Noblelight Foundation
Noblelight Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) charitable foundation established in 2012. The foundation operates as a venture capital-style philanthropy organization, applying disciplined analytical research combined with compassionate engagement to identify and support social entrepreneurs addressing major global challenges.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.9M
-12.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$368K
-35.3% YoY
Grant Count
21
-12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-26.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Noblelight Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is "to bring more light into this world." The organization operates on a core philosophy that "hope, vision, and ingenuity will carry the day" and believes that "a positive worldview of unity, abundance, and love will triumph over division, scarcity, and fear."
Primary Program Areas:
- Environmental research, educational and outreach programs through the production of educational materials and documentary films focused on environmental and conservation issues
- Development and maintenance of a web-based firemap to help communities identify fire parameters and smoke movement
- Rise Festival, described as the world's largest sky lantern event, featuring live performances, immersive art installations, and wellness experiences
Grantmaking
The foundation made 26 grants in 2023. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, California, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2023):
- Total assets: $29,559,889
- Total revenues: $609,114
- Total expenses: $1,936,843
- Number of employees: 1
Program Expenses (from IRS Form 990):
- Web-based firemap development and maintenance: $150,000
- Environmental research and educational outreach programs: $104,457
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,915,686 | $29,559,889 | $30,860,613 |
| Revenue | $1,797,743 | $609,114 | $-1,828,089 |
| Expenses | $5,560,716 | $1,936,843 | $2,941,544 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,977,558 | $1,463,136 | $2,336,008 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,457,735 | $373,412 | $354,798 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,517,187 | $1,590,046 | $1,731,231 |
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
110 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hope Opportunity Meaning and Equality Ghana Lbg (home) ($112,530), Blankets of Hope ($50,000), Surfrider Foundation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 350ORG BROOKLYN, NY | TO SUPPORT ENDING THE ERA OF FOSSIL FUELS AND CREATING RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURE | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN BANDY ASSOCIATION ARDEN HILLS, MN | TO SUPPORT PROMOTING PARTICIPATION IN THE SPORT OF BANDY | $10,000 |
| BLANKETS OF HOPE BROOKLYN, NY | TO SUPPORT PROVIDING NEEDED PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO THE HOMELESS POPULATION. | $50,000 |
| CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL ARLINGTON, VA | TO SUPPORT CREATING A HEALTHIER WORLD WHERE PEOPLE AND NATURE THRIVE TOGETHER | $5,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT ASSISTING VICTIMS OF DISASTERS AND CONFLICTS WORLDWIDE. | $20,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT PRESERVING THE NATURAL SYSTEMS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS. | $5,000 |
| GREENPEACE FUND SEATTLE, WA | TO SUPPORT PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT | $5,000 |
| HOPE OPPORTUNITY MEANING AND EQUALITY GHANA LBG (HOME) | TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION ON BOTH A SCHOOL AND SKILL CENTER AND SUPPORT OPERATIONAL EXPENSES IN 2024. | $112,530 |
| LEAGUE TO SAVE LAKE TAHOE SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA | TO SUPPORT PROTECTING AND RESTORING THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SCENIC BEAUTY OF THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN. | $5,000 |
| MIRACLE CENTER OF ST PAUL SOUTH ST PAUL, MN | TO SUPPORT MISSION PROJECTS | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Todd Chaffee is identified as the chairman and founder of Noblelight Foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TODD CHAFFEE | CHAIRMAN, SECRETARY AND TREASURER | 10 | — |
| KATHRYN SMITH | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| BRANDON CHAFFEE | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| BRIANNA SCHERER | ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT | 40 | $85,000 |
| DANIEL HILL | RISE CEO | 40 | $314,355 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with documented grants distributed in 2023. The organization operates a website at noblelight.org and describes its approach as "Research. Support. Highlight." — identifying top global issues, finding promising solutions and talented social entrepreneurs, then providing capital and strategic guidance to maximize charitable impact.
Noble Foundation grants enable nonprofits to support families \u2013 Noble\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Noblelight Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is "to bring more light into this world." The organization operates on a core philosophy that "hope, vision, and ingenuity will carry the day" and believes that "a positive worldview of unity, abundance, and love will triumph over division, scarcity, and fear." **Primary Program Areas:** • Environmental research, educational and outreach programs through the production of educational materials and documentary films focused on environmental and conservation issues • Deve…
How do I apply for a grant from Noblelight Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 26 grants in 2023. Recent grants include: • Blankets of Hope: $100,000 (to support providing physical and emotional support to the homeless population) • Doctors without Borders USA: $50,000 (to support assisting victims of disasters and conflicts worldwide) • The Surfrider Foundation: grant amount not specified in available data **Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $112,530. **Funding Focus Areas:** • Environmental education grants • Gran…
Where does Noblelight Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, California, and Virginia.
What size grants does Noblelight Foundation award?
In 2024, Noblelight Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $368K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Noblelight Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Noblelight Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Noblelight Foundation's EIN?
Noblelight Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3449464. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Noblelight 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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