Big Win Philanthropy concentrates on large, institutional grants that support education and child health in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular emphasis on early childhood and primary school systems strengthening. Grants are directed to government ministries and leading institutions (e.g., universities and city administrations) to fund policy reforms, large-scale nutrition initiatives, and leadership/technical capacity building. The foundation appears to favor scalable, system-level interventions over small community grants and frequently funds multi-year or repeat partnerships.
Big Win Philanthropy Inc has built a grantmaking pattern around large, system-level partnerships in African public education, nutrition, and youth employment. Its biggest recent awards include $2,457,521 to President and Fellows of Harvard College for the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program African Health Conference and $1,423,337 to the Ministry of Education Ghana for curriculum reform, a performance management dashboard, and communities of excellence programming. Those grants point to a funder that works through ministries, universities, and implementation partners rather than small local intermediaries. The foundation’s recent grants also show a strong emphasis on government-led change in Ethiopia. It supported the Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Health for the Seqota Declaration to eliminate childhood stunting, and it backed Addis Ababa City Administration on early childhood development programming. Across the portfolio, Big Win Philanthropy Inc appears to favor technical assistance, policy reform, and capacity building for institutions that can operate at scale. Its giving extends beyond health and schooling into broader human capital systems. Grants to digital literacy, youth employment capacity, and city leadership initiatives suggest interest in the infrastructure that shapes learning, work, and governance. Smaller awards also appear, but they sit within a portfolio dominated by large institutional commitments.
Education reform is a recurring theme. Big Win Philanthropy Inc gave $1,423,337 to Ministry of Education Ghana for curriculum reform, a performance management dashboard, and communities of excellence, and it also awarded $742,385 to the same ministry for Ghana primary school education reforms. Early childhood development is another clear thread. The foundation provided $913,292 to Addis Ababa City Administration for the Future Hope of Addis Ababa early childhood development program, and it later supported Addis Ababa City Administration Ecd Initiative with $274,944 for the same broader work. Nutrition and stunting reduction remain central to its government partnerships. In Ethiopia, Big Win gave $1,268,773 to the Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Health for the Seqota Declaration to eliminate childhood stunting and followed with another $527,304 for the same initiative. The portfolio also includes digital literacy and youth employment. Grants went to Digital Skills Foundation for the Rwanda Digital Literacy Program, and to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Labour & Skills for youth employment capacity support.
$5.1M
$139M
$10.8M
$9.5M
Most grants fall between $10K and $132K, with a median of $31K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$31K
75th Percentile
$132K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MA.
Top 5 recipient countries by grant volume for Big Win Philanthropy.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 29 | $7.9M | 72.5% |
| 2 | France | 5 | $999K |
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Concentrated, high-value grants to a small number of institutional partners (government ministries, a major university, and city administration), with repeat funding to the same organizations and an emphasis on large-scale, systems-level impact rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: President and Fellows of Harvard College, Ministry of Education, Ghana, Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa City Administration
Typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $31,008 at the median, and $132,396 at the 75th percentile, while the largest recent awards are well above that range. The pattern suggests a mix of smaller discretionary grants and much larger institutional commitments. The recent record also shows repeat funding to the same institutions across multiple years, including Harvard, the Ministry of Education Ghana, the Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Health, and Addis Ababa City Administration. Big Win Philanthropy Inc is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or program-related investments. The recent grants list does not show an open application process; the visible awards point to invited, partnership-based giving.
Most recent grants land outside the foundation’s Connecticut headquarters, with no grants in the HQ state. By recipient country, the United States leads, followed by France, Ethiopia, Israel, and Ghana. Within Africa, several awards went to Addis Ababa, while other recipient locations include Accra, Lilongwe, Boston, New York, and Miribelle. The top state by grant count is Massachusetts, driven by multiple Boston-based awards and other Massachusetts recipients. Ethiopian grants are concentrated in Addis Ababa and national ministries. The country distribution shows a portfolio that is regional in scope, but with a clear cluster of institutional partners in the U.S. and Ethiopia.
The recent grants go mainly to government ministries, city administrations, universities, and technical partners. Examples include the Ministry of Education Ghana, the Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa City Administration, and President and Fellows of Harvard College. The portfolio reflects institutional partnerships rather than small community grants.
The strongest themes are education reform, early childhood development, nutrition and stunting reduction, youth employment, and leadership development. Named grants include curriculum reform in Ghana, the Seqota Declaration in Ethiopia, early childhood development in Addis Ababa, and youth employment capacity support through Ethiopia’s Ministry of Labour & Skills.
Yes. The recent record shows repeat support to Harvard in 2024 and 2025, to the Ministry of Education Ghana in 2024 and 2025, and to the Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Health in 2024 and 2025. Addis Ababa City Administration also appears more than once across early childhood development grants.
The grant-size distribution centers at $10,000 for the 25th percentile, $31,008 at the median, and $132,396 at the 75th percentile. That profile sits alongside much larger awards, including multi-million-dollar grants to Harvard and more than $1.4 million to Ghana’s Ministry of Education.
The top state by grant count is Massachusetts, even though the foundation is headquartered in Connecticut. Recent recipient countries are led by the United States, followed by France, Ethiopia, Israel, and Ghana, with several Ethiopia-based awards concentrated in Addis Ababa.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 | Ethiopia | 4 | $970K | 10.0% |
| 4 | Ghana | 1 | $1.4M | 2.5% |
| 5 | Israel | 1 | $11K | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | BOSTON, MA | $2,457,521 | 2025 | HARVARD MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AFRICAN HEALTH CONFERENCE |
| MINISTRY OF EDUCATION GHANA | ACCRA | $1,423,337 | 2025 | MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CURRICULUM REFORM - DEVELOPMENT OF A PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, DATA VISUALIZATION DASHBOARD AND COMMUNITIES OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM FOR GHANA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. |
| REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH | ADDIS ABABA | $527,304 | 2025 | SEQOTA DECLARATION TO ELIMINATE CHILDHOOD STUNTING |
| ADDIS ABABA CITY ADMINISTRATION ECD INITIATIVE | ADDIS ABABA | $274,944 | 2025 | FUTURE HOPE OF ADDIS ABABA EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) |
| DIGITAL SKILLS FOUNDATION | MIRIBELLESECHELLES | $149,200 | 2025 | RWANDA DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAM |
| OROMIA REGIONAL GOVERNMENT ORGO | ADDIS ABABA | $84,000 | 2025 | YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE |
| AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT OFFICE | ADDIS ABABA | $84,000 | 2025 | YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $21,657 | 2025 | DONATION FOR ETHIOPIA - SEQOTA LIST ANALYSIS |
| LAST MILE HEALTH | BOSTON, MA | $14,654 | 2025 | SEQOTA DECLARATION |
| CULTIVAID - ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS | REHOVOT | $11,353 | 2025 | INSTALLATION COMPLETION OF NUFILTRATION SYSTEMS IN NORTHERN ETHIOPIA |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT |
| EDUCATE | DENVER, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | BOSTON, MA | $1,297,933 | 2024 | HARVARD MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AFRICAN HEALTH CONFERENCE |
| REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH | ADDIS ABABA | $1,268,773 | 2024 | SEQOTA DECLARATION TO ELIMINATE CHILDHOOD STUNTING |
| ADDIS ABABA CITY ADMINISTRATION | ADDIS ABABA | $913,292 | 2024 | FUTURE HOPE OF ADDIS ABABA EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM |
| MINISTRY OF EDUCATION GHANA | ACCRA | $742,385 | 2024 | GHANA PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION REFORMS |
| DIGITAL SKILLS FOUNDATION | MIRIBELLESECHELLES | $450,000 | 2024 | RWANDA DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAM |
| THE AFRICA CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $163,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MINISTRY OF LABOUR & SKILLS - ETHIOPIA | ADDIS ABABA | $122,194 | 2024 | YOUTH EMPLOYMENT CAPACITY SUPPORT |
| AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT OFFICE | ADDIS ABABA | $79,595 | 2024 | YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE |
| OROMIA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE | ETHIOPIA | $70,000 | 2024 | YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE |
| MALAWI RED CROSS SOCIETY | LILONGWE | $50,000 | 2024 | TYPHOON RELIEF |
| INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS OF ELTON JOHN AIDS FDN | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | DISCRETIONARY GRANT |
| THE TRUSTEES OF SMITH COLLEGE | NORTHAMPTON, MA | $37,017 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH |
| KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $20,080 | 2024 | THIS IS TWO GRANTS: TO SUPPORT ONE ECONOMY FOUNDATION PROJECT NAMIBIA & LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE. |
| ASSOCIATION GALIEN AFRICA | SENEGAL | $16,784 | 2024 | FORUM GALIEN AFRIQUE |
| HAILEMARIAM & ROMAN FOUNDATION | ADDIS ABABA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BROOKINGS INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | AFRICAN GROWTH INITIATIVE |
| THE DEBORAH FOUNDATION | ADDIS ABABA | $10,000 | 2024 | EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN ADDIS ABABA |
| NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $7,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE TRUSTEES OF SMITH COLLEGE | NORTHAMPTON, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | MERIDIANS JOURNAL |
| THE CARTER CENTER | ATLANTA, GA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EDUCATE | DENVER, CO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
$2,457,521HARVARD MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AFRICAN HEALTH CONFERENCE
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION GHANA
$1,423,337MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CURRICULUM REFORM - DEVELOPMENT OF A PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, DATA VISUALIZATION DASHBOARD AND COMMUNITIES OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM FOR GHANA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION.
REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH
$527,304SEQOTA DECLARATION TO ELIMINATE CHILDHOOD STUNTING
ADDIS ABABA CITY ADMINISTRATION ECD INITIATIVE
$274,944FUTURE HOPE OF ADDIS ABABA EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD)
DIGITAL SKILLS FOUNDATION
$149,200RWANDA DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAM
OROMIA REGIONAL GOVERNMENT ORGO
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE
AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT OFFICE
$84,000YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$21,657DONATION FOR ETHIOPIA - SEQOTA LIST ANALYSIS
LAST MILE HEALTH
$14,654SEQOTA DECLARATION
CULTIVAID - ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS
$11,353INSTALLATION COMPLETION OF NUFILTRATION SYSTEMS IN NORTHERN ETHIOPIA
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
$5,000TO SUPPORT THE KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
EDUCATE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
$1,297,933HARVARD MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AFRICAN HEALTH CONFERENCE
REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH
$1,268,773SEQOTA DECLARATION TO ELIMINATE CHILDHOOD STUNTING
ADDIS ABABA CITY ADMINISTRATION
$913,292FUTURE HOPE OF ADDIS ABABA EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION GHANA
$742,385GHANA PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION REFORMS
DIGITAL SKILLS FOUNDATION
$450,000RWANDA DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAM
THE AFRICA CENTER
$163,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & SKILLS - ETHIOPIA
$122,194YOUTH EMPLOYMENT CAPACITY SUPPORT
AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT OFFICE
$79,595YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE
OROMIA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE
$70,000YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE
MALAWI RED CROSS SOCIETY
$50,000TYPHOON RELIEF
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS OF ELTON JOHN AIDS FDN
$50,000DISCRETIONARY GRANT
THE TRUSTEES OF SMITH COLLEGE
$37,017TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
$25,000TO SUPPORT THE KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
$25,000TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION
$20,080THIS IS TWO GRANTS: TO SUPPORT ONE ECONOMY FOUNDATION PROJECT NAMIBIA & LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE.
ASSOCIATION GALIEN AFRICA
$16,784FORUM GALIEN AFRIQUE
HAILEMARIAM & ROMAN FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BROOKINGS INSTITUTION
$10,000AFRICAN GROWTH INITIATIVE
THE DEBORAH FOUNDATION
$10,000EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN ADDIS ABABA
NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
$7,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE TRUSTEES OF SMITH COLLEGE
$5,000MERIDIANS JOURNAL
THE CARTER CENTER
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
EDUCATE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT