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    5. Luminate Foundation
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    Luminate Foundation

    ActivePhilanthropy & Voluntarism
    Washington, DCWebsite2026309991EIN: 82-3941326

    About Luminate Foundation

    To ensure that everyone — especially those who are underrepresented — has the information, rights, and power to influence the decisions that affect their lives.

    Focus Areas

    Civic participationDemocracy and governancePress freedom and journalismInformation integrity / combatting misinformationDigital rights and data rightsStrategic litigation, advocacy and campaignsCapacity building for underrepresented groups

    Who They Fund

    Black feminist movements / Black communitiesjournalists (including women and non‑binary journalists) and newsroomsimmigrants and undocumented youthglobal internet users and civic space defenders at risk

    About Luminate Foundation

    Luminate Foundation Inc. puts large, repeated grants behind a narrow set of connected goals: civic participation, democracy and governance, press freedom and journalism, information integrity, digital rights, strategic litigation, advocacy, and capacity building for underrepresented groups. One of its clearest signals is the $1,000,000 grant to Amalgamated Charitable Foundation in 2025 to meaningfully resource Black feminist movements globally. The foundation also backed Liberty with $1,000,000 in 2024 and $520,000 in 2023 for work on injustice and freedom in the UK, showing sustained support for rights-based organizing across multiple years. Its funding pattern includes core institutional support, unrestricted funding, and field-building, alongside grants for technology, platforms, and investigative work. Recent awards also show attention to digital rights and civic space, with grantees such as Access Now, Privacy International, and Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales receiving support for privacy, surveillance, and AI-related concerns. The portfolio spans advocacy groups, research organizations, and news and accountability institutions, often backing the infrastructure that supports longer-term public-interest work rather than only discrete projects.

    What Luminate Foundation Funds

    In digital rights, the foundation funded Privacy International with $650,000 in 2023 to raise awareness on technologies that place privacy at risk, and gave $650,000 in 2025 to Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales for protecting digital rights and civic space against surveillance and AI. Its information-integrity work appears in a $784,000 grant to Conectas in 2024 to combat misinformation and hate speech in Brazil, as well as support for More In Common to build communities resilient to polarisation and social division. In the open-government space, it awarded $542,000 to Open Knowledge Foundation Germany in 2024 for open government, open education, and civic tech, and $500,000 to Open Contracting Partnership in 2023 to make public procurement more transparent and effective globally. For journalism and accountability, the foundation supported Correctiv in 2023 and 2024 for investigating injustices and abuses of power and running educational programs.

    How Luminate Foundation Gives

    Typical grant size clusters around $125,000 at the 25th percentile, a $200,000 median, and $265,000 at the 75th percentile, while several grants in the recent list sit far above that range. The same organizations appear across multiple years, including East West Management Institute, Correctiv, Data and Society Research Institute, More In Common, Liberty, Digital Freedom Fund, and Open Contracting Partnership, which suggests recurring relationships rather than one-off awards. Luminate Foundation Inc. is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grant descriptions also point to a preference for core institutional support, unrestricted funding, capacity building, and field-building over tightly scoped project grants.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $16M

    Total Assets

    $11M

    Total Revenue

    $874K

    Total Expenses

    $16M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $125K and $265K, with a median of $200K.

    25th Percentile

    $125K

    Median

    $200K

    75th Percentile

    $265K

    Geographic Reach

    National6 states funded

    About 35% of grants go to recipients in DC.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters
    Funding intensity
    Low
    High

    Where Luminate Foundation Funds

    Top 10 recipient countries by grant volume for Luminate Foundation.

    RankCountryGrantsTotalShare
    1United StatesDomestic137$36.9M
    36.5%
    2United Kingdom50$12.9M

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    grassroots human rights organisations and reformers
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    Funding Style

    core institutional support / general operatingcapacity building and field‑buildingunrestricted / flexible fundingsupport for strategic scaling of technology and platformssupport for strategic litigation and investigative work

    Topics

    digital rights and privacy (anti‑surveillance, AI accountability)freedom of expression and countering misinformation/hate speechinvestigative and accountability journalism (cross‑border, data‑driven)open government, open data and public procurement transparencygender justice and support for Black feminist movementsimmigrant integration and undocumented youth advocacyLGBT rights and legal reform / protection

    Where Luminate Foundation Makes Grants

    Grant recipients are concentrated in the United States, which accounts for 137 grants and 36.5% of recipient locations. Washington, DC appears often, including awards to Open Government Partnership, Inter-American Foundation, Open Contracting Partnership, and Washington Office on Latin America. Other common recipient locations include New York, NY; London; and Berlin, reflecting a portfolio that is national in scope but active across the US, UK, and parts of Europe and Latin America. The recipient-country mix also reaches Mexico City and South Jakarta through digital-rights grants.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Luminate Foundation

    What areas does Luminate Foundation Inc. fund most often?

