
The Packard Foundation is a Bay Area–rooted funder that concentrates on marine science and ocean conservation, climate and clean energy systems, and reproductive health/justice, while also supporting children's health through its eponymous foundation. Its giving mixes very large, multi‑year investments in flagship research and conservation institutions with sustained support for policy intermediaries and pooled funds that scale climate and ocean policy work. The foundation’s grants are heavily California‑focused but routed often through national and international public foundations and networks to leverage broader policy impact.
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s largest recent grants point to a long-running commitment to marine science: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute received $54,926,032 in 2025, $53,068,630 in 2024, and $51,274,039 in 2023, alongside another $25,000,000 award in 2023. That pattern is matched by major support for climate intermediaries and reproductive health organizations, showing a funder that works through both anchor institutions and policy networks. The foundation’s portfolio also includes very large grants to the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, including $40,000,000 in 2023 and $20,000,000 in 2025. In the climate and environment space, it has backed ClimateWorks Foundation, The Energy Foundation, Climate Breakthrough Inc, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation with multi-million-dollar awards across multiple years. Its recent grants also include substantial support for Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc and Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc, reflecting an approach that combines direct institutional funding with catalytic support for advocacy and systems change.
In marine science and ocean conservation, the foundation gave $54,926,032 in 2025 to Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute for MBARI, and it also supported Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation with $5,000,000 in 2025 for Environment and Science. Those grants show a strong emphasis on research capacity and ocean-focused institutions. In climate and clean energy systems, it awarded $10,500,000 in 2025 to ClimateWorks Foundation for Environment and Science, $7,600,000 in 2024 to The Energy Foundation for Environment and Science, and $7,500,000 in 2025 to Climate Breakthrough Inc for Environment and Science. The foundation also funded Resources Legacy Fund with $4,050,000 in 2024 for Families and Communities, extending its climate-related work into community-facing efforts. In reproductive health, it gave $10,000,000 in 2023 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc for Reproductive Health and $5,000,000 in 2023 to Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc for Reproductive Health. These grants indicate support for both intermediary infrastructure and service-oriented organizations.
$366.2M
$8.5B
$569.9M
$452.1M
Most grants fall between $68K and $250K, with a median of $150K.
25th Percentile
$68K
Median
$150K
75th Percentile
$250K
Top 10 recipient countries by grant volume for David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 2,944 | $2.2B | 69.4% |
| 2 | Indonesia |
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Concentrated, strategic giving: a few very large flagship grants (notably one dominant recipient) combined with numerous repeat, multi‑year grants to intermediaries and program partners; primarily California‑centered but leveraging national/international networks to amplify policy impact.
Notable grantees: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, ClimateWorks Foundation, Resources Legacy Fund, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Typical grants cluster around six figures, with a p25 of $67,875, a median of $150,000, and a p75 of $250,000. The recent record also shows repeated large awards to the same institutions across consecutive years, especially in marine science and climate. The foundation is a regular funder and also makes program-related investments. It gives nationally, but its recent portfolio includes a strong California concentration. Matching-gift support appears in the recent record as well, alongside general operating support and special-initiatives funding.
Grant recipients are concentrated in the United States, which accounts for 2,729 grants, or 75.7% of the recipient-country total. California is the top state by grant count, with 44% of grants going to recipients there. Recent California recipients include Moss Landing, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Berkeley, Monterey, and Sacramento. Outside the U.S., the recent grants list includes Stichting European Climate Foundation in Den Haag and other internationally routed organizations such as groups in New York and Washington, DC that support broader policy work.
The foundation supports marine science and ocean conservation, climate and clean energy systems, reproductive health and rights, and children’s health through the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health. Recent grants also show support for policy intermediaries and funding networks, including Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc and ClimateWorks Foundation.
Typical grant sizes cluster in the middle range: the p25 is $67,875, the median is $150,000, and the p75 is $250,000. The recent record also includes much larger strategic grants, including eight-figure awards to institutions and intermediaries.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated funding to several organizations across multiple years, including Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in 2023, 2024, and 2025; ClimateWorks Foundation in 2024 and 2025; and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The foundation gives nationally, but California is its top state by grant count, with 44% of grants going to recipients there. The recipient-country distribution is dominated by the U.S., which accounts for 2,729 grants, or 75.7%.
Yes. Recent grants include $10,000,000 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc for Reproductive Health and $5,000,000 to Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc for Reproductive Health. Those awards show support for both intermediary and direct-service organizations in the field.
NANCY LINDBORG
PRESIDENT & CEO
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 399 |
| $85.1M |
9.4% |
| 3 | Mexico | 127 | $13.3M | 3.0% |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 121 | $27.2M | 2.9% |
| 5 | Ethiopia | 119 | $35.2M | 2.8% |
| 6 | Chile | 97 | $10.1M | 2.3% |
| 7 | Japan | 94 | $37.4M | 2.2% |
| 8 | Canada | 32 | $6.5M | 0.8% |
| 9 | Netherlands | 29 | $15.4M | 0.7% |
| 10 | India | 25 | $5.6M | 0.6% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute | Moss Landing, CA | $54,926,032 | 2025 | MBARI |
| Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health | Palo Alto, CA | $20,000,000 | 2025 | LPFCH |
| ClimateWorks Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $10,500,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| ClimateWorks Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $10,000,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Climate Breakthrough Inc | Berkeley, CA | $7,500,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation | Monterey, CA | $5,000,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | New York, NY | $5,000,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Resources Legacy Fund | Sacramento, CA | $3,000,000 | 2025 | Families and Communities |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | Newark, DE | $2,980,987 | 2025 | MATCHING GIFT - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| IPAS | Chapel Hill, NC | $2,000,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| MomsRising Education Fund | Bellevue, WA | $1,700,000 | 2025 | Families and Communities |
| Island Conservation | Santa Cruz, CA | $1,700,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Climate Lead Inc | San Francisco, CA | $1,666,667 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Democracy Forward Foundation | Washington, DC | $1,500,000 | 2025 | Special Initiatives |
| Defending American Values Coalition | Washington, DC | $1,500,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | New York, NY | $1,376,596 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| PATH | Seattle, WA | $1,304,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Speak Up Africa | Dakar | $1,300,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| ClimateWorks Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $1,300,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| First Focus on Children | Washington, DC | $1,200,000 | 2025 | Families and Communities |
| AmplifyChange | Bath | $1,100,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| ClimateWorks Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $1,100,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Policy Impact | Berkeley, CA | $1,035,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| The San Francisco Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Families and Communities |
| Faith in Action Network | Washington, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Chinese Progressive Association | San Francisco, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| National Immigration Law Center | Los Angeles, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Special Initiatives |
| United Nations Foundation Inc | Washington, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | New York, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Stichting European Climate Foundation | Den Haag | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| United We Dream Network | Washington, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere Inc | Atlanta, GA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | New York, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Georgetown University | Washington, DC | $950,000 | 2025 | Families and Communities |
| Myriad USA Inc | New York, NY | $935,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Tenure Facility Fund | New York, NY | $900,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Stichting Rutgers | Utrecht | $900,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Greenpeace Fund Inc | Washington, DC | $900,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Climate Breakthrough Inc | Berkeley, CA | $883,764 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Women's Foundation of Mississippi | Jackson, MS | $850,000 | 2025 | Families and Communities |
| ClimateWorks Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $850,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Tara Climate Ltd | Singapore | $840,000 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | $836,048 | 2025 | Environment and Science |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc | Washington, DC | $800,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Hopewell Fund | Washington, DC | $800,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Institute for Strategic Dialogue - US | Washington, DC | $750,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| The Niskanen Center Inc | Washington, DC | $750,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Hopewell Fund | Washington, DC | $750,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | New York, NY | $750,000 | 2025 | Just Societies |
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
$54,926,032MBARI
Climate Breakthrough Inc
$7,500,000Environment and Science
Environment and Science
American Online Giving Foundation Inc
$2,980,987MATCHING GIFT - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
Climate Lead Inc
$1,666,667Environment and Science
Defending American Values Coalition
$1,500,000Just Societies
Speak Up Africa
$1,300,000Just Societies
AmplifyChange
$1,100,000Just Societies
Faith in Action Network
$1,000,000Just Societies
Stichting European Climate Foundation
$1,000,000Environment and Science
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Foundation
$1,000,000Environment and Science
Environment and Science
Tenure Facility Fund
$900,000Environment and Science
Stichting Rutgers
$900,000Just Societies
Climate Breakthrough Inc
$883,764Environment and Science
Tara Climate Ltd
$840,000Environment and Science