Telescope Fund is a 501(c)(3) public charity and grantmaking foundation based in Washington, DC. Established in 2021, it was initially launched as a subsidiary of the New Venture Fund and managed by Arabella Advisors before being reclassified as a traditional 501(c)(3) public charity by the IRS in May 2023. The organization partners with donors to expand their philanthropic giving by providing tools and infrastructure to support strategic grantmaking and innovative problem-solving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.2M
-26.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.3M
-71.2% YoY
Grant Count
35
-56.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$293K
-34.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Telescope Fund partners with donors to expand their philanthropic giving by providing them with the tools needed to catalyze their vision for change. The organization provides support for:
- Strategic grantmaking
- Efficient operations
- Expert advising
- Innovative problem-solving
The organization operates through donor-advised funds (DAFs) that support specific thematic areas, including:
- Racial Equity and DEI Fund: Supports diversity, equity, and inclusion programs
- Global Land Conservation Fund: Supports environmental conservation initiatives
- State-Based Civic Engagement Fund: Supports grassroots organizing and voter engagement organizations
During the 2022 tax year, the organization made general and project support grants to organizations supporting global health, conservation, social justice, alleviation of poverty, scientific research, disaster recovery, education, and the arts.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s**: $300,000 - $1,700,000+ (based on 2022-2023 data)
How to Apply
**: Not publicly available
Ready to take the next step with Telescope Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
United States, with emphasis on state-based civic engagement initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $69,446,551
- Total Expenses: $37,206,092
- Total Assets: $38,127,793
- Total Liabilities: $5,310,000
2024 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $5,536,429
- Total Expenses: $10,788,449
- Total Assets: $28,215,070
Annual Giving: $35,590,849 (2023)
Rating: Telescope Fund received an 85% score and Three-Star rating, with an overall score calculated entirely from accountability and finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,215,070 | $38,127,793 | $2,367,892 |
| Revenue | $5,536,429 | $69,446,551 | $30,475,057 |
| Expenses | $10,788,449 | $37,206,092 | $30,044,973 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,514,546 | $1,432,069 | $109,824 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
135 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Recycling Partnership Inc ($2,200,000), Dreaming Out Loud Inc ($1,000,000), Save Ukraine Inc ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIVATE 48 EDUCATION FUND PHOENIX, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BLOOM TO LIFE SAN DIEGO, CA | PROJECT SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| CAL RIPKEN SR FOUNDATION INC BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| CAL STATE FULLERTON PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION FULLERTON, CA | PROJECT SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| CAMP KOREY MOUNT VERNON, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CATCHAFIRE FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | PROJECT SUPPORT | $37,800 |
| CHOC FOUNDATION ORANGE, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CLARK COUNTY MUSEUM JEFFERSONVILLE, IN | PROJECT SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CORPSGIVING FOUNDATION DENVER, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| DESTINY CENTER OF DESOTO COUNTY OLIVE BRANCH, MS | PROJECT SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Leslie Payne is listed as President (as of 2023).
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LESLIE PAYNE | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| BEN MANGAN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| MARLA BLOW | TREASURER (THROUGH 7/2024) | 1 | — |
| DORI KREIGER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANDREW SCHULZ | GENERAL COUNSEL | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: telescopefund.org
- Email: info@telescopefund.org
- Address: 1050 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036-5304
- Phone: 202-971-1471
- EIN: 86-2577635
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Telescope Fund fund?
Telescope Fund partners with donors to expand their philanthropic giving by providing them with the tools needed to catalyze their vision for change. The organization provides support for: • Strategic grantmaking • Efficient operations • Expert advising • Innovative problem-solving The organization operates through donor-advised funds (DAFs) that support specific thematic areas, including: • **Racial Equity and DEI Fund**: Supports diversity, equity, and inclusion programs • **Global Land Conse…
How do I apply for a grant from Telescope Fund?
**Grant Sizes**: $300,000 - $1,700,000+ (based on 2022-2023 data) **Recent Grant Activity**: • 2022: Awarded 52 individual grants totaling $29.3 million • 2023: Expanded to $35.6 million in grants • 2024: Notable grant of $2,200,000 to The Recycling Partnership for project support **Application Process**: Not publicly available
Where does Telescope Fund make grants?
United States, with emphasis on state-based civic engagement initiatives.
What size grants does Telescope Fund award?
In 2024, Telescope Fund awarded 35 grants totaling $10.3M — an average of about $293K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Telescope Fund's EIN?
Telescope Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-2577635. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Telescope Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Demand Justice Initiative
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$7.6M
Grants
1
Total Given
$225K
American Academic Leadership Institute
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$3.6M
Grants
2
Total Given
$50K
Cnfa
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$18.3M
Grants
9
Total Given
$4.2M
Partnership for a Healthier America
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$10.8M
Grants
12
Total Given
$350K
Association of Schools of Allied Health
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$2.3M
Grants
2
Total Given
$60K
Fulcrum Foundation Inc
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$53K
Grants
10
Total Given
$13K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Telescope Fund on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Telescope Fund to a real strategy.