Kolibri Foundation Inc
Kolibri Foundation Inc is a movement-led family foundation based in New York, NY that operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation. The organization was established by the Farbman family in response to inheriting a conservative family foundation in 2017. The foundation has undergone a significant transformation to shift its approach to philanthropy, centering shared power and bold funding practices.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.5M
-10.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.7M
-11.1% YoY
Grant Count
76
+52.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
-41.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Kolibri Foundation seeks to resource and amplify movements at the intersections of gender, racial and economic justice that center the healing and ending of systemic and interpersonal violence.
The foundation is committed to the radical redistribution of wealth and aims to influence other foundations and wealthy families to adopt similar practices.
Grantmaking
The foundation announced $6.3 million in grants to 21 organizations as part of their 2024 Reimagining Power Fund.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $22.5 million
- Revenue: $1.87 million
- Expenses: $4.63 million
- Total Liabilities: $8.51 thousand
Tax Status:
- Tax-exempt since June 1998
- EIN: 13-4003955
- Designated as 501(c)(3) organization
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,529,205 | $25,290,015 | $24,571,299 |
| Revenue | $1,865,889 | $6,488,760 | $4,882,416 |
| Expenses | $4,634,721 | $5,762,334 | $6,261,258 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,401,448 | $5,596,971 | $5,555,763 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,740,265 | $323,397 | $149,383 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,145,800 | $1,130,134 | $1,291,835 |
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
194 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Eileen Farbman — Co-founder and board co-chair of the Kolibri Foundation
Board Members:
- Cara Page
- Thenjiwe McHarris
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EILEEN PRICE FARBMAN | PRESIDENT AND TREASURER | 2 | — |
| STEVEN FARBMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RAMATU BANGURA | DIRECTOR | 1 | $30,000 |
| TAMEIKA MCHARRIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | $30,000 |
| CARA PAGE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $30,358 |
| GILL FREEMYN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $30,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the Kolibri Foundation announced $6.3 million in grants distributed to 21 organizations through their Reimagining Power Fund initiative.
Kolibri Foundation \u2014 Reimagining Power Fund AnnouncementThe foundation's transformation from a traditional family foundation to a movement-led organization has been documented as a case study in shifting power within family philanthropy, with particular focus on how governance changes and participatory grantmaking practices can support community-rooted decision-making.
Creating a \u2018Movement-Led Family Foundation\u2019: A Conversation with\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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