Born This Way Foundation
Born This Way Foundation is a public charity based in New York, New York, formed in 2011. Co-founded and led by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Bissett Germanotta, the foundation supports young people’s mental health and wellbeing through grantmaking, programs, research, and partnerships.
Born This Way Foundation at a glance
In short: Born This Way Foundation gave $915K across 25 grants in 2024 (avg $37K), top state California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $914,782
- +202.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- +525.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $36,591
- -51.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $9,021,963
- -6.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (22% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Born This Way Foundation
- Review Cycle
- The stated deadline for 2025 Kindness in Community Fund nominations was June 30, 2025.
- Deadline
- The stated deadline for 2025 Kindness in Community Fund nominations was June 30, 2025.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 97, New York, NY 10272
Phone: (301) 951-9090
Website: https://bornthisway.foundation
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Born This Way Foundation
Who Born This Way Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Aliento Education Fund ($75K). Together the top 10 received $541K.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 69 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Kindness in Community Fund has supported organizations in multiple countries. The foundation reported that its 2024 fund distributed grants across 10 countries, and that in 2025 it invested $5 million in 55 youth-centered organizations across 11 countries. The 2025 nomination page lists eligible countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and several European, African, and Asian countries. It also invites nominations from other countries to keep on file for possible future funding.
The 2024 filing’s grant dollars were most concentrated among recipients in California (22%), Florida (9%), Pennsylvania (9%), Arizona (8%), and Georgia (8%). The Channel Kindness Awards have a separate geographic restriction: applicants must live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, and projects must take place within the applicant’s geographic area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Born This Way Foundation gives
- Giving grew 702% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2020) to $1.2M (2022). In 2024 it made 25 grants totaling $915K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aliento Education Fund Phoenix, AZ | General Support | $75,000 |
| Centerlink Fort Lauderdale, FL | Collaborating on the Be There Certificate | $71,000 |
| Art Mentorship Program Portland, OR | General Support | $60,000 |
| #Halfthestory Western Springs, IL | General Support | $55,000 |
| The Laurel Foundation Pasadena, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| We Are Family North Charleston, SC | General Support | $50,000 |
| Cor Inc Sandy Springs, GA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Hopelab Foundation Inc San Francisco, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Centre LGBT State College, PA | General Support | $40,000 |
| Letters to Strangers Claremont, CA | General Support | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Born This Way Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,021,963 | $6,032,453 | $6,939,064 | $914,782 | 25 | $200,654 |
| 2023 | $9,611,826 | $7,129,796 | $3,591,699 | $302,882 | 4 | $-32,739 |
| 2022 | $5,801,021 | $5,342,823 | $4,912,613 | $1,243,307 | 29 | $66,027 |
| 2021 | $6,093,510 | $3,549,153 | $3,262,674 | $114,036 | 11 | $76,213 |
| 2020 | $5,773,916 | $4,562,590 | $2,701,532 | $15,603 | Total only | $128,146 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to empower and inspire young people to build a kinder, braver world that supports their mental health. Its Kindness in Community Fund prioritizes organizations that are informed or led by young people, practice community, inclusion, and equity, and provide free and accessible mental health resources.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Aliento Education Fund describes its work serving undocumented, DACA, and mixed immigration-status families; CenterLink says it strengthens, supports, and connects LGBTQ community centers; and Letters to Strangers describes itself as a youth-run nonprofit working to destigmatize mental illness and increase access to treatment. Other grantees describe work supporting LGBTQ+ young people, youth digital wellbeing, and safe housing for young people.
Grantmaking
In its 2024 filing, the foundation reported 25 grants totaling $914,782. Grants ranged from $15,000 to $75,000, with a median of $30,000. Separately, the foundation reported that its Kindness in Community Fund distributed over $2.8 million to 65 organizations across 10 countries in 2024, supporting resources including clinical care, education, and safe spaces.
Among the largest grants reported for 2024 were $75,000 to Aliento Education Fund, $71,000 to CenterLink, $60,000 to Art Mentorship Program, $55,000 to #HalfTheStory, and $50,000 each to The Laurel Foundation, We Are Family, COR Inc, and HopeLab Foundation.
The Kindness in Community Fund’s nomination process invites young people to nominate organizations. The foundation says it gives greater weight to nominations from young people ages 15–24. Eligible organizations include tax-exempt organizations, nonprofits, NGOs, and similar organizations focused on mental health that meet the fund’s stated criteria. The 2025 nomination page says responses are no longer being accepted.
The foundation also partners with Peace First on the Channel Kindness Awards, which recognize applicants ages 13–24 living in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Four winners are selected throughout the year; each receives $500, and the foundation donates an additional $500 to a nonprofit supported by the project. Applicants under 18 need parental consent.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Cynthia Germanotta as director and president; Alexander Roque as director and secretary; and Tamika L. Tremaglio as director and treasurer. Other listed directors are Charles B. Ortner, Sean F. Cassidy, and Stefani Germanotta. The filing also lists Rachel Martin as chief operating officer; Getenesh M. Yilma as vice president of content and brand; Gary A. Aide as vice president of programs and impact; and Claudia Fernandes as vice president of research and evaluation. The foundation’s website identifies Lady Gaga and Cynthia Bissett Germanotta as co-founders.
Born This Way Foundation is led by Cynthia Germanotta, Director & President on every filing since 2020; 8 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cynthia Germanotta
Director & President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$264K (2020) → $294K (2024)
Alexander Roque
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles B. Ortner
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean F. Cassidy
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stefani Germanotta
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamika L. Tremaglio
Director & Treasurer
Board Treasurer & Director → Treasurer & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gary A. Aide
Vice President, Programs & Impact
Director of Programs & Impact → Vice President, Programs & Impact, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$120K (2021) → $154K (2024)
Getenesh M. Yilma
Vice President, Content & Brand
Digital Director → Director of Content & Brand, 2023
Director of Content & Brand → Vice President, Content & Brand, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$117K (2021) → $156K (2024)
Shadille Estepan
Senior Manager & Communications
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$100K (2023) → $114K (2024)
Claudia Fernandes
Vice President, Research & Evaluation
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$152K (2024)
Joshua Meredith
Chief of Staff
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$106K (2024)
Megan Bradley
Senior Manager & Partnerships
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$120K (2024)
Rachel Martin
Chief Operating Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$251K (2024)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Maya Enista Smith (2020–2023) — Former Executive Director
- Former: Rachel Martin Coo (2023) — Director of Campaigns
- Former: Susan G. Horrell (2020–2022) — Director of Partnerships
- Former: Shanice S. Peterson (2021–2022) — Director of Administrator & Finance
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $294K, to Cynthia Germanotta (Director, President). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Born This Way Foundation
How much does Born This Way Foundation give each year?
Born This Way Foundation gave $915K across 25 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $303K across 4 grants.
What is Born This Way Foundation's typical grant size?
Born This Way Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $36,591, across 25 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Born This Way Foundation give grants?
Born This Way Foundation's top state is California, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Florida (9%) and Pennsylvania (9%).
Does Born This Way Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 96% of Born This Way Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Born This Way Foundation's largest grantees?
Born This Way Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Aliento Education Fund ($75,000), Centerlink ($71,000) and Art Mentorship Program ($60,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Born This Way Foundation?
Born This Way Foundation reported $9.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.0M.
What does Born This Way Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to empower and inspire young people to build a kinder, braver world that supports their mental health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Born This Way Foundation?
Born This Way Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check bornthisway.foundation for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Born This Way Foundation's EIN?
Born This Way Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2752227. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Born This Way Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Born This Way Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/born-this-way-foundation-morg_350d49d5f5e94d138519b66201c8ac1d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_452752227_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Born This Way Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/born-this-way-foundation-morg_350d49d5f5e94d138519b66201c8ac1d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Born This Way Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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