The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation (OWCF) is a private independent foundation established in 2010 and based in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Oprah Winfrey, a media leader, producer, and actress, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic work globally. The foundation supports organizations serving children, families, and communities with a specific emphasis on youth education and community development.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$172.0M
-5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$23.4M
-37.8% YoY
Grant Count
25
-21.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$938K
-20.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to "lead, to educate, to uplift, to inspire and to empower women and children throughout the world, opening doors so that each person can begin to define what it would mean to lead their best life and fulfill their own possibility for greatness."
Primary funding areas include:
- Education: Quality education accessibility and leadership development, with particular emphasis on supporting students with merit but limited financial means
- Community Outreach: Grassroots organizations serving vulnerable populations, with targeted initiatives in Chicago, Nashville, Milwaukee, and Kosciusko, Mississippi
- Food Insecurity: Support for organizations addressing hunger and food access across the United States
- Healthcare Access: Support for health centers and recovery programs
- Emergency Relief: Responsive funding for disaster relief and urgent social needs
- Mental Health and Wellness: Leadership development and mental health initiatives
- Arts and Culture: Support for cultural institutions and programs
The foundation has pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic to commit additional resources to local organizations addressing food insecurity, shelter, and healthcare access.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
**: $17,000 to $18.2 million
Grant Types
How to Apply
**: Not publicly disclosed
Ready to take the next step with The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates globally with specific emphasis on:
- United States: Primary focus with particular concentration in Chicago, Nashville, Milwaukee, and Kosciusko, Mississippi
- South Africa: International funding presence
- Worldwide: Global support for organizations serving women and children
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $172,042,378 (2024)
Total Giving: $23,439,360 (2024)
Revenue: $3.91 million (2024)
Expenses: $28.7 million (2024)
Total Liabilities: $928,000 (2024)
Historical Context: The foundation has received significant infusions from Oprah Winfrey, including a $36 million donation in 2006 and a $40 million donation in 2009. Since its inception, the foundation and its predecessors have distributed millions of dollars to charitable organizations.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $172,042,378 | $182,145,385 | $209,493,240 |
| Revenue | $3,910,649 | $4,550,279 | $5,177,593 |
| Expenses | $28,720,045 | $41,852,608 | $15,021,345 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $24,175,808 | $38,574,803 | $12,552,829 |
| Net Investment Income | $505,992 | $12,763,137 | $1,371,118 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,914,924 | $9,771,174 | $10,523,104 |
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
120 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Entertainment Industry ($8,919,077), Ow Leadership Academy Foundation ($8,882,411), Us Dream Academy ($947,972).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHICAGOLAND MOM SQUAD BOLINGBROOK, IL | TO HELP SIMPLIFY THE DAILY CHALLENGES OF PARENTHOOD. | $10,000 |
| DREAMS OF HOPE FOUNDATION NEWPORT NEWS, VA | TO SUPPORT RAISING AWARENESS AROUND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS | $10,000 |
| HALFTHESTORY WESTER SPRINGS, IL | TO SUPPORT DIGITAL WELLBEING PROGRAM FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. | $25,000 |
| HERRENDORF FAMILY FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | TO DEVELOP, FACILITATE AND SUPPORT THE OPRAH WINFREY LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. | $925,000 |
| HERRENDORF FAMILY FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | TO DEVELOP, FACILITATE AND SUPPORT THE OPRAH WINFREY LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. | $524,900 |
| HERRENDORF FAMILY FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | TO DEVELOP, FACILITATE AND SUPPORT THE OPRAH WINFREY LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. | $910,000 |
| HERRENDORF FAMILY FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT WE GOT YOU PROGRAM, MOM USA PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OWCF AND HFF, SUPPORTING US BASED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE SUPPORTING HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED VULNERABLE FAMILIES. | $210,000 |
| HERRENDORF FAMILY FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT WE GOT YOU PROGRAM, MOM USA PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OWCF AND HFF, SUPPORTING US BASED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE SUPPORTING HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED VULNERABLE FAMILIES. | $20,000 |
| HERRENDORF FAMILY FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT WE GOT YOU PROGRAM, MOM USA PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OWCF AND HFF, SUPPORTING US BASED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE SUPPORTING HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED VULNERABLE FAMILIES. | $10,000 |
| HOLLYROD FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | TO FINANCIALLY ASSIST THOSE WITH AUTISM AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S. | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Oprah Winfrey: Founder and primary decision-maker. Oprah Winfrey is personally involved in selecting initiatives that align with her vision of creating opportunities for underserved communities. She has stated: "My hope for this foundation is to turn it into a community where all of us can come together to help our fellow brothers and sisters overcome overwhelming odds so that one day they can do the same for others. My dream is for us to build a movement of empathy, empowerment and excellence."
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPRAH G WINFREY | CO-TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| GAYLE KING | CO-TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ROBERT GREENE | CO-TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made notable recent grants and announcements:
**U.S. Dream Academy**: Donated $2.5 million to support the organization's work
Oprah Just Donated $2.5 Million to the U.S. Dream Academy**Scholarship Program Launch**: The Oprah Winfrey Leaders Scholarship (OWLS) was launched to support students demonstrating leadership in their communities
About Us - Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation**Pandemic Response**: The foundation pivoted during COVID-19 to partner with organizations addressing food insecurity, shelter, and healthcare access
Contact Information
Address: 2029 Century Park East, Suite 1530N, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: (323) 272-6851
Website: https://www.oprahfoundation.org/
EIN: 26-6908382
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to "lead, to educate, to uplift, to inspire and to empower women and children throughout the world, opening doors so that each person can begin to define what it would mean to lead their best life and fulfill their own possibility for greatness." Primary funding areas include: • **Education**: Quality education accessibility and leadership development, with particular emphasis on supporting students with merit but limited financial means • **Community Outreach**: Gra…
How do I apply for a grant from The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Range**: $17,000 to $18.2 million **Annual Giving**: Approximately $24.2 million (2024) **Grant Types**: The foundation makes grants to support: • Healthcare access and recovery programs • Emergency relief and food insecurity initiatives • Community development through grassroots organizations • Education initiatives and scholarship programs • Multi-million dollar commitments to universities and educational institutions **Notable Programs**: • **The Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program**: Sch…
Where does The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates globally with specific emphasis on: • **United States**: Primary focus with particular concentration in Chicago, Nashville, Milwaukee, and Kosciusko, Mississippi • **South Africa**: International funding presence • **Worldwide**: Global support for organizations serving women and children
What size grants does The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $23.4M — an average of about $938K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-6908382. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation to a real strategy.