United Nations Foundation Inc
The United Nations Foundation is an independent charitable organization based in Washington, D.C., created to work closely with the United Nations to address global challenges and support UN causes. Founded in 1998 by Ted Turner, it mobilizes ideas, people, and resources and builds partnerships to advance collective action.
United Nations Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: United Nations Foundation Inc gave $33.4M across 92 grants in 2024 (avg $363K), mostly in New York. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $33,411,568
- +47.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 92
- +48.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $363,169
- -0.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $139,500
- Total assets
- $285,077,061
- -13.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (14 of 39, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (84% 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 United Nations Foundation Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue Nw Ste 300, Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 887-9040
Website: https://unfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who United Nations Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Nations Fund for Intl Ptnrshps ($24.3M across 52 grants). Together the top 10 received $31.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
370 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 112 grants of 370 (30%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, New York recipients accounted for 84% of grant dollars, followed by Hawaii at 5%, Washington, D.C., at 2%, and Massachusetts and North Carolina at 1% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 92 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is United Nations Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 39 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1.8M; repeat grants $303K. How we count
Medians: $88K first-time, $102K 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 $21.8M (2021) to $34.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 92 grants totaling $33.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Nations Fund for Intl Ptnrshps New York, NY | Un Strngthng | $4,211,942 |
| Population Council New York, NY | Girls & WMN | $2,676,309 |
| United Nations Fund for Intl Ptnrshps New York, NY | Un Strngthng | $1,923,990 |
| United Nations Fund for Intl Ptnrshps New York, NY | Un Strngthng | $1,738,500 |
| HUA Nani Partners Kailua, HI | Environment | $1,550,000 |
| United Nations Fund for Intl Ptnrshps New York, NY | Un Strngthng | $1,484,817 |
| United Nations Fund for Intl Ptnrshps New York, NY | Un Strngthng | $1,395,000 |
| United Nations Fund for Intl Ptnrshps New York, NY | Environment | $1,200,976 |
| United Nations Fund for Intl Ptnrshps New York, NY | Global HLTH | $1,079,000 |
| United Nations Fund for Intl Ptnrshps New York, NY | Global HLTH | $1,079,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation reports that it has maintained 20 consecutive years of clean financial audits and received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. It also states that, in 2018, 87 cents of every dollar received and spent went directly to support UN programs and causes.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $285,077,061 | $77,013,346 | $141,106,169 | $33,411,568 | 92 | $13,938,619 |
| 2023 | $329,134,648 | $113,423,820 | $127,465,638 | $22,640,485 | 62 | $1,797,733 |
| 2022 | $315,410,137 | $107,148,918 | $139,050,082 | $34,866,348 | 71 | $1,468,786 |
| 2021 | $358,613,999 | $86,770,336 | $120,647,673 | $21,846,550 | 72 | $2,716,769 |
| 2020 | $375,786,692 | $295,874,853 | $281,328,455 | $30,097,073 | 73 | $12,541,219 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation states that it supports the UN and UN causes by advocating for the UN and providing a platform to generate ideas, resources, and partnerships to help the UN solve global problems and undertake lifesaving activities.
Its 2024 filing describes programs in global health, climate, energy and the environment, and girls and women. The Foundation says these programs work with the UN and partners to address global health challenges, environmental challenges such as climate change, and challenges related to gender equality, including through advocacy. Its broader stated areas of work also include human rights, the future of multilateralism, peace, and humanitarian response.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 92 grants totaling $33,411,568. Grant amounts ranged from $6,553 to $4,211,942, with a median of $139,500. The Foundation says it primarily makes grants to the UN and its related or affiliated agencies, as well as other organizations supporting its mission. It monitors grants mainly through reports submitted quarterly, semiannually, or annually as specified in grant agreements, and may also request interim updates.
Among the largest reported grants were $4,211,942 to United Nations Fund for International Partnerships for “UN strengthening”; $2,676,309 to Population Council for “girls & women”; $1,550,000 to Hua Nani Partners for “environment”; and $1,021,284 to Save the Children for “girls & women.” Other large grants to United Nations Fund for International Partnerships were designated for UN strengthening, environment, or global health.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Elizabeth Cousens as President and CEO; Henry F. De Sio Jr. as Chief Operating Officer; David Ohana as Chief Communications Officer; Michelle Morse as Vice President for Girls & Women Strategy; Dymphna van der Lans as Chief Executive Officer, CCA; Shenae Burgess as Chief Financial Officer; and Sofia Borges as Senior Vice President and Head of the New York Office. It lists Re Turner as Chairman and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah as a Director.
United Nations Foundation Inc is led by Dymphna Van Der Lans, Chief Executive Officer & Cca since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 27 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Dymphna Van Der Lans
Chief Executive Officer & Cca
Chief Executive Officer & Gacc → Chief Executive Officer & Cca, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$288K (2020) → $293K (2024)
Elizabeth Cousens
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
34 hrs/week
$361K (2020) → $388K (2024)
Priya Vora
Chief Executive Officer & Dial
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$294K (2024)
Re Turner
Chairman
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fabio C. Barbosa
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frannie Leautier
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hans Vestberg
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julio Frenk
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Calvin Walters
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Turner Seydel
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Malloch-Brown
Director
Director & Co-Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nr Narayana Murthy
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Timothy E. Wirth
Director
Director & Vice Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Amos
Director & Vice Chair
Director → Director & Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Holliday
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward Ndopu
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Naoko Ishii
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marti G. Subrahmanyam
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marc Andre-Blanchard
Director & Co-Chair
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susana Malcorra
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sofia Borges
Senior Vice President & Head of Ny Officer
Senior Vice President & Head of Ny Officer → Senior Vice President, 2021
Senior Vice President → Senior Vice President & Head of Ny Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$281K (2020) → $312K (2024)
Michelle Morse
Vice President for Girls & Women Strategy
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$265K (2021) → $316K (2024)
Henry F. De Sio Jr.
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2023
34 hrs/week
$291K (2023) → $305K (2024)
Shenae Burgess
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2023
34 hrs/week
$82K (2023) → $254K (2024)
David Ohana
Chief Commn. Officer
New on the 2024 filing
34 hrs/week
$313K (2024)
Rutherford Seydel
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Gro Harlem Brundtland (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Leslie A. Edmond (2022–2023) — Chief People Officer
- Former: Katherine Dodson (2023) — Senior Advisor Global Health
- Former: Ogden Peter (2023) — Vice President for Climate, Enrg & Envrn
- Former: Andrew Axelrod (2020–2022) — Chief Operating Officer · Filing note: Thru 922
- Former: Lia Fordjour (2020–2022) — Chief Financial Officer · Filing note: Thru 122
- Former: Jill S. Isenbarger (2022) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Valencia Bembry (2022) — Vice President of Philanthropy Integr Development
- Former: Muhammad Yunus (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Rajesh Mirchandani (2020–2021) — Chief Communic. Officer
- Former: Katherine Wilson (2021) — Chief Executive Officer & Dia
- Former: Geeta Gupta (2020) — Executive Director & 3d Program
- Former: Peter Ogden (2020) — Vice President & Energy
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 $388K, to Elizabeth Cousens (President & CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about United Nations Foundation Inc
How much does United Nations Foundation Inc give each year?
United Nations Foundation Inc gave $33.4M across 92 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $22.6M across 62 grants.
What is United Nations Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
United Nations Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $139,500, and its average grant was $363,169, across 92 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from United Nations Foundation Inc that year got $1.8M on average.
Where does United Nations Foundation Inc give grants?
United Nations Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (58 grants), Washington, DC (10 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants) and Phoenix, AZ (3 grants).
Does United Nations Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 92 grants with a stated purpose on United Nations Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Un Strngthng" (34 grants), "Environment" (24 grants) and "Global HLTH" (17 grants).
Who are United Nations Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
United Nations Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include United Nations Fund for Intl Ptnrshps ($24,266,638 across 52 grants), Population Council ($2,676,309) and HUA Nani Partners ($1,550,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is United Nations Foundation Inc?
United Nations Foundation Inc reported $285.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $77.0M.
What does United Nations Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation states that it supports the UN and UN causes by advocating for the UN and providing a platform to generate ideas, resources, and partnerships to help the UN solve global problