The Panonica Foundation concentrates on strengthening an informed, accountable democracy through heavy support for investigative journalism, press freedom, voter/party infrastructure, and legal advocacy that defends civil liberties and advances criminal-justice reform. Grants skew toward well-known national watchdogs and advocacy organizations, with repeat funding for investigative outlets, civil-rights legal centers, and consumer protection groups; occasional smaller grants fund animal welfare and international medical relief. The foundation’s portfolio mixes policy research and public-interest journalism with explicit partisan electoral spending to support Democratic candidates.
Panonica Foundation’s recent grantmaking is anchored by major political spending, including two $410,400 awards in 2025 to House Majority PAC and Senate Majority PAC to elect Democratic Representatives and Democratic Senators. That scale sits alongside a broader portfolio that pairs democracy work with journalism, civil-liberties litigation, consumer advocacy, and a smaller set of grants for animal welfare and music traditions. The foundation’s 2025 gifts also include $250,000 awards to Consumer Reports Inc, William J Brennan Jr Center for Justice, Foundation for National Progress Mother Jones Magazine, Pro Publica Inc, and Public Religion Research Institute Inc, showing a consistent emphasis on informing the public, supporting legal and policy research, and backing institutions that shape civic debate. Earlier grants reinforce that pattern, with support for ProPublica, the Center for Investigative Reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the ACLU, and the Innocence Project. Across the portfolio, the foundation combines high-dollar national grants with recurring support for organizations working on press freedom, democratic accountability, and rights-based advocacy.
A core thread in Panonica Foundation’s giving is investigative journalism and press freedom. In 2025, it gave $250,000 to Pro Publica Inc, $250,000 to Foundation for National Progress Mother Jones Magazine, and $200,000 to Committee to Protect Journalists, each tied to informed citizenry or responsible journalism. Civil liberties and justice reform are another major area: the foundation awarded $250,000 to William J Brennan Jr Center for Justice in 2025 and $125,000 to Center for Constitutional Rights for civil rights and liberties and social and economic justice. Consumer-focused work also appears repeatedly, with $250,000 to Consumer Reports Inc and $120,000 to National Consumer Law Center in 2025. The portfolio includes smaller cultural and social grants as well, such as $50,000 to Music Makers Relief Foundation for American musicians and musical traditions.
Panonica Foundation’s typical grant size is $12,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $103,000 at the 75th percentile, showing a mix of smaller awards and larger institutional grants. The recent record includes repeat support across years for several recipients, including Public Religion Research Institute Inc, Texas Civil Rights Project, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, ProPublica, and the Innocence Project. The foundation is a non-individual grantmaker and does not make program-related investments. The portfolio also includes explicit electoral grants, indicating a structure that supports both issue advocacy and political spending rather than a single grantmaking model.
$4M
$4M
$5.5M
$4M
Most grants fall between $12K and $103K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$103K
About 20% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a core set of national organizations with multiple repeat grants; a mix of multi-hundred-thousand-dollar gifts to established institutions and smaller, targeted grants. Funding emphasizes national impact—media, legal advocacy, and voter-facing political spending—rather than broad small grants or geographically diffuse charitable giving.
Notable grantees: ProPublica, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), William J. Brennan Jr. Center for Justice, Public Religion Research Institute, House Majority PAC
Panonica Foundation gives nationally, and every recent grant recipient listed is in the United States. California receives the most grants by count, with recipients in San Francisco, Emeryville, and other California locations appearing in the record. New York is another frequent destination, including Yonkers, New York City, and other New York recipients. Washington, DC also appears often, alongside Texas, Massachusetts, Nevada, and North Carolina. Although the foundation is headquartered in New York, only 20% of grants go to recipients in New York state.
The foundation’s recent grants center on investigative journalism, press freedom, civil liberties, consumer protection, and democracy-related advocacy. It also makes explicit political grants to House Majority PAC and Senate Majority PAC, and smaller awards to animal welfare and music-related organizations appear in the record.
Its typical grant size is $12,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $103,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from $50,000 to $410,400 among the grants listed.
Yes. The record shows repeat support for Public Religion Research Institute Inc, Texas Civil Rights Project, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, ProPublica, and the Innocence Project across different years, which suggests ongoing relationships with some recipients.
By grant count, California is the top state, with recipients in places such as San Francisco and Emeryville. New York and Washington, DC also appear frequently among recent recipients, and every listed recipient is in the United States.
Yes. In 2025 it awarded $410,400 to House Majority PAC to elect Democratic Representatives and another $410,400 to Senate Majority PAC to elect Democratic Senators. The record also includes other Democratic electoral support in the foundation’s stated portfolio.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House Majority PAC | Washington, DC | $410,400 | 2025 | to elect Democratic Representatives |
| Senate Majority PAC | Washington, DC | $410,400 | 2025 | to elect Democratic Senators |
| Public Religion Research Institute Inc | Washington, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | support research |
| Consumer Reports Inc | Yonkers, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism |
| Foundation for National Progress Mother Jones Magazine | San Francisco, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism |
| Pro Publica Inc | New York, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism |
| William J Brennan Jr Center for Justice | New York, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | to improve American democracy and justice |
| American Civil Liberties Union | New York, NY | $225,000 | 2025 | support civil rights and liberties and social and economic justice |
| Committee to Protect Journalists | New York, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism |
| Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press | Washington, DC | $130,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism |
| Texas Civil Rights Project | Austin, TX | $125,000 | 2025 | support equality and social justice |
| Center for Constitutional Rights | New York, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | support civil rights and liberties and social and economic justice |
| National Public Radio Inc | Washington, DC | $125,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism |
| The Innocence Project Inc | New York, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | support civil rights and liberties and social and economic justice |
| National Consumer Law Center | Boston, MA | $120,000 | 2025 | support civil rights and liberties and social and economic justice |
| Ground Truth Project | Boston, MA | $55,000 | 2025 | to support freedom of the press |
| Doctors Without Borders Medicines Sans Frontieres | Hagerstown, MD | $55,000 | 2025 | support equality and social justice |
| Nevada Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals | Las Vegas, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | support pet adoption |
| Music Makers Relief Foundation | Hillsborough, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | support American musicians and musical traditions |
| Campaign Legal Center Inc | Washington, DC | $32,000 | 2025 | promote active participation in our democratic process |
| UCLA Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | education |
| NAACP Legal Defense Fund | New York, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | support advocacy for racial justice |
| Pen American Center Inc | New York, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism |
| Electronic Privacy Information Center | Washington, DC | $25,300 | 2025 | INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF PRIVACY ISSUES |
| Innocence Project of Texas | Fort Worth, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | support for freeing wrongly convicted persons |
| Southern Nevada Public Television | Las Vegas, NV | $25,000 | 2025 | to promote an informed public |
| Media Matters for America | Washington, DC | $24,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism |
| Texas Tribune | Austin, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | to promote an informed public |
| Texas Public Radio | San Antonio, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | to promote an informed public |
| Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Los Angeles, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | promote civil rights for Asian Americans |
| Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation | Austin, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | support civil rights and liberties and social and economic justice |
| Americans United for the Separation of Church and State | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | promote religious liberty |
| Southern Poverty Law Center | Montgomery, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | support equality and social justice |
| Americans for Democratic Action Education Fund | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | to support democratic action |
| Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | support American musicians and musical traditions |
| Sentencing Project | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | support criminal justice reform |
| National Day Laborors Organizing Network | Pasadena, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | support equality and social justice |
| Charity Navigator | Harlan, IA | $12,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry |
| The Nevada Independent | Las Vegas, NV | $12,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism |
| Japanese-American National Museum | Los Angeles, CA | $12,000 | 2025 | promote history culture and art of Japanese Americans |
| Free Speech for People | Austin, TX | $12,000 | 2025 | to promote a democratic society |
| WIkimedia Foundation Inc | Washington, DC | $11,000 | 2025 | to promote an informed public |
| National Partnership of New Americans | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | support integration and active citizenship |
| Voteorg | Oakland, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | support more robust voting turnouts |
| UC Davis Foundation | Davis, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | education |
| Press Forward | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism |
| KCRW Foundation | Santa Monica, CA | $7,000 | 2025 | promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism |
| Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund | Los Angeles, CA | $7,000 | 2025 | support equality and social justice |
| West Orange Scholarship Fund | West Orange, NJ | $17,000 | 2024 | provide college scholarships |
| The New Georgia Project | Atlanta, GA | $13,000 | 2024 | increase the civic participation of the New Georgia Majority-Black Latinx AAPI and young Georgians |
House Majority PAC
$410,400to elect Democratic Representatives
Senate Majority PAC
$410,400to elect Democratic Senators
Public Religion Research Institute Inc
$250,000support research
Consumer Reports Inc
$250,000promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism
Foundation for National Progress Mother Jones Magazine
$250,000promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism
Pro Publica Inc
$250,000promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism
William J Brennan Jr Center for Justice
$250,000to improve American democracy and justice
American Civil Liberties Union
$225,000support civil rights and liberties and social and economic justice
Committee to Protect Journalists
$200,000promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
$130,000promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism
Texas Civil Rights Project
$125,000support equality and social justice
Center for Constitutional Rights
$125,000support civil rights and liberties and social and economic justice
National Public Radio Inc
$125,000promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism
The Innocence Project Inc
$125,000support civil rights and liberties and social and economic justice
National Consumer Law Center
$120,000support civil rights and liberties and social and economic justice
Ground Truth Project
$55,000to support freedom of the press
Doctors Without Borders Medicines Sans Frontieres
$55,000support equality and social justice
Nevada Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals
$50,000support pet adoption
Music Makers Relief Foundation
$50,000support American musicians and musical traditions
Campaign Legal Center Inc
$32,000promote active participation in our democratic process
UCLA Foundation
$30,000education
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
$30,000support advocacy for racial justice
Pen American Center Inc
$30,000promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism
Electronic Privacy Information Center
$25,300INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF PRIVACY ISSUES
Innocence Project of Texas
$25,000support for freeing wrongly convicted persons
Southern Nevada Public Television
$25,000to promote an informed public
Media Matters for America
$24,000promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism
Texas Tribune
$20,000to promote an informed public
Texas Public Radio
$20,000to promote an informed public
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
$20,000promote civil rights for Asian Americans
Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation
$20,000support civil rights and liberties and social and economic justice
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State
$20,000promote religious liberty
Southern Poverty Law Center
$20,000support equality and social justice
Americans for Democratic Action Education Fund
$20,000to support democratic action
Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation
$15,000support American musicians and musical traditions
Sentencing Project
$15,000support criminal justice reform
National Day Laborors Organizing Network
$15,000support equality and social justice
Charity Navigator
$12,000promote informed citizenry
The Nevada Independent
$12,000promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism
Japanese-American National Museum
$12,000promote history culture and art of Japanese Americans
Free Speech for People
$12,000to promote a democratic society
WIkimedia Foundation Inc
$11,000to promote an informed public
National Partnership of New Americans
$10,000support integration and active citizenship
Voteorg
$10,000support more robust voting turnouts
UC Davis Foundation
$10,000education
Press Forward
$10,000promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism
KCRW Foundation
$7,000promote informed citizenry and responsible journalism
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
$7,000support equality and social justice
West Orange Scholarship Fund
$17,000provide college scholarships
The New Georgia Project
$13,000increase the civic participation of the New Georgia Majority-Black Latinx AAPI and young Georgians