giving
$66.2B
Total Assets Under Management
$851.6B
Median Grant Size
$7K
States with Funders
54
Largest Family Foundations Foundations
| Foundation | Location | Annual Giving | Total Assets | Median Grant | NTEE | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION TRUST | SEATTLE, WA | $8.1B | $77.6B | $7.3B | T20Z | Local |
| LILLY ENDOWMENT INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $3.9B | $105.9B | $50K | T20 | Regional |
| THE SUSAN THOMPSON BUFFETT FOUNDATION | OMAHA, NE | $1.5B | $2.7B | $351K | T22 | National |
| THE BLOOMBERG FAMILY FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1B | $12.1B | $845K | T20 | National |
| HOWARD G BUFFETT FOUNDATION | DECATUR, IL | $698.7M | $718.1M | $377.6M | T99 | Local |
| SERGEY BRIN FAMILY FOUNDATION C/O PACIFIC FOUNDATION SERVICES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $688.7M | $4.3B | $500K | T22 | National |
| Walton Family Foundation Inc | Bentonville, AR | $562.3M | $6.1B | $200K | T20 | National |
| CORNELIA T BAILEY CHARITABLE TRUST | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $489M | — | $25K | — | National |
| MUSK FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $474.3M | $463M | $278K | T22 | National |
| FOUNDATION TO PROMOTE OPEN SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $421.3M | $10.8B | $220K | T22 | National |
BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION TRUST
SEATTLE, WA
Annual Giving
$8.1B
Total Assets
$77.6B
Median Grant
$7.3B
T20ZLocal
THE SUSAN THOMPSON BUFFETT FOUNDATION
OMAHA, NE
Annual Giving
$1.5B
Total Assets
$2.7B
Median Grant
$351K
T22National
THE BLOOMBERG FAMILY FOUNDATION INC
NEW YORK, NY
Annual Giving
$1B
Total Assets
$12.1B
Median Grant
$845K
T20National
HOWARD G BUFFETT FOUNDATION
DECATUR, IL
Annual Giving
$698.7M
Total Assets
$718.1M
Median Grant
$377.6M
T99Local
SERGEY BRIN FAMILY FOUNDATION C/O PACIFIC FOUNDATION SERVICES
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Annual Giving
$688.7M
Total Assets
$4.3B
Median Grant
$500K
T22National
Walton Family Foundation Inc
Bentonville, AR
Annual Giving
$562.3M
Total Assets
$6.1B
Median Grant
$200K
T20National
CORNELIA T BAILEY CHARITABLE TRUST
WEST PALM BEACH, FL
Annual Giving
$489M
Total Assets
—
Median Grant
$25K
National
FOUNDATION TO PROMOTE OPEN SOCIETY
NEW YORK, NY
Annual Giving
$421.3M
Total Assets
$10.8B
Median Grant
$220K
T22National
Explore Family Foundations
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Family Foundations(locked)
Where Family Foundations Funders Are Located
Top 15 states by foundation count
| State | Foundations | Total Annual Giving | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 6,399 | $7.5B | View all in New York | |
| California | 5,848 | $9.1B | View all in California | |
| Texas | 5,770 | $4.7B | View all in Texas | |
| Florida | 5,373 | $3B | View all in Florida | |
| Pennsylvania | 4,058 | $2.3B | View all in Pennsylvania | |
| Illinois | 3,442 | $3.1B | View all in Illinois | |
| Ohio | 2,498 | $1.4B | View all in Ohio | |
| New Jersey | 2,153 | $1.1B | View all in New Jersey | |
| Missouri | 2,065 | $809.4M | View all in Missouri | |
| Massachusetts | 1,824 | $1.4B | View all in Massachusetts | |
| Wisconsin | 1,717 | $814.6M | View all in Wisconsin | |
| Michigan | 1,644 | $1.4B | View all in Michigan | |
| Delaware | 1,630 | $954.5M | View all in Delaware | |
| Nevada | 1,194 | $541.7M | View all in Nevada | |
| Georgia | 1,129 | $1.5B | View all in Georgia |
What Gets Funded in Family Foundations
Top Cause Areas
Philanthropy & Voluntarism
40,501$49.3B
Philanthropy & Voluntarism40,501 · $49.3B
Mutual & Membership Benefit
8,281$9.3B
Mutual & Membership Benefit8,281 · $9.3B
Education
4,445$2B
Education4,445 · $2B
Human Services
1,384$503.3M
Human Services1,384 · $503.3M
Religion-Related
744$289.6M
Religion-Related744 · $289.6M
Arts, Culture & Humanities
663$398.9M
Arts, Culture & Humanities663 · $398.9M
Unknown / Unclassified
560$254.6M
Unknown / Unclassified560 · $254.6M
Health Care
337$103.8M
Health Care337 · $103.8M
Public Affairs
254$276.5M
Public Affairs254 · $276.5M
Medical Research
249$121.6M
Medical Research249 · $121.6M
CategoryFundersGiving
Typical Grant Profile in Family Foundations
Median Grant Size
$7K
New Grantee Rate
N/A
Accept Unsolicited Proposals
N/A
Most Recent Filing Year
2026
The typical Family Foundations foundation awards grants of $7K.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Foundations
What is a family foundation?
A family foundation is a type of private foundation where the founding family maintains control over grantmaking decisions. Family members typically serve as trustees or board directors. They represent the largest category of US foundations by count and follow the same 5% annual distribution requirement as other private foundations.
How many family foundations are in the US?
There are 64,179 family foundations registered in the United States across 54 states, based on the most recent IRS 990 filings.
What is the average grant from a family foundation?
The median grant size from family foundations is $7K. Actual grant amounts vary widely based on the foundation's asset size, focus area, and giving strategy.
How do I apply to a family foundation?
Start by researching family foundations whose stated focus areas and geographic preferences match your organization. Review their IRS 990 filings for recent grant recipients, average grant sizes, and giving patterns. Many foundations publish application guidelines on their websites. Use Kindora's free directory to filter family foundations by location, focus area, and grant size to build a targeted prospect list.
What are the largest family foundations?
The largest family foundations by annual giving include BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION TRUST, LILLY ENDOWMENT INC, THE SUSAN THOMPSON BUFFETT FOUNDATION, with combined giving of $13.4B.
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