Endeavor Foundation concentrates large, targeted gifts to higher education institutions—particularly liberal arts colleges and major universities—to support capital projects, endowed faculty positions, and programmatic initiatives. Their grants emphasize cultural and academic enrichment (museums, interdisciplinary arts), Indigenous governance scholarship, and student wellness and mental health, with few but very large awards rather than many small grants.
Endeavor Foundation Inc. makes outsized grants for higher education projects that change campuses physically and academically. Its recent awards include a $5,127,354 grant to Middlebury College for designing and building a new museum and a $4,000,000 grant to Harvard University for the Julie Johnson Kidd Professorship of Indigenous Governance and Development Endowment Fund. Those gifts sit alongside support for endowed faculty, campus wellness, interdisciplinary arts, and selected civic and research initiatives. The foundation’s pattern is to make a small number of very large grants rather than spread funding widely across many small awards. Higher education is the clearest throughline, especially liberal arts colleges and major universities. Middlebury received another $5,057,125 in 2023 for renovation of the Christian A. Johnson Memorial Building and new museum planning, while Sterling College and Gettysburg College also appear with seven-figure grants tied to student well-being and culture and music. Outside campus settings, the foundation has funded immunotherapy research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, democracy-related work in Washington, D.C., and watershed collaboration in Connecticut. The mix shows a funder that pairs long-term institutional investments with selected programmatic support.
A major theme is capital and facilities work at colleges. Middlebury College received $5,127,354 in 2024 for designing and building a new museum, following a $5,057,125 grant in 2023 for renovation of the Christian A. Johnson Memorial Building and new museum planning. Another clear area is endowed faculty and scholarship. Harvard University received multiple grants in 2023 totaling more than $8 million for the Julie Johnson Kidd Professorship of Indigenous Governance and Development Endowment Fund, showing sustained support for Indigenous governance scholarship. The foundation also funds student wellbeing and campus culture. Sterling College received $1,698,868 in 2024 for campus wellness, student well-being and mental health initiatives, and Gettysburg College received $1,501,014 for the Ann McIlhenny Harward Interdisciplinary Fund for Culture and Music. Civic and regional work appears as well, including $500,000 to Protect Democracy Project for general operating support and $500,000 to Center for International Management Education Inc for Connecticut River watershed collaboration.
$16.2M
$547.2M
$26.8M
$19.6M
Most grants fall between $30K and $200K, with a median of $75K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$75K
75th Percentile
$200K
Top 5 recipient countries by grant volume for Endeavor Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 240 | $68.4M | 83.3% |
| 2 | Slovakia | 21 |
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Highly concentrated giving: a very small number of large grants (multi-million dollar gifts), repeating donors to select institutions (multiple grants to Harvard and Middlebury) rather than broad, dispersed funding.
Notable grantees: President & Fellows of Middlebury College, Harvard University, Sterling College, Gettysburg College
The grant-size distribution is weighted toward large awards: p25 is $30,000, the median is $75,000, and p75 is $200,000. The recent record also includes several multi-million-dollar grants, which pull the average scale upward. Grantmaking appears recurring in some relationships: Harvard University, Middlebury College, Sterling College, and William J Brennan Jr Center for Justice Inc each appear more than once across recent years. Endeavor Foundation Inc. is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it funds individuals as well as organizations. The recent grants list shows a mix of operating support, endowed positions, capital projects, and program-specific awards.
Grant recipients are concentrated in the United States, which accounts for 121 grants, or 85.2% of the recipient-country distribution. Within the U.S., New York, Washington, D.C., Cambridge, and Middlebury all appear among recent recipients, with several grants also landing in Craftsbury Common, Gettysburg, and Old Lyme. The foundation’s top state by grant count is DC, even though its headquarters are in New York, NY. Outside the U.S., grants also went to recipients in Greece, Luxembourg, Germany, and Poland.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on higher education institutions, especially liberal arts colleges and major universities. Middlebury College, Harvard University, Sterling College, Gettysburg College, Elon University, and Franklin & Marshall College all appear in the top recent grants list, alongside a smaller set of civic, research, and cultural organizations.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is p25 $30,000, median $75,000, and p75 $200,000. The recent record also includes several much larger awards, including multiple seven-figure grants and a $5,127,354 gift to Middlebury College.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Middlebury College, Harvard University, Sterling College, and William J Brennan Jr Center for Justice Inc. Some relationships also continue through repeated purposes, such as museum-related support at Middlebury and democracy-related support at the Brennan Center.
Recent grants point to capital projects and museum development, endowed faculty support in Indigenous governance, student wellness and mental health, interdisciplinary arts and music, democracy protection, and selected research and regional sustainability work. These themes show up in awards to colleges, universities, and civic organizations.
