The Knowledge Freedom Foundation
The Knowledge Freedom Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Established in 1995, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since April 1996.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.1M
-15.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$453K
-36.5% YoY
Grant Count
37
-5.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-33.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Knowledge Freedom Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not publicly provide a mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities focus on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- COVID-19 Disaster Preparedness and Relief
- Science Education
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant applications. It only makes contributions to organizations that have been preselected by the foundation.
Grant Range
$1 to $93,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in:
- California
- New York
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,054,333
- Total Revenue: $102,408
- Total Expenses: $464,176
- Total Giving: $453,002
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,054,333 | $2,416,101 | $2,705,060 |
| Revenue | $102,408 | $436,579 | $915,371 |
| Expenses | $464,176 | $725,538 | $692,486 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $456,852 | $725,538 | $692,486 |
| Net Investment Income | $62,710 | $478,345 | $876,303 |
| Distributable Amount | $55,690 | $74,709 | $78,206 |
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
210 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Givewell ($93,000), Give Directly ($50,000), 1infinitelife ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1INFINITELIFE PALO ALTO, CA | GIFT | $40,000 |
| ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OAKLAND, CA | GIFT | $10,000 |
| AMERICANS FOR PEACE NOW WASHINGTON, DC | GIFT | $5,400 |
| BAY AREA FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE PALO ALTO, CA | GIFT | $3,600 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GIFT | $5,000 |
| ESALEN INSTITUTE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GIFT | $5,000 |
| FEEDING AMERICA WASHINGTON, DC | GIFT | $5,000 |
| GIVE DIRECTLY NEW YORK, NY | GIFT | $50,000 |
| GIVEWELL OAKLAND, CA | GIFT | $93,000 |
| HEART TO HEART INTERNATIONAL LENEXA, KS | GIFT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Joseph Amram — President
- Martha Schary Amram — Director
Both serve without compensation and report zero hours per week.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH AMRAM | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| MARTHA SCHARY AMRAM | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Knowledge Freedom Foundation fund?
The foundation does not publicly provide a mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities focus on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • COVID-19 Disaster Preparedness and Relief • Science Education
How do I apply for a grant from The Knowledge Freedom Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • 37 grants awarded in the most recent filing period • Median grant amount: $7,200 • Grant range: $1 to $93,000 • Total giving: $453,002 (most recent fiscal year) **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant applications. It only makes contributions to organizations that have been preselected by the foundation.
Where does The Knowledge Freedom Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in: • California • New York • District of Columbia
What size grants does The Knowledge Freedom Foundation award?
In 2024, The Knowledge Freedom Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $453K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Knowledge Freedom Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Knowledge Freedom Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Knowledge Freedom Foundation's EIN?
The Knowledge Freedom Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3296540. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Knowledge Freedom Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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