The Freeman Foundation
The Freeman Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services, primarily in Hawaii, Vermont, and New York, with an emphasis on environmental and educational initiatives.
The Freeman Foundation at a glance
In short: The Freeman Foundation gave $20.4M across 95 grants in 2024 (avg $215K), top state Hawaii. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $20,420,140
- +7.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 95
- +37.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $214,949
- -22.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $371,529,701
- +3.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (14% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Freeman Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing states that applicants should submit a cover letter with pertinent information requested in the annual report. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: The Freeman Foundation
Mailing address: 1601 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96848
Phone: (808) 944-7663
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Freeman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was First Nations Development Institute ($2.3M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $10.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 45 grants of 167 (27%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s grantmaking is described as primarily focused on Hawaii, Vermont, and New York. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Hawaii and Colorado at 14% each, New York and Vermont at 13% each, and Washington, DC, at 10%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 95 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Freeman Foundation gives
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $15.7M (2020) to $20.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 95 grants totaling $20.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First Nations Development Institute Longmont, CO | General Support | $1,650,000 |
| Institute of International Education New York, NY | General Support | $1,330,000 |
| Vermont Land Trust Montpelier, VT | General Support | $1,225,000 |
| Mag America Inc Washington, DC | General Support | $1,200,000 |
| Hawaii Good Food Alliance Honolulu, HI | General Support | $1,032,350 |
| Rhoades College Memphis, TN | General Support | $1,000,000 |
| National Association of Japan-America Societies Incorporated Washington, DC | General Support | $711,280 |
| First Nations Development Institute Longmont, CO | General Support | $650,000 |
| Columbia University Weatherhead East Asian Institute New York, NY | General Support | $569,541 |
| University of Georgia Foundation Athens, GA | General Support | $556,182 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $371,529,701 | $38,663,294 | $26,302,463 | $20,420,140 | 95 | $22,677,570 | $35,328,667 | $23,702,407 |
| 2023 | $358,789,461 | $40,170,636 | $24,212,294 | $19,080,000 | 69 | $21,056,242 | $37,131,797 | $20,486,973 |
| 2022 | $343,347,503 | $10,569,405 | $23,594,195 | $19,940,871 | 1 | $21,511,110 | $8,738,701 | $20,538,897 |
| 2021 | $356,596,332 | $37,198,904 | $24,105,888 | $19,778,123 | 1 | $21,218,965 | $34,962,803 | $23,192,883 |
| 2020 | $343,405,683 | $35,941,951 | $18,960,964 | $15,693,660 | 1 | — | $33,816,690 | $19,519,632 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Freeman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its grantmaking focus as education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services, with an emphasis on environmental and educational initiatives.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. First Nations Development Institute says it advances the direct participation of tribes, tribal members, and other Indigenous peoples in the economy. The Institute of International Education describes its work as promoting international educational and cultural exchanges, including through fellowships and scholarships. Vermont Land Trust says it helps people protect, care for, and connect to land, including farms, forests, natural areas, and community spaces. MAG America describes its mission as clearing land contaminated by explosive remnants of conflict and reducing risks to civilians. Hawaii Good Food Alliance describes itself as a community hui involved in food production, aggregation, and distribution.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 95 grants totaling $20,420,140. Grants ranged from $11,000 to $1,650,000, with a median of $100,000. Its stated typical award range is $11,000 to $2,800,000. The largest 2024 grants included:
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Graeme Freeman as trustee and president; David R. Stack and George S. Tsandikos as trustees; and Shereen Goto, Juefei Wang, Alec Freeman, and Robin Sato as directors.
The Freeman Foundation is led by Graeme Freeman, Trustee & President on every filing since 2020; all 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Graeme Freeman
Trustee & President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$402K (2020) → $425K (2024)
David R. Stack
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$246K (2020) → $306K (2024)
George S. Tsandikos
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$164K (2023) → $306K (2024)
Alec Freeman
Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$117K (2023) → $117K (2024)
Juefei Wang
Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$158K (2023) → $171K (2024)
Robin Sato
Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$95K (2023) → $104K (2024)
Shereen Goto
Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$170K (2023) → $189K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $425K, to Graeme Freeman (TRUSTEE,PRESIDENT). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Freeman Foundation
How much does The Freeman Foundation give each year?
The Freeman Foundation gave $20.4M across 95 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $19.1M across 69 grants.
What is The Freeman Foundation's typical grant size?
The Freeman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $214,949, across 95 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Freeman Foundation give grants?
The Freeman Foundation's top state is Hawaii, with 14% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Colorado (14%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Honolulu, HI (16 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Burlington, VT (3 grants).
Does The Freeman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Freeman Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (95 of 95) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Freeman Foundation's largest grantees?
The Freeman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include First Nations Development Institute ($2,300,000 across 2 grants), Institute of International Education ($1,330,000) and Vermont Land Trust ($1,225,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Freeman Foundation?
The Freeman Foundation reported $371.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $22.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $23.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Freeman Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its grantmaking focus as education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services, with an emphasis on environmental and educational initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Freeman Foundation?
The filing states that applicants should submit a cover letter with pertinent information requested in the annual report. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Freeman Foundation's EIN?
The Freeman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2965090. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Freeman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-freeman-foundation-morg_b8ba3330ed8b4573bd92be9e48556fb5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_132965090_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Freeman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-freeman-foundation-morg_b8ba3330ed8b4573bd92be9e48556fb5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 The Freeman Foundation'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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