The Charles Koch Foundation is a private, non-operating foundation established in 1980 by Charles G. Koch. Based in Arlington, Virginia, the foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization designated for educational purposes. The foundation partners with social entrepreneurs and researchers to advance social progress and well-being through the study and advancement of economic freedom.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$758.9M
+1.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$64.1M
-14.2% YoY
Grant Count
93
-34.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$689K
+30.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles Koch Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Charles Koch Foundation was established to advance social progress and well-being through the study and advancement of economic freedom. The foundation supports research and higher education programs that analyze the impact of free societies and how they advance human well-being.
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education — Research and higher education programs
- Criminal Justice Reform
- Economic Progress
- Foreign Policy
- Free Speech & Peace
- Healthcare
- Future of Work — Supporting social entrepreneurs and researchers transforming institutions responsible for empowering people to engage in meaningful work, with focus on business and postsecondary education
The foundation fosters partnerships between scientists and practitioners to integrate theory and practice, developing market-based tools that enable individuals, institutions, and societies to survive and prosper.
Grantmaking
The Charles Koch Foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with rolling deadlines for general research grants. Grant amounts are variable and commensurate with research requirements.
Review Cycle
for general research grants. Grant amounts are variable and commensurate with research requirements.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports work in Virginia, California, and Massachusetts, with a broader national funding reach.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $758.9 million
- Total Expenses: $67.9 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.29 million
- Revenue: $208,000
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $748.2 million
- Total Expenses: $83.0 million
- Total Revenues: $1.3 million
- Total Giving: $64.1 million
Staffing: The foundation employs approximately 22-33 staff members.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $758,930,141 | $748,223,343 | $793,723,219 |
| Revenue | $208,231 | $1,315,532 | $572,988 |
| Expenses | $67,934,289 | $83,011,998 | $66,311,762 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $67,819,528 | $77,701,467 | $69,081,520 |
| Net Investment Income | $24,624,237 | $124,995,219 | $69,171,664 |
| Distributable Amount | $35,005,121 | $36,157,039 | $37,747,424 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Charles Koch Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include George Mason University Foundation ($23,675,637), Institute for Humane Studies ($6,090,000), Utah State University ($2,500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND - COLLEGE PARK COLLEGE PARK, MD | General operating support | $246,457 |
| NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (NRAEF) CHICAGO, IL | General operating support | $15,000 |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FAIRFAX, VA | General operating support | $23,675,637 |
| INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES ARLINGTON, VA | General operating support | $6,090,000 |
| UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY LOGAN, UT | General operating support | $2,500,000 |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FARGO, ND | General operating support | $2,000,000 |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | General operating support | $1,138,154 |
| SHRM FOUNDATION INC ALEXANDRIA, VA | General operating support | $1,920,000 |
| JOBS FOR THE FUTURE BOSTON, MA | General operating support | $1,200,000 |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION COLUMBUS, OH | General operating support | $1,157,363 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ryan Stowers — Executive Director
- John Poreba — Director, Partner Strategy
- Derek Johnson — Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced several recent initiatives:
**Catalyze Challenge** — Awarded $3.3 million in education grants to help Americans pursue purposeful careers
Catalyze Challenge awards grants to help Americans pursue purposeful careers**SPERO Program** — Supporting efforts to unlock potential of Wichita residents
SPERO will unlock potential of Wichita residents - Charles Koch Foundation**Stanford Program on Online Speech** — Funded a new program to explore implications of making companies responsible for users' online speech
New Stanford Program to Explore Implications of Making Companies Responsible\**Education Design Lab Partnership** — Supporting six colleges and systems to create dynamic learning pathways and credentials
Education Design Lab Partners With Six Colleges | Charles Koch Foundation**Notre Dame Foreign Policy Scholarship** — Awarded $3.5 million grant for foreign policy scholarship
University of Notre Dame Awarded $3.5M Grant for Foreign Policy ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Charles Koch Foundation fund?
The Charles Koch Foundation was established to advance social progress and well-being through the study and advancement of economic freedom. The foundation supports research and higher education programs that analyze the impact of free societies and how they advance human well-being. The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • **Education** — Research and higher education programs • **Criminal Justice Reform** • **Economic Progress** • **Foreign Policy** • **Free Speech & Peace** • …
How do I apply for a grant from Charles Koch Foundation?
The Charles Koch Foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with rolling deadlines for general research grants. Grant amounts are variable and commensurate with research requirements. Recent major grants include: • George Mason University Foundation: $17,423,626 (2023) • Institute for Humane Studies: $11,900,000 (2023) • New York University: $2,983,987 (2023) • University of Notre Dame: $3.5 million for foreign policy scholarship • Center for Peace and Security Studies at UC San Diego: …
Where does Charles Koch Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports work in Virginia, California, and Massachusetts, with a broader national funding reach.
What size grants does Charles Koch Foundation award?
In 2024, Charles Koch Foundation awarded 93 grants totaling $64.1M — an average of about $689K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Charles Koch Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Charles Koch Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Charles Koch Foundation's EIN?
Charles Koch Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-0918408. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Charles Koch Foundation'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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