    Its stated focus areas include civic participation, democracy and governance, press freedom and journalism, information integrity and combatting misinformation, digital rights and data rights, strategic litigation, advocacy and campaigns, and capacity building for underrepresented groups. The recent grants also show work tied to Black feminist movements, open government, and privacy and AI accountability.

    Does Luminate Foundation Inc. support recurring grantees?

    Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including East West Management Institute, Correctiv, Data and Society Research Institute, More In Common, Liberty, Digital Freedom Fund, and Open Contracting Partnership. That pattern points to continued relationships rather than isolated grants.

    What is the typical grant size?

    The grant-size distribution centers at $125,000 for the 25th percentile, $200,000 at the median, and $265,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants also include larger awards such as $1,000,000, $860,673, and $784,000.

    Where does the foundation give most often?

    The top state by grant count is DC, with 35% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recipients also cluster in other cities such as New York, London, and Berlin, showing a broader national and international reach.

    What kinds of support does Luminate Foundation Inc. provide?

    The foundation’s recent grants include core institutional support, capacity building, unrestricted funding, support for strategic scaling of technology and platforms, and support for strategic litigation and investigative work. Those patterns appear in grants to organizations such as East West Management Institute, Global Witness, and Digital Freedom Fund.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2025

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.

    13.3%
    3Nigeria25$5M
    6.7%
    4South Africa24$4M
    6.4%
    5Kenya23$4M
    6.1%
    6Colombia15$2.2M
    4.0%
    7Germany12$3.5M
    3.2%
    8Brazil11$3.2M
    2.9%
    9Argentina11$1.5M
    2.9%
    10France9$1.8M
    2.4%

    Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    Amalgamated Charitable FoundationWashington, DC$1,000,0002025To meaningfully resource black feminist movements globally.
    East West Management InstituteNew York, NY$860,6732025Support Freedom of Expression cluster, via core institutional, capacity building
    Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales (R3D)Mexico City$650,0002025Protects digital rights and civic space against surveillance and AI.
    Data and Society Research InstituteNew York, NY$650,0002025Support social implications of data-centric technologies & automation.
    Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)Washington, DC$600,0002025Promoting racial action plans and protecting human rights in Americas.
    Tifa FoundationSouth Jakarta$550,0002025Protects digital rights and civic space against surveillance and AI.
    CalMattersSacramento, CA$500,0002025Supports global AI reporting consortium, sharing expertise with newsrooms worldwide.
    Inter-American FoundationWashington, DC$500,0002025To strengthen the countrys civic space
    Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)New York, NY$500,0002025General Operating Grant.
    International Women's Media FoundationWashington, DC$480,0002025Supports safety of women and non-binary journalists, anti-online violence.
    Agencia PublicaSao Paulo$450,5502025Supports Agencia Publicas development, global influence, and Big Tech investigation
    Access NowBrooklyn, NY$450,0002025Support digital rights of world users at risk.
    Privacy International (PI)London$450,0002025Support Grantee's work on right to privacy for everyone, everywhere
    Lighthouse ReportsUtrecht$432,7502025Advances accountability journalism, GenAI, and surveillance technology newsroom.
    Human Dignity TrustLondon$405,3002025Supports legal reform and protection for LGBT people worldwide.
    Global Investigative Journalism Network - GIJNWashington, DC$400,0002025Supports advanced investigations and safe tech infrastructure in newsrooms.
    CLIP - Centro Latinoamericano de Investigacion PeriodisticaNicoya$395,0002025To support achieving institutional objective of fostering public debate
    Association for Progressive Communications (APC)San Francisco, CA$355,0002025Building cohort organisations in Asia working on Big Tech accountability
    Freedom Voices NetworkParis$330,0002025To secure data of threatened journalists and publish their reporting.
    Engage MediaMelbourne$327,1842025Supports Indonesia's AI governance, youth activism, and tech surveillance research
    Media Monitoring AfricaJohannesburg$310,0002025Supports healthy information ecosystems and informed citizenry in South Africa.
    Katiba InstituteNairobi$300,0002025To entrench a culture and practice of constitutionalism in Kenya
    School of Politics Policy and GovernanceAbuja$300,0002025Builds new, skilled political class to solve Africas development.
    Atlantic CouncilWashington, DC$300,0002025To benefit democracy and human rights in Colombia.
    Digital Freedom Fund (DFF)Amsterdam$275,0002025Support digital rights in Europe through strategic litigation
    Baraza Media LabNairobi$270,0002025Improve resilience, coordination and support media, journalism and creative spaces.
    Instituto de Liderazgo Simone de BeauvoirMexico City$267,0002025To support to Indigenous, Afro-Mexican, youth, and LBT+ women leaders
    TechHerAbuja$260,0002025Supports combating online gender violence and womens digital rights.
    NamatiWashington, DC$250,0002025Promoting paralegal outreach and awareness raising among communities facing discrimination
    Instituto IncubeSao Paulo$250,0002025To support Grantee's project, More in Common Brazil
    Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (formerly Premium Times CeAbuja$250,0002025To improve the media and information ecosystem in Nigeria.
    Global WitnessLondon$250,0002025Advocacy work in the areas of socioenvironmental and climate justice
    Digital Rights Foundation (DRF)Lahore$250,0002025Investigates and campaigns against online and real-world harms in Pakistan.
    BudgITLagos$250,0002025Supports BudgITs advocacy, civil society, and civic tech participation
    Media DefenceLondon$240,0002025Supports free speech, journalists, litigation, and internal operations.
    Accountability CounselSan Francisco, CA$230,0002025Supporting communities via communities, Policy Advocacy and Research programme.
    PhandeeyarWalnut, CA$230,0002025Core funding/reserve to grow their resilience to pursue organisational objectives.
    Hadis FoundationAbuja$210,0002025Improves young peoples responsible tech use and civic participation.
    Caribe AfirmativoBarranquilla$204,0002025support fostering LGBTIQ+ and public policy in Colombia
    East West Management InstituteNew York, NY$202,5002025To implement Indigenous Knowledge and Data Sovereignty (IKDS) framework
    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)Lagos$200,0002025support strategic litigation work and civic participation space in Nigeria.
    Paradigm InitiativeLagos$200,0002025Core grant to Paradigm Initiative in support of their work.
    AfrobarometerAccra$200,0002025Training youth organisations in data collection, management and story telling.
    CANVASBelgrade$200,0002025General operating support renewal grant
    FuturelectJohannesburg$200,0002025Design/deliver non-partisan, intensive and interdisciplinary young leadership development and training.
    Hashtag GenerationColombo$200,0002025To build know-how and capacity to hold tech platforms accountable
    Manos VisiblesBogota$200,0002025Promotes rights for marginalised groups in Colombia through media.
    Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF)New York, NY$200,0002025to help independent media thrive and safeguard editorial independence.
    Open Institute InternationalNairobi$200,0002025Improves public services for marginalised Kenyan communities using technology.
    Reporters Without BordersParis$200,0002025Promotes global democratic principles in information and communication space.

    Amalgamated Charitable Foundation

    $1,000,000
    Washington, DC2025

    To meaningfully resource black feminist movements globally.

    East West Management Institute

    $860,673
    New York, NY2025

    Support Freedom of Expression cluster, via core institutional, capacity building

    Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales (R3D)

    $650,000
    Mexico City2025

    Protects digital rights and civic space against surveillance and AI.

    Data and Society Research Institute

    $650,000
    New York, NY2025

    Support social implications of data-centric technologies & automation.

    Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)

    $600,000
    Washington, DC2025

    Promoting racial action plans and protecting human rights in Americas.

    Tifa Foundation

    $550,000
    South Jakarta2025

    Protects digital rights and civic space against surveillance and AI.

    CalMatters

    $500,000
    Sacramento, CA2025

    Supports global AI reporting consortium, sharing expertise with newsrooms worldwide.

    Inter-American Foundation

    $500,000
    Washington, DC2025

    To strengthen the countrys civic space

    Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)

    $500,000
    New York, NY2025

    General Operating Grant.

    International Women's Media Foundation

    $480,000
    Washington, DC2025

    Supports safety of women and non-binary journalists, anti-online violence.

    Agencia Publica

    $450,550
    Sao Paulo2025

    Supports Agencia Publicas development, global influence, and Big Tech investigation

    Access Now

    $450,000
    Brooklyn, NY2025

    Support digital rights of world users at risk.

    Privacy International (PI)

    $450,000
    London2025

    Support Grantee's work on right to privacy for everyone, everywhere

    Lighthouse Reports

    $432,750
    Utrecht2025

    Advances accountability journalism, GenAI, and surveillance technology newsroom.

