About Quinn Emanuel Foundation
The Quinn Emanuel Foundation makes a small number of large, discretionary gifts focused on institutional philanthropy rather than grassroots or many small grants. Recent support shows a split between major higher-education funding (a sizable grant to Fordham University) and humanitarian/medical relief (a large gift to Direct Relief), indicating priorities in advancing institutional education and global health/emergency medical assistance.
Focus Areas
Major institutional support to universities (e.g., Fordham University)International and domestic medical relief and health system support (Direct Relief)Large, unrestricted philanthropic grants to established nonprofit institutions
Who They Fund
major universities and academic institutionsestablished medical relief and humanitarian NGOscommunities and patients affected by emergencies and disasters
Giving Approach
Concentrated giving: few, high-dollar grants that are one-off or episodic rather than many small awards; funding is split between higher education and health/humanitarian organizations.
About Quinn Emanuel Foundation
A $250,000 grant to Fordham University stands out among Quinn Emanuel Foundation’s recent giving and helps define its pattern: concentrated support for established institutions rather than many small awards. The foundation’s recent grants also show a sizable commitment to direct relief, including a $200,000 gift to Direct Relief, alongside recurring support for legal services, scholarship funds, and community-based organizations. Quinn Emanuel Foundation appears to favor discretionary philanthropy to groups with broad institutional reach. Recent grants include support for higher education through Fordham University, humanitarian and medical response through Direct Relief, and legal aid through organizations such as New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and Legal Service NYC. The portfolio also includes gifts to health-related nonprofits, scholarship providers, and local community intermediaries, suggesting a mix of education, relief, and public-interest support. The foundation’s recent activity is national in scope and includes grants across multiple states, with California appearing frequently among recipients. Its pattern is characterized by relatively large, one-off gifts to established nonprofits, often at levels that exceed typical small-community grants.
What Quinn Emanuel Foundation Funds
In higher education, Quinn Emanuel Foundation gave $250,000 to Fordham University for charitable purposes, signaling support for institutional academic philanthropy. In humanitarian and medical relief, it gave $200,000 to Direct Relief, aligning with its support for emergency response and health-system assistance. The foundation also funds legal aid and public-interest advocacy. It awarded $100,752 to New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and $79,500 to Community Legal Aid Society Inc (clasi), both of which fit a public-service legal focus. Health and community well-being also appear in the record. Examples include $72,000 to Alzheimer's Los Angeles and $109,000 to Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance, showing attention to disease-specific support and patient-facing community services.
How Quinn Emanuel Foundation Gives
Typical grant size centers on larger checks: p25 is $10,000, median is $15,000, and p75 is $25,000. That said, the recent record also includes substantially larger discretionary gifts, which shows a mix of routine-sized awards and a smaller number of major grants. The pattern looks recurring rather than purely one-off in several cases: Joan's Wish List appears in 2025 and 2026, Border Solidarity (shelters for Hope) appears in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, and Smart appears in 2025 and 2026. Quinn Emanuel Foundation is a Regular Funder and does not fund individuals.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.3M
Total Assets
$1.5M
Total Revenue
$3M
Total Expenses
$2.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $25K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$25K
Geographic Reach
National29 states funded
About 22% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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