The Conru Foundation
The Conru Foundation is a private foundation established in 2017 by technology entrepreneur Andrew Conru and based in Seattle, Washington. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting innovative projects and organizations aligned with its core values of critical thinking, evidence-based problem-solving, and the pursuit of knowledge.
Key facts about The Conru Foundation
- EIN
- 82-1387085
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,373,294
- Grants made (2024)
- 92
- Average grant
- $25,797
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $39,557,391
- Primary geography
- Washington (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Rolling basis with timely responses. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Rolling
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Conru Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Conru Foundation's 92 itemized 2024 grants were Washington (60%), Indiana (11%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (68 grants), New York, NY (2 grants), Edmonds, WA (2 grants) and Vashon, WA (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
How The Conru Foundation gives
- 29% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 33% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 132% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Conru Foundation
- How to evaluate The Conru Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Conru Foundation with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$39.6M
+8.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.4M
+49.3% YoY
Grant Count
92
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
-25.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Conru Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is the promotion of freedom of speech and religion through an online community facilitating open discussions on diverse philosophical topics, with a goal of fostering enlightenment values of truth, evidence, and free inquiry.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Educational Advancement
- Environmental Stewardship
- Humanitarian Aid
- LGBTQ+ Rights and Services
- Women's Health
- Media Integrity
- Climate & Sustainability
- Arts & Culture
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s & Range:**
Average Grant
amounts vary by funding cycle
Review Cycle
- Primary contact: nonie@conruartfoundation.org
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Conru Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes Washington state but is not strictly limited to U.S.-based nonprofits. Primary giving focuses on Washington, New York, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 92 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $39,557,391 (most recent filing, 2024)
- $36,538,198 (2023)
- $30,199,694 (2020)
Annual Giving:
- $2,373,294 (2024)
- $1,590,000 (2023)
- $1,404,204 in total revenues (2023)
Total Expenses:
- $1,761,423 (2023)
Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $39,557,391 | $36,538,198 | $36,860,749 |
| Revenue | $7,656,428 | $1,404,204 | $6,771,781 |
| Expenses | $2,711,001 | $1,761,423 | $915,302 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,579,911 | $1,672,205 | $839,215 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,636,576 | $1,326,406 | $1,327,737 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,960,421 | $1,829,778 | $1,413,805 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
214 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include We Heart Seattle ($350,000), Rose-Hulman It ($250,000), Feeding America (Reduce Hunger) ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WE HEART SEATTLE Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $350,000 |
| ROSE-HULMAN IT Terre Haute, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| FEEDING AMERICA (REDUCE HUNGER) Chicago, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| WALK STRONG FOUNDATION Nashville, TN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| QUEEN ANNE LUTHERAN CHURCH Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $65,000 |
| AMERICAN CONSERVATION COALITION Appleton, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND Rockville Centre, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $50,000 |
| ARTS IMPACT Federal Way, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BEIT TSHUVAHS Los Angeles, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Andrew Conru — Founder and President. A Stanford-trained engineer with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering who founded several technology companies and created internet applications for e-commerce, advertising, and online dating. Conru has shifted his philanthropic focus toward initiatives that bring people together and foster understanding, with increasing emphasis on supporting the arts and education.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Conru | Chair., Pres., V.P., Treas. | 20 | — |
| Nonie Conru | Secretary | 10 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Seattle Prize Masters Fellowship:** The Conru Art Foundation established the Seattle Prize Masters Fellowship and relocated the Masters Academy of Art to Seattle.
Conru Foundation - Grant Information & Application Details - Hinchilla**TransResearch Initiative:** Andrew Conru is exploring funding up to $1,000,000 in rigorous, transparent, community-driven research on gender identity through the Conru Foundation, with public input on research priorities.
Conru Foundation - Grant Information & Application Details - Hinchilla**Notable Grantees (Historical):**
The foundation has supported organizations including Thorn Inc., Pineapple Support Society, Planned Parenthood, RAINN, Polaris Project, Drug Policy Alliance, The Trevor Project, Human Rights Campaign, Trans-Thrive/SF Community Health, SIECUS, Free Speech Coalition, Grist, Post Carbon Institute, Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Conservation Coalition, and Lava Mae.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Conru Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is the promotion of freedom of speech and religion through an online community facilitating open discussions on diverse philosophical topics, with a goal of fostering enlightenment values of truth, evidence, and free inquiry. Primary funding focus areas include: • Educational Advancement • Environmental Stewardship • Humanitarian Aid • LGBTQ+ Rights and Services • Women's Health • Media Integrity • Climate & Sustainability • Arts & Culture
How do I apply for a grant from The Conru Foundation?
Rolling basis with timely responses. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Conru Foundation make grants?
The foundation prioritizes Washington state but is not strictly limited to U.S.-based nonprofits. Primary giving focuses on Washington, New York, and California.
What size grants does The Conru Foundation award?
In 2024, The Conru Foundation awarded 92 grants totaling $2.4M — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Conru Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Conru Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Conru Foundation's EIN?
The Conru Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1387085. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Conru Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.