The Start Something That Matters Foundation concentrates large, unrestricted gifts to advanced research institutions and special-purpose organizations advancing novel therapies and healing approaches. A clear emphasis is on psychedelic research and treatment (through university programs and MAPS), veteran-focused treatment innovation, and support for Indigenous medicine and healing advocacy. Grants are high-dollar and often repeat to a small set of institutional grantees, indicating strategic, targeted philanthropy rather than broad community-level funding.
Concentrated, high-value grants (many six-figure to seven-figure gifts) with multiple repeat awards to a small set of institutional grantees; predominantly unrestricted donations supporting research, program development, and advocacy.
Start Something That Matters Foundation gives large unrestricted grants to a small set of institutions working on psychedelic research, treatment innovation, veteran-focused care, and Indigenous medicine. Its largest recent award was $1.4 million to John Hopkins University for exempt-purpose support, followed by six- and seven-figure gifts to Uc Berkeley Foundation, Healing Advocacy Fund, and Evolve Foundations Daf-veterans Acceleration Program. That pattern points to concentrated, strategic funding rather than a broad scatter of small awards. The foundation’s recent grant history shows repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, especially university-led psychedelic programs and advocacy groups. Uc Berkeley Foundation appears in multiple awards, including a 2025 gift to Uc Berkeley Foundation - Psychedeli and a separate 2025 grant for Uc Berkeley - Mycoskie Fellowships. Psfc also appears repeatedly, with grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Indigenous Medicine Conservative Fund appears in both 2023 and 2024, and Healing Advocacy Fund received grants in 2023 and 2024. The stated purpose across these awards is consistently unrestricted support for the donee’s exempt purpose.
Psychedelic research is one of the foundation’s clearest funding areas. It gave $1,006,579 to Uc Berkeley Foundation in 2024, $947,368 to the same grantee in 2023, and $745,263 in 2025 to Uc Berkeley Foundation - Psychedeli, all as unrestricted donations for exempt-purpose support. It also backs psychedelic therapy advocacy and systems change. Psfc received $650,000 in 2024, $500,000 in 2025, and $500,000 in 2023, while the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies received $515,000 in 2023. Veteran-related treatment work appears in the record through a $1,000,000 grant to Evolve Foundations Daf-veterans Acceleration Program and a $500,000 grant to Vets Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions Inc. Indigenous medicine and healing advocacy are also present, including $500,000 awards to Indigenous Medicine Conservative Fund and a $1,000,000 grant to Healing Advocacy Fund.
Typical grants are large: the p25 is $40,000, the median is $112,000, and the p75 is $500,000. The recent record is dominated by unrestricted donations for exempt-purpose support, which suggests flexible funding rather than project-specific awards. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Uc Berkeley Foundation, Psfc, Healing Advocacy Fund, and Indigenous Medicine Conservative Fund, indicating repeat support over time. The foundation funds only organizations in the data provided, not individuals, and no application process is described in the source material.
$2.3M
$1.1M
$2.2M
$2.4M
Most grants fall between $40K and $500K, with a median of $112K.
25th Percentile
$40K
Median
$112K
75th Percentile
$500K
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Notable grantees: UC Berkeley Foundation (including psychedelic research support), Johns Hopkins University, PSFC (Psychedelic Science Funders Collaborative), Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), Indigenous Medicine Conservative Fund
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based in the data provided. California receives the most awards, accounting for 34% of grants, with recipient cities including Berkeley, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, and West Chester. Other frequent recipient locations include Baltimore, Portland, New York City, and Southlake. The pattern is national, but California is the most common destination for grants.
The foundation funds organizations working on psychedelic research, psychedelic therapy advocacy, veteran-focused treatment innovation, Indigenous medicine, and healing advocacy. Recent grants include university programs, advocacy funds, and special-purpose organizations, all described as unrestricted donations for exempt purpose support.
The grant-size distribution is weighted toward larger awards: p25 is $40,000, the median grant is $112,000, and p75 is $500,000. Recent awards also include multiple seven-figure gifts.
Yes. Several grantees appear in multiple years, including Uc Berkeley Foundation, Psfc, Healing Advocacy Fund, and Indigenous Medicine Conservative Fund. The pattern suggests repeated support rather than one-time giving only.
California is the top state by grant count, receiving 34% of grants. Recipient cities in California include Berkeley, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, and West Chester.
