Focusing Philanthropy believes extraordinary impact is possible if we focus on root causes, maximize leverage, act on solid information, and pool our efforts. We target serious human challenges that individual donors can successfully address; choose tactics that are demonstrably effective; identify confidence-inspiring implementing partners; conduct ongoing monitoring; and assure substantive reporting.
Focusing Philanthropy Inc makes large, program-targeted grants and recurring campaign support for proven interventions in agriculture, workforce development, vision care, refugee support, clean water, and education. Its recent record includes an $8.6 million grant to One Acre Fund for agriculture programming and a $4.9 million grant to Per Scholas for job training, alongside repeated support for mission-aligned partners over multiple years. The foundation’s approach centers on direct service and scale-up. It funds organizations that can expand access to basic needs and opportunity, with a strong emphasis on vetted partners and substantive reporting. Recent grants show that pattern in practice: Vision to Learn received $3.7 million for eye care, while Muso received $2.6 million for health clinic work. Other grantmaking has supported Water for People, Refugepoint, JVS Boston, and Casa of San Diego, indicating attention to both domestic and international service delivery. Grant sizes are substantial, with many awards in the seven-figure range. The portfolio also shows continuity across years, suggesting sustained partnerships rather than isolated one-time gifts.
In agriculture, the foundation gave $8,592,415 to One Acre Fund in 2025 for agriculture program work, after a $6,797,244 grant in 2024 and a $4,233,446 grant in 2023. That repeated backing points to a multi-year effort to support farm-focused scale. For workforce development, it awarded $4,913,336 to Per Scholas in 2025 for job training. The same grantee also received $3,781,698 in 2024 and $3,448,581 in 2023, showing sustained support for technology training and enrollment growth. Education and child health appear together in the grant list. Vision to Learn received $3,747,892 in 2025 for eye care, building on a $1,831,508 grant in 2024. In college-access work, OneGoal received $1,511,685 in 2025 for education/college, following earlier grants in 2024 and 2023.
Typical grant size is large: the 25th percentile is $361,104, the median is $886,704, and the 75th percentile is $1,591,706. Recent grants also include several awards above $3 million, which places this foundation well above small-grant profiles. The record shows recurring funding rather than isolated gifts. Multiple grantees appear across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including One Acre Fund, Per Scholas, Vision to Learn, Muso, Water for People, Refugepoint, JVS Boston, and OneGoal. Focusing Philanthropy Inc is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Its curated partnership model and invite-only partner funding point to a vetting-driven approach.
$31.9M
$6M
$35.3M
$33.1M
Most grants fall between $361K and $1.6M, with a median of $887K.
25th Percentile
$361K
Median
$887K
75th Percentile
$1.6M
JASON WINDEBANK
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Grant activity is national, with recipients in multiple U.S. regions and 100% of recent grants going to U.S.-based recipients. California appears frequently, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Berkeley. Other repeated recipient cities include Brooklyn, Bronx, Boston, Chicago, Greenwood Village, and Philadelphia. The top state by grant count is Washington, even though the foundation’s headquarters are in Santa Monica, California. The recent record also includes partners working in Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, and Zambia through U.S.-based channels.
The foundation backs vetted nonprofit partners working on agriculture development, job training, healthcare delivery, vision care, clean water and sanitation, refugee support, foster care services, girls’ education, and college access. Its active programs include partners such as Per Scholas, JVS, Vision To Learn, Muso, OneGoal, Seva Foundation, and others.
The grant-size distribution is substantial: the 25th percentile is $361,104, the median is $886,704, and the 75th percentile is $1,591,706. Recent awards also include multi-million-dollar grants, such as $8,592,415 to One Acre Fund and $4,913,336 to Per Scholas.
Yes. Several grantees appear across multiple years, including One Acre Fund in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Per Scholas in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Vision to Learn in 2024 and 2025. The same pattern appears with Muso, Water for People, Refugepoint, JVS Boston, and OneGoal.
Recent grants are U.S.-based, and the top state by grant count is Washington. California is also prominent, with recipients in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Berkeley. Other recipient cities include Brooklyn, Bronx, Boston, Chicago, Greenwood Village, and Philadelphia.
It uses a curated, invite-only model. The foundation identifies and vets a limited set of nonprofit partners, conducts due diligence and site visits, and provides direct funding to support scaling proven programs. Active programs also note that unsolicited requests are not accepted.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONE ACRE FUND | BROOKLYN, NY | $8,592,415 | 2025 | AGRICULTURE PROGRAM |
| PER SCHOLAS | BRONX, NY | $4,913,336 | 2025 | JOB TRAINING |
| VISION TO LEARN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,747,892 | 2025 | EYE CARE |
| MUSO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,604,889 | 2025 | HEALTH CLINIC |
| WATER FOR PEOPLE | GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | $2,077,817 | 2025 | CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION |
| REFUGEPOINT | BOSTON, MA | $1,607,400 | 2025 | REFUGEE AFFAIRS |
| ONEGOAL | CHICAGO, IL | $1,511,685 | 2025 | EDUCATION/COLLEGE |
| JVS BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $1,460,764 | 2025 | HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE TRAINING |
| CASA OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $1,052,517 | 2025 | FOSTER CARE |
| OPPORTUNITY FINANCE NETWORK | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,031,075 | 2025 | ACCESS TO CREDIT |
| CAMFED USA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $913,671 | 2025 | EDUCATION FOR GIRLS |
| SEVA FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $564,821 | 2025 | VISION RESTORATION |
| CASA OF LOS ANGELES | MONTEREY PARK, CA | $539,433 | 2025 | FOSTER CARE |
| JVS METROWEST | LIVINGSTON, NJ | $450,308 | 2025 | HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE TRAINING |
| VOICES FOR CHILDREN | RIVERSIDE, CA | $349,979 | 2025 | FOSTER CARE |
| FISTULA FOUNDATION | SAN JOSE, CA | $288,639 | 2025 | RESTORATIVE SURGERY FOR MATERNAL HEALTH |
| REACH OUT AND READ | BOSTON, MA | $228,284 | 2025 | READING PROFICIENCY |
| VILLAGE REACH | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | VACCINE OUTREACH |
| ONE ACRE FUND | BROOKLYN, NY | $6,797,244 | 2024 | AGRICULTURE PROGRAM |
| PER SCHOLAS | BRONX, NY | $3,781,698 | 2024 | JOB TRAINING |
| VISION TO LEARN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,831,508 | 2024 | EYE CARE |
| REFUGEPOINT | BOSTON, MA | $1,735,744 | 2024 | REFUGEE AFFAIRS |
| WATER FOR PEOPLE | GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | $1,540,481 | 2024 | CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION |
| SEVA FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $1,335,218 | 2024 | VISION RESTORATION |
| ONEGOAL | CHICAGO, IL | $1,140,283 | 2024 | EDUCATION/COLLEGE |
| JVS BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $1,117,500 | 2024 | HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE TRAINING |
| CASA OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $1,101,199 | 2024 | FOSTER CARE |
| MUSO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,031,666 | 2024 | HEALTH CLINIC |
| CASA OF LOS ANGELES | MONTEREY PARK, CA | $786,375 | 2024 | FOSTER CARE |
| OPPORTUNITY FINANCE NETWORK | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $750,000 | 2024 | ACCESS TO CREDIT |
| VILLAGE REACH | SEATTLE, WA | $581,626 | 2024 | VACCINE OUTREACH |
| SUCCESS FOR ALL FOUNDATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $487,187 | 2024 | READING PROFICIENCY |
| JVS METROWEST | LIVINGSTON, NJ | $385,414 | 2024 | HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE TRAINING |
| PANORAMA GLOBAL | SEATTLE, WA | $353,000 | 2024 | PROMOTE WORLD-CHANGING LEADERS |
| CAMFED USA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $306,607 | 2024 | EDUCATION FOR GIRLS |
| VOICES FOR CHILDREN | RIVERSIDE, CA | $269,526 | 2024 | FOSTER CARE |
| READING PARTNERS | OAKLAND, CA | $31,500 | 2024 | READING PROFICIENCY |
| ONE ACRE FUND | BROOKLYN, NY | $4,233,446 | 2023 | AGRICULTURE PROGRAM EXPANSION |
| PER SCHOLAS | BRONX, NY | $3,448,581 | 2023 | JOB TRAINING |
| SEVA FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $1,787,813 | 2023 | VISION RESTORATION |
| MUSO INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,627,500 | 2023 | HEALTH CLINIC |
| REFUGEPOINT | BOSTON, MA | $1,618,730 | 2023 | REFUGEE AFFAIRS |
| WATER FOR PEOPLE | GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | $1,544,625 | 2023 | WATER & SANITATION |
| OPPORTUNITY FINANCE NETWORK | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,123,925 | 2023 | ACCESS TO CREDIT |
| JVS BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $900,000 | 2023 | HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE TRAINING |
| ONEGOAL | CHICAGO, IL | $873,408 | 2023 | EDUCATION/COLLEGE |
| CASA OF LOS ANGELES | MONTEREY PARK, CA | $871,050 | 2023 | FOSTER CARE |
| CASA OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $840,739 | 2023 | FOSTER CARE |
| PANZI | WASHINGTON, DC | $605,586 | 2023 | CONGO SEXUAL VIOLENCE SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE |
| VILLAGE REACH | SEATTLE, WA | $601,000 | 2023 | VACCINE OUTREACH |
REFUGEE AFFAIRS