The Roddenberry Foundation is a philanthropic institution headquartered in Sherman Oaks, California, founded in 2010. Rooted in exploration and possibility, the Foundation invests in creative minds and bold ideas, inspired by the legacy of Gene Roddenberry. It operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and maintains a presence across seven countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Switzerland, Portugal, Uganda, and Malawi, in addition to its U.S. operations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$85.0M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.0M
-20.4% YoY
Grant Count
131
-14.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$31K
-7.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Roddenberry Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation pursues a more humane and abundant future for all by promoting inclusion, diversity, and respect for life to drive social change. Its mission centers on identifying and funding exceptional individuals and groups that challenge conventions, question long-held beliefs, and develop solutions that propel society forward. The Foundation aims to continue Gene Roddenberry's vision of hope in humanity through support for innovative social enterprises addressing urgent challenges worldwide.
Grantmaking
The Foundation operates multiple grant programs:
Grant Range
$2,000 to $15,000
Review Cycle
- Open to individuals and teams worldwide
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds globally with no geographic restrictions on certain programs. It maintains operational presence in Kenya, Nigeria, Switzerland, Portugal, Uganda, and Malawi, alongside its primary U.S. base. Its grantmaking extends to developing countries and addresses challenges worldwide.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Assets: $80.2 million
- Investments: $79.6 million
- Annual Revenue: $10.0 million (as of most recent data)
- Total Revenue (2022): $2.6 million
- Employees: 25 (with recent workforce decline of 10.3% year-over-year)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $85,009,834 | $83,692,966 | $80,242,145 |
| Revenue | $7,214,220 | $5,205,023 | $2,607,743 |
| Expenses | $5,884,371 | $6,317,181 | $5,099,540 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,116,676 | $7,363,158 | $6,039,425 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,517,347 | $2,240,758 | $1,049,491 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,936,624 | $3,968,209 | $4,185,883 |
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 Academy Foundation ($400,000), Elypta ($333,333), Crohns and Colitis Foundation ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 07 GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED | TRAVEL TO AFRICAN FOOD SYSTEMS FORUM | $1,500 |
| 1001 IDEAS INC MIAMI, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ACADEMY FOUNDATION BEVERLY HILLS, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| ADILI SOLAR HUBS LIMITED | RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR TAKAWIRI ISLAND | $12,000 |
| AGAPE INNOVATIONS LIMITED | STORYTELLING PROJECT | $28,000 |
| AGENCE GUINEENNE DE FORMATION DE L | STRENGTHENING FAMILY PLANNING AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE REPUBLIC OF GUINEA | $7,985 |
| AGRIEN NETWORK | ENHANCING THE PRODUCTION AND MARKET ACCESS CAPACITY OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS | $12,000 |
| AGRITECH ANALYTICS | DISTRIBUTION OF IOT SENSORS TO DETECT CROP PESTS AND DISEASES AND PERFORM SOIL HEALTH ANALYTICS FOR FARMERS IN KENYA | $12,000 |
| AGRO AND MORE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPERS LTD | TRAVEL TO AFRICAN FOOD SYSTEMS FORUM | $8,500 |
| AGROFENOU BENIN | IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY BY INCREASING LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION | $12,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Heidi Roddenberry — President
- Eugene Roddenberry — Vice President
- Morton Kessler — Treasurer
- Lior Ipp — Chief Executive Officer
- Meg Busse — Chief Operating Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEIDI RODDENBERRY | PRESIDENT | 5 | $70,000 |
| EUGENE RODDENBERRY | VICE PRESIDENT | 4 | $50,000 |
| MORTON KESSLER | TREASURER | 5 | $60,000 |
| ANDREW GARB | SECRETARY | 4 | $60,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In March 2025, the Foundation awarded a $1 million prize to iCardio.ai, a health-tech startup developing artificial intelligence innovation for cardiac care. The award was framed as advancing "Tricorder Tech" — technology inspired by Star Trek's medical devices — demonstrating the Foundation's commitment to funding breakthrough innovations in healthcare and technology.
Roddenberry Foundation Dedicates $1M to Health Start-Up to Develop AI InnovationThe Foundation has also supported early-stage ventures, including a seed round investment in Aquacycl in 2019, which develops modular biological wastewater treatment solutions for industrial and community sanitation.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Roddenberry Foundation fund?
The Foundation pursues a more humane and abundant future for all by promoting inclusion, diversity, and respect for life to drive social change. Its mission centers on identifying and funding exceptional individuals and groups that challenge conventions, question long-held beliefs, and develop solutions that propel society forward. The Foundation aims to continue Gene Roddenberry's vision of hope in humanity through support for innovative social enterprises addressing urgent challenges worldwid…
How do I apply for a grant from The Roddenberry Foundation?
The Foundation operates multiple grant programs: **Catalyst Fund** • Provides small grants for early-stage, unconventional, and innovative ideas • Favors bold ideas that depart from the status quo and approach problems in new ways • Grant range: $2,000 to $15,000 • Accepts applications on a continuous basis with no deadlines • Open to individuals and teams worldwide • Supports cutting-edge products, experimental programs, new services, and inventions • No restrictions by theme or geographic loc…
Where does The Roddenberry Foundation make grants?
The Foundation funds globally with no geographic restrictions on certain programs. It maintains operational presence in Kenya, Nigeria, Switzerland, Portugal, Uganda, and Malawi, alongside its primary U.S. base. Its grantmaking extends to developing countries and addresses challenges worldwide.
What size grants does The Roddenberry Foundation award?
In 2024, The Roddenberry Foundation awarded 131 grants totaling $4.0M — an average of about $31K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Roddenberry Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Roddenberry Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Roddenberry Foundation's EIN?
The Roddenberry Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4755672. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Roddenberry 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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