Open Philanthropy Action Fund primarily supports policy advocacy and political campaigning aimed at systems-level change, with a mix of U.S. state ballot- and legislative-focused funding and global technical policy work. Their portfolio blends effective-altruism-aligned causes (pandemic response, AI alignment, global health/malnutrition, climate/clean-energy advocacy) with domestic civic advocacy (housing YIMBY campaigns, criminal-justice/prosecutor reform, and pro-innovation/competition policy). They repeatedly fund both specialized action/advocacy vehicles and research/alignment centers, indicating a strategy of funding implementation plus upstream policy research and organizing.
Open Philanthropy Action Fund stands out for funding policy advocacy and political campaigning that aim at systems-level change. In the recent grant list, that shows up in large general-support awards to Accountable Justice Action Fund in Brooklyn and Albany, alongside support for ballot initiative work in California and state-level housing advocacy in New York. The funder also backs technical policy work, including AI safety community-building, immigration reform research and advocacy, and policy development through Washington, DC-based organizations. Its portfolio combines domestic civic campaigns with cause areas often associated with effective-altruism-aligned work. Recent grants include support for malnutrition advocacy, clinical-trial work related to COVID-19, alcohol-harm reduction in low- and middle-income countries, and work related to plant-based foods. The foundation also funds climate-linked energy advocacy, with repeated support for Breakthrough Energy Action Inc, and market-competition or pro-innovation policy work through groups such as Americans for Responsible Innovation and Competitive Markets Action Inc. This mix suggests a funder that backs both implementation-focused advocacy vehicles and the upstream research, organizing, and campaign infrastructure behind them.
Housing policy and ballot work is a recurring theme. Open Philanthropy Action Fund gave $2,977,361 to California Yimby for general support, $1,966,904 to Open New York Inc for general support, and $595,667 to Abundant Housing MA Inc for general support. Those grants point to support for state- and city-level housing advocacy in California, New York, and Massachusetts. Public health and pandemic-related work is another clear thread. The foundation gave $3,000,000 to Californians Against Pandemics to support a ballot initiative, and later $604,000 to Charak Foundation for a clinical trial of ramatroban against COVID-19. It also backed Malnutrition Advocacy Fund with $7,734,777 for advocacy for cost-effective malnutrition interventions. On the policy and governance side, they funded Americans for Responsible Innovation for general support, Federation of American Scientists for immigration policy development and advocacy, and Ifp Action for development and research on various public policies. That combination shows support for both issue-specific advocacy and broader policy capacity.
$16.8M
$41.2M
$83.2M
$58.6M
Most grants fall between $89K and $604K, with a median of $200K.
25th Percentile
$89K
Median
$200K
75th Percentile
$604K
CARI TUNA
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Concentrated, strategic giving: a relatively small number of large grants dominate totals, with frequent repeat grants to core action funds and research centers. Grants combine policy/advocacy operational support (ballot campaigns, action funds) with funding for research, convening, and technical programs; mix of domestic political funding and international policy/technical interventions.
Notable grantees: Accountable Justice Action Fund, Malnutrition Advocacy Fund, California YIMBY, Cambridge Boston Alignment Initiative, Californians Against Pandemics
Typical grants are mid-to-large: the p25 is $89,000, the median is $200,000, and the p75 is $604,000. The recent list also includes several multimillion-dollar awards, showing a willingness to place large bets on policy campaigns and advocacy organizations. The pattern is not one-off only: several grantees appear in multiple years, including Accountable Justice Action Fund, Californians Against Pandemics, Vital Strategies Action Fund Inc, Open New York Inc, Breakthrough Energy Action Inc, and Ifp Action. That points to repeat support rather than isolated gifts. Open Philanthropy Action Fund is a regular funder and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. No application process is described in the provided data.
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based in the provided recent list. California appears frequently, with grantees in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, Orange, Oakland, and Escondido. New York is another major destination, including Brooklyn, Albany, and New York City, and Washington, DC also appears repeatedly through policy and advocacy groups. Additional recipients are in Massachusetts, Delaware, Texas, North Carolina, and Washington state.
The funder supports policy advocacy, political campaigning, and related research or organizing. Recent grants include housing advocacy, pandemic-related ballot work, malnutrition advocacy, AI safety community-building, immigration policy development, and plant-based foods policy work.
The typical grant range in the data is fairly broad. The p25 is $89,000, the median grant is $200,000, and the p75 is $604,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Accountable Justice Action Fund, Californians Against Pandemics, Vital Strategies Action Fund Inc, Open New York Inc, Breakthrough Energy Action Inc, and Ifp Action.
The recipient distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the recent grants list, with California, New York, and Washington, DC appearing often. California recipients alone account for 36% of grants given to the HQ state, while Delaware is the top state by grant count overall.
Yes. Recent grants include support for Breakthrough Energy Action Inc in Kirkland, Washington, across multiple years, showing repeated funding for climate-linked energy advocacy.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCOUNTABLE JUSTICE ACTION FUND | ALBANY, NY | $6,400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICANS FOR RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,948,728 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANT BASED FOODS ASSOCIATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,500,000 | 2025 | WORK RELATED TO PLANT-BASED FOODS |
| VITAL STRATEGIES ACTION FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,740,378 | 2025 | WORK TO REDUCE ALCOHOL HARMS IN LOW AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES |
| COMPETITIVE MARKETS ACTION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $629,000 | 2025 | FARM BILL ADVOCACY |
| BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY ACTION INC | KIRKLAND, WA | $404,409 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTRE FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF AI INC | NEW YORK, NY | $400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAMBRIDGE BOSTON ALIGNMENT INITIATIVE INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $180,000 | 2025 | BOOTCAMP ON CYBERSECURITY |
| RETHINK PRIORITIES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $180,000 | 2025 | INSECT WELFARE POLICY |
| MALNUTRITION ADVOCACY FUND | RALEIGH, NC | $163,083 | 2025 | ADVOCACY FOR COST-EFFECTIVE MALNUTRITION INTERVENTIONS |
| DIGITAL HARBOR FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $150,000 | 2025 | UK DAY ONE PROJECT |
| YIMBY ACTION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $120,000 | 2025 | LEGAL AND ADVOCACY WORK TO PROMOTE MORE HOUSING |
| PLAYERS PHILANTHROPY FUND | TOWSON, MD | $110,000 | 2025 | POLICY RESEARCH RELATED TO AI IN THE EU AND LATIN AMERICA |
| ZETEO TECH INC | SYKESVILLE, MD | $108,785 | 2025 | OVERVIEW OF BIOLOGICAL THREATS |
| FARM ACTION FUND INC | MEXICO, MO | $106,800 | 2025 | FARM ANIMAL WELFARE LAWS |
| CENTER FOR RESPONSIBLE FOOD BUSINESS | BETHLEHEM, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FUTURE TECH INSIGHTS INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | IMPROVING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF AI SAFETY |
| DIGITAL HARBOR FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $96,718 | 2025 | UK DAY ONE PROJECT |
| PANORAMA GLOBAL | SEATTLE, WA | $75,000 | 2025 | WORK ON EUROPEAN COMMISSION AID ADVOCACY |
| MARY ANN LIEBERT INC | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | $50,400 | 2025 | IMPROVING SAFETY AND SECURITY IN DNA SYNTHESIS SCREENING |
| A WORLD OF GOOD INITIATIVE INC | DOVER, DE | $39,400 | 2025 | ANIMAL WELFARE FORUM |
| OPTIC FORECASTING INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $39,000 | 2025 | IN-PERSON FORECASTING COMPETITIONS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS |
| OPEN NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $33,096 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASHGRO INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $31,495 | 2025 | AI SAFETY COMMUNITY-BUILDING WORK |
| VIRTUE AI INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | PRIZES AT THE NEURIPS 2024 CLAS |
| GRYPHON SCIENTIFIC LLC | TAKOMA PARK, MD | $29,870 | 2025 | GENE SYNTHESIS SCREENING PRACTICES |
| CALIFORNIA YIMBY | SACRAMENTO, CA | $22,639 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $17,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT ORGANIZING EFFORTS AT IMPACT@MIT |
| GREATER GREATER WASHINGTON INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $9,338 | 2025 | SUPPORT WORK ON HOUSING |
| ACCOUNTABLE JUSTICE ACTION FUND | BROOKLYN, NY | $11,500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MALNUTRITION ADVOCACY FUND | RALEIGH, NC | $7,734,777 | 2024 | ADVOCACY FOR COST-EFFECTIVE MALNUTRITION INTERVENTIONS |
| CALIFORNIA YIMBY | SACRAMENTO, CA | $2,977,361 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPEN NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,966,904 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VITAL STRATEGIES ACTION FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500,000 | 2024 | WORK RELATED TO ALCOHOL POLICY |
| ECONOMIC INNOVATION GROUP INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,223,935 | 2024 | IMMIGRATION REFORM WORK |
| IFP ACTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,200,000 | 2024 | DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH ON VARIOUS PUBLIC POLICIES |
| 1DAY SOONER ACTION PROJECT INC | CLAYMONT, DE | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SCIENTISTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $611,000 | 2024 | IMMIGRATION POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY |
| CHARAK FOUNDATION | ORANGE, CA | $604,000 | 2024 | CLINICAL TRIAL OF RAMATROBAN AGAINST COVID-19 |
| ABUNDANT HOUSING MA INC | BOSTON, MA | $595,667 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY ACTION INC | KIRKLAND, WA | $592,469 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAMBRIDGE BOSTON ALIGNMENT INITIATIVE INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $404,546 | 2024 | AI SAFETY COMMUNITY-BUILDING WORK |
| FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SCIENTISTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $400,000 | 2024 | POLICY CHANGE ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES WITH ADVANCEMENTS IN AI |
| IFP ACTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $341,660 | 2024 | AI POLICY |
| COMPETITIVE MARKETS ACTION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $323,000 | 2024 | ADVOCACY WORK OPPOSING THE EATS ACT |
| COMPETITIVE MARKETS ACTION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $257,000 | 2024 | ADVOCACY WORK OPPOSING THE EATS ACT |
| GREATER GREATER WASHINGTON INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $248,362 | 2024 | SUPPORT WORK ON HOUSING |
| LEAP LABORATORIES INC | RICHMOND, CA | $230,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH TO ADVANCE AI SAFETY |
| GLOBAL CHALLENGES PROJECT INC | LEWES, DE | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FUTUREWISE | SEATTLE, WA | $198,647 | 2024 | ADVOCACY WORK ON HOUSING IN WASHINGTON |
ACCOUNTABLE JUSTICE ACTION FUND
$6,400,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICANS FOR RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION
$2,948,728GENERAL SUPPORT
PLANT BASED FOODS ASSOCIATION
$2,500,000WORK RELATED TO PLANT-BASED FOODS
VITAL STRATEGIES ACTION FUND INC
$1,740,378WORK TO REDUCE ALCOHOL HARMS IN LOW AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES
COMPETITIVE MARKETS ACTION INC
$629,000FARM BILL ADVOCACY
BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY ACTION INC
$404,409GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTRE FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF AI INC
$400,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAMBRIDGE BOSTON ALIGNMENT INITIATIVE INC
$180,000BOOTCAMP ON CYBERSECURITY
MALNUTRITION ADVOCACY FUND
$163,083ADVOCACY FOR COST-EFFECTIVE MALNUTRITION INTERVENTIONS
YIMBY ACTION
$120,000LEGAL AND ADVOCACY WORK TO PROMOTE MORE HOUSING
POLICY RESEARCH RELATED TO AI IN THE EU AND LATIN AMERICA
ZETEO TECH INC
$108,785OVERVIEW OF BIOLOGICAL THREATS
FARM ACTION FUND INC
$106,800FARM ANIMAL WELFARE LAWS
CENTER FOR RESPONSIBLE FOOD BUSINESS
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FUTURE TECH INSIGHTS INC
$100,000IMPROVING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF AI SAFETY
MARY ANN LIEBERT INC
$50,400IMPROVING SAFETY AND SECURITY IN DNA SYNTHESIS SCREENING
A WORLD OF GOOD INITIATIVE INC
$39,400ANIMAL WELFARE FORUM
OPTIC FORECASTING INC
$39,000IN-PERSON FORECASTING COMPETITIONS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
OPEN NEW YORK INC
$33,096GENERAL SUPPORT
ASHGRO INC
$31,495AI SAFETY COMMUNITY-BUILDING WORK
VIRTUE AI INC
$30,000PRIZES AT THE NEURIPS 2024 CLAS
GRYPHON SCIENTIFIC LLC
$29,870GENE SYNTHESIS SCREENING PRACTICES
CALIFORNIA YIMBY
$22,639GENERAL SUPPORT
SUPPORT ORGANIZING EFFORTS AT IMPACT@MIT
GREATER GREATER WASHINGTON INC
$9,338SUPPORT WORK ON HOUSING
ACCOUNTABLE JUSTICE ACTION FUND
$11,500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MALNUTRITION ADVOCACY FUND
$7,734,777ADVOCACY FOR COST-EFFECTIVE MALNUTRITION INTERVENTIONS
CALIFORNIA YIMBY
$2,977,361GENERAL SUPPORT
OPEN NEW YORK INC
$1,966,904GENERAL SUPPORT
VITAL STRATEGIES ACTION FUND INC
$1,500,000WORK RELATED TO ALCOHOL POLICY
ECONOMIC INNOVATION GROUP INC
$1,223,935IMMIGRATION REFORM WORK
IFP ACTION
$1,200,000DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH ON VARIOUS PUBLIC POLICIES
1DAY SOONER ACTION PROJECT INC
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
IMMIGRATION POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY
CHARAK FOUNDATION
$604,000CLINICAL TRIAL OF RAMATROBAN AGAINST COVID-19
ABUNDANT HOUSING MA INC
$595,667GENERAL SUPPORT
BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY ACTION INC
$592,469GENERAL SUPPORT
CAMBRIDGE BOSTON ALIGNMENT INITIATIVE INC
$404,546AI SAFETY COMMUNITY-BUILDING WORK
POLICY CHANGE ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES WITH ADVANCEMENTS IN AI
IFP ACTION
$341,660AI POLICY
COMPETITIVE MARKETS ACTION INC
$323,000ADVOCACY WORK OPPOSING THE EATS ACT
COMPETITIVE MARKETS ACTION INC
$257,000ADVOCACY WORK OPPOSING THE EATS ACT
GREATER GREATER WASHINGTON INC
$248,362SUPPORT WORK ON HOUSING
LEAP LABORATORIES INC
$230,000RESEARCH TO ADVANCE AI SAFETY
GLOBAL CHALLENGES PROJECT INC
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT