The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation (OWCF) is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. It supports organizations serving children, families, and communities, with a particular focus on youth education.
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation gave $23.4M across 25 grants in 2024 (avg $938K), mostly in California. 40% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $23,439,360
- -37.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- -21.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $937,574
- -20.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $150,000
- Total assets
- $172,042,378
- -5.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (8 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (76% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2029 Century Park East Suite 1530N, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: (323) 272-6851
Website: https://oprahfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Entertainment Industry ($8.9M). Together the top 10 received $23.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 36 grants of 120 (30%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
OWCF says it supports organizations around the world. Its website identifies initiatives with local organizations in Chicago, Nashville, Milwaukee, and Kosciusko, Mississippi, and describes the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.
In 2024, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 12% to Illinois, 4% to Maryland, and 2% each to Colorado and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 20 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $128K; repeat grants $1.9M. How we count
Medians: $63K first-time, $225K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 56% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 271% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 $11.3M (2022) to $37.7M (2023). In 2024 it made 25 grants totaling $23.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Entertainment Industry Los Angeles, CA | To provide funds directly to members of communities in Maui county, Hawaii who experienced the loss of their home due to the wildfires. | $8,919,077 |
| Ow Leadership Academy Foundation Los Angeles, CA | For operating expenses for the oprah winfrey leadership academy for girls in south africa | $8,882,411 |
| US Dream Academy Silver Spring, MD | Transformative mentoring program for youth to build character, skills and dreams in a safe out of school time environment. | $947,972 |
| 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. | $910,000 |
| Herrendorf Family Foundation Chicago, IL | To develop, facilitate and support the oprah winfrey leadership scholarship program. | $524,900 |
| Telluride Council for the Arts Telluride, CO | To help preserve and restore the telluride transfer warehouse into a public arts. | $500,000 |
| Omprakash Foundation-Humanity Crew Seattle, WA | To Provide Mental Health Support in Global Missions. | $270,000 |
| Mindfullness Leader NFP Chicago, IL | To enhance, train, and align minds of young leaders to shape their emotional intelligence. | $250,000 |
| National Cares Mentoring Movement Inc New York, NY | To help sustain and grow the impact of national cares and increase access to mental health and wellness support to young people. | $250,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation?
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 | $172,042,378 | $3,910,649 | $28,720,045 | $23,439,360 | 25 | $24,175,808 | $505,992 | $8,914,924 |
| 2023 | $182,145,385 | $4,550,279 | $41,852,608 | $37,675,404 | 32 | $38,574,803 | $12,763,137 | $9,771,174 |
| 2022 | $209,493,240 | $5,177,593 | $15,021,345 | $11,292,466 | 14 | $12,552,829 | $1,371,118 | $10,523,104 |
| 2021 | $241,985,642 | $16,951,528 | $21,613,131 | $15,026,657 | 19 | $26,169,656 | $8,321,980 | $12,037,606 |
| 2020 | $244,908,730 | $15,499,605 | $45,019,252 | $35,683,083 | 30 | — | — | $12,352,569 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
OWCF’s mission is “to lead, to educate, to uplift, to inspire and to empower women and children throughout the world,” opening doors for people to pursue their potential through a lasting commitment to teaching, learning, and growing.
Education is a stated priority. The foundation describes its work as helping make quality education accessible and giving leaders opportunities to lift themselves and others. Its website also describes community outreach, including support for grassroots organizations and initiatives addressing food insecurity and care and recovery.
Examples of grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. National Cares Mentoring Movement says it recruits, trains, and places mentors and builds programs providing wellness and academic support for children from low-income communities. Minnie’s Food Pantry says it provides healthy meals and educational resources to people seeking supplemental food assistance. Mana Maoli describes work connecting and empowering educators and learners through ancestral knowledge and academic excellence. HollyRod Foundation says it assists people with autism and people with Parkinson’s who have limited financial resources. HalfTheStory describes its mission as promoting youth digital well-being through advocacy, education, and resources.
Grantmaking
In 2024, OWCF reported 25 grants totaling $23,439,360. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $8,919,077, with a median of $150,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $8,919,077 to The Entertainment Industry to provide funds directly to people in Maui County who lost homes to wildfires, and $8,882,411 to OW Leadership Academy Foundation for operating expenses for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Other grants included $947,972 to U.S. Dream Academy for its youth mentoring program; three grants totaling $2,359,900 to Herrendorf Family Foundation for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Scholarship Program; and $500,000 to Telluride Council for the Arts to help preserve and restore the Telluride Transfer Warehouse as a public arts venue. The foundation also awarded $250,000 to National Cares Mentoring Movement to help sustain and grow its impact and expand young people’s access to mental health and wellness support, and $200,000 to Minnie’s Food Pantry to feed and educate families in need.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Oprah G. Winfrey, Gayle King, and Robert Greene as co-trustees.
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gayle King
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Oprah G. Winfrey
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Greene
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation
How much does The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation gave $23.4M across 25 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $37.7M across 32 grants.
What is The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $150,000, and its average grant was $937,574, across 25 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation that year got $128K on average.
Where does The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation gives mostly in California: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Illinois (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 4% of The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Entertainment Industry ($8,919,077), Ow Leadership Academy Foundation ($8,882,411) and Herrendorf Family Foundation ($2,599,900 across 6 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation?
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation reported $172.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $24.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation fund?
OWCF’s mission is “to lead, to educate, to uplift, to inspire and to empower women and children throughout the world,” opening doors for people to pursue their potential through a lasting commitment to teaching, learning, and growing. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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
Live grants for the work The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Direct Relief
Santa Barbara, CA
Direct Relief supports healthcare providers serving people affected by poverty or emergencies, including community health centers, clinics, and grassroots organizations, with medicines, supplies, and funding for health access and equity. In 2025, its grants had a median award of about $65,000, and its work spans all 50 U.S. states and countries around the world; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,367
Total Given
$337.4M
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation funds nonprofits working to improve lives and alleviate poverty, with initiatives including early childhood development, homelessness, refugees, safe water, and support for foster and opportunity youth. Its work is global, and its 2024 grants had a median award of $76,000. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, except through its Good Neighbor Program for eligible local nonprofits and Title 1 schools.
Assets
$7.4B
Grants
1,339
Total Given
$287.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-oprah-winfrey-charitable-foundation-morg_fdc27637a68641cdbc4c950523c032fd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_266908382_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-oprah-winfrey-charitable-foundation-morg_fdc27637a68641cdbc4c950523c032fd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Oprah Winfrey Charitable 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.
The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?