The Koum Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2015 and based in Palo Alto, California. The foundation is the primary philanthropic vehicle for Jan Koum, co-founder and former CEO of WhatsApp. Born in Kiev, Ukraine, to a Jewish family, Koum moved to the Bay Area at age 16. He co-founded WhatsApp in 2009 with Brian Acton while both were working at Yahoo, and the company was acquired by Facebook for $19 billion in 2014.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3B
+41.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$92.4M
+2.2% YoY
Grant Count
155
-1.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$596K
+3.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Koum Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $135.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's funding priorities center on support for the international Jewish community and Israel. While Jewish causes form the core of its grantmaking strategy, the foundation also provides support to organizations focused on women and girls, public health, and community development causes across the United States. According to available information, groups whose mission does not address Jewish causes in some way will almost certainly be unsuccessful in securing funding from this foundation.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 158 grants totaling $72.7 million in 2024. In 2023, it distributed $103.7 million across 152 grants. Historical giving shows consistent annual distributions ranging from $71.1 million to $103.7 million over the past five years.
Grant Range
$15,000 to $5,538,000
Average Grant
approximately $677,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in New York, California, and the District of Columbia, though it supports organizations serving the international Jewish community globally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $3.297 billion
- Total giving: $92.379 million
- Total liabilities: $68.6 million
Assets & Giving (2023):
- Total assets: $2.329 billion
- Total revenues: $27.776 million
- Total expenses: $103.739 million
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $10.936 million
- Investment income and dividends: $14.438 million
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $2.375 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,297,273,570 | $2,328,710,419 | $1,401,385,958 |
| Revenue | $64,282,904 | $27,776,631 | $-6,597,016 |
| Expenses | $125,629,253 | $103,739,204 | $111,874,734 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $93,192,520 | $91,040,792 | $104,107,498 |
| Net Investment Income | $37,821,511 | $13,776,726 | $13,149,800 |
| Distributable Amount | $135,364,252 | $95,207,221 | $84,277,372 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include European Jewish Association ($5,538,000), European Jewish Association ($5,450,000), American Friends of Sheba Medical Center ($2,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALEPH INSTITUTE SURFSIDE, FL | GENERAL CHARITY | $350,000 |
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR EDUCATION AND WELFARE OF JEWS (FOR OUR PEOPLE) NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CHARITY | $300,000 |
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR SHAARE ZEDEK NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CHARITY | $250,000 |
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR SHAARE ZEDEK NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CHARITY | $500,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HERZOG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CHARITY | $400,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF NATAL INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CHARITY | $275,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL CHARITY | $2,000,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CHARITY | $750,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CHARITY | $200,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE KIEV JEWISH COMMUNITY AIRMONT, NY | GENERAL CHARITY | $1,200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jan Koum – Founder and Director
- Yana Kalika – President and CEO
- Audrey Scott – Secretary
The foundation maintains a small staff of approximately three employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAN KOUM | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| YANA KALIKA | PRESIDENT | 40 | $430,300 |
| AUDREY SCOTT | SECRETARY | 8 | — |
| SARA COLORADO | CFO | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025, the Koum Family Foundation endowed an Israel Studies Program at Stanford University, reflecting the foundation's continued commitment to supporting academic initiatives related to Israel and Jewish studies. This gift represents the foundation's strategic focus on advancing education and scholarship in these areas at major research institutions.
Gift from the Koum Family Foundation endows Israel Studies ProgramSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Koum Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's funding priorities center on support for the international Jewish community and Israel. While Jewish causes form the core of its grantmaking strategy, the foundation also provides support to organizations focused on women and girls, public health, and community development causes across the United States. According to available information, groups whose mission does not address Jewish causes in some way will almost certainly be unsuccessful in securing funding from this foundat…
How do I apply for a grant from The Koum Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $15,000 to $5,538,000 • Median grant size: $350,000–$400,000 • Average grant size: approximately $677,000 **Recent Activity:** The foundation made 158 grants totaling $72.7 million in 2024. In 2023, it distributed $103.7 million across 152 grants. Historical giving shows consistent annual distributions ranging from $71.1 million to $103.7 million over the past five years. **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications o…
Where does The Koum Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in New York, California, and the District of Columbia, though it supports organizations serving the international Jewish community globally.
What size grants does The Koum Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Koum Family Foundation awarded 155 grants totaling $92.4M — an average of about $596K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Koum Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Koum Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $135.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Koum Family Foundation's EIN?
The Koum Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5446562. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Koum Family 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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