Racial Justice and U.S. Democracy Program
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working on racial justice, research, policy, and democracy-strengthening efforts within the U.S.
Deadline: Rolling (program-specific LOI windows may apply)
The Hewlett Foundation concentrates its resources on climate and clean-energy systems transformation, environmental conservation and natural-resources resilience, and strengthening public policy and institutions that enable those transitions. It funds a mix of advocacy and policy intermediaries, funder collaboratives, research centers, and targeted university programs — often to scale market/policy shifts (e.g., decarbonization, methane reduction, water resilience) and to support governance and accountability efforts internationally. Grants frequently support programmatic hubs, capacity-building or general operating support rather than direct service delivery, and the foundation also underwrites election and information‑integrity initiatives tied to democratic resilience.
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation’s recent grantmaking is shaped by large, repeated commitments to climate infrastructure and intermediary organizations. Two multiyear grants to the Stichting European Climate Foundation reached $11.8 million in 2023 and $11.2 million in 2024 for the Climate Finance Fund, while ClimateWorks Foundation received $10 million in 2023 and again in 2024 for general operating support. Those awards sit alongside similarly large support for Climate Leadership Initiative Inc and the Climate Finance Fund’s policy ecosystem, showing a pattern of backing organizations that can move capital, policy, and coordination at scale. The foundation also funds major hubs and collaboratives that sit between research, advocacy, and implementation. Grants to United States Energy Foundation, The Energy Foundation, San Francisco Foundation, and Energy Foundation indicate a sustained role for pooled or intermediary structures rather than only direct-service work. In parallel, the foundation has supported election integrity, cyber policy, and university-based policy programs, including the Election Trust Initiative, The Bridgespan Group’s Knowledge and Innovation Fund, and Columbia University’s Center for Political Economy. Across these grants, the foundation combines very large operating support with targeted program grants that align with systems change, institutional capacity, and policy translation.
Climate and clean-energy systems dominate the foundation’s largest awards. It gave $10 million in 2024 to ClimateWorks Foundation for general operating support, and $7 million in 2024 to Energy Foundation for general operating support, reinforcing a preference for intermediary organizations that can coordinate broader climate action. A second cluster centers on climate finance and methane reduction. The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation awarded $11.2 million in 2024 to Stichting European Climate Foundation for the Climate Finance Fund, and $6.7 million in 2024 to Windward Fund for the Methane Hub. Its portfolio also reaches beyond climate. The foundation gave $5 million in 2024 to Election Trust Initiative LLC for the Election Trust Initiative and $5 million in 2024 to Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University Term for the Cyber Policy Institute (CY), linking democratic resilience and cyber policy to its broader institutional strategy.
$1.2B
$14.2B
$784.7M
$754.6M
Most grants fall between $50K and $300K, with a median of $150K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$150K
75th Percentile
$300K
About 39% of grants go to recipients in VA.
Top 10 recipient countries by grant volume for William & Flora Hewlett Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 3,299 | $981.2M | 82.9% |
| 2 | Kenya | 123 | $32.8M |
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated, large-dollar grants to repeat grantees and intermediary organizations; a mix of multi-million general operating support and program-specific funding routed through funder collaboratives and public foundations rather than many small grassroots service grants.
Notable grantees: Stichting European Climate Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, United States Energy Foundation, Windward Fund
Typical grants cluster at a mid-six-figure to low-seven-figure scale, with a p25 of $50,000, a median of $150,000, and a p75 of $300,000. The recent grants list also shows repeated support to the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, including multiyear awards to several climate intermediaries and election-related entities. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not make program-related investments. Grantmaking appears to rely heavily on operating support and program-specific grants, often to intermediary organizations, collaboratives, and universities.
Grant recipients are heavily U.S.-based, with 82.9% of grants going to U.S. organizations and 38% landing in California. Within the U.S., Washington, DC appears repeatedly through grants to intermediaries and election-focused organizations, while San Francisco is a frequent site for climate and energy organizations. Other named recipient locations include New York, Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Denver, Sacramento, Tallahassee, and Belcourt, showing a national footprint with concentration in policy and climate hubs.
Its typical grant size is $50,000 at the 25th percentile, $150,000 at the median, and $300,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes much larger awards in the multi-million-dollar range to intermediaries, universities, and pooled funds.
It funds intermediaries, funder collaboratives, research centers, universities, and policy organizations. Examples in the recent grants list include ClimateWorks Foundation, Stichting European Climate Foundation, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Election Trust Initiative LLC.
Yes. Climate and clean-energy systems are a major part of its giving, including grants for the Climate Finance Fund, general operating support for climate intermediaries, the Methane Hub, and support for organizations working on decarbonization and resilience.
Yes. The recent grants list shows multiple recipients receiving support in both 2023 and 2024, including Stichting European Climate Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, Windward Fund, San Francisco Foundation, and Western Conservation Foundation.
Its geographic scope is national. In the recent grants data, 82.9% of grants go to U.S. recipients, and California accounts for 38% of grants, with Washington, DC, San Francisco, and other major hubs appearing frequently.
