Libra Foundation
The Libra Foundation is a private foundation committed to supporting organizations led by those most impacted by systemic oppression. Based in San Francisco, California, the foundation focuses on building community power and advancing social justice through philanthropic investments in frontline organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$161.6M
-5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.2M
-14.2% YoY
Grant Count
67
+3.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$78K
-16.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Libra Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Libra Foundation's guiding principle is that those closest to systemic issues understand them best and are most equipped to build and implement effective solutions. The foundation is committed to a vision of society that uplifts and empowers all people, believing that all people deserve to live free of systemic oppression, economic insecurity, and environmental harm.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Criminal justice system transformation
- Environmental and climate justice
- Gender justice
- Racial justice
- Democratic rights and community power-building
The foundation prioritizes funding BIPOC-led movements working at the grassroots level to build power in communities and center those most impacted by systemic inequities.
Grantmaking
The Libra Foundation emphasizes multi-year, unrestricted grants to frontline organizations working toward transformational change. The foundation's approach to philanthropy is centered on trust—trusting grantees who are closest to their communities to set the strategic vision for their work.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $161,557,671 | $170,023,543 | $174,993,751 |
| Revenue | $-1,523,256 | $-339,498 | $-2,662,658 |
| Expenses | $8,208,021 | $9,054,568 | $9,064,186 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,428,577 | $9,902,582 | $10,278,739 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $6,626,047 | $6,895,170 | $7,091,963 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Libra Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Foxcroft Academy ($158,523), Cross Insurance Arena ($75,000), Mainehealth ($57,948).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION - MAINE CHAPTER SCARBOROUGH, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF MAINE PORTLAND, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AUTISM SOCIETY OF MAINE WINTHROP, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BANGOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BANGOR, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BAY CHAMBER CONCERTS CAMDEN, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BEST BUDDIES IN MAINE CUMBERLAND, ME | SCHOOL FRIENDSHIP PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES EAST BOOTHBAY, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTHERN MAINE PORTLAND, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CENTER FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN PORTLAND, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CENTER FOR MAINE CONTEMPORARY ART ROCKLAND, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Supriya Lopez Pillai serves as President of the Libra Foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| OWEN W WELLS | TRUSTEE | 30 | $100,801 |
| CRAIG N DENEKAS | CHAIRMAN/CEO | 50 | $423,364 |
| JERE G MICHELSON | PRESIDENT/COO/CFO | 50 | $413,284 |
| ERIK HAYWARD | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | 50 | $307,561 |
| PENDRED E NOYCE | TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
| WILLIAM J RYAN | TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
| PAUL PIETROPAOLI | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | 50 | $307,561 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Libra Foundation fund?
The Libra Foundation's guiding principle is that those closest to systemic issues understand them best and are most equipped to build and implement effective solutions. The foundation is committed to a vision of society that uplifts and empowers all people, believing that all people deserve to live free of systemic oppression, economic insecurity, and environmental harm. Primary funding focus areas include: • Criminal justice system transformation • Environmental and climate justice • Gender ju…
How do I apply for a grant from Libra Foundation?
The Libra Foundation emphasizes multi-year, unrestricted grants to frontline organizations working toward transformational change. The foundation's approach to philanthropy is centered on trust—trusting grantees who are closest to their communities to set the strategic vision for their work. The foundation brings together strategies that cross portfolio lines and prioritizes relationships of trust with grantee partners.
What size grants does Libra Foundation award?
In 2024, Libra Foundation awarded 67 grants totaling $5.2M — an average of about $78K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Libra Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Libra Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Libra Foundation's EIN?
Libra Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6626994. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Libra Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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