Thousand Currents
Through our grant making program, Thousand Currents partners with organizations and movements in the global south that are creating lasting solutions to societal challenges. Our partners develop solutions that are innovative and impactful. They work to ensure their communities have access to healthy and locally grown food, are able to enjoy economic prosperity that generates wellbeing for all people, and live in a safe and healthy environment that supports abundant life.
Thousand Currents at a glance
In short: Thousand Currents gave $6.7M across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $960K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,720,000
- +11.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $960,000
- -4.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $700,000
- Total assets
- $28,024,818
- -55.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Thousand Currents funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Peace Development Fund ($4.0M). Together the top 7 received $6.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 11 grants of 31 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Thousand Currents gives
- Giving grew 75% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $90K (2019) to $71.8M (2021). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $6.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Peace Development Fund Amherst, MA | Program Support | $4,000,000 |
| Impact Assets Inc Bethesda, MD | Program Support | $1,200,000 |
| Global Greengrants Fund Boulder, CO | Program Support | $700,000 |
| Urgent Action Fund Oakland, CA | Program Support | $700,000 |
| Destiny Bridge Builders Katy, TX | Program Support | $80,000 |
| Social Good Fund for Fearless Collective Richmond, CA | Program Support | $30,000 |
| Inquiring System Inc Santa Rosa, CA | Program Support | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28,024,818 | $20,040,330 | $54,500,661 | $6,720,000 | 7 | $904,175 |
| 2024 | $63,311,041 | $63,561,449 | $30,786,167 | $6,022,000 | 6 | $685,725 |
| 2023 | $28,892,801 | $23,796,383 | $23,889,477 | $8,710,000 | 4 | $280,990 |
| 2022 | $28,732,895 | $25,200,495 | $13,695,517 | $3,848,779 | 4 | $229,520 |
| 2021 | $18,209,575 | $15,204,408 | $80,529,850 | $71,759,086 | 10 | $442,717 |
| 2020 | $83,111,013 | $86,898,035 | $10,819,105 | $1,129,700 | 12 | $108,402 |
| 2019 | $6,528,328 | $6,636,185 | $5,926,666 | $90,000 | 3 | $50,154 |
About Thousand Currents
Based on IRS filings
Thousand Currents is a public charity focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in San Francisco, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $28.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $6.7M. Net investment income was $904K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Thousand Currents is led by Solome Lemma, President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 11 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Solome Lemma
President & CEO
Executive Director → CEO, 2024
CEO → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2019
38 hrs/week
$129K (2019) → $268K (2025)
Shilpa Alimchandani
Chair
Board Member → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Del Rosario Tappan
Director of Communications
On filings since 2024
38 hrs/week
$128K (2024) → $141K (2025)
Katherine Zavala
Director of Learning Init
Director of Learning Initiatives → Director of Learning Init, 2025
On filings since 2024
38 hrs/week
$148K (2024) → $251K (2025)
Amy Gray
Learning & Evaluation Director
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$125K (2025)
Heather Masaki
Director of Grants Operations
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$126K (2025)
Jessica Spector
Donor Organizing Director
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$130K (2025)
Kelli Boyer
Director of People & Talent
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$141K (2025)
Ruth Sawyer
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Asad Rehman
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mandy Van Deven
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Reddy
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenesha De Rivera
Vice President & Finance
Director of Finance → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → Vice President & Finance, 2025
On filings since 2019
38 hrs/week
$95K (2019) → $180K (2025)
Zanele Sibanda
Vice President & Global Programs
Director → Vice President & Global Programs, 2025
On filings since 2023
38 hrs/week
$188K (2025)
Rajiv Khanna
Vice President & Ctr for Transform Philanthropy
Director of Philanthropic Partnerships → Vice President & Ctr for Transform Philanthropy, 2025
On filings since 2024
38 hrs/week
$153K (2024) → $188K (2025)
Cindy Clark
Vice President & Global Operations
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$188K (2025)
Flavia Jimenez
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Herschelle Milford
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sihle Dinani
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Nwamaka Agbo (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: M. Jahi Chappell (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Saba Bireda (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Fahad Ahmad (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Gregory Hodge (2019–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Susan Rosenberg (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jahi Chappell (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Kailee Scales (2019–2020) — Managing Director & Blm Global Network Foundation
- Former: Rajasvini Bhansali (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Ada Williams Prince (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Julian Rhoads (2019) — Treasurer
- Former: Sasha Rabsey (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Topher Wilkins (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $268K, to Solome Lemma (President & CEO). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Thousand Currents
How much does Thousand Currents give each year?
Thousand Currents gave $6.7M across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $6.0M across 6 grants.
What is Thousand Currents's typical grant size?
Thousand Currents's median grant in 2025 was $700,000, and its average grant was $960,000, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Thousand Currents give grants?
Thousand Currents gives mostly in Massachusetts: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (18%) and California (11%).
Does Thousand Currents give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Thousand Currents's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (7 grants).
Who are Thousand Currents's largest grantees?
Thousand Currents's largest 2025 grantees include Peace Development Fund ($4,000,000), Impact Assets Inc ($1,200,000) and Global Greengrants Fund ($700,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Thousand Currents?
Thousand Currents reported $28.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.0M.
What is Thousand Currents?
Thousand Currents is a public charity focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in San Francisco, CA. It holds $28.0M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Thousand Currents's EIN?
Thousand Currents's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0071852. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thousand Currents's focus areas in our free grants database
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