Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: MA, NY, DC
- Typical grant
- $500K
- Total giving
- $6.3B
- Grants reported
- 4,974
Most large private foundations tell the IRS they only fund preselected organizations. These are the exceptions: 3,385 foundations with substantial giving history whose latest Form 990-PF publishes application submission information and does not check the preselected-recipients-only box. Showing the 250 largest by grants paid; every profiled foundation's page notes its application policy.
Typical grant is the median of grants reported in the filing data.
1–24 of 250 foundations in this list
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: MA, NY, DC
Latest IRS filing: 2025 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: IN, DC, IL
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: NY, SC, VA
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: NY, DC, CA
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: CA, DC, NY
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: DC, CA, NY
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: MI, DC, CA
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: NY, CA, DC
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: NC, SC, NY
Latest IRS filing: 2025 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: GA, VA, CA
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: CA, DC, NY
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: NY, DC, CA
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: PA, DC, NJ
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: CA, NY, DC
Latest IRS filing: 2025 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: MO, KS, NY
Latest IRS filing: 2025 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: CT
Latest IRS filing: 2025 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: TX, VA
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: CA, NY, DC
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: NY, MA, DC
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: MI, DC, CA
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: OH, NY, IL
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: CO, TX, NY
Latest IRS filing: 2025 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: GA, TX, NY
Latest IRS filing: 2024 · Current application dates need confirmation.
Most reported giving: MA, NY, TX
| Foundation | Typical grant | Total giving | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gates Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: MA, NY, DC | $500K | $6.3B | 4,974 |
| Lilly Endowment Inc IRS filing 2025 · Most giving: IN, DC, IL | $50K | $6.1B | 4,093 |
| Pfizer Patient Assistance Foundation Inc IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: NY, SC, VA | $2.7K | $1.5B | 45 |
| The Ford Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: NY, DC, CA | $100K | $844.7M | 4,007 |
| The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: CA, DC, NY | $150K | $625M | 2,001 |
| The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: DC, CA, NY | $40K | $622.6M | 3,093 |
| WK Kellogg Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: MI, DC, CA | $100K | $590.3M | 3,597 |
| The Andrew W Mellon Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: NY, CA, DC | $500K | $555M | 848 |
| The Duke Endowment IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: NC, SC, NY | $200K | $473.7M | 845 |
| Robert W Woodruff Foundation Inc IRS filing 2025 · Most giving: GA, VA, CA | $1.7M | $372.6M | 56 |
| The David and Lucile Packard Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: CA, DC, NY | $150K | $350M | 1,029 |
| Carnegie Corporation of New York IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: NY, DC, CA | $208K | $323.3M | 1,119 |
| The William Penn Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: PA, DC, NJ | $41.5K | $292.3M | 2,134 |
| Conrad N Hilton Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: CA, NY, DC | $76K | $287.7M | 1,339 |
| The Sunderland Foundation IRS filing 2025 · Most giving: MO, KS, NY | $495K | $279.1M | 121 |
| Alexion Access Foundation IRS filing 2025 · Most giving: CT | $18.1M | $276.6M | 11 |
| O'Donnell Foundation IRS filing 2025 · Most giving: TX, VA | $1M | $218.8M | 43 |
| The Schmidt Family Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: CA, NY, DC | $130K | $185.4M | 695 |
| Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Inc IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: NY, MA, DC | $200K | $172.6M | 601 |
| The Kresge Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: MI, DC, CA | $140K | $170M | 800 |
| Jack Joseph & Morton Mandel Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: OH, NY, IL | $15K | $168.6M | 563 |
| Michael & Susan Dell Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: CO, TX, NY | $19.3K | $164.6M | 835 |
| Joseph B Whitehead Foundation IRS filing 2025 · Most giving: GA, TX, NY | $500K | $163.2M | 83 |
| Fidelity Foundation IRS filing 2024 · Most giving: MA, NY, TX | $400 | $156.2M | 4,430 |
Form 990-PF Part XV asks each private foundation to either check a box stating it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, or to publish how to apply: a contact, required materials, deadlines, and restrictions. This list includes foundations whose most recent electronic filing leaves that box unchecked and provides application information. Always verify current guidelines with the foundation before applying — filings can lag by a year or more.