The Loud Hound Foundation is a private family foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in 2016, it operates as an independent grantmaking organization with a focus on supporting progressive causes and civic engagement initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$122.3M
-10.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.3M
+41.3% YoY
Grant Count
25
+316.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$534K
-66.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Loud Hound Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports the following areas:
- Democracy and civic engagement
- Education
- Community health and human services
- Arts and culture
- Community and economic development
- Journalism
- Progressive causes
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a website or provide a clear formal application process. Prospective grantees are advised to research recent IRS Form 990 filings to identify potential board or staff connections for networking purposes.
Grant Range
s and Patterns:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- California (particularly the Bay Area)
- New York
- District of Columbia
- Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin (based on recent grants)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $136,139,434 (as of December 2023)
- $122,280,715 (alternate 2024 filing)
Annual Giving:
- Total distributions: $9,700,000 (2023)
- Total giving: $13,350,000 (2024)
Revenue:
- Total revenues: $2,769,303 (2023)
Expenses:
- Total expenses: $5,816,710 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $122,280,715 | $136,139,434 | $144,601,634 |
| Revenue | $8,057,536 | $2,769,303 | $6,148,067 |
| Expenses | $19,073,045 | $5,816,710 | $996,676 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $13,444,660 | $9,712,597 | $11,102,014 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,405,388 | $2,146,556 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $6,295,104 | $6,555,983 | $7,670,995 |
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
136 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Blue Meridian Partners Inc ($3,000,000), Way to Rise ($2,500,000), Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund ($1,500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 3RD STREET YOUTH CENTER & CLINIC SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| BAY AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT TO KEEP OAKLAND HOUSED | $500,000 |
| BAY AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES INC OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS INC NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT SCALABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS FACING YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN POVERTY | $3,000,000 |
| CENTRAL CITY HOSPITALITY HOUSE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CHINATOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| CIVIC NEWS COMPANY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT OF VOTEBEAT'S WORK IN ARIZONA, GEORGIA, NEVADA, PENNSYLVANIA AND WISCONSIN | $250,000 |
| CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY EQUITY FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR INITIATIVES IN ARIZONA, GEORGIA, NEVADA, PENNSYLVANIA AND WISCONSIN | $1,500,000 |
| DISH SF SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| EAST BAY ASIAN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- William Moritz – President
- Michael Moritz – Secretary and Treasurer (venture capitalist and Sequoia Capital director; father of William Moritz)
- Melissa Narula – CEO and Assistant Secretary
- Gretchen Selfridge – Audit Chair
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM MORITZ | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL MORITZ | SECRETARY; TREASURER | — | — |
| MELISSA NARULA | CEO & ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| GRETCHEN SELFRIDGE | AUDIT CHAIR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting democracy and civic engagement initiatives, with notable 2023 grants directed toward voter engagement and election-related work across multiple states. The foundation also established specialized funding vehicles including the Democracy Frontlines Fund and the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Recovery Fund to address specific philanthropic priorities.
Loud Hound Foundation - Form 990PF - Nonprofit ExplorerSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Loud Hound Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports the following areas: • Democracy and civic engagement • Education • Community health and human services • Arts and culture • Community and economic development • Journalism • Progressive causes
How do I apply for a grant from Loud Hound Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Patterns:** • Typical awards range from $25,000 to $5,000,000 • Median grant size: $1,000,000 • Maximum grant observed: $4,000,000 • Recent grants have primarily been five- and six-figure gifts to Bay Area and New York-based nonprofits **Recent Grant Activity (2023):** • Way To Rise: $4,000,000 (General support for initiatives in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) • Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund: $3,000,000 (General support for initiatives in Arizona…
Where does Loud Hound Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • California (particularly the Bay Area) • New York • District of Columbia • Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin (based on recent grants)
What size grants does Loud Hound Foundation award?
In 2024, Loud Hound Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $13.3M — an average of about $534K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Loud Hound Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Loud Hound Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Loud Hound Foundation's EIN?
Loud Hound Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-3588263. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Loud Hound 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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