    Human Dignity Trust

    $405,300
    London2025

    Supports legal reform and protection for LGBT people worldwide.

    Global Investigative Journalism Network - GIJN

    $400,000
    Washington, DC2025

    Supports advanced investigations and safe tech infrastructure in newsrooms.

    CLIP - Centro Latinoamericano de Investigacion Periodistica

    $395,000
    Nicoya2025

    To support achieving institutional objective of fostering public debate

    Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

    $355,000
    San Francisco, CA2025

    Building cohort organisations in Asia working on Big Tech accountability

    Freedom Voices Network

    $330,000
    Paris2025

    To secure data of threatened journalists and publish their reporting.

    Engage Media

    $327,184
    Melbourne2025

    Supports Indonesia's AI governance, youth activism, and tech surveillance research

    Media Monitoring Africa

    $310,000
    Johannesburg2025

    Supports healthy information ecosystems and informed citizenry in South Africa.

    Katiba Institute

    $300,000
    Nairobi2025

    To entrench a culture and practice of constitutionalism in Kenya

    School of Politics Policy and Governance

    $300,000
    Abuja2025

    Builds new, skilled political class to solve Africas development.

    Atlantic Council

    $300,000
    Washington, DC2025

    To benefit democracy and human rights in Colombia.

    Digital Freedom Fund (DFF)

    $275,000
    Amsterdam2025

    Support digital rights in Europe through strategic litigation

    Baraza Media Lab

    $270,000
    Nairobi2025

    Improve resilience, coordination and support media, journalism and creative spaces.

    Instituto de Liderazgo Simone de Beauvoir

    $267,000
    Mexico City2025

    To support to Indigenous, Afro-Mexican, youth, and LBT+ women leaders

    TechHer

    $260,000
    Abuja2025

    Supports combating online gender violence and womens digital rights.

    Namati

    $250,000
    Washington, DC2025

    Promoting paralegal outreach and awareness raising among communities facing discrimination

    Instituto Incube

    $250,000
    Sao Paulo2025

    To support Grantee's project, More in Common Brazil

    Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (formerly Premium Times Ce

    $250,000
    Abuja2025

    To improve the media and information ecosystem in Nigeria.

    Global Witness

    $250,000
    London2025

    Advocacy work in the areas of socioenvironmental and climate justice

    Digital Rights Foundation (DRF)

    $250,000
    Lahore2025

    Investigates and campaigns against online and real-world harms in Pakistan.

    BudgIT

    $250,000
    Lagos2025

    Supports BudgITs advocacy, civil society, and civic tech participation

    Media Defence

    $240,000
    London2025

    Supports free speech, journalists, litigation, and internal operations.

    Accountability Counsel

    $230,000
    San Francisco, CA2025

    Supporting communities via communities, Policy Advocacy and Research programme.

    Phandeeyar

    $230,000
    Walnut, CA2025

    Core funding/reserve to grow their resilience to pursue organisational objectives.

    Hadis Foundation

    $210,000
    Abuja2025

    Improves young peoples responsible tech use and civic participation.

    Caribe Afirmativo

    $204,000
    Barranquilla2025

    support fostering LGBTIQ+ and public policy in Colombia

    East West Management Institute

    $202,500
    New York, NY2025

    To implement Indigenous Knowledge and Data Sovereignty (IKDS) framework

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)

    $200,000
    Lagos2025

    support strategic litigation work and civic participation space in Nigeria.

    Paradigm Initiative

    $200,000
    Lagos2025

    Core grant to Paradigm Initiative in support of their work.

    Afrobarometer

    $200,000
    Accra2025

    Training youth organisations in data collection, management and story telling.

    CANVAS

    $200,000
    Belgrade2025

    General operating support renewal grant

    Futurelect

    $200,000
    Johannesburg2025

    Design/deliver non-partisan, intensive and interdisciplinary young leadership development and training.

    Hashtag Generation

    $200,000
    Colombo2025

    To build know-how and capacity to hold tech platforms accountable

    Manos Visibles

    $200,000
    Bogota2025

    Promotes rights for marginalised groups in Colombia through media.

    Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF)

    $200,000
    New York, NY2025

    to help independent media thrive and safeguard editorial independence.

    Open Institute International

    $200,000
    Nairobi2025

    Improves public services for marginalised Kenyan communities using technology.

    Reporters Without Borders

    $200,000
    Paris2025

    Promotes global democratic principles in information and communication space.