Dhanam Foundation concentrates its giving into a very small number of large awards, primarily to philanthropic intermediaries and to targeted academic research at a top-tier university. The foundation channels the majority of its assets through National Philanthropic Trust while making significant, repeated gifts to Stanford to support synthetic biology seed-stage research. This pattern suggests philanthropic priority on enabling flexible donor-advised or pass-through grantmaking and advancing early-stage synthetic biology innovation at Stanford.
A $16,000,000 grant to National Philanthropic Trust is the clearest signal in Dhanam Foundation’s recent record: the foundation moves substantial capital through philanthropic intermediaries while also making focused direct gifts. That same pattern continues with a $12,000,000 grant to National Philanthropic Trust in 2025 and a $9,000,000 grant in 2023, alongside a smaller set of direct awards to universities, conservation groups, cultural institutions, and education nonprofits. At Stanford University, Dhanam Foundation has backed faculty support, synthetic biology seed funding, sustainability fellowships, and bioengineering fellowships. Those gifts point to an interest in early-stage research and academic capacity building rather than broad, diffuse grantmaking. The foundation also supports organizations working in public-facing science, wildlife rehabilitation, and international education, including repeat awards to The Barack Obama Foundation, Exploratorium, and Magic Bus USA. Its recent grants show a private foundation that combines large pass-through allocations with targeted project support, especially where a recipient can deploy funds into research, scholarships, conservation, or program operations. The overall portfolio is concentrated and selective, with repeated support going to a relatively small group of organizations across a limited geographic footprint.
In higher education and research, Dhanam Foundation gave Stanford University $3,000,000 for faculty support, $2,000,000 for a synthetic biology seed fund, $1,500,000 for a sustainability fellowship fund, and $1,500,000 for a bioengineering fellowship fund. Those awards connect the foundation to both institutional capacity and early-stage scientific work. For education access and workforce development, the foundation supported Agastya USA with $375,000 for mobile science lab programs in India and $555,000 for general operations in 2025. It also gave Iit Madras Foundation $350,000 for a merit scholarship program and $500,000 for general operations. In livelihood training, Magic Bus USA received $300,000 for a childhood-to-livelihood employability education program in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and $300,000 for an employability education program in Tamil Nadu. In conservation, The Monterey Bay Aquarium received $500,000 for the sea otter rescue and rehabilitation program.
$20.2M
$254.2M
$36.3M
$25.4M
Most grants fall between $25K and $285K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$285K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Dhanam Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 102 | $63.1M | 97.1% |
| 2 | India | 3 |
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Highly concentrated: very few, very large grants (majority to one intermediary), repeat multi-year support to the same institutions; uses intermediaries for flexible distribution rather than broad direct giving.
Notable grantees: National Philanthropic Trust, Stanford University, Stanford Synthetic Biology Seed Fund
Typical grant size centers on $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $285,000 at the 75th percentile, while the recent list also includes several multimillion-dollar awards. The pattern is not one-off only: National Philanthropic Trust appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Stanford University appears across multiple 2023 grants. Dhanam Foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it funds individuals. The recent record shows a mix of operating support, project support, fellowships, and seed funding, with some repeated support for the same organizations over time.
Most grants land in California: 72% of grants go to recipients in the state, with clusters in Stanford, San Francisco, Monterey, San Jose, Cupertino, Los Angeles, and San Mateo. Outside California, repeat recipients include organizations in Washington, DC, Houston, New York, and Chicago. The recipient-country distribution is overwhelmingly US-based at 97.1%, with 2.9% going to India. The India-linked grants in the list include Chennai and Tamil Nadu programs.
The recent grants show a mix of philanthropic intermediaries, universities, conservation groups, cultural institutions, and education nonprofits. National Philanthropic Trust, Stanford University, The Barack Obama Foundation, Exploratorium, and Magic Bus USA all appear in the top grants list, indicating a portfolio that includes both pass-through giving and direct program support.
Yes. Stanford University received $3,000,000 for faculty support, $2,000,000 for a synthetic biology seed fund, $1,500,000 for a sustainability fellowship fund, and $1,500,000 for a bioengineering fellowship fund. University of Southern California also appears with a $285,000 general operating grant.
The grant-size distribution is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $285,000 at the 75th percentile. That sits alongside several much larger awards, including multiple grants in the millions.
California is the top state by grant count, with 72% of grants going to recipients in the state. Recent recipient cities in California include Stanford, San Francisco, Monterey, San Jose, Cupertino, Los Angeles, and San Mateo.
Yes, though most grants are in the US. The recipient-country distribution shows 97.1% of grants to US recipients and 2.9% to India. Recent India-related grants include support for programs in Chennai and Tamil Nadu through Magic Bus USA and Agastya USA.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| $600K |
2.9% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST | JENKINTOWN, PA | $12,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| EXPLORATORIUM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE STABILITY AND REVITALIZATION FUND |
| GLOBAL IMPACT (CO-DEVELOP FUND) | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | US LEADERS PROGRAM |
| AFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AGASTYA USA | SAN JOSE, CA | $555,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM | MONTEREY, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE SEA OTTER RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM |
| IIT MADRAS FOUNDATION | CUPERTINO, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE | WASHINGTON, DC | $350,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ATREE USA | BELMONT, MA | $333,333 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MAGIC BUS USA | HOUSTON, TX | $300,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $285,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MAKERGHAT USA | DECATUR, GA | $281,500 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| COLLEGE TRACK | OAKLAND, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INSTITUTE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH | CHENNAI, TA | $200,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INDIA COMMUNITY CENTER | MILPITAS, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERTAIONS |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GO2 FOR LUNG CANCER | SAN CARLOS, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PRATHAM USA | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ASIAN ART MUSEUM FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | FUND-A-NEED PLATFORM |
| ANITABORG | SACRAMENTO, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SAN FRANCISCO-MARIN FOOD BANK | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FUND |
| PROPUBLICA | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INDIASPORA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | FOUNDERS CIRCLE |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK | SAN JOSE, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| KUKIO HOOMANA FUND | KAILUA KONA, HI | $25,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LA COCINA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE | SUNNYVALE, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HAMILTON FAMILIES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICE | SAN JOSE, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MAITRI | SANTA CLARA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PUENTE DE LA COSTA SUR | PESCADERO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT PUENTE'S 2024 END OF YEAR CAMPAIGN |
| SEVA FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF SEVA SPECIAL EVENTS |
| ACLU FOUNDATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE MARSHALL PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| 18 REASONS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| EXPLORATORIUM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF WONDER FUNDAY |
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST | JENKINTOWN, PA | $16,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| AFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $1,083,500 | 2024 | RESTORATION OF SINIAKA-MINIA AND ASSESSMENT OF BAZARUTO NATIONAL PARK |
| THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000,000 | 2024 | US LEADERS PROGRAM |
| EXPLORATORIUM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE STABILITY AND REVITALIZATION FUND |
| CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL | ARLINGTON, VA | $500,000 | 2024 | HINEMOANA HALO PROJECT |
| THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM | MONTEREY, CA | $500,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE SEA OTTER RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM |
| ANITABORG | SAN MATEO, CA | $460,000 | 2024 | KAMALA SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| IIT MADRAS FOUNDATION | CUPERTINO, CA | $350,000 | 2024 | MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| MAGIC BUS USA | HOUSTON, TX | $300,000 | 2024 | EMPLOYABILITY EDUCATION PROGRAM IN TAMIL NADU |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $270,000 | 2024 | GRADUATE STUDENT SUPPORT |
| COLLEGE TRACK | OAKLAND, CA | $250,000 | 2024 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INSTITUTE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH | CHENNAI, TA | $200,000 | 2024 | IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS |
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST
$12,000,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
EXPLORATORIUM
$1,000,000TO SUPPORT THE STABILITY AND REVITALIZATION FUND
GLOBAL IMPACT (CO-DEVELOP FUND)
$1,000,000IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION
$1,000,000US LEADERS PROGRAM
IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS
TO SUPPORT THE SEA OTTER RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM
CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE
$350,000IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS
ATREE USA
$333,333IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS
MAKERGHAT USA
$281,500IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS
INSTITUTE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
$200,000IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS
INDIA COMMUNITY CENTER
$100,000IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERTAIONS
ASIAN ART MUSEUM FOUNDATION
$50,000FUND-A-NEED PLATFORM
ANITABORG
$40,000IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS
SAN FRANCISCO-MARIN FOOD BANK
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FUND
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$25,000IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS
EXPLORATORIUM
$5,000IN SUPPORT OF WONDER FUNDAY
AFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
$1,083,500RESTORATION OF SINIAKA-MINIA AND ASSESSMENT OF BAZARUTO NATIONAL PARK
EXPLORATORIUM
$1,000,000TO SUPPORT THE STABILITY AND REVITALIZATION FUND
THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM
$500,000TO SUPPORT THE SEA OTTER RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM
INSTITUTE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
$200,000IN SUPPORT OF GENERAL OPERATIONS