
Valhalla Foundation concentrates on scaling systemic solutions across climate and environmental science, education, and early-life health—often by funding large intermediaries, research institutions, and collaborative philanthropy platforms. They back both domestic scale-up (charter/public school networks, early childhood programs, tech-for-government) and international agricultural and development partners, with repeated multi-million dollar gifts to policy, research, and field-scaling organizations. Their grants prioritize measurable, evidence-driven interventions (methane/agriculture climate work, genomics/medical research, kindergarten readiness, and data-driven government improvement).
A defining feature of Valhalla Foundation’s grantmaking is its use of very large, repeated awards to help organizations scale programs and systems. Blue Meridian Partners received $10,000,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for collaborative philanthropy initiatives, showing a sustained interest in co-funding and learning alongside other funders. The foundation also backed City Fund with more than $8 million in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for scaling high-quality public schools, and KIPP Foundation with multi-million-dollar support across multiple years for public charter school growth. Beyond education, Valhalla funds climate and environmental work through organizations such as Environmental Defense Fund and clean-air initiatives tied to methane reduction. Its portfolio also includes medical research, early childhood development, and international development, with grants reaching research institutions, intermediary funds, and field-building organizations. The pattern across these awards is consistent: the foundation favors organizations positioned to expand evidence-based solutions rather than short-term projects.
In climate and environmental work, Valhalla Foundation gave $11,000,000 in 2024 to Environmental Defense Fund for methane, agriculture, and clean air initiatives, and $5,000,000 in 2025 to Avina Americas for MapBiomas. Those grants align with a clear emphasis on emissions monitoring, conservation, and deployment of proven climate fixes. In education, the foundation supported City Fund with $8,333,334 in 2025 for scaling high-quality public schools and Harvard Business School with $3,633,333 in 2025 for the Digital, Data, and Design Institute. It also funded Waterford Institute with $7,299,843 in 2024 for scaling kindergarten readiness programs. In global development, Educate Girls received $3,700,000 in 2023 for scaling international educational programs, and One Acre Fund received $3,000,000 in 2023 for scaling international development programs.
Valhalla Foundation’s typical grant size is $113,750 at the 25th percentile, $500,000 at the median, and $1,275,000 at the 75th percentile, with several awards in the multi-million-dollar range. The grant list shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, including Blue Meridian Partners, City Fund, KIPP Foundation, Ucsf Foundation, and One Acre Fund. The foundation is a regular funder and makes grants through named programs as well as general grantmaking; it also funds individuals. The active program list indicates unsolicited applications are not accepted.
$326.8M
$527.1M
$14.1M
$123.3M
Most grants fall between $114K and $1.3M, with a median of $500K.
25th Percentile
$114K
Median
$500K
75th Percentile
$1.3M
About 41% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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 FreeRegístrate gratis para ver qué tan bien se adapta tu organización sin fines de lucro a este financiador, obtener un pitch generado por IA y descubrir fundaciones similares.
Concentrated, large-dollar grants to a mix of repeat core grantees and funder/intermediary platforms; prefers multi-million-dollar commitments that enable scaling or field-building rather than many small, one-off gifts. Funding is a mix of direct program support to implementation partners and catalytic gifts to collaborative philanthropy or research institutions.
Notable grantees: Environmental Defense Fund, City Fund, UCSF Foundation, One Acre Fund, Code for America
Valhalla Foundation gives nationally, with 41% of grants landing in California. Recent recipient cities include New York, San Francisco, Falls Church, Broomfield, Santa Monica, Washington, and Austin. The grant record is entirely U.S.-based in the data provided, and the top state by grant count is California, even though the headquarters are in Woodside, California.
Valhalla Foundation funds organizations working in early childhood development, K-12 education, data science education, medical research and talent, environmental innovation, and collaborative philanthropy. Recent grants also show support for international education and development, ocean conservation, and AI safety-related work.
Yes. The grant list shows multiple-year support for several recipients, including Blue Meridian Partners at $10,000,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025; City Fund at more than $8 million across 2023 to 2025; and KIPP Foundation at $3,000,000 in 2023 and $6,000,000 in 2024 and 2025.
The distribution centers on larger grants: $113,750 at the 25th percentile, a median of $500,000, and $1,275,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include several grants above $6 million, showing that the foundation often uses sizeable commitments for scaling work.
No. The active program information says unsolicited applications are not accepted, and the foundation describes its general grantmaking as invitation-only.
