The Passport Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2007 in North Carolina and currently based in Wilmington, Delaware. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as an independent foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$62.7M
+21.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
-29.6% YoY
Grant Count
44
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
-29.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Passport Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports causes including environmentalism and left-leaning economic and social policy. Program areas include education, philanthropy and grantmaking, and human services. The foundation has demonstrated interest in health-related initiatives, including an interest in providing management services for organizations that exchange undesirable products for safer alternatives that do not pose inappropriate health risks.
Grantmaking
The Passport Foundation makes grants primarily ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on California, the District of Columbia, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $51.5 million
- Total Revenue: $7.81 million
- Total Expenses: $5.72 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024 (most recent filing):
- Total Assets: $62.65 million
- Total Giving: $2.61 million
The foundation maintains unconditional tax-exempt status with a ruling date of February 2008.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $62,650,504 | $51,478,986 | $49,288,734 |
| Revenue | $15,722,506 | $7,811,665 | $7,686,076 |
| Expenses | $4,550,988 | $5,721,413 | $5,884,290 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,069,488 | $4,144,603 | $4,431,886 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,164,086 | — | $3,056,501 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,081,966 | $3,063,642 | $3,914,651 |
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
238 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Earthjustice ($300,000), Natural Resources Defense Council Inc ($300,000), University of California San Francisco ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC NEW YORK, NY | Employee Matching | $250 |
| BAY AREA LEGAL AID OAKLAND, CA | Employee Matching | $250 |
| BENNINGTON COLLEGE CORPORATION BENNINGTON, VT | General Operating for Beyond Plastics | $75,000 |
| BREAST CANCER PREVENTION PARTNERS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | Charitable Event | $10,000 |
| BREAST CANCER PREVENTION PARTNERS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | BCPP's Toxics Reduction Work | $100,000 |
| BUSINESS EXECUTIVES FOR NATIONAL SECURITY WASHINGTON, DC | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW INC WASHINGTON, DC | Plastics Treaty Negotiations | $110,000 |
| CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW INC WASHINGTON, DC | CIEL Global Plastics Treaty | $50,000 |
| CLEAN WATER FUND WASHINGTON, DC | Addressing PFAS contamination in California | $60,000 |
| COMING CLEAN INC BRATTLEBORO, VT | General & Unrestricted | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation was founded by financier John H. Burbank III and his wife, Alison Carlson. Alison Carlson also founded the Forsythia Foundation, another environmentalist grantmaking organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ani Arutyunyan | Sec, Dir | 1 | — |
| John H Burbank III | Dir, Pres | 1 | — |
| Jim Cunningham | Dir | 1 | — |
| Joanne Poile | Dir | 1 | — |
| Michelle Ruggeri | Treas | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Passport Foundation has supported the American Passport Project, an initiative providing grants to Pell-eligible college students. Multiple higher education institutions, including Wake Forest University and Palm Beach Atlantic University, have been awarded grants through this program. The American Passport Project has celebrated five years of grant distribution and has received international recognition.
Wake Forest University awarded \u2018American Passport Project\u2019 grantSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Passport Foundation fund?
The foundation supports causes including environmentalism and left-leaning economic and social policy. Program areas include education, philanthropy and grantmaking, and human services. The foundation has demonstrated interest in health-related initiatives, including an interest in providing management services for organizations that exchange undesirable products for safer alternatives that do not pose inappropriate health risks.
How do I apply for a grant from The Passport Foundation?
The Passport Foundation makes grants primarily ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Recent grants include: • MiracleFeet: $500,000 (General Support, 2023) • Defend Our Health: $200,000 (Slashing Human Health Risks From Plastic, 2023) • Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): $200,000 (Safe Food for All, 2023) Annual giving totaled approximately $2.6 million in recent years, with 34 grants documented in 2023.
Where does The Passport Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on California, the District of Columbia, and New York.
What size grants does The Passport Foundation award?
In 2024, The Passport Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $2.6M — an average of about $59K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Passport Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Passport Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Passport Foundation's EIN?
The Passport Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1580196. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Passport 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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