Charles Koch Foundation
The Charles Koch Foundation is a private foundation based in Arlington, Virginia. It supports research, education, and social entrepreneurs working on challenges including criminal justice, economic progress, the future of work, foreign policy, free speech and peace, health care, immigration, and liberalism.
Charles Koch Foundation at a glance
In short: Charles Koch Foundation gave $64.1M across 93 grants in 2024 (avg $689K), mostly in Virginia. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $64,073,452
- -14.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 93
- -34.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $688,962
- +30.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $758,930,141
- +1.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (19 of 89, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (53% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Charles Koch Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its online grant proposal process. Its materials say proposals are evaluated on a rolling basis and that there are no deadlines.
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Contact
Application contact: Charles Koch Foundation
Mailing address: 4201 Wilson Blvd Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: (571) 290-6811
Website: https://charleskochfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Charles Koch Foundation
Who Charles Koch Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was George Mason University Foundation ($23.7M). Together the top 10 received $42.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($586,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,176 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 656 grants of 1,176 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation reported that 53% of its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia. Other leading recipient states were New York and North Dakota at 5% each, and Massachusetts and Utah at 4% each. Its listed 2024 grants also went to recipients in states including Ohio, New Hampshire, Texas, and Pennsylvania, as well as Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 93 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Charles Koch Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 89 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $179K; repeat grants $867K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $266K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 194% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $62.8M (2022) to $100.9M (2020). In 2024 it made 93 grants totaling $64.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| New York University New York, NY | General operating support | $1,138,154 |
| Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | General operating support | $1,113,401 |
| University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | General operating support | $1,000,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $758,930,141 | $208,231 | $67,934,289 | $64,073,452 | 93 | $67,819,528 | $24,624,237 | $35,005,121 |
| 2023 | $748,223,343 | $1,315,532 | $83,011,998 | $74,707,416 | 141 | $77,701,467 | $124,995,219 | $36,157,039 |
| 2022 | $793,723,219 | $572,988 | $66,311,762 | $62,831,279 | 166 | $69,081,520 | $69,171,664 | $37,747,424 |
| 2021 | $813,753,220 | $68,721,556 | $103,570,855 | $92,988,357 | 357 | $99,376,081 | $85,223,746 | $32,633,808 |
| 2020 | $462,090,124 | $118,015,605 | $123,096,640 | $100,905,370 | 419 | — | $77,173,337 | $32,162,780 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to help ensure that people have the opportunity to live lives of meaning and contribution based on their unique gifts and aptitudes. It says it invests in social entrepreneurs working to transform institutions involved in lifelong learning, postsecondary education, and business. Its listed focus areas are criminal justice, economic progress, future of work, foreign policy, free speech and peace, health care, immigration, and liberalism.
The foundation describes its support as including research and innovative educational alternatives. Its website says proposals should be developed by scholars or social entrepreneurs and that schools follow their standard procedures for hiring, curriculum, peer review, and other academic policies. Among its 2024 grantees, the George Mason University Foundation says it receives and administers private gifts for the benefit of George Mason University; the Institute for Humane Studies says it supports students, scholars, and other intellectuals interested in the classical liberal tradition; and Education Design Lab says it designs and tests models to help higher education adapt to economic change.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 93 grants totaling $64,073,452. Grant amounts ranged from $1,540 to $23,675,637, with a median of $250,000. The largest awards included $23,675,637 to George Mason University Foundation for general operating support, $6,090,000 to the Institute for Humane Studies for general operating support, $2,500,000 to Utah State University for general operating support, $2,000,000 to North Dakota State University Foundation and Alumni Association for general operating support, and $1,920,000 to SHRM Foundation for general operating support.
The foundation’s general proposal materials invite research proposals aligned with its goals and vision. They say proposals should include a one-to-two-page project abstract, a CV or résumé, and an itemized budget; final projects must be original and meet high standards in their field. The foundation generally supports U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charities and universities, typically does not consider for-profit requests or individual requests outside an individual grant program, and generally does not provide university overhead. Grant funds may not support or oppose political candidates or fund lobbying. The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charles G Koch as chair, Charles Chase Koch as vice chair, Brian Hooks, Dale Gibbens, David L Robertson, and Elizabeth Koch as directors, Weston Edwards as secretary, Henrich Heuer as treasurer, and Jonathan Franklin as chief operating officer. It lists Ryan Stowers as executive director, outgoing September 8, 2024. The foundation’s website identifies Brian Hooks as president and Charles G. Koch as chairman and CEO.
Charles Koch Foundation is led by Ryan Stowers, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ryan Stowers
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$348K (2020) → $359K (2024)
Charles G Koch
Vice Chair & Chair
Director, Director & Chairman → Director, Vice Chairman, Director & Chairman, 2021
Director, Vice Chairman, Director & Chairman → Chair & Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Hooks
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale Gibbens
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth B. Koch
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David L Robertson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derek Johnson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Franklin
Chief Operating Officer
COO → Chief Operating Officer, 2022
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$212K (2021) → $316K (2024)
HENRICH Heuer
Treasurer
Treasurer Incoming → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Weston Edwards
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Brian Menkes (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Kara Hartnett (2021–2023) — Treasurer Outgoing
- Former: Dave Robertson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Susan Motiff (2020) — Treasurer
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 $359K, to Ryan Stowers (Executive Director (outgoing 9/8/24)). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Charles Koch Foundation
How much does Charles Koch Foundation give each year?
Charles Koch Foundation gave $64.1M across 93 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $74.7M across 141 grants.
What is Charles Koch Foundation's typical grant size?
Charles Koch Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $688,962, across 93 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Charles Koch Foundation that year got $179K on average.
Where does Charles Koch Foundation give grants?
Charles Koch Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (6 grants), Arlington, VA (4 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants) and Cambridge, MA (3 grants).
Does Charles Koch Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Charles Koch Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (93 of 93) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Charles Koch Foundation's largest grantees?
Charles Koch Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include George Mason University Foundation ($23,675,637), Institute for Humane Studies ($6,090,000) and Utah State University ($2,500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($586,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Charles Koch Foundation?
Charles Koch Foundation reported $758.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $67.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $35.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Charles Koch Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to help ensure that people have the opportunity to live lives of meaning and contribution based on their unique gifts and aptitudes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Charles Koch Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its online grant proposal process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Charles Koch Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Charles Koch Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/charles-koch-foundation-morg_32f45ac834974b0889a9a552858cc537
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_480918408_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Charles Koch Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/charles-koch-foundation-morg_32f45ac834974b0889a9a552858cc537},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Charles Koch 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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