AMBER MILLER
PRESIDENT (AS OF 09/24)
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
3.1% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 94 | $23.6M | 2.4% |
| 4 | Uganda | 56 | $15.6M | 1.4% |
| 5 | Ghana | 54 | $14.5M | 1.4% |
| 6 | South Africa | 53 | $13.2M | 1.3% |
| 7 | Senegal | 52 | $17M | 1.3% |
| 8 | Germany | 37 | $28.8M | 0.9% |
| 9 | Mexico | 32 | $8.1M | 0.8% |
| 10 | Netherlands | 28 | $31.2M | 0.7% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Current and upcoming funding from William & Flora Hewlett Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working on racial justice, research, policy, and democracy-strengthening efforts within the U.S.
Deadline: Rolling (program-specific LOI windows may apply)
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations producing independent research or practical knowledge useful to foundations and grantmakers.
Deadline: Rolling
Who can apply: Nonprofit charitable organizations in the U.S. and equivalent organizations internationally working on climate and energy policy or clean transportation.
Deadline: Letters of inquiry accepted at any time (rolling); full proposals by invitation
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STICHTING EUROPEAN CLIMATE FOUNDATION | BERLIN | $11,179,000 | 2024 | FOR THE CLIMATE FINANCE FUND |
| CLIMATE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE BUILDUS FUND PROJECT |
| HUMBOLDT AREA FOUNDATION | BAYSIDE, CA | $10,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE KLAMATH FUND |
| CLIMATEWORKS FOUNDATION |
| SAN FRANCISCO, CA |
| $10,000,000 |
| 2024 |
| FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| STICHTING EUROPEAN CLIMATE FOUNDATION | BERLIN | $9,000,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $7,500,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ENERGY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $7,000,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WINDWARD FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $6,666,666 | 2024 | FOR THE METHANE HUB |
| UNITED STATES ENERGY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,500,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPELMAN COLLEGE | ATLANTA, GA | $5,000,000 | 2024 | FOR A PROGRAM TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CYBER, SECURITY, AND POLICY EXPERTS |
| FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL & MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY TERM | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $5,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE CYBER POLICY INSTITUTE (CY) |
| MIAMI FOUNDATION INC | MIAMI, FL | $5,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE PRESS FORWARD POOLED FUND |
| ELECTION TRUST INITIATIVE LLC | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE ELECTION TRUST INITIATIVE |
| WATER FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $4,250,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WESTERN CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $4,100,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CLIMATEWORKS FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $4,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL DECARBONIZATION PROGRAM |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,000,000 | 2024 | FOR SUPPORT OF THE FENOMENAL FUNDS |
| CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY | BROOKLYN, NY | $3,878,527 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COLOROFCHANGEORG EDUCATION FUND INC | OAKLAND, CA | $3,500,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WATER FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $3,450,000 | 2024 | FOR THE WATER SOLUTIONS FUND |
| RESOURCES LEGACY FUND | SACRAMENTO, CA | $3,000,000 | 2024 | FOR WILDFIRE STRATEGIES |
| ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE GLOBAL COMMONS ALLIANCE |
| CLIMATE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,000,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,000,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,000,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,000,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL IMPACT | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $2,900,000 | 2024 | FOR THE FUTURE OF ONLINE TRUST AND SAFETY FUND |
| CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY EQUITY FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,750,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500,000 | 2024 | FOR THE WOMEN'S FUNDS COLLABORATIVE |
| TARA CLIMATE LTD | SINGAPORE | $2,500,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RF CATALYTIC CAPITAL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,471,000 | 2024 | FOR INVEST IN OUR FUTURE |
| PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,100,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WOMEN IN INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT GLOBALIZING AND | MANCHESTER | $2,000,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WINDWARD FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000,000 | 2024 | FOR REWIRING AMERICA'S REWIRING COMMUNITIES PROJECT |
| UNITED STATES ENERGY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,000,000 | 2024 | FOR FEDERAL AND STATE IMPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL CLIMATE INVESTMENTS |
| UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE U.S. CLIMATE ALLIANCE |
| TIDES CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE MOSAIC INITIATIVE |
| UNITED STATES ENERGY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE LOCAL POWER INITIATIVE |
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE FAMILIES AND WORKERS FUND'S POWERING GOOD CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE CAREERS FUNDING INITIATIVE |
| LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,000,000 | 2024 | FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE |
| RESOURCES LEGACY FUND | SACRAMENTO, CA | $1,800,000 | 2024 | FOR THE WESTERN ENERGY PROJECT |
| NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION | RESTON, VA | $1,750,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,650,000 | 2024 | FOR THE U.S. CONSERVATION PROGRAM |
| ENERGY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,640,000 | 2024 | FOR A ZERO-EMISSION ROAD FREIGHT PROGRAM |
| ACTIONAID USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,520,000 | 2024 | FOR A PROJECT TO ENSURE THAT ECONOMIES AND PUBLIC SERVICE SYSTEMS WORK FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS GLOBALLY |
| LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE EDUCATION FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,500,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INCLUSIV INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500,000 | 2024 | FOR THE CENTER FOR RESILIENCY AND CLEAN ENERGY |
| STICHTING EUROPEAN CLIMATE FOUNDATION | BERLIN | $1,500,000 | 2024 | FOR THE FOSSIL FREE ENERGY CAMPAIGN |
| THE ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500,000 | 2024 | FOR EDUCATION ON FEDERAL CLIMATE POLICY, STRATEGY, CLIMATE PROGRAM, COMMUNICATIONS, AND CONVENINGS |
STICHTING EUROPEAN CLIMATE FOUNDATION
$11,179,000FOR THE CLIMATE FINANCE FUND
CLIMATE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE INC
$10,000,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC
$10,000,000FOR THE BUILDUS FUND PROJECT
HUMBOLDT AREA FOUNDATION
$10,000,000FOR THE KLAMATH FUND
CLIMATEWORKS FOUNDATION
$10,000,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
STICHTING EUROPEAN CLIMATE FOUNDATION
$9,000,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION
$7,500,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ENERGY FOUNDATION
$7,000,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WINDWARD FUND
$6,666,666FOR THE METHANE HUB
UNITED STATES ENERGY FOUNDATION
$5,500,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SPELMAN COLLEGE
$5,000,000FOR A PROGRAM TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CYBER, SECURITY, AND POLICY EXPERTS
FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL & MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY TERM
$5,000,000FOR THE CYBER POLICY INSTITUTE (CY)
MIAMI FOUNDATION INC
$5,000,000FOR THE PRESS FORWARD POOLED FUND
ELECTION TRUST INITIATIVE LLC
$5,000,000FOR THE ELECTION TRUST INITIATIVE
WATER FOUNDATION
$4,250,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WESTERN CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
$4,100,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CLIMATEWORKS FOUNDATION
$4,000,000FOR THE GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL DECARBONIZATION PROGRAM
NEW VENTURE FUND
$4,000,000FOR SUPPORT OF THE FENOMENAL FUNDS
CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY
$3,878,527FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COLOROFCHANGEORG EDUCATION FUND INC
$3,500,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WATER FOUNDATION
$3,450,000FOR THE WATER SOLUTIONS FUND
RESOURCES LEGACY FUND
$3,000,000FOR WILDFIRE STRATEGIES
ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS INC
$3,000,000FOR THE GLOBAL COMMONS ALLIANCE
CLIMATE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE INC
$3,000,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOUNDATION
$3,000,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOUNDATION
$3,000,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY INC
$3,000,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GLOBAL IMPACT
$2,900,000FOR THE FUTURE OF ONLINE TRUST AND SAFETY FUND
CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY EQUITY FUND
$2,750,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW VENTURE FUND
$2,500,000FOR THE WOMEN'S FUNDS COLLABORATIVE
TARA CLIMATE LTD
$2,500,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
RF CATALYTIC CAPITAL INC
$2,471,000FOR INVEST IN OUR FUTURE
PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT
$2,100,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WOMEN IN INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT GLOBALIZING AND
$2,000,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WINDWARD FUND
$2,000,000FOR REWIRING AMERICA'S REWIRING COMMUNITIES PROJECT
UNITED STATES ENERGY FOUNDATION
$2,000,000FOR FEDERAL AND STATE IMPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL CLIMATE INVESTMENTS
UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION INC
$2,000,000FOR THE U.S. CLIMATE ALLIANCE
TIDES CENTER
$2,000,000FOR THE MOSAIC INITIATIVE
UNITED STATES ENERGY FOUNDATION
$2,000,000FOR THE LOCAL POWER INITIATIVE
AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC
$2,000,000FOR THE FAMILIES AND WORKERS FUND'S POWERING GOOD CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE CAREERS FUNDING INITIATIVE
LIBERTY HILL FOUNDATION
$2,000,000FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
RESOURCES LEGACY FUND
$1,800,000FOR THE WESTERN ENERGY PROJECT
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
$1,750,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS
$1,650,000FOR THE U.S. CONSERVATION PROGRAM
ENERGY FOUNDATION
$1,640,000FOR A ZERO-EMISSION ROAD FREIGHT PROGRAM
ACTIONAID USA
$1,520,000FOR A PROJECT TO ENSURE THAT ECONOMIES AND PUBLIC SERVICE SYSTEMS WORK FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS GLOBALLY
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE EDUCATION FUND INC
$1,500,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INCLUSIV INC
$1,500,000FOR THE CENTER FOR RESILIENCY AND CLEAN ENERGY
STICHTING EUROPEAN CLIMATE FOUNDATION
$1,500,000FOR THE FOSSIL FREE ENERGY CAMPAIGN
THE ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE
$1,500,000FOR EDUCATION ON FEDERAL CLIMATE POLICY, STRATEGY, CLIMATE PROGRAM, COMMUNICATIONS, AND CONVENINGS