Ploughshares Fund Inc
Ploughshares Fund Inc is a public charity based in San Francisco, California, formed in 1981. It supports organizations and people working to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear threats, including through grantmaking and field-building support.
Ploughshares Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Ploughshares Fund Inc gave $2.8M across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $76K), mostly in District of Columbia. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,816,000
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- -5.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $76,108
- -20.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $70,000
- Total assets
- $24,433,502
- -10.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (8 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (54% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ploughshares Fund Inc
- Review Cycle
- The listed September 1, 2026 deadline for the grant programs is past.
- Deadline
- The listed September 1, 2026 deadline for the grant programs is past.
- Contact
Mailing address: 315 Bay Street 4Th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: (415) 668-2244
Website: https://ploughshares.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Ploughshares Fund Inc
Nuclear Futures Fellowship
Ploughshares Fund Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Paul Olum Grant Fund
Ploughshares Fund Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ploughshares Fund Grant
Ploughshares Fund Inc
Amount
Up to US $50,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Ploughshares Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was President and Fellows of Middlebury College ($205K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
248 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 140 grants of 248 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Ploughshares’ website says international organizations are eligible. In filing year 2025, 54% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC, 17% to California, 7% to Vermont, 4% to Maryland, and 4% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ploughshares Fund Inc open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 37 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $46K; repeat grants $84K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $70K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.8M (2025) to $4.3M (2023). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| President and Fellows of Middlebury College Middlebury, VT | To support a fellowship program for nuclear experts impacted by the invasion of ukraine, to support jeffrey lewis' research, analysis, and media outreach on nuclear and missile activities in north korea and china, to support activities of the middle east next generation of arms control specialists to promote regional security in the middle east and to support the development and execution of the nuclear futures fellowship capstone project. | $205,000 |
| International Civil Society Action Network Washington, DC | To support organizations of the womens alliance for security leadership in south asia and the middle east through the innovative peace fund. | $190,000 |
| Arms Control Association Washington, DC | To fund continued research, public education, media outreach, policy advocacy, and congressional engagement on pressing nuclear policy issues and to support the physicists coalition for nuclear threat reduction's grassroots network of scientists as they educate and advocate for policy change. | $178,000 |
| Foreign Policy for America Washington, DC | To support activities promoting a diplomacy-first foreign policy for the united states, particularly on nuclear weapons issues. | $125,000 |
| Inkstick Media Frederick, MD | To support the foreign affairs, defense, and national security magazine inkstick. | $125,000 |
| Rethink Media San Francisco, CA | To support collaborative media training and content creation related to localized coverage of the bulletin of the atomic scientists' annual doomsday clock announcement and to support rethink media's efforts to enhance the media skills of the nuclear policy community and build support for better nuclear policy in the united states. | $125,000 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists Cambridge, MA | To bring impacted community members to washington, dc to educate policy makers about the radiation exposure compensation act (RECA) and to support efforts to limit the size of the us nuclear arsenal, lower the risk of nuclear war, and provide justice to impacted communities. | $120,000 |
| Friends Committee on National Legislation Washington, DC | To support advocacy efforts in congress to promote safer nuclear policies and diplomacy with relevant states. | $110,000 |
| Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Washington, DC | To advance diplomacy and support policy dialogues on key issues, to support a carnegie policy dialogue on key issues and to support the development and execution of the nuclear futures fellowship capstone project. | $100,000 |
| Horizon 2045 Foundation Mill Valley, CA | To support horizon 2045's work on identifying and executing disruptive legal and normative strategies to help shift the nuclear weapons system towards disarmament and prohibition. | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ploughshares Fund Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,433,502 | $5,221,356 | $7,613,345 | $2,816,000 | 37 | $1,557,425 |
| 2024 | $27,342,062 | $5,100,151 | $9,724,669 | $3,754,500 | 39 | $2,181,654 |
| 2023 | $31,713,205 | $9,103,541 | $8,959,502 | $4,272,835 | 55 | $294,857 |
| 2022 | $27,533,939 | $6,339,927 | $8,495,557 | $4,037,000 | 58 | $1,115,236 |
| 2021 | $34,653,491 | $6,615,677 | $7,449,918 | $3,594,500 | 59 | $1,284,546 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to combine policy expertise, permissible direct advocacy, media profile, and strategic grantmaking to help build a safe, secure, nuclear weapon-free world. Its website describes its mission as reducing and eventually eliminating the threat of nuclear weapons.
Funding priorities include near-term policy work to reduce nuclear threats and address regional conflicts; support for a stronger, more resilient nuclear field; and field-building efforts such as fellowships, training, leadership development, collaboration, and broadening the constituency for nuclear issues. Its four grantmaking portfolios are Core Support, Expanding Capacity, Urgent Challenges, and Bold Experiments.
