Lakeshore Foundation directs large, unrestricted grants to organizations working on civil rights, immigrant legal services, and systemic legal/policy reform both in the U.S. and internationally. Their giving emphasizes litigation, policy advocacy, and direct legal representation to protect due process, immigrant rights, and democratic institutions. Grants are sizable and often repeated, indicating multi-year partnerships with mission-driven advocacy and legal organizations.
Lakeshore Foundation Dated April 5 2011 makes large general-support grants to legal and policy organizations working on civil rights, immigrant defense, criminal justice reform, and international development. Its recent grants show a pattern of multi-million-dollar awards to national advocacy groups, with repeated support across several years for organizations such as The Brennan Center for Justice and Oxfam America. The foundation also backs litigation and direct legal representation, including grants to The Innocence Project Inc and Florence Immigrant & Refugees Rights Project. The giving pattern points to a funder that favors established organizations with national reach. Several grantees appear more than once, often at the $1 million to $3.5 million level, suggesting sustained relationships rather than one-off awards. Alongside U.S. policy and courtroom work, the foundation supports international poverty and development advocacy through Center for Global Development and Oxfam America. It also funds civil rights groups addressing hate and discrimination, including Southern Poverty Law Center. Across the recent list, the foundation’s grants are broadly aligned with legal strategy, policy reform, and protection of due process and democratic institutions.
A central theme in the foundation’s grantmaking is immigrant legal defense. It gave $2,000,000 in 2025 to Florence Immigrant & Refugees Rights Project, and also supported Immigrant Justice Corps with $1,500,000 in 2025. Another major area is criminal justice reform and exoneration. The Innocence Project Inc received $2,000,000 in 2024 and another $2,000,000 in 2025, showing continued backing for innocence work. The foundation also funds civil rights and policy advocacy. Texas Civil Rights Project received $600,000 in 2024, while Southern Poverty Law Center received $2,000,000 in 2024 and 2025. In addition, Center for Global Development and Oxfam America received repeated general-support grants for international development policy work.
Typical grant size is large: the p25 is $150,000, the median is $500,000, and the p75 is $1,125,000, with many recent awards above that range. The recent record also shows repeat funding across multiple years, especially for organizations in litigation, immigrant rights, and policy advocacy. Lakeshore Foundation Dated April 5 2011 is a regular funder and does not make program-related investments. The grants listed are general support rather than project-restricted awards, which suggests flexible funding for operating and advocacy work.
$21.7M
$265.8M
$12.6M
$26.6M
Most grants fall between $150K and $1.1M, with a median of $500K.
25th Percentile
$150K
Median
$500K
75th Percentile
$1.1M
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Concentrated, high-dollar general support to a small number of repeat grantees focused on litigation and policy advocacy; funding is national and international in scope and favors organizations that combine direct legal services with systemic reform.
Notable grantees: The Brennan Center for Justice, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, The Innocence Project, Oxfam America, Center for Global Development
The grantmaking is national, and every grant in the recent list goes to a U.S. recipient. Texas is the top state by grant count, with Texas Civil Rights Project in Austin as one example. California accounts for 22% of grants to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, including Oakland-based Alliance for Safety and Justice and San Francisco-based Energy Foundation. Other frequently named recipient cities include New York, Washington, Boston, Florence, and Montgomery.
It supports civil rights, immigrant legal services, criminal justice reform, democracy and constitutional rights litigation, and international development policy advocacy. Recent grantees include The Brennan Center for Justice, Florence Immigrant & Refugees Rights Project, The Innocence Project Inc, Southern Poverty Law Center, Oxfam America, and Center for Global Development.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including The Brennan Center for Justice in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Oxfam America in 2022? Wait not listed. The Innocence Project Inc appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Florence Immigrant & Refugees Rights Project appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The distribution is large: p25 is $150,000, median grant size is $500,000, and p75 is $1,125,000. Recent awards commonly reach $1 million to $3.5 million.
Giving is national, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Texas is the top state by grant count, while California recipients make up 22% of grants in the recent data.
