Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation logo

Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation

PALO ALTO, CA EIN: 94-3397785 Website

The Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Palo Alto, California. Established in 2001, it is one of the largest foundations in the United States, ranking in the top 1% of all foundations by asset size. The foundation fosters path-breaking scientific discovery, environmental conservation, patient care improvements, and preservation of the special character of the Bay Area.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$11.5B

+31.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$403.0M

+0.3% YoY

Grant Count

920

-3.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$438K

+3.8% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's grantmaking focuses on four primary areas:

  • Science: Including the Curiosity-Driven Science Initiative, Emergent Phenomena in Quantum Systems Initiative, and Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative
  • Environmental Conservation: Including the Andes-Amazon Initiative, Arctic Ocean Initiative, Conservation and Markets Initiative, and Wildfire Resilience Initiative
  • San Francisco Bay Area: Local conservation and community initiatives
  • Patient Care: Supporting improvements in diagnostic excellence and healthcare leadership

Beyond grantmaking, the foundation engages directly in charitable activities including convening groups of experts, other foundations, and grantees to discuss policy and research trends; providing technical assistance to grantees and partners; and conducting research to inform and advance funded areas.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

and Range**: The foundation made 920 grants with a median award of $200,000. Grant amounts range from $50,000 to $20,000,000.

Review Cycle

March 2, 2026)

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, the District of Columbia, and New York.

Grant Distribution by State

48states
+40 more states

Cities

Agoura HillsAkronAlamedaAlbanyAlbuquerqueAlexandriaAllentownAlpharettaAltonAlton BayAmericusAmesAmherstAnchorageAndersonAnn ArborAppletonAptosArcataArlington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets: $11.5 billion (as of 2024)

Annual Revenue: $2.66 billion (2024)

Annual Expenses: $483 million (2024)

Total Liabilities: $80.8 million (2024)

Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $5.4 billion in 2011 to $11.5 billion in 2024.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$733M$1.5B$2.2B$2.9B20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$11,522,694,235$8,766,258,805$8,278,661,283
Revenue$2,663,649,577$371,750,377$654,188,442
Expenses$483,168,830$485,577,761$456,107,917
Qualifying Distributions$451,499,875$457,892,978$435,661,606
Net Investment Income$434,464,285$552,304,306$371,926,256
Distributable Amount$457,961,953$410,990,247$427,835,444

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$101M$202M$302M$403M1,105 grants20201,049 grants20211,036 grants2022952 grants2023920 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

ASOCIACION PARA LA CONSE…$2.6MAMAZON CONSERVATION ASSO…$800KASSOCIACAO SUMAUMA ORGAN…$800KAMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY$756KAMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR…$600KARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS$600KAID FOR THREATENED WILDL…$500KACTIVATE GLOBAL INC$442KAMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR…$442KARIA STRATEGIC COMMUNICA…$440K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

84<$50K11$50–100K46$100–250K49$250–500K36$500K–1M24$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

9 open opportunities from Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation

Show all 9 →

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Board and Trustees (as of 2024):

  • Harvey V. Fineberg, Trustee & President
  • Kenneth Moore, Trustee & Chair
  • John Hennessy, Trustee & Vice Chair
  • Rosina Bierbaum, Trustee
  • John Dabiri, Trustee
  • Kathleen Justice-Moore, Trustee
  • Hilary Krane, Trustee
  • Jonathan Levin, Trustee
  • Kristen Moore, Trustee
  • Steven Moore, Trustee
  • Ellen Ochoa, Trustee
  • Pardis Sabeti, Trustee (as of November 2024)

Investment Management Committee:

  • Edward E. Penhoet
  • Ken Siebel

Staff: The foundation employs 98 staff members and is governed by 16 officers and trustees.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

DENISE STRACKCHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER$4.4MHARVEY V FINEBERGTRUSTEE & PRESIDENT$1.3MSASHA ABRAMSGEN COUNSEL & SECRETARY$736K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
ROSINA BIERBAUMTRUSTEE1
JOHN DABIRITRUSTEE1
KENNETH MOORETRUSTEE & CHAIR2
JOHN HENNESSYTRUSTEE & VICE CHAIR1
KATHLEEN JUSTICE-MOORETRUSTEE1
HILARY KRANETRUSTEE1
JONATHAN LEVINTRUSTEE1
KRISTEN MOORETRUSTEE1
STEVEN MOORETRUSTEE1
ELLEN OCHOATRUSTEE1
PARDIS SABETITRUSTEE - AS OF 11/20241
EDWARD E PENHOETINVESTMENT MGMT COMMITTEE0.5
KEN SIEBELINVESTMENT MGMT COMMITTEE0.5
HARVEY V FINEBERGTRUSTEE & PRESIDENT45$1,305,630
SASHA ABRAMSGEN COUNSEL & SECRETARY45$736,480
DENISE STRACKCHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER45$4,368,816

Contact Information

Address: 1661 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1209

Phone: (650) 213-3000

Website: www.moore.org

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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