Private Foundations in the United States
48,704 foundations$54.9B annual giving$750.7B in assets$10K median grant54 states
Independent private foundations are funded by a single source — typically a wealthy individual or small group. They must distribute at least 5% of assets annually and file IRS Form 990-PF.
Private Foundations Grantmaking at a Glance
Foundations
48,704
Total Annual Giving
$54.9B
Total Assets Under Management
$750.7B
Median Grant Size
$10K
States with Funders
54
Largest Private Foundations Foundations
| Foundation | Location | Annual Giving | Total Assets | Median Grant | NTEE | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $5.9B | $78.7B | $514K | T22 | National |
| THE FORD FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $770.7M | $17.5B | $100K | T21 | National |
| THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION | PRINCETON, NJ | $660.7M | $13.4B | $17K | T20 | National |
| THE WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION | MENLO PARK, CA | $625M | $14.2B | $150K | T21 | National |
| NCF CHARITABLE TRUST | CLEARWATER, FL | $550.9M | $1.8B | $957K | X11 | Regional |
| THE ANDREW W MELLON FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $475.8M | $7.8B | $500K | B82 | National |
| THE JPB FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $470M | $3.4B | $500K | T21 | National |
| WK Kellogg Foundation Trust - No 5315 | BATTLE CREEK, MI | $420M | $9.2B | $377M | T21 | Local |
| WEM FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $359.5M | — | $125K | — | Regional |
| Texas Essential Healthcare Partnerships Foundation | Austin, TX | $353.2M | $75.4M | $1M | E11 | Local |
BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION
SEATTLE, WA
Annual Giving
$5.9B
Total Assets
$78.7B
Median Grant
$514K
T22National
THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION
PRINCETON, NJ
Annual Giving
$660.7M
Total Assets
$13.4B
Median Grant
$17K
T20National
THE WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION
MENLO PARK, CA
Annual Giving
$625M
Total Assets
$14.2B
Median Grant
$150K
T21National
THE ANDREW W MELLON FOUNDATION
NEW YORK, NY
Annual Giving
$475.8M
Total Assets
$7.8B
Median Grant
$500K
B82National
WK Kellogg Foundation Trust - No 5315
BATTLE CREEK, MI
Annual Giving
$420M
Total Assets
$9.2B
Median Grant
$377M
T21Local
Texas Essential Healthcare Partnerships Foundation
Austin, TX
Annual Giving
$353.2M
Total Assets
$75.4M
Median Grant
$1M
E11Local
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Where Private Foundations Funders Are Located
Top 15 states by foundation count
| State | Foundations | Total Annual Giving | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5,058 | $7B | View all in California | |
| New York | 4,773 | $7.8B | View all in New York | |
| Texas | 4,111 | $3.3B | View all in Texas | |
| Florida | 3,020 | $2.5B | View all in Florida | |
| Pennsylvania | 2,763 | $1.9B | View all in Pennsylvania | |
| Illinois | 2,202 | $3B | View all in Illinois | |
| Massachusetts | 1,703 | $1.6B | View all in Massachusetts | |
| Ohio | 1,650 | $700.7M | View all in Ohio | |
| New Jersey | 1,485 | $1.4B | View all in New Jersey | |
| Missouri | 1,359 | $729.7M | View all in Missouri | |
| Delaware | 1,176 | $1.4B | View all in Delaware | |
| Virginia | 1,118 | $1.1B | View all in Virginia | |
| Wisconsin | 1,111 | $703.2M | View all in Wisconsin | |
| Michigan | 1,019 | $1.6B | View all in Michigan | |
| Georgia | 979 | $1.1B | View all in Georgia |
What Gets Funded in Private Foundations
Top Cause Areas
Philanthropy & Voluntarism
21,269$30.6B
Philanthropy & Voluntarism21,269 · $30.6B
Education
5,640$4.3B
Education5,640 · $4.3B
Mutual & Membership Benefit
5,192$5.3B
Mutual & Membership Benefit5,192 · $5.3B
Human Services
2,284$1.3B
Human Services2,284 · $1.3B
Arts, Culture & Humanities
1,740$946M
Arts, Culture & Humanities1,740 · $946M
Health Care
1,083$2.2B
Health Care1,083 · $2.2B
Religion-Related
835$1B
Religion-Related835 · $1B
Recreation & Sports
639$132.2M
Recreation & Sports639 · $132.2M
Youth Development
585$124.3M
Youth Development585 · $124.3M
Medical Research
536$849.3M
Medical Research536 · $849.3M
CategoryFundersGiving
Typical Grant Profile in Private Foundations
Median Grant Size
$10K
New Grantee Rate
N/A
Accept Unsolicited Proposals
N/A
Most Recent Filing Year
2026
The typical Private Foundations foundation awards grants of $10K.
Frequently Asked Questions About Private Foundations
What is a private foundation?
A private foundation (also called an independent foundation) is a nonprofit funded by a single individual, family, or corporation. Unlike public charities, private foundations don't solicit donations from the general public. They're required by the IRS to distribute at least 5% of their investment assets annually and file Form 990-PF.
How many private foundations are in the US?
There are 48,704 private foundations registered in the United States across 54 states, based on the most recent IRS 990 filings.
What is the average grant from a private foundation?
The median grant size from private foundations is $10K. Actual grant amounts vary widely based on the foundation's asset size, focus area, and giving strategy.
How do I apply to a private foundation?
Start by researching private foundations whose stated focus areas and geographic preferences match your organization. Review their IRS 990 filings for recent grant recipients, average grant sizes, and giving patterns. Many foundations publish application guidelines on their websites. Use Kindora's free directory to filter private foundations by location, focus area, and grant size to build a targeted prospect list.
What are the largest private foundations?
The largest private foundations by annual giving include BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION, THE FORD FOUNDATION, THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, with combined giving of $7.3B.
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