Private Foundations in the United States
44,097 foundations$129.7B annual giving$699.6B in assets$10K median grant53 states
Independent private foundations are funded by a single source — typically a wealthy individual or small group. They must distribute at least 5% of assets annually and file IRS Form 990-PF.
Private Foundations Grantmaking at a Glance
Foundations
44,097
Total Annual Giving
$129.7B
Total Assets Under Management
$699.6B
Median Grant Size
$10K
States with Funders
53
Largest Private Foundations Foundations
| Foundation | Location | Annual Giving | Total Assets | Median Grant | NTEE | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $12B | $78.7B | $514K | T22 | National |
| NCF CHARITABLE TRUST | CLEARWATER, FL | $1.8B | $1.8B | $957K | X11 | Regional |
| THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION | PRINCETON, NJ | $1.6B | $13.4B | $17K | T20 | National |
| THE JPB FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1.6B | $3.4B | $500K | T21 | National |
| THE ANDREW W MELLON FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1.6B | $7.8B | $500K | B82 | National |
| THE FORD FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1.5B | $17.5B | $100K | T21 | National |
| John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated) | Chicago, IL | $1.4B | $9.3B | $50K | T20Z | National |
| JASPER RIDGE CHARITABLE FUND | FORT WORTH, TX | $1.3B | — | $30K | — | National |
| WK Kellogg Foundation Trust - No 5315 | BATTLE CREEK, MI | $1.3B | $9B | $377M | T21 | Local |
| THE WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION | MENLO PARK, CA | $1.2B | $14.2B | $150K | T21 | National |
BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION
SEATTLE, WA
Annual Giving
$12B
Total Assets
$78.7B
Median Grant
$514K
T22National
THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION
PRINCETON, NJ
Annual Giving
$1.6B
Total Assets
$13.4B
Median Grant
$17K
T20National
THE ANDREW W MELLON FOUNDATION
NEW YORK, NY
Annual Giving
$1.6B
Total Assets
$7.8B
Median Grant
$500K
B82National
John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated)
Chicago, IL
Annual Giving
$1.4B
Total Assets
$9.3B
Median Grant
$50K
T20ZNational
WK Kellogg Foundation Trust - No 5315
BATTLE CREEK, MI
Annual Giving
$1.3B
Total Assets
$9B
Median Grant
$377M
T21Local
THE WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION
MENLO PARK, CA
Annual Giving
$1.2B
Total Assets
$14.2B
Median Grant
$150K
T21National
Explore Private Foundations
Loading foundations...
Private Foundations(locked)
Where Private Foundations Funders Are Located
Top 15 states by foundation count
| State | Foundations | Total Annual Giving | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,552 | $16.6B | View all in California | |
| New York | 4,383 | $19.6B | View all in New York | |
| Texas | 3,701 | $9.2B | View all in Texas | |
| Florida | 2,721 | $6.1B | View all in Florida | |
| Pennsylvania | 2,487 | $5B | View all in Pennsylvania | |
| Illinois | 2,020 | $6B | View all in Illinois | |
| Massachusetts | 1,566 | $3.6B | View all in Massachusetts | |
| Ohio | 1,504 | $1.6B | View all in Ohio | |
| New Jersey | 1,337 | $3.3B | View all in New Jersey | |
| Missouri | 1,250 | $1.6B | View all in Missouri | |
| Delaware | 1,074 | $3.2B | View all in Delaware | |
| Wisconsin | 1,017 | $1.5B | View all in Wisconsin | |
| Virginia | 997 | $2.8B | View all in Virginia | |
| Michigan | 928 | $4.5B | View all in Michigan | |
| Georgia | 877 | $2.2B | View all in Georgia |
What Gets Funded in Private Foundations
Top Cause Areas
Philanthropy & Voluntarism
19,979$73.1B
Philanthropy & Voluntarism19,979 · $73.1B
Education
5,077$10.6B
Education5,077 · $10.6B
Mutual & Membership Benefit
4,992$13.3B
Mutual & Membership Benefit4,992 · $13.3B
Human Services
2,075$3B
Human Services2,075 · $3B
Arts, Culture & Humanities
1,544$2.4B
Arts, Culture & Humanities1,544 · $2.4B
Health Care
958$5.7B
Health Care958 · $5.7B
Religion-Related
799$2.8B
Religion-Related799 · $2.8B
Recreation & Sports
534$301.1M
Recreation & Sports534 · $301.1M
Youth Development
511$313.6M
Youth Development511 · $313.6M
Medical Research
505$1.9B
Medical Research505 · $1.9B
CategoryFundersGiving
Typical Grant Profile in Private Foundations
Median Grant Size
$10K
New Grantee Rate
N/A
Accept Unsolicited Proposals
N/A
Most Recent Filing Year
2026
The typical Private Foundations foundation awards grants of $10K.
Frequently Asked Questions About Private Foundations
What is a private foundation?
A private foundation (also called an independent foundation) is a nonprofit funded by a single individual, family, or corporation. Unlike public charities, private foundations don't solicit donations from the general public. They're required by the IRS to distribute at least 5% of their investment assets annually and file Form 990-PF.
How many private foundations are in the US?
There are 44,097 private foundations registered in the United States across 53 states, based on the most recent IRS 990 filings.
What is the average grant from a private foundation?
The median grant size from private foundations is $10K. Actual grant amounts vary widely based on the foundation's asset size, focus area, and giving strategy.
How do I apply to a private foundation?
Start by researching private 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 private foundations by location, focus area, and grant size to build a targeted prospect list.
What are the largest private foundations?
The largest private foundations by annual giving include BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION, NCF CHARITABLE TRUST, THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, with combined giving of $15.5B.
Unlock AI-Powered Private Foundations Grant Intelligence
Sign up free to discover which private foundations foundations are the best fit for your nonprofit.
Get Started FreeGet the Full Picture on Private Foundations Foundations
Create a free Kindora account to unlock AI insights, detailed grant history, similar funders, and personalized matching for 44,097 private foundations foundations.
Free plan available
No annual contracts
Cancel anytime