About United Nations Foundation
We advance human dignity and protect the planet by building communities of support and nurturing initiatives to drive progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and related global issues.
Focus Areas
climatehealthgender equalityhuman rightsmultilateralismpeacehumanitarian responsesustainable development
Who They Fund
UN agencies and multilateral institutionsgirls and womenglobal populations/communities served by international programs
Funding Style
institutional/multilateral capacity building
About United Nations Foundation
United Nations Foundation Inc. channels most of its recent grantmaking into United Nations-linked institutions, especially the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships, which appears repeatedly across climate, global health, and UN system strengthening awards. One of its largest recent grants was $9,155,919 in 2023 to that fund for UN strengthening, followed by a $4,211,942 grant in 2025 for the same purpose. The foundation also supports other multilateral and advocacy groups, including a $3,102,566 grant to Better World Fund in Washington, DC, and a $2,676,309 grant to Population Council in New York, NY for girls and women work. Its stated orientation is to connect people, ideas, and resources to help the United Nations address global problems and advance peace, human rights, health, and sustainable development. The recent record shows that mission expressed through large institutional grants rather than individual awards, with a clear emphasis on multilateral capacity, global programming, and sector-specific support. Public-facing program activity includes the Global Next Generation Fellowship for 2025–2027, a youth and leadership effort.
What United Nations Foundation Funds
UN system strengthening is a central thread in the recent record. The foundation gave $2,451,057 in 2023 to the Executive Office of the Secretary General for UN strengthening, alongside repeated multi-million-dollar awards to the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships for the same purpose. Global health is another major area: $3,670,881 in 2023 and $2,922,422 in 2024 went to the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships for global health, with additional awards of $1,667,470 to UNICEF and $1,079,000 to the same UN partnership fund in 2025. In girls and women work, it gave $2,676,309 to Population Council and $1,021,284 to Save the Children. Environmental grantmaking includes $3,833,130 in 2024 to the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships and $1,550,000 to Hua Nani Partners.
How United Nations Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster around a median of $125,000, with a lower quartile of $46,500 and an upper quartile of $347,662. The recent grant list also shows many awards far above that range, including several multi-million-dollar grants, which suggests a portfolio that combines smaller institutional awards with larger strategic commitments. Recipients recur across years: the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 in multiple program areas. The foundation does not make grants to individuals and is not using program-related investments. It also has an active fellowship program, and that program accepts unsolicited applications.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$66.8M
Total Assets
$285.1M
Total Revenue
$77M
Total Expenses
$141.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $47K and $348K, with a median of $125K.
25th Percentile
$47K
Median
$125K
75th Percentile
$348K
Geographic Reach
National23 states funded
About 14% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ELIZABETH COUSENS
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