California is the top state by grant count, accounting for 41% of grants. The foundation gives nationally overall, with recent recipient cities including San Francisco, Falls Church, Broomfield, Santa Monica, Washington, New York, and Austin.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAND CORPORATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $10,000,000 | 2025 | PROJECT CANARY, AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SAFETY INITIATIVE |
| BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000,000 | 2025 | COLLABORATIVE PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVE |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $8,500,000 | 2025 | METHANE, AGRICULTURE, AND CLEAN AIR INITIATIVES |
| CITY FUND | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $8,333,334 | 2025 | SCALING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| CHARTER SCHOOL GROWTH FUND | BROOMFIELD, CO | $7,000,000 | 2025 | SCALING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| MARSHALL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | HUNTINGTON, WV | $6,500,000 | 2025 | POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION INITIATIVE |
| WINDWARD FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $6,500,000 | 2025 | METHANE INITIATIVES |
| KIPP FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $6,000,000 | 2025 | SCALING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| AVINA AMERICAS | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000,000 | 2025 | MAPBIOMAS |
| UCSF FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $4,709,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH INITIATIVES |
| ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS | NEW YORK, NY | $4,000,000 | 2025 | PLATFORM FOR AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE TRANSFORMATION |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $3,633,333 | 2025 | DIGITAL, DATA, AND DESIGN INSTITUTE |
| GREAT BARRIER REEF FOUNDATION USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,000,000 | 2025 | OCEAN CONSERVATION INITIATIVES |
| TED FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000,000 | 2025 | SCALING COLLABORATIVE PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVES |
| ONE ACRE FUND | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $2,940,000 | 2025 | SCALING INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS |
| WATERFORD INSTITUTE | TAYLORSVILLE, UT | $2,416,000 | 2025 | SCALING KINDERGARTEN READINESS PROGRAMS |
| LEADING EDUCATORS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $2,150,000 | 2025 | K-12 TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS |
| CODE FOR AMERICA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | IMPROVING GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES |
| CRISIS TEXT LINE | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2025 | SCALING MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS |
| GLOBAL FISHING WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000,000 | 2025 | OCEAN CONSERVATION INITIATIVES |
| UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | INNOVATIVE GENOMICS INSTITUTE |
| REACH OUT AND READ | BOSTON, MA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY PROGRAMS |
| ZERO TO THREE | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000,000 | 2025 | HEALTHYSTEPS, AN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE |
| INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $1,666,667 | 2025 | ADVOCACY FOR REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,455,000 | 2025 | DATA SCIENCE EDUCATION FIELD-BUILDING INITIATIVES |
| CENTERING HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $1,256,000 | 2025 | MATERNAL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTHCARE INITIATIVES |
| DESTINATION HOME | SAN JOSE, CA | $1,200,000 | 2025 | HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAMS |
| NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP | DENVER, CO | $1,200,000 | 2025 | SCALING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS |
| DONORSCHOOSE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,150,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | PROMISE VENTURE STUDIO, AN EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD-BUILDING INITIATIVE |
| DIGNITYMOVES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND INTERIM SHELTER PROGRAMS |
| THINK OF US | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT - FOSTER YOUTH INITIATIVES |
| WOODWELL CLIMATE RESEARCH CENTER | FALMOUTH, MA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | ARCTIC PERMAFROST PROGRAM |
| EVERY CURE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | INCREASING ACCESS TO LIFESAVING MEDICATIONS |
| SECOND HARVEST OF SILICON VALLEY | SAN JOSE, CA | $900,000 | 2025 | HUNGER PREVENTION PROGRAMS |
| WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $900,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH FELLOWS PROGRAM |
| ALLIANCE FOR EARLY SUCCESS | WASHINGTON, DC | $850,000 | 2025 | SCALING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| NATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIC INNOVATION | NEW YORK, NY | $800,000 | 2025 | COURSEKATA, A DATA SCIENCE EDUCATION INITIATIVE |
| INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $750,000 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN RELIEF - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEACHERS COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $700,000 | 2025 | BABY'S FIRST YEARS, AN EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE |
| SIRUM | PALO ALTO, CA | $600,000 | 2025 | IMPROVE ACCESS TO MEDICATION |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $500,000 | 2025 | PRENATAL-TO-3 POLICY IMPACT CENTER, AN EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH AND POLICY INITIATIVE |
| SILICON SCHOOLS FUND | STANFORD, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | SCALING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | CLEAN SLATE INITIATIVE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM |
| CENTER FOR POLICING EQUITY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES TO SOCIAL JUSTICE, CULTURAL, AND POLICY CHANGE |
| THE BRIDGESPAN GROUP | BOSTON, MA | $500,000 | 2025 | SCALING COLLABORATIVE PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVES |
| IMAGINE WORLDWIDE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | SCALING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE, A DATA SCIENCE EDUCATION INITIATIVE |
| START EARLY | CHICAGO, IL | $400,000 | 2025 | FIRST FIVE YEARS FUND, AN EARLY CHILDHOOD POLICY INITIATIVE |
| THE HUNT INSTITUTE | CARY, NC | $400,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD-BUILDING INITIATIVE |
RAND CORPORATION
$10,000,000PROJECT CANARY, AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SAFETY INITIATIVE
BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS
$10,000,000COLLABORATIVE PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
$8,500,000METHANE, AGRICULTURE, AND CLEAN AIR INITIATIVES
CITY FUND
$8,333,334SCALING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
CHARTER SCHOOL GROWTH FUND
$7,000,000SCALING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MARSHALL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$6,500,000POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION INITIATIVE
WINDWARD FUND
$6,500,000METHANE INITIATIVES
KIPP FOUNDATION
$6,000,000SCALING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AVINA AMERICAS
$5,000,000MAPBIOMAS
UCSF FOUNDATION
$4,709,000MEDICAL RESEARCH INITIATIVES
ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS
$4,000,000PLATFORM FOR AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE TRANSFORMATION
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
$3,633,333DIGITAL, DATA, AND DESIGN INSTITUTE
GREAT BARRIER REEF FOUNDATION USA
$3,000,000OCEAN CONSERVATION INITIATIVES
TED FOUNDATION
$3,000,000SCALING COLLABORATIVE PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVES
ONE ACRE FUND
$2,940,000SCALING INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
WATERFORD INSTITUTE
$2,416,000SCALING KINDERGARTEN READINESS PROGRAMS
LEADING EDUCATORS
$2,150,000K-12 TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
CODE FOR AMERICA
$2,000,000IMPROVING GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES
CRISIS TEXT LINE
$2,000,000SCALING MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS
GLOBAL FISHING WATCH
$2,000,000OCEAN CONSERVATION INITIATIVES
UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION
$2,000,000INNOVATIVE GENOMICS INSTITUTE
REACH OUT AND READ
$2,000,000EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY PROGRAMS
ZERO TO THREE
$2,000,000HEALTHYSTEPS, AN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT
$1,666,667ADVOCACY FOR REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
$1,455,000DATA SCIENCE EDUCATION FIELD-BUILDING INITIATIVES
CENTERING HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE
$1,256,000MATERNAL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTHCARE INITIATIVES
DESTINATION HOME
$1,200,000HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAMS
NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP
$1,200,000SCALING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
DONORSCHOOSE
$1,150,000SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS
$1,000,000PROMISE VENTURE STUDIO, AN EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD-BUILDING INITIATIVE
DIGNITYMOVES
$1,000,000HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND INTERIM SHELTER PROGRAMS
THINK OF US
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT - FOSTER YOUTH INITIATIVES
WOODWELL CLIMATE RESEARCH CENTER
$1,000,000ARCTIC PERMAFROST PROGRAM
EVERY CURE
$1,000,000INCREASING ACCESS TO LIFESAVING MEDICATIONS
SECOND HARVEST OF SILICON VALLEY
$900,000HUNGER PREVENTION PROGRAMS
WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE
$900,000MEDICAL RESEARCH FELLOWS PROGRAM
ALLIANCE FOR EARLY SUCCESS
$850,000SCALING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
NATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIC INNOVATION
$800,000COURSEKATA, A DATA SCIENCE EDUCATION INITIATIVE
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS
$750,000HUMANITARIAN RELIEF - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TEACHERS COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$700,000BABY'S FIRST YEARS, AN EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE
SIRUM
$600,000IMPROVE ACCESS TO MEDICATION
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
$500,000PRENATAL-TO-3 POLICY IMPACT CENTER, AN EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH AND POLICY INITIATIVE
SILICON SCHOOLS FUND
$500,000SCALING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
NEW VENTURE FUND
$500,000CLEAN SLATE INITIATIVE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM
CENTER FOR POLICING EQUITY
$500,000EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES TO SOCIAL JUSTICE, CULTURAL, AND POLICY CHANGE
THE BRIDGESPAN GROUP
$500,000SCALING COLLABORATIVE PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVES
IMAGINE WORLDWIDE
$500,000SCALING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
$500,000INTRODUCTION TO DATA SCIENCE, A DATA SCIENCE EDUCATION INITIATIVE
START EARLY
$400,000FIRST FIVE YEARS FUND, AN EARLY CHILDHOOD POLICY INITIATIVE
THE HUNT INSTITUTE
$400,000EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD-BUILDING INITIATIVE