Most grants go to recipients in the United States, which accounts for 121 grants, or 85.2% of the recipient-country distribution. Recent recipient locations include New York, Washington, D.C., Cambridge, Middlebury, Gettysburg, and Old Lyme, with additional grants to recipients in Greece, Luxembourg, Germany, and Poland.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| $9.4M |
7.3% |
| 3 | Greece | 18 | $6.3M | 6.3% |
| 4 | Germany | 7 | $1.5M | 2.4% |
| 5 | Poland | 2 | $1.3M | 0.7% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STERLING COLLEGE | CRAFTSBURY CM, VT | $2,147,029 | 2026 | REORGANIZING KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING (FORMERLY WILDERNESS FIELD PROGRAM) & ENHANCING STUDENT LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE THROUGH BELONGING, WELL-BEING AND PURPOSE: A VISION FOR WHOLE PERSON EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2026 | KIDD FAMILY ENDEAVOR INITIATIVE FOR BLADDER CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY & KIDD FAMILY ENDEAVOR FELLOWSHIP FUND |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,501,323 | 2026 | LIANG-ZHOU NIEMAN |
| WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500,000 | 2026 | PROTECTING AGAINST PRESIDENTIAL ABUSES OF POWER |
| BARD COLLEGE | ANNANDALE, NY | $1,000,000 | 2026 | JULIE JOHNSON KIDD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| BRATISLAVA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS | BRATISLAVA | $641,649 | 2026 | ADVANCING LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION IN EUROPE AND PROVIDING FUNDING FOR STIPENDS FOR FACULTY RESEARCH |
| ELON UNIVERSITY | ELON, NC | $620,000 | 2026 | PARADIGM PROJECT |
| MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK | BROOKLYN, NY | $600,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT & EMPOWERING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT VULNERABLE NEW YORKERS |
| INSTITUTE ARTES LIBERALES FOUNDATION | WARSAW | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MAINE PEOPLES RESOURCE CENTER | PORTLAND, ME | $430,000 | 2026 | MOVEMENT COLLECTIVE INCUBATOR |
| INCOMMON NON-PROFIT CIVIL COMPANY | THESSALONIKI | $407,788 | 2026 | KYKLOS 2.0 - URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AND CIRCULARITY LAB |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $275,000 | 2026 | CHAMPIONING AND EXPANDING COLLEGE CIVIC AND DEMOCRACY LEARNING |
| PEN AMERICAN CENTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2026 | FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN |
| FREE SPEECH FOR PEOPLE INC | AUSTIN, TX | $250,000 | 2026 | MOVEMENT TO DEFEND OUR REPUBLIC AND CONSTITUTION |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $225,000 | 2026 | GLOBAL MIGRATION PROJECT |
| ECOLOGICAL CITIZENS PROJECT INC | GARRISON, NY | $215,000 | 2026 | REGENERATIVE COMMUNITIES |
| CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT EDUCATION INC | OLD LYME, CT | $206,000 | 2026 | INCREASING COLLABORATION AND CATALYZING INVESTMENT FOR THE CONNECTICUT RIVER WATERSHED |
| NEW ECONOMY COALITION INC | BOSTON, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | BUILDING REGIONAL SOLIDARITY ECOSYSTEMS |
| THE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| VALUES UNITED | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CAMPUS COMPACT | BOSTON, MA | $191,000 | 2026 | LEADING TOGETHER TO CHAMPION AND EXPEND COLLEGE CIVIC LEARNING AND DEMOCRACY ENGAGEMENT |
| PREGNANCY JUSTICE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JUSTICE INNOVATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2026 | STRONG STARTS COURT INITIATIVE |
| BENNINGTON COLLEGE CORPORATION | BENNINGTON, VT | $150,000 | 2026 | ENDEAVOR FOUNDATION ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION FELLOWSHIP |
| REACH THE WORLD COMPANY | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2026 | CAPACITY-BUILDING STAFFING |
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2026 | HIGHER ED FORWARD |
| BEDFORD 2030 INC | BEDFORD HILLS, NY | $120,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | THE BRIAN LEHRER SHOW & GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GREAT LAKES COLLEGES ASSOCIATION INC | ANN ARBOR, MI | $97,000 | 2026 | GLOBAL LIBERAL ARTS ALLIANCE (GLAA) YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS |
| MISSION EDGE SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $92,650 | 2026 | MUTUAL AID IN ST. LOUIS, MO |
| OBERLIN COLLEGE | OBERLIN, OH | $90,000 | 2026 | STRENGTHENING COURSE OFFERINGS IN ARABIC AND ISLAMIC CULTURE |
| COMMUNITY-WORD PROJECT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $90,000 | 2026 | EVALUATION PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT |
| TADA THEATRE AND DANCE ALLIANCE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | RESIDENT YOUTH ENSEMBLE |
| WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITY | LEXINGTON, VA | $65,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT (CHARLOTTE JOHNSON FUND) & DELANEY CENTER PROGRAMMING AND ASSESSMENT |
| ORIGINAL MUSIC WORKSHOP INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | ARTIST DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS |
| RIVERKEEPER INC | OSSINING, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART FOUNDATION INC | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL PRACTICE ART DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMMING |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM ON CLIMATE CHANGE COMMUNICATIONS |
| EUROPEAN COLLEGES OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES | BRATISLAVA | $46,158 | 2026 | PROPAGATING LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES IN EUROPE |
| RAIN FOR THE SAHEL AND SAHARA INC | PORTSMOUTH, NH | $45,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE AZRAQ EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $35,000 | 2026 | NEW YORK CITY URBAN GREEN PROGRAMS |
| NEW YORK CITY BALLET INC | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA INC | LAGUNA HILLS, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | ORPHANS' PROJECT |
| TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT (CHARLOTTE JOHNSON FUND) |
| HARMONY PROGRAM | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PHILANTHROPY NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $23,750 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| VIVIAN BEAUMONT THEATER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | OPEN STAGES PROGRAM |
REORGANIZING KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING (FORMERLY WILDERNESS FIELD PROGRAM) & ENHANCING STUDENT LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE THROUGH BELONGING, WELL-BEING AND PURPOSE: A VISION FOR WHOLE PERSON EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS
MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$2,000,000KIDD FAMILY ENDEAVOR INITIATIVE FOR BLADDER CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY & KIDD FAMILY ENDEAVOR FELLOWSHIP FUND
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$1,501,323LIANG-ZHOU NIEMAN
PROTECTING AGAINST PRESIDENTIAL ABUSES OF POWER
JULIE JOHNSON KIDD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
BRATISLAVA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS
$641,649ADVANCING LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION IN EUROPE AND PROVIDING FUNDING FOR STIPENDS FOR FACULTY RESEARCH
ELON UNIVERSITY
$620,000PARADIGM PROJECT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT & EMPOWERING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT VULNERABLE NEW YORKERS
INSTITUTE ARTES LIBERALES FOUNDATION
$500,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INCOMMON NON-PROFIT CIVIL COMPANY
$407,788KYKLOS 2.0 - URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AND CIRCULARITY LAB
CHAMPIONING AND EXPANDING COLLEGE CIVIC AND DEMOCRACY LEARNING
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$225,000GLOBAL MIGRATION PROJECT
ECOLOGICAL CITIZENS PROJECT INC
$215,000REGENERATIVE COMMUNITIES
CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT EDUCATION INC
$206,000INCREASING COLLABORATION AND CATALYZING INVESTMENT FOR THE CONNECTICUT RIVER WATERSHED
NEW ECONOMY COALITION INC
$200,000BUILDING REGIONAL SOLIDARITY ECOSYSTEMS
LEADING TOGETHER TO CHAMPION AND EXPEND COLLEGE CIVIC LEARNING AND DEMOCRACY ENGAGEMENT
BENNINGTON COLLEGE CORPORATION
$150,000ENDEAVOR FOUNDATION ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION FELLOWSHIP
REACH THE WORLD COMPANY
$150,000CAPACITY-BUILDING STAFFING
BEDFORD 2030 INC
$120,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO
$100,000THE BRIAN LEHRER SHOW & GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GREAT LAKES COLLEGES ASSOCIATION INC
$97,000GLOBAL LIBERAL ARTS ALLIANCE (GLAA) YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS
TADA THEATRE AND DANCE ALLIANCE INC
$75,000RESIDENT YOUTH ENSEMBLE
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT (CHARLOTTE JOHNSON FUND) & DELANEY CENTER PROGRAMMING AND ASSESSMENT
MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART FOUNDATION INC
$50,000SOCIAL PRACTICE ART DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMMING
YALE UNIVERSITY
$50,000PROGRAM ON CLIMATE CHANGE COMMUNICATIONS
EUROPEAN COLLEGES OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
$46,158PROPAGATING LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES IN EUROPE
RAIN FOR THE SAHEL AND SAHARA INC
$45,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE AZRAQ EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY FUND INC
$35,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION INC
$35,000NEW YORK CITY URBAN GREEN PROGRAMS
TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT (CHARLOTTE JOHNSON FUND)
VIVIAN BEAUMONT THEATER INC
$20,000OPEN STAGES PROGRAM