Open Philanthropy Action Fund
Open Philanthropy Action Fund is a public charity based in Palo Alto, California. Formed in 2016, it supports research, education, advocacy, and grantmaking intended to advance public policy and social welfare.
Open Philanthropy Action Fund at a glance
In short: Open Philanthropy Action Fund gave $16.8M across 29 grants in 2024 (avg $580K), mostly in New York. 54% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $16,815,139
- -52.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 29
- -23.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $579,832
- -38.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $106,800
- Total assets
- $41,200,342
- +34.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (15 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (51% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Open Philanthropy Action Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: 314 Lytton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Phone: (650) 804-7100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Open Philanthropy Action Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Accountable Justice Action Fund ($6.4M). Together the top 10 received $15.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
143 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 41 grants of 143 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were distributed primarily to recipients in New York (51%), Washington, DC (21%), and California (18%). Maryland and Washington state each accounted for 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Open Philanthropy Action Fund open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 28 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $294K; repeat grants $955K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $163K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $12.2M (2020) to $78.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 29 grants totaling $16.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Accountable Justice Action Fund Albany, NY | General Support | $6,400,000 |
| Americans for Responsible Innovation Washington, DC | General Support | $2,948,728 |
| Plant Based Foods Association San Francisco, CA | Work Related to Plant-Based Foods | $2,500,000 |
| Vital Strategies Action Fund Inc New York, NY | Work to reduce alcohol harms in low and middle-income countries | $1,740,378 |
| Competitive Markets Action Inc Washington, DC | Farm Bill Advocacy | $629,000 |
| Breakthrough Energy Action Inc Kirkland, WA | General Support | $404,409 |
| Centre for the Governance of Ai Inc New York, NY | General Support | $400,000 |
| Cambridge Boston Alignment Initiative Inc Cambridge, MA | Bootcamp on Cybersecurity | $180,000 |
| Rethink Priorities San Francisco, CA | Insect Welfare Policy | $180,000 |
| Malnutrition Advocacy Fund Raleigh, NC | Advocacy for Cost-Effective Malnutrition Interventions | $163,083 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $41,200,342 | $83,192,444 | $58,649,459 | $16,815,139 | 29 | $3,889,090 |
| 2023 | $30,728,049 | $79,334,487 | $77,508,932 | $35,709,060 | 38 | $1,628,050 |
| 2022 | $31,980,708 | $50,098,558 | $55,283,198 | $19,151,738 | 31 | $1,275,914 |
| 2021 | $40,719,631 | $63,966,410 | $89,321,231 | $78,392,384 | 24 | $-2,553,967 |
| 2020 | $15,508,120 | $16,397,082 | $15,048,000 | $12,175,621 | 21 | $396,050 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to study and promote more effective giving for public policy, advocacy, and social welfare, and to maximize philanthropy’s impact in those areas. It also says it seeks improvements in selected public-policy areas through research, education, advocacy, and grantmaking.
Its 2024 grants included work related to criminal justice reform, responsible technology governance, plant-based foods, public health, agriculture, clean energy, AI governance, cybersecurity, insect welfare, malnutrition interventions, and housing. These examples describe funded work, not an exhaustive list of the organization’s focus areas.
Among its grantees, Accountable Justice Action Fund describes its mission as supporting criminal justice reform through public education, advocacy, donor advising, and grantmaking. Americans for Responsible Innovation says it helps U.S. policymakers develop governance frameworks for advancing technologies that protect the public while fostering innovation. Plant Based Foods Association describes its work as promoting a fair and competitive marketplace for plant-based foods. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the funder reported 29 grants totaling $16,815,139. Grant amounts ranged from $9,338 to $6,400,000, with a median of $106,800.
The largest reported grants included $6,400,000 to Accountable Justice Action Fund for general support; $2,948,728 to Americans for Responsible Innovation for general support; and $2,500,000 to Plant Based Foods Association for work related to plant-based foods. Other large grants included $1,740,378 to Vital Strategies Action Fund for work to reduce alcohol harms in low- and middle-income countries, and $629,000 to Competitive Markets Action for Farm Bill advocacy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Cari Tuna as president and director; Alexander Berger as CEO and director; Divesh Makan as secretary and director; Dustin Moskovitz and Holden Karnofsky as directors; and Tom Van Loben Sels as treasurer.
Open Philanthropy Action Fund is led by Alexander Berger, CEO & Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alexander Berger
CEO & Director
Director → Co-Ceo & Director, 2021
Co-Ceo & Director → CEO & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cari Tuna
President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Divesh Makan
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dustin Moskovitz
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Holden Karnofsky
Director
Chief Executive Officer & Director → Co-Ceo & Director, 2021
Co-Ceo & Director → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Van Loben Sels
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 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.
Frequently asked questions about Open Philanthropy Action Fund
How much does Open Philanthropy Action Fund give each year?
Open Philanthropy Action Fund gave $16.8M across 29 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $35.7M across 38 grants.
What is Open Philanthropy Action Fund's typical grant size?
Open Philanthropy Action Fund's median grant in 2024 was $106,800, and its average grant was $579,832, across 29 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Open Philanthropy Action Fund that year got $294K on average.
Where does Open Philanthropy Action Fund give grants?
Open Philanthropy Action Fund gives mostly in New York: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (21%) and California (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (5 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Baltimore, MD (2 grants).
Does Open Philanthropy Action Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 24% of Open Philanthropy Action Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 29) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Open Philanthropy Action Fund's largest grantees?
Open Philanthropy Action Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Accountable Justice Action Fund ($6,400,000), Americans for Responsible Innovation ($2,948,728) and Plant Based Foods Association ($2,500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Open Philanthropy Action Fund?
Open Philanthropy Action Fund reported $41.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $83.2M.
What does Open Philanthropy Action Fund fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to study and promote more effective giving for public policy, advocacy, and social welfare, and to maximize philanthropy’s impact in those areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Open Philanthropy Action Fund?
Open Philanthropy Action Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Open Philanthropy Action Fund's EIN?
Open Philanthropy Action Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2644663. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Open Philanthropy Action Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/open-philanthropy-action-fund-morg_14bac30671f4456c9426f3ec5f9405c5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_812644663_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Open Philanthropy Action Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/open-philanthropy-action-fund-morg_14bac30671f4456c9426f3ec5f9405c5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 Open Philanthropy Action Fund'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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