The recent grants are described as unrestricted donations for the donee’s exempt purpose. That wording appears across the sample, so the foundation’s giving is flexible rather than tied to narrow project restrictions.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION - PSYCHEDELI | Berkeley, CA | $745,263 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| PSFC | San Francisco, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| INDIGENOUS MEDICINE CONSERVATIVE FU | Santa Rosa, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UC BERKELEY - MYCOSKIE FELLOWSHIPS | Berkeley, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CHARITY WATER - THE WELL CAMPAIGN | Franklin, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| LEGACY OF LIGHT | Neskowin, OR | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HOGAR DE NINOS CHILDREN'S HOME IN H | Hollsopple, PA | $45,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| AMIGOS OF COSTA RICA | West Chester, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| PSFC FARM LEAGUE INVOICES | San Francisco, CA | $28,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL GOOD | REDONDO BEACH, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FU | New York, NY | $13,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CHARITY WATER - THE SPRING CAMPAIGN | Franklin, TN | $12,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THANK YOU LIFE | Austin, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $1,006,579 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| PSFC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $650,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HEALING ADVOCACY FUND | PORTLAND, OR | $500,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| INDIGNEOUS MEDICINE CONSERVATIVE FUND | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $500,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $400,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CHARITY GLOBAL | NEW YORK, NY | $112,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| LEGACY OF LIGHT | NESKOWIN, OR | $50,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UTAH FILM CENTER | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $50,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN | HOLLSOPPLE, PA | $45,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| AMIGOS DE COSTA RICA | WESTCHESTER, PA | $40,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HANDS OFFERING HOPE FOUNDATION | TRUMBULL, CT | $15,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $11,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CITIZENS OF THE WORLD CHARTER SCHOOLS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $1,400,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| EVOLVE FOUNDATIONS DAF-VETERANS ACCELERATION PROGRAM | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $1,000,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HEALING ADVOCACY FUND | PORTLAND, OR | $1,000,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $947,368 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $515,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| VETS VETERANS EXPLORING TREATMENT SOLUTIONS INC | SOUTHLAKE, TX | $500,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| INDIGNEOUS MEDICINE CONSERVATIVE FUND | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $500,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| PSFC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $500,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HOFFMAN INSTITUTE FOUNDATION | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $250,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CHARITY GLOBAL | NEW YORK, NY | $112,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN | HOLLSOPPLE, PA | $45,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MUSICIAN TREATMENT FOUNDATION OF AUSTIN TX | AUSTIN, TX | $20,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $11,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HANDS OFFERING HOPE FOUNDATION | TRUMBULL, CT | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| VILLE CHURCH | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION - PSYCHEDELI
$745,263UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
PSFC
$500,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
INDIGENOUS MEDICINE CONSERVATIVE FU
$500,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UC BERKELEY - MYCOSKIE FELLOWSHIPS
$250,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
CHARITY WATER - THE WELL CAMPAIGN
$100,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
LEGACY OF LIGHT
$50,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
HOGAR DE NINOS CHILDREN'S HOME IN H
$45,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
AMIGOS OF COSTA RICA
$40,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
PSFC FARM LEAGUE INVOICES
$28,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL GOOD
$20,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FU
$13,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
CHARITY WATER - THE SPRING CAMPAIGN
$12,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
THANK YOU LIFE
$10,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION
$1,006,579UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
PSFC
$650,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
HEALING ADVOCACY FUND
$500,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
INDIGNEOUS MEDICINE CONSERVATIVE FUND
$500,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$400,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
CHARITY GLOBAL
$112,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE
$50,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
LEGACY OF LIGHT
$50,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UTAH FILM CENTER
$50,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
$45,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
AMIGOS DE COSTA RICA
$40,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
HANDS OFFERING HOPE FOUNDATION
$15,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND
$11,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
CITIZENS OF THE WORLD CHARTER SCHOOLS
$10,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$1,400,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
EVOLVE FOUNDATIONS DAF-VETERANS ACCELERATION PROGRAM
$1,000,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
HEALING ADVOCACY FUND
$1,000,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION
$947,368UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES
$515,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
VETS VETERANS EXPLORING TREATMENT SOLUTIONS INC
$500,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
INDIGNEOUS MEDICINE CONSERVATIVE FUND
$500,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
PSFC
$500,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
HOFFMAN INSTITUTE FOUNDATION
$250,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
CHARITY GLOBAL
$112,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
$45,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
MUSICIAN TREATMENT FOUNDATION OF AUSTIN TX
$20,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND
$11,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
HANDS OFFERING HOPE FOUNDATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
VILLE CHURCH
$10,000UNRESTRICTED DONATION FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE