Mulago Foundation
Mulago Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, New York. It supports scalable solutions intended to improve life for people in poverty, with a focus on basic needs and lasting impact.
Mulago Foundation at a glance
In short: Mulago Foundation gave $22.5M across 97 grants in 2024 (avg $232K), top state Massachusetts. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $22,528,000
- -10.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 97
- -17.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $232,247
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $358,352,922
- +1.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (26 of 91, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (15% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mulago Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says it relies on referrals to identify potential fellows and directs interested organizations to its fellowship information for referral timing.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1370 Avenue Of The Americas 31, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 651-3711
Website: https://www.mulagofoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Mulago Foundation
Who Mulago Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Panorama Global ($750K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $5.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
554 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 211 grants of 554 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it funds wherever there is a significant need and a strong idea, with no geographic focus. In 2024, the largest identified shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Massachusetts (15%), California (10%), New York (9%), and Vermont (4%); the filing also lists an unspecified category at 33%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 97 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Mulago Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 26 of 91 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $168K; repeat grants $279K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $250K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $19.3M (2020) to $25.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 97 grants totaling $22.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Absolute Return for Kids New York, NY | Relief to the Poor | $500,000 |
| Aceli Africa Inc Washington DC, DC | Relief to the Poor | $500,000 |
| Bridges to Prosperity Denver, CO | Relief to the Poor | $500,000 |
| Chancen International GGMBH | Relief to the Poor | $500,000 |
| Digital Green Foundation San Francisco, CA | Relief to the Poor | $500,000 |
| Intelehealth Inc Ellicott City, MD | Relief to the Poor | $500,000 |
| Lwala Community Alliance Nashville, TN | Relief to the Poor | $500,000 |
| Mafisa Community Transformation | Relief to the Poor | $500,000 |
| Maliasili Initiatives Inc Underhill, VT | Relief to the Poor | $500,000 |
| Panorama Global Seattle, WA | Relief to the Poor | $500,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Mulago Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $358,352,922 | $34,119,063 | $31,773,624 | $22,528,000 | 97 | $28,355,331 | $32,985,604 | $22,993,516 |
| 2023 | $354,680,752 | $12,716,010 | $31,033,971 | $25,295,000 | 118 | $29,160,025 | $9,866,737 | $21,357,684 |
| 2022 | $372,998,713 | $18,868,751 | $26,400,894 | $20,005,000 | 107 | $23,839,944 | $16,596,907 | $19,735,791 |
| 2021 | $381,912,014 | $48,757,071 | $26,590,561 | $22,722,001 | 119 | $26,734,980 | $45,201,119 | $21,746,385 |
| 2020 | $360,183,610 | $7,159,172 | $22,794,121 | $19,293,000 | 113 | — | $4,238,941 | $17,250,238 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mulago Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says its work carries on Rainer Arnhold’s focus on improving life for children in poverty, and that it concentrates on solutions meeting the basic needs of the poorest families. Its stated interests include health, environment, education, livelihoods, and water and sanitation. It looks for solutions with potential to scale and says it does not restrict funding by geography.
The foundation supports both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Examples of grantees’ work include Bridges to Prosperity’s work with governments on rural bridges and year-round access to services; Maliasili Initiatives’ work to accelerate community-based conservation; and Aceli Africa’s work to help agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises access capital. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 97 grants totaling $22,528,000. Grant amounts ranged from $7,000 to $500,000, with a median of $250,000. Among the largest listed grants were $500,000 each to Absolute Return for Kids, Aceli Africa, Bridges to Prosperity, Digital Green Foundation, Intelehealth, Lwala Community Alliance, Maliasili Initiatives, Panorama Global, Project Healthy Children, and The Luminos Fund.
The foundation’s website describes its fellowship as the route into its portfolio and says fellows may be considered for longer-term funding. Its fellowship materials describe support that includes funding, workshops, coaching, and connections. A Henry Arnhold Fellowship cycle listed a deadline of August 7, 2025; that deadline has passed. The foundation’s website says it does not accept proposals, and its filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John Arnhold as chairman; Kevin Starr as CEO; Christa Dorrego as secretary; and Joan Frances Gottfried Arnhold, Michael Seligmann, and Peter Seligmann as directors.
The foundation’s website also lists Laura Hattendorf and Bernie Tershy as senior advisors, Alex Hughes-Smith as communications lead, Claire McMahon as project manager, and Kenichi Nozaki as investment principal.
Mulago Foundation is led by Kevin Starr, CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kevin Starr
CEO
Managing Director → CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$367K (2020) → $500K (2024)
John P. Arnhold
Chairman
President & Treasurer → Chairman, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Frances Gottfried Arnhold
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Seligmann
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Seligmann
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christa Dorrego
Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $500K, to Kevin Starr (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Mulago Foundation
How much does Mulago Foundation give each year?
Mulago Foundation gave $22.5M across 97 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $25.3M across 118 grants.
What is Mulago Foundation's typical grant size?
Mulago Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $232,247, across 97 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mulago Foundation that year got $168K on average.
Where does Mulago Foundation give grants?
Mulago Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 15% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (10%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (8 grants), San Francisco, CA (8 grants), Boston, MA (6 grants) and Austin, TX (4 grants).
Does Mulago Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 97 grants with a stated purpose on Mulago Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Relief to the Poor" (89 grants).
Who are Mulago Foundation's largest grantees?
Mulago Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Panorama Global ($750,000 across 2 grants), Absolute Return for Kids ($500,000) and Aceli Africa Inc ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mulago Foundation?
Mulago Foundation reported $358.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $28.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $23.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Mulago Foundation fund?
The foundation says its work carries on Rainer Arnhold’s focus on improving life for children in poverty, and that it concentrates on solutions meeting the basic needs of the poorest families. Its stated interests include health, environment, education, livelihoods, and water and sanitation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mulago Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mulago Foundation's EIN?
Mulago Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6182697. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Mulago Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mulago Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mulago-foundation-morg_6164a2f6a1fd4049a5785cbed29b6e9e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_946182697_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mulago Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mulago-foundation-morg_6164a2f6a1fd4049a5785cbed29b6e9e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Mulago Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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