LGBTQ+ Foundations & Grantmakers
171 grantmakers in this list reported grants on their latest 990s. The 79 that made at least 5 grants gave $2.4B. The largest by giving are The Ford Foundation, Freedom Together Foundation and The New York Community Trust. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Giving at a glance
Active grantmakers
171
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$2.4B
from the 79 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$34K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$195K
per grantmaker
Top 10 funders by annual giving
| # | Funder | Location | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ford Foundation | New York, NY | $844.7M | 4,007 |
| 2 | Freedom Together Foundation | New York, NY | $470.0M | 595 |
| 3 | The New York Community Trust | New York, NY | $193.8M | 2,748 |
| 4 | The Cleveland Foundation | Cleveland, OH | $184.2M | 1,016 |
| 5 | National Education Association of the United States | Washington, DC | $158.0M | 240 |
| 6 | Common Counsel Foundation | Oakland, CA | $101.2M | 621 |
| 7 | The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Inc | Jacksonville, FL | $78.0M | 2,470 |
| 8 | Community Partners | Los Angeles, CA | $57.5M | 565 |
| 9 | The Philadelphia Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | $39.1M | 715 |
| 10 | The Grove Foundation | Los Altos, CA | $34.3M | 128 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 1 organization that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) is left out.
Most common focus areas
- Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy 23 · 39%
- Health 6 · 10%
- Arts, Culture & Humanities 6 · 10%
- Education 5 · 8%
- Human Services 5 · 8%
- Community Improvement & Capacity Building 2 · 3%
Share of grantmakers with a program NTEE code (44% carry any NTEE code); general grantmaking foundations (NTEE T) are not counted.
Where these funders are based
- California 40 · $283.3M
- New York 18 · $1.5B
- District of Columbia 12 · $159.9M
- Florida 10 · $89.9M
- Massachusetts 9 · $22.4M
- Pennsylvania 8 · $83.9M
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2024).
Showing 79 grantmakers with 5+ grants on their latest 990, most giving first
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
Freedom Together Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$3.4B
Grants
595
Total Given
$470.0M
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland, OH
Assets
$3.3B
Grants
1,016
Total Given
$184.2M
National Education Association of the United States
Washington, DC
Assets
$432.7M
Grants
240
Total Given
$158.0M
Common Counsel Foundation
Oakland, CA
Assets
$67.5M
Grants
621
Total Given
$101.2M
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Inc
Jacksonville, FL
Assets
$708.7M
Grants
2,470
Total Given
$78.0M
Community Partners
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$85.9M
Grants
565
Total Given
$57.5M
The Philadelphia Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$704.6M
Grants
715
Total Given
$39.1M
The Grove Foundation
Los Altos, CA
Assets
$69.5M
Grants
128
Total Given
$34.3M
Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA
Assets
$95.8M
Grants
50
Total Given
$27.0M
Inland Empire Community Foundation
Riverside, CA
Assets
$168.6M
Grants
293
Total Given
$21.9M
Proteus Fund Inc
Waltham, MA
Assets
$67.1M
Grants
219
Total Given
$21.6M
Liberty Hill Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$39.6M
Grants
750
Total Given
$21.4M
Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
Aptos, CA
Assets
$252.5M
Grants
303
Total Given
$20.7M
E Rhodes and Leona B Carpenter Foundation
Radnor, PA
Assets
$251.7M
Grants
310
Total Given
$14.4M
Women's Health and Family Planning Association of Texas dba Every Body TX
Austin, TX
Assets
$2.8M
Grants
31
Total Given
$12.7M
Santa Fe Community Foundation
Santa Fe, NM
Assets
$144.1M
Grants
302
Total Given
$12.4M
Gill Foundation
Denver, CO
Assets
$194.3M
Grants
91
Total Given
$11.0M
Field Foundation of Illinois
Chicago, IL
Assets
$49.0M
Grants
299
Total Given
$10.8M
Jonathan D and Mark C Lewis
Coconut Grove, FL
Assets
$167.9M
Grants
52
Total Given
$9.3M
Alphawood Foundation
Chicago, IL
Assets
$59.6M
Grants
126
Total Given
$8.1M
Horizons Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$70.6M
Grants
217
Total Given
$7.7M
Laughing Gull Foundation
Durham, NC
Assets
$53.4M
Grants
127
Total Given
$6.2M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Frequently asked questions
Which funders in this list give the most?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are The Ford Foundation ($844.7M across 4,007 grants), Freedom Together Foundation ($470.0M) and The New York Community Trust ($193.8M). Together the top 10 account for 89% of the $2.4B given by the 79 grantmakers in this list that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical grant from these funders?
The typical grant is about $34K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $195K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
Where are these funders based?
Most are in California (40), New York (18) and District of Columbia (12). Many foundations only fund near where they are based, so check each funder's giving geography before you apply.
How do I find which of these funders accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations like these from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.