Champions of Love Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 2021, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status. It functions as a sister initiative of Bancel Philanthropies and was founded by Brenda and Stéphane Bancel (CEO of Moderna). The foundation identifies and supports what it calls "Champions"—charitable organizations and extraordinary leaders working to ease the suffering of people in their communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$57.9M
-25.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$22.4M
+0.5% YoY
Grant Count
188
-2.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$119K
+3.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Champions of Love Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's core mission centers on supporting "extraordinary leaders who work to ease the suffering of people in their communities." The foundation emphasizes a philosophy encapsulated in their tagline: "We view love as our most untapped resource."
Primary funding focuses on organizations serving:
- The homeless
- The incarcerated
- People living in poverty
- Abuse survivors
The foundation employs a trust-based philanthropy model, providing unrestricted, multi-year support to transformative leaders strengthening local communities. Grant recipients demonstrate courageous leadership, demonstrated ability to effect change, and commitment to their missions.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Instead, it operates an invitation-only model, identifying and preselecting organizations for funding.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
approximately $115,000–$119,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations nationally across the United States, with particular concentration in Massachusetts, California, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- 2024: $57.9 million (down 25.4% year-over-year)
- 2023: $77.7 million
- 2022: $51.8 million
Annual Giving:
- 2024: $22.3 million
- 2023: $22.3 million
- 2022: $14.2 million
Revenue:
- 2024: $3.3 million
- 2023: $49.1 million
- 2022: $43.7 million
Expenses:
- 2024: $23.2 million
- 2023: $22.9 million
- 2022: $14.8 million
Liabilities:
- 2023: $1,730
The foundation maintains minimal liabilities and operates with a focus on distributing assets to support its mission.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $57,949,914 | $77,650,672 | $51,757,419 |
| Revenue | $3,291,348 | $49,058,977 | $43,678,647 |
| Expenses | $23,163,255 | $22,942,954 | $14,848,530 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $22,917,604 | $22,737,423 | $14,418,854 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,886,022 | $3,122,086 | $145,906 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,081,021 | $3,449,342 | $1,593,779 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center for Contemplative Justice ($675,486), Bostons Higher Ground ($250,000), Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A FAITH THAT DOES JUSTICE INC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL | $35,000 |
| ABARA EL PASO, TX | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| ACTION FOR BOSTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOSTON, MA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| AGAPIST VENTURES PHOENIX, AZ | GENERAL | $200,000 |
| AGASSIZ VILLAGE FRAMINGHAM, MA | GENERAL | $15,000 |
| ALMA BACKYARD FARMS COMPTON, CA | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| ALOHA FOUNDATION INC FAIRLEE, VT | GENERAL | $15,000 |
| AMPLIFY PEACE MESA, AZ | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| AYNI INSTITUTE REVERE, MA | GENERAL | $100,000 |
| BASIC MINISTRY SAN LEANDRO, CA | GENERAL | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President: Brenda Bancel
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRENDA BANCEL | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| STEPHANE BANCEL | CO-CHAIR | — | — |
| MARINE BROTONS | TREASURER | — | — |
| CHLOE BANCEL | CLERK | — | — |
| OLIVIA BANCEL | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Champions of Love Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's core mission centers on supporting "extraordinary leaders who work to ease the suffering of people in their communities." The foundation emphasizes a philosophy encapsulated in their tagline: "We view love as our most untapped resource." Primary funding focuses on organizations serving: • The homeless • The incarcerated • People living in poverty • Abuse survivors The foundation employs a trust-based philanthropy model, providing unrestricted, multi-year support to transformati…
How do I apply for a grant from Champions of Love Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • 2024: 193 grants totaling approximately $22.3 million • 2023: 157 grants totaling approximately $22.3 million • 2022: Grants totaling approximately $14.2 million **Grant Sizes:** • Grant range: $3,000 to $2.7 million • Average grant size: approximately $115,000–$119,000 • Median grant: $25,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Instead, it operates an invitation-only model, identifying and preselecting organizations for fundin…
Where does Champions of Love Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds organizations nationally across the United States, with particular concentration in Massachusetts, California, and New York.
What size grants does Champions of Love Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Champions of Love Foundation Inc awarded 188 grants totaling $22.4M — an average of about $119K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Champions of Love Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Champions of Love Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Champions of Love Foundation Inc's EIN?
Champions of Love Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-1229287. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Champions of Love Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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