The 2025 grants illustrate support for a range of organizations and activities. For example, the Arms Control Association describes its mission as promoting public understanding and support for effective arms control policies. The Union of Concerned Scientists says it puts independent science into action to advocate for a healthy, safe, and just future. ReThink Media describes its work as helping organizations and movements achieve lasting change through communications strategies and support.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Ploughshares reported 37 grants totaling $2,816,000. Awards ranged from $8,000 to $205,000, with a median of $70,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $205,000 to President and Fellows of Middlebury College for, among other activities, a fellowship program for nuclear experts affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and nuclear policy research; $190,000 to the International Civil Society Action Network for support to organizations in the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership in South Asia and the Middle East; and $178,000 to the Arms Control Association for research, public education, media outreach, policy advocacy, and congressional engagement on nuclear policy. Other large awards included $125,000 each to Foreign Policy for America, Inkstick Media, and ReThink Media, and $120,000 to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Applications are submitted through an online portal. The website says the Fall 2026 funding cycle is closed and that future cycle dates will likely be posted in January 2027. Between board meetings, staff may make discretionary grants of up to $50,000 for urgent projects aligned with the highest-priority funding areas; prospective applicants are asked to submit an inquiry with a brief project description and topline budget. Ploughshares does not fund scholarships, dissertation or book research and writing, or academic-institution overhead. Film, video, and art-project funding is considered case by case. It funds international organizations, direct and grassroots lobbying, and individuals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The organization’s website identifies Gretchen Hund as Board Chair, Dr. Emma Belcher as President, and Samara Dun as Executive Director. The 2025 filing lists Emma Belcher as President and Gretchen Hund as Chair. It also lists Don Mordecai as Treasurer and Alen Amini, Amy McGrath, Ben Rhodes, Connie Foote, Ethan Kelly, John Feikema, and Margaret A. Tough as directors.
Ploughshares Fund Inc is led by Elizabeth Warner, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 7 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth Warner
Executive Director
Managing Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$155K (2021) → $180K (2025)
Emma Belcher
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$137K (2021) → $402K (2025)
Gretchen Hund
Chair
Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie Fisk
Development Director
Dep. Director of Devlp → Develop. Director, 2023
Develop. Director → Development Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$94K (2022) → $137K (2025)
Charles Crosby
Communications & Marketing Director
Director of Communications & Marketing → Communications & Marketing Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$132K (2024) → $144K (2025)
Jamshade Faani
Finance Director & Controller
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$129K (2024) → $143K (2025)
John Carl Baker
Programs Director
Deputy Director of Programs → Programs Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$101K (2024) → $112K (2025)
Sara Kutchesfahani
Director of Programs
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$137K (2024) → $167K (2025)
Amy McGrath
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Rhodes
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Connie Foote
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ethan Kelly
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Feikema
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret A. Tough
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tyler Wigg-Stevenson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Sagan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alen Amini
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Micahel Wear
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Sedgwick Davis
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Skyler Brown
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael McQuade
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shamil Idris
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Don Mordecai
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip Ames
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Doug Michelman (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Farshad Farahat (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Terry Gamble Boyer (2021–2024) — Chair
- Former: Tom Z. Collina (2021–2024) — Senior Policy Advisor
- Former: Gael Tarleton (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Phil Ames (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Cara Wagner (2023) — Senior Program Officer
- Former: Michael Wear (2023) — Director
- Former: Eric Schlosser (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Pamela Hamamoto (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Philip Taubman (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Rachel Pike (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Tabitha Jordan (2021–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Delfin Vigil (2022) — Director of Communications
- Former: Michelle Dover (2022) — Director of Programs
- Former: Daniel Smith (2021) — Director
- Former: Joseph Cirincione (2021) — Former President
- Former: Mary Byrne (2021) — Director of Finance
- Former: Samuel Heins (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $402K, to Emma Belcher (President). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ploughshares Fund Inc
How much does Ploughshares Fund Inc give each year?
Ploughshares Fund Inc gave $2.8M across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.8M across 39 grants.
What is Ploughshares Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Ploughshares Fund Inc's median grant in 2025 was $70,000, and its average grant was $76,108, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ploughshares Fund Inc that year got $46K on average.
Where does Ploughshares Fund Inc give grants?
Ploughshares Fund Inc gives mostly in District of Columbia: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (17%) and Vermont (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (20 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Ploughshares Fund Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 37 grants with a stated purpose on Ploughshares Fund Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Ploughshares Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Ploughshares Fund Inc's largest 2025 grantees include President and Fellows of Middlebury College ($205,000), International Civil Society Action Network ($190,000) and Arms Control Association ($178,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ploughshares Fund Inc?
Ploughshares Fund Inc reported $24.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.2M.
What does Ploughshares Fund Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to combine policy expertise, permissible direct advocacy, media profile, and strategic grantmaking to help build a safe, secure, nuclear weapon-free world. Its website describes its mission as reducing and eventually eliminating the threat of nuclear weapons. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ploughshares Fund Inc?
Ploughshares Fund Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ploughshares.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Ploughshares Fund Inc's EIN?
Ploughshares Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2764520. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 6, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 14, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ploughshares Fund Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ploughshares-fund-inc-morg_e9bf2cd94ec8401e92f0cec93dcfd5b8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_942764520_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ploughshares Fund Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ploughshares-fund-inc-morg_e9bf2cd94ec8401e92f0cec93dcfd5b8},
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 Ploughshares Fund Inc'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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