The Long Now Foundation
The Long Now Foundation is a globally-recognized champion of long-term thinking and responsibility, operating within the context of the next and last 10,000 years a timespan we call the long now.
The Long Now Foundation at a glance
In short: The Long Now Foundation reported $79K in grants paid in 2024 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2024)
- $79,000 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -37.0% vs 2023
- Total assets
- $20,463,072
- -0.6% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $4,223,399
- -11.4% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $1,386,343
- +315.8% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $4,177,609
- -13.9% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Long Now Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 3 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2021) to $125K (2023). In 2024 it reported $79K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rufus Corporation Brooklyn, NY | Creation and presentation of multim | $125,450 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $20,463,072 | $4,223,399 | $4,177,609 | $79,000 | Total only | $1,386,343 |
| 2023 | $20,576,248 | $4,764,455 | $4,853,175 | $125,450 | 1 | $333,376 |
| 2022 | $10,781,765 | $7,236,417 | $3,883,760 | $45,000 | Total only | $304,654 |
| 2021 | $8,496,773 | $4,135,043 | $2,968,325 | $30,251 | 2 | $468,679 |
| 2020 | $6,761,906 | $2,950,640 | $2,583,712 | — | — | $94,843 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About The Long Now Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Long Now Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in San Francisco, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $20.5M in total assets. In 2024, it reported $79K in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list. Net investment income was $1.4M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Long Now Foundation is led by Rebecca Lendl, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 6 of 24 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rebecca Lendl
Executive Director
Interim Executive Director → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$250K (2023) → $275K (2024)
Patrick Dowd
President
New on the 2024 filing
20 hrs/week
$7K (2024)
Katherine Fulton
Co Chair
Co-Chair → Co Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Engelman
Director of Programs
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$109K (2020) → $135K (2024)
James Home
Director of Committee
Director of Communications → Director of Committee, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$179K (2023) → $222K (2024)
Daniel Linder
It Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$112K (2024)
Nicholas Paul
Project Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$250K (2024)
Brian Eno
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danny Hillis
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Eagleman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Rumsey
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Esther Dyson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Kelly
Director
Director → Co-Chair, 2023
Co-Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Polese
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Collison
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Saffo
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Schwartz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ping Fu
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stewart Brand
Director
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doug Carlston
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Kaye Solomon
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mick Costigan
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danica Remy
Secretary
Treasurer → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Speicher
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Alexander Rose (2020–2023) — Emeritus Executive Director
- Former: Douglas Carlston (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Nicholas P. Brysiewicz (2020–2023) — Director of Strategy
- Former: Mikko Jarvenpaa (2023) — Director of Development
- Former: Laura Welcher (2020–2022) — Director of Operations
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 $275K, to Rebecca Lendl (Executive Dir.). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Long Now Foundation
How much does The Long Now Foundation give each year?
The Long Now Foundation reported $79K in grants paid in 2024 on its 2024 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2023 it gave $125K across 1 grant.
How large is The Long Now Foundation?
The Long Now Foundation reported $20.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.2M.
What is The Long Now Foundation?
The Long Now Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in San Francisco, CA. It holds $20.5M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does The Long Now Foundation operate?
The Long Now Foundation has awarded grants in California, New York.
What is The Long Now Foundation's EIN?
The Long Now Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0384748. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from The Long Now 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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