The Morningstar Philanthropic Foundation directs large, concentrated gifts to national-level civic engagement and philanthropic intermediaries. Its disclosed grants show a strategic emphasis on voter participation initiatives and on routing significant funding through donor-advised or charitable-fiscal vehicles rather than many small local grants. The foundation appears to favor high-dollar, general-purpose awards to established national organizations.
Highly concentrated giving: very few, very large grants (multi-million-dollar awards) to national organizations and intermediaries rather than broad, distributed small grants; appears to favor one-off or limited-number high-impact gifts.
A $5,000,000 grant to Civic Nation When We All Vote in 2025 is the clearest signal in the Morningstar Foundation’s recent record: this funder backs large, broad-purpose awards tied to civic participation and philanthropy-linked intermediaries. The Morningstar Philanthropic Foundation D/b/a the Morningstar Foundation also made multiple seven-figure grants to Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, World Central Kitchen, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and The Bafrayung Fund, pointing to a portfolio that blends civic engagement, community support, and general charitable purposes. The foundation’s disclosed grants are concentrated at the high end of the scale, with repeated awards at $1,000,000 and $750,000 alongside smaller six-figure and five-figure gifts. Several grants are routed to intermediary organizations such as Fidelity Charitable and The Jewish Federations of North America, which suggests a willingness to fund through philanthropic vehicles as well as directly to operating nonprofits. Across the recent list, the same organizations can appear in multiple years, especially Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Capital Area Food Bank, and The Sarah and Daniel Rueven Foundation Inc. Its pattern is not limited to one issue area, but the recurring emphasis on voter participation and Jewish communal giving is especially visible in the disclosed record.
In civic engagement, the foundation’s largest recent grant went to Civic Nation When We All Vote for general charitable purposes. That award sits alongside earlier support for organizations tied to turnout and public participation, showing a consistent interest in voter engagement work. Food access appears as another recurring area. The Morningstar Philanthropic Foundation D/b/a the Morningstar Foundation gave Capital Area Food Bank $750,000 in 2023, then followed with $700,000 grants in 2024 and 2025. That repeated pattern points to ongoing support rather than a one-time gift. Jewish communal institutions make up a major share of the recent record. The foundation gave Jewish Federation of Greater Washington multiple $1,000,000 and $750,000 grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025, while also funding The Jewish Federations of North America and Birthright Israel Foundation. It also supported Israel Policy Forum with a $550,000 grant in 2023.
$24.5M
$546.1M
$62.6M
$32.6M
Most grants fall between $15K and $100K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 15% of grants go to recipients in DC.
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for Morningstar Philanthropic Foundation D/B/A the Morningstar Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 624 | $148.1M | 98.3% |
| 2 |
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Notable grantees: CIVIC NATION / WHEN WE ALL VOTE, FIDELITY CHARITABLE
The disclosed grant sizes cluster at the upper end of the foundation’s typical range: p25 is $15,000, median is $35,000, and p75 is $100,000, while the recent list shows many awards at $500,000 to $1,000,000 and above. The pattern suggests concentrated support rather than many small grants. Recipients do reappear across years, including Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Capital Area Food Bank, and The Sarah and Daniel Rueven Foundation Inc, which indicates recurring relationships. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and also makes program-related investments. The grant record includes awards to philanthropic intermediaries, including Fidelity Charitable, alongside direct nonprofit grants.
Most grants go to U.S. recipients, which account for 617 grants, or 98.4% of the disclosed total. Within the U.S., Washington, DC appears frequently, including Civic Nation When We All Vote, World Central Kitchen, and Capital Area Food Bank. Rockville, MD is another repeated recipient city through Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. New York, NY also shows up often, including Planned Parenthood Federation of America, The Jewish Federations of North America, and Israel Policy Forum. Outside the U.S., the record includes 9 grants to Israel and 1 to the UK.
The typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $35,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes repeated awards at $500,000, $750,000, $1,000,000, and one $5,000,000 grant.
The recent record centers on civic engagement, food access, and Jewish communal support. Examples include a $5,000,000 grant to Civic Nation When We All Vote, repeated funding to Capital Area Food Bank, and multiple large grants to Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Capital Area Food Bank, The Sarah and Daniel Rueven Foundation Inc, World Central Kitchen, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and The Jewish Federations of North America.
Yes. The recent grants include Fidelity Charitable at $2,404,000 and The Jewish Federations of North America at $600,000 in both 2023 and 2024. That shows the foundation uses intermediary vehicles as part of its grantmaking.
The grant record is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 617 grants to U.S. recipients. Washington, DC and Rockville, MD appear repeatedly among recipient locations, and there are smaller numbers of grants to Israel and the UK.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| Israel |
| 9 |
| $375K |
1.4% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 2 | $125K | 0.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIVIC NATION WHEN WE ALL VOTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON | ROCKVILLE, MD | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON | ROCKVILLE, MD | $750,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE SARAH AND DANIEL RUEVEN FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $703,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK | WASHINGTON, DC | $700,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE MARCH FORTH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $590,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE SARAH AND DANIEL RUEVEN FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $557,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| OUR AMERICAN FUTURE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON | ROCKVILLE, MD | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| OUR AMERICAN FUTURE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ISRAEL POLICY FORUM | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| AMERICA VOTES EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| HOPEWELL FUND | BALTIMORE, MD | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CAPITAL IMPACT PARTNERS | ARLINGTON, VA | $315,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE MARCH FORTH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $275,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| INFORMING DEMOCRACY | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ACLU FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| RED WINE & BLUE EDUCATION FUND | SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| TARGET ALS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| GATHER INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $187,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| GATHER INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $187,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| GATHER INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $187,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH INNOVATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $160,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| FLORENCE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS PROJECT | TUSCAN, AZ | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| SHALOM HARTMAN INSTITUTE OF NORTH AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| GLOBAL IMPACT | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| MANNA FOOD CENTER | SILVER SPRING, MD | $122,568 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CHILDREN'S NATIONAL HOSPITAL | SILVER SPRING, MD | $120,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY | WALTHAM, MA | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| DC CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $107,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CONGRESS HEIGHTS COMMUNITY TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT CORP | WASHINGTON, DC | $105,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| STATE DEMOCRACY DEFENDERS FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CITYTUTOR DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| DC CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| NIF | JERUSALEM | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| FWDUS EDUCATION FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| GATHER INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ENCOUNTER | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| POZEZ JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA | FAIRFAX, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
THE SARAH AND DANIEL RUEVEN FOUNDATION INC
$703,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
THE MARCH FORTH FOUNDATION
$590,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
THE SARAH AND DANIEL RUEVEN FOUNDATION INC
$557,500GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
AMERICA VOTES EDUCATION FUND
$500,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
THE MARCH FORTH FOUNDATION
$275,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
INFORMING DEMOCRACY
$250,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
ACLU FOUNDATION
$250,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
TARGET ALS FOUNDATION
$200,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GLOBAL IMPACT
$125,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
CHILDREN'S NATIONAL HOSPITAL
$120,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
CONGRESS HEIGHTS COMMUNITY TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT CORP
$105,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
STATE DEMOCRACY DEFENDERS FUND
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
CITYTUTOR DC
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
NIF
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
ENCOUNTER
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES