Third Way
Third Way is a Washington, DC–based public charity that describes itself as a national think tank and advocacy organization championing moderate policy and political ideas. Its work combines policy research, public-opinion analysis, and advocacy campaigns across areas including climate and energy, the economy, education, foreign policy, health care, politics, and social policy.
Third Way at a glance
In short: Third Way gave $1.7M across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $168K), top state Utah. 80% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,676,000
- +264.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +233.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $167,600
- +9.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $137,500
- Total assets
- $65,953,090
- +14.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 80% first-time grantees (8 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Utah (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Third Way
- Contact
Mailing address: 1025 Connecticut Ave Nw 400, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 384-1700
Website: https://thirdway.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Third Way funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Protect Our Families Inc ($475K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 13 grants of 27 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares were Utah (28%), the District of Columbia (23%), New York (15%), North Carolina (12%), and Virginia (11%). The listed recipients also included organizations in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Third Way open to new grantees?
80%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 10 grantees (80%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $169K; repeat grants $161K. How we count
Medians: $138K first-time, $161K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $170K (2021) to $1.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Protect Our Families Inc Salt Lake City, UT | Charitable contribution to support work fighting right-wing extremism and anti-democratic forces. | $475,000 |
| National Urban League Inc New York, NY | To further the goals of the alliance for entrepreneurial equity initiative to start and expand successful businesses | $256,000 |
| Young People's Alliance Education Fund Raleigh, NC | Moderate Power Venture Fund | $200,000 |
| Civic Attention Inc Midlothian, VA | Moderate Power Project | $180,000 |
| For Facts Sake Washington, DC | Moderate Power Venture Project | $150,000 |
| The Welcome Party Inc Boston, MA | Moderate Power Venture Fund | $125,000 |
| The Next 50 Network LLC Washington, DC | Moderate Power Venture Fund | $100,000 |
| For Facts Sake Action Washington, DC | Moderate Power Venture Project | $75,000 |
| The Newdeal Forum Washington, DC | To support education and communication activities on clean energy investments | $65,000 |
| Common Sense Coalition Arlington, MA | Moderate Power Venture Fund | $50,000 |
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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 | $65,953,090 | $31,698,898 | $24,538,373 | $1,676,000 | 10 | $2,237,945 |
| 2023 | $57,624,634 | $27,152,185 | $21,266,704 | $460,000 | 3 | $1,669,331 |
| 2022 | $48,609,569 | $27,422,767 | $23,095,434 | $245,301 | 4 | $24,932 |
| 2021 | $46,405,531 | $24,133,713 | $18,395,269 | $170,000 | 3 | $1,203,061 |
| 2020 | $38,888,126 | $18,388,215 | $15,511,587 | $947,208 | 7 | $255,715 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Third Way’s stated mission is “to research and develop centrist policy ideas.” Its website describes its broader mission as championing moderate policy and political ideas and building a center-left coalition.
The organization’s 2024 program work included clean-energy policy; economic opportunity, health care costs, and entrepreneurship; higher education and social policy; electoral and public-opinion research; and national security, including artificial intelligence and U.S.-China competition. Third Way states that reports developed through its programs are made available to the public.
The Moderate Power Venture Fund seeks to support original, entrepreneurial projects that address gaps in the center-left landscape and strengthen political infrastructure. Examples among the 2024 grantees include the National Urban League, which describes itself as a civil-rights and community-based movement providing services, research, and policy advocacy; The Welcome Party, which says its mission is to broaden participation in democracy; and For Facts Sake Action, which describes its work as creating social-media campaigns to encourage meaningful action.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Third Way reported 10 grants totaling $1,676,000. Grants ranged from $50,000 to $475,000, with a median of $137,500. The largest awards included:
Other 2024 recipients included The Welcome Party Inc. ($125,000), The Next 50 Network LLC ($100,000), For Facts Sake Action ($75,000), The NewDEAL Forum ($65,000), and Common Sense Coalition ($50,000). The stated purposes included Moderate Power Venture Fund or Project work, clean-energy education and communication, and support for entrepreneurship.
The fund’s February 2024 request for proposals described investments of $100,000 to $250,000 for a handful of projects, with potential strategic and operational support such as advising, technical expertise, or fiscal sponsorship. The call sought original initiatives led by individuals or teams, including projects such as campus organizing, rural media, leadership training, community outreach, and technology. The stated selection timeline was May or June, with meaningful, measurable results expected by the end of 2024; this was a past cycle. Third Way announced its inaugural cohort in June 2024.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jonathan Cowan as President and CEO, Rachel Pritzker as Chair, and John L. Vogelstein as Chair Emeritus. Trustees listed were Georgette Bennett, William Budinger, David Coulter, William Daley, John Dyson, Mike Edwards, and Brian Frank.
Third Way is led by Jonathan Cowan, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 9 of 43 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jonathan Cowan
President & CEO
President → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
36 hrs/week
$306K (2020) → $413K (2024)
Rachel Pritzker
Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Xiavian Rommell Brown
Senior Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$179K (2024)
Alix Burns
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Manfrey Vogelstein
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bernard Schwartz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bob Goodman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Frank
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Varney
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Lewis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Coulter
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Heller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Horvitz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Derek Kaufman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Derek Kirkland
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Lawrence
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Georgette Bennett
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Dyson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Zimlich
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marc Spilker
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Edwards
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Joseph
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ray Rothrock
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan McCue
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ted Trimpa
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thurgood Marshall Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Budinger
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Daley
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Reeves
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Galbraith
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alison Kay
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Graves Tompkins
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raj Date
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Strauss Zelnick
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joyce Aboussie
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Kessler
Exe. Vice President of Policy
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$307K (2020) → $377K (2024)
Lanae M. Erickson Sr Vp For
Social Policy & Politics
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$225K (2020) → $300K (2024)
Matthew Bennett Secretary And
Exe. Vice President of Public Affairs
On filings since 2020
38 hrs/week
$292K (2020) → $379K (2024)
Steve J. Dieterle Cfo
Board Treasurer
On filings since 2023
38 hrs/week
$176K (2023) → $181K (2024)
Emily Sternfeld Senior Vp
Of Development & External Affairs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$231K (2024)
Gabriel A. Horwitz Senior
Vice President of Econ Program
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$296K (2024)
Joshua Freed Senior Vp
Of Clean Energy
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$295K (2024)
John L. Vogelstein
Chair Emeritus
Board Chair → Chair Emeritus, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Andrew Feldstein (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Gabriel A. Horwitz (2020–2023) — Senior Vice President & Econ Program
- Former: Joshua Freed (2020–2023) — Senior Vice President & Clean Energy
- Former: Robert Dyson (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Steve Benjamin (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Emily Sternfeld (2021–2023) — Senior Vice President of Development & External Affairs
- Former: Brenda Bethea Treasurer Coo (2023)
- Former: John L. Vogelstein Chair (2023)
- Former: Rachel Pritzker Trustee (2023)
- Former: Ryan Fitzpatrick (2023) — Senior Director
- Former: Brenda Bethea Treasurer And (2020–2022) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Chad Fitzgerald (2020–2022) — Senior Advisor to the President
- Former: David Greenwald (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Lewis Cullman (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Mieke Eoyang (2020) — Vice President & National Security
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 $413K, to Jonathan Cowan (President and CEO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Third Way
How much does Third Way give each year?
Third Way gave $1.7M across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $460K across 3 grants.
What is Third Way's typical grant size?
Third Way's median grant in 2024 was $137,500, and its average grant was $167,600, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Third Way that year got $169K on average.
Where does Third Way give grants?
Third Way's top state is Utah, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were District of Columbia (23%) and New York (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (4 grants).
Does Third Way give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Third Way's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Moderate Power Venture Fund" (4 grants).
Who are Third Way's largest grantees?
Third Way's largest 2024 grantees include Protect Our Families Inc ($475,000), National Urban League Inc ($256,000) and Young People's Alliance Education Fund ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Third Way?
Third Way reported $66.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $31.7M.
What does Third Way fund?
Third Way’s stated mission is “to research and develop centrist policy ideas.” Its website describes its broader mission as championing moderate policy and political ideas and building a center-left coalition. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Third Way?
Third Way has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check thirdway.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Third Way's EIN?
Third Way's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1734070. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Third Way funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Third Way's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Third Way funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/third-way-morg_b075f1617ef8414381df642434409e9f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201734070_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Third Way funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/third-way-morg_b075f1617ef8414381df642434409e9f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Third Way'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.
Third Way down — hundreds of funders to go?