Cri Foundation Inc
CRI Foundation Inc is a private philanthropic foundation based in New York, NY (with offices in Boston, Massachusetts) that was established in 2021. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and manages substantial assets to support charitable initiatives globally, with a particular emphasis on health and development economics research.
Key facts about Cri Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 84-4200329
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,070,534
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- Average grant
- $372,983
- Median grant
- $150,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (12 of 27, 2024)
- Total assets
- $136,094,918
- Primary geography
- Ohio (33% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Invitation only; no public application process. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cri Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Cri Foundation Inc's 27 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (33%), Pennsylvania (19%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants), Cincinnati, OH (2 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants). None of its 27 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (27 grants).
Is Cri Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 27 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $382K; repeat grants $366K. How we count
Medians: $104K first-time, $220K repeat.
- 41% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 893% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 148% 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.
Next steps with Cri Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate Cri Foundation Inc as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Cri Foundation Inc with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$136.1M
+0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.1M
+269.9% YoY
Grant Count
27
+80.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$373K
+105.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cri Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $11.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation operates two discrete programs:
CRI Health
- Provides grants to organizations working to improve health outcomes in Africa
- Focuses on long-term funding relationships with robust renewal processes
- Emphasizes evidence-based approaches, cost-effectiveness, and long-term partnerships with high-impact organizations
- Supports both early-stage organizations with high potential and established organizations with proven track records
The Weiss Fund for Research in Development Economics
- Supports academic research in development economics
- Provides funding to undergraduate and graduate students and junior researchers
The foundation emphasizes evidence-based approaches and is a member of Big Bang Philanthropy.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$5,000 to $3.3 million
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Cri Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa, with particular activity in locations including Kampala and London. Domestically, the foundation has funded projects in New York, San Francisco, and across multiple U.S. states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nevada, and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 27 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $136.1 million
- Total revenue: $11.7 million
- Total expenses: $12.2 million
- Annual giving/distributions: $12.0 million
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $135 million
- Total revenue: $23.1 million
- Total expenses: $4.53 million
Expense Ratio: 19.7% of total revenue spent on programs
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since July 2021; EIN 84-4200329
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $136,094,918 | $135,488,203 | $116,339,630 |
| Revenue | $11,718,298 | $23,065,892 | $30,262,198 |
| Expenses | $12,171,009 | $4,534,830 | $5,509,352 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $16,889,079 | $4,692,560 | $5,684,515 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,390,712 | $1,330,435 | $4,929,613 |
| Distributable Amount | $11,410,234 | $9,773,545 | $8,166,296 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
98 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Fidelity Charitable ($3,300,000), National Philanthropic Trust (Ubs Optimus) ($1,875,000), Lwala Community Alliance ($750,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE Cincinnati, OH | CHARITABLE | $3,300,000 |
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST (UBS OPTIMUS) Jenkintown, PA | CHARITABLE | $1,875,000 |
| LWALA COMMUNITY ALLIANCE Nashville, TN | CHARITABLE | $750,000 |
| ALIMA New York, NY | CHARITABLE | $500,000 |
| FRIENDS OF SOLIDAFRICA Bartow, GA | CHARITABLE | $500,000 |
| LIVELY MINDS | CHARITABLE | $350,000 |
| WANDIKWEZA | CHARITABLE | $350,000 |
| YOUNG 1OVE FOUNDATION Austin, TX | CHARITABLE | $320,000 |
| KYANINGA CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | CHARITABLE | $285,000 |
| ACTION AGAINST HUNGER New York, NY | CHARITABLE | $275,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Andrew Weiss – Co-founder, Director (3 hours/week, unpaid)
- Bonnie Weiss – Co-founder, Director (20 hours/week, unpaid)
- Kara Weiss – Executive Director and Clerk/Program Director (40 hours/week, $224,000 annual compensation)
- Xiao Yu Wang – Chief Economist (40 hours/week, $225,000 annual compensation)
- Rashmi Menon – Senior Program Manager (40 hours/week, $150,000 annual compensation)
- Lucia Diaz-Martin – Senior Program Manager (40 hours/week, $149,000 annual compensation)
- Eduardo Betancourt – Program Manager (40 hours/week, $128,000 annual compensation)
- Elyssa Kotzen – Director of Operations (32 hours/week, $127,000 annual compensation)
The foundation is staffed with professionals across the United States and internationally.
Cri Foundation Inc is led by Kara Weiss, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kara Weiss
Executive Director
Clerk & Program Director → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$160K (2020) → $224K (2024)
Andrew Weiss
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie Weiss
Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking with recent awards to organizations focused on health delivery and charitable work in Africa. The foundation maintains semi-annual reporting cycles with grantees and emphasizes long-term partnership development. Staff includes dedicated professionals in economics, program management, and operations roles.
CRI Foundation Inc - Grant Information & Application Details - HinchillaSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cri Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation operates two discrete programs: **CRI Health** • Provides grants to organizations working to improve health outcomes in Africa • Focuses on long-term funding relationships with robust renewal processes • Emphasizes evidence-based approaches, cost-effectiveness, and long-term partnerships with high-impact organizations • Supports both early-stage organizations with high potential and established organizations with proven track records **The Weiss Fund for Research in Development E…
How do I apply for a grant from Cri Foundation Inc?
Invitation only; no public application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Cri Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa, with particular activity in locations including Kampala and London. Domestically, the foundation has funded projects in New York, San Francisco, and across multiple U.S. states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nevada, and Washington.
What size grants does Cri Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Cri Foundation Inc awarded 27 grants totaling $10.1M — an average of about $373K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cri Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cri Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $11.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cri Foundation Inc's EIN?
Cri Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-4200329. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cri Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
Gates Foundation
Seattle, WA
Assets
$78.7B
Grants
4,974
Total Given
$6.3B
Dovetail Impact Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$172.6M
Grants
100
Total Given
$13.7M
Mulago Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$358.4M
Grants
97
Total Given
$22.5M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$891.5M
Grants
1,153
Total Given
$275.0M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The Ojc Fund
Brooklyn, NY
Assets
$58.5M
Grants
3,714
Total Given
$448.3M
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Simons Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
More Funders in New York
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.