The recent grants are labeled general support, which indicates broad operating or mission support rather than a narrow project-only award.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $3,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| OXFAM AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $3,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CORPS | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FLORENCE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEES RIGHTS PROJECT | FLORENCE, AZ | $2,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ENERGY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| Justice for Migrant Women | Fremont, OH | $1,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PROJECT | BOSTON, MA | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ENERGY FOUNDATION CHINA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INNOCENCE PROJECT | SANTA CLARA, CA | $350,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HESPERIAN HEALTH GUIDES | BERKELEY, CA | $350,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| Fund For Investigative Foundation | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| INNOCENCE PROJECT NEW ORLEANS | New Orleans, LA | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WASHINGTON INNOCENCE PROJECT | SEATTLE, WA | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR INTEGRITY IN FORENSIC SCIENCE | MADISON, WI | $105,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $3,500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| OXFAM AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $3,500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FLORENCE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEES RIGHTS PROJECT | FLORENCE, AZ | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CORPS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| Justice for Migrant Women | Fremont, OH | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ENERGY FOUNDATION CHINA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ENERGY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PROJECT | BOSTON, MA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HESPERIAN HEALTH GUIDES | BERKELEY, CA | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INNOCENCE PROJECT | SANTA CLARA, CA | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| Fund For Investigative Foundation | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| INNOCENCE PROJECT NEW ORLEANS | New Orleans, LA | $185,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WASHINGTON INNOCENCE PROJECT | SEATTLE, WA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR INTEGRITY IN FORENSIC SCIENCE | MADISON, WI | $105,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ASIAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN ADVOCATS | OAKLAND, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| LEGAL OUTREACH INC | Long Island city, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| OXFAM AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $3,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $2,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| FLORENCE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEES RIGHTS PROJECT | FLORENCE, AZ | $1,500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| Justice for Migrant Women | Fremont, OH | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CORPS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE | Oakland, CA | $800,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT | AUSTIN, TX | $600,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PROJECT | BOSTON, MA | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ENERGY FOUNDATION CHINA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
$3,000,000GENERAL
OXFAM AMERICA
$3,000,000GENERAL
THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
$3,000,000GENERAL
IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CORPS
$2,000,000GENERAL
FLORENCE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEES RIGHTS PROJECT
$2,000,000GENERAL
THE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC
$2,000,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
GENERAL
ENERGY FOUNDATION
$1,000,000GENERAL
Justice for Migrant Women
$1,000,000GENERAL
NEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PROJECT
$500,000GENERAL
ENERGY FOUNDATION CHINA
$500,000GENERAL
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INNOCENCE PROJECT
$350,000GENERAL
HESPERIAN HEALTH GUIDES
$350,000GENERAL
GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT
$250,000GENERAL
Fund For Investigative Foundation
$250,000GENERAL
INNOCENCE PROJECT NEW ORLEANS
$200,000GENERAL
WASHINGTON INNOCENCE PROJECT
$150,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR INTEGRITY IN FORENSIC SCIENCE
$105,000GENERAL
THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
$3,500,000GENERAL
OXFAM AMERICA
$3,500,000GENERAL
THE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC
$2,000,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
$2,000,000GENERAL
FLORENCE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEES RIGHTS PROJECT
$2,000,000GENERAL
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
$2,000,000GENERAL
IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CORPS
$1,500,000GENERAL
Justice for Migrant Women
$1,000,000GENERAL
ENERGY FOUNDATION CHINA
$500,000GENERAL
ENERGY FOUNDATION
$500,000GENERAL
NEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PROJECT
$500,000GENERAL
HESPERIAN HEALTH GUIDES
$350,000GENERAL
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INNOCENCE PROJECT
$350,000GENERAL
GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT
$250,000GENERAL
Fund For Investigative Foundation
$200,000GENERAL
INNOCENCE PROJECT NEW ORLEANS
$185,000GENERAL
WASHINGTON INNOCENCE PROJECT
$150,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR INTEGRITY IN FORENSIC SCIENCE
$105,000GENERAL
ASIAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN ADVOCATS
$100,000GENERAL
LEGAL OUTREACH INC
$100,000GENERAL
OXFAM AMERICA
$3,000,000GENERAL
THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
$3,000,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
$2,000,000GENERAL
THE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC
$2,000,000GENERAL
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
$2,000,000GENERAL
FLORENCE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEES RIGHTS PROJECT
$1,500,000GENERAL
Justice for Migrant Women
$1,000,000GENERAL
IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CORPS
$1,000,000GENERAL
ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE
$800,000GENERAL
TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT
$600,000GENERAL
NEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PROJECT
$500,000GENERAL
ENERGY FOUNDATION CHINA
$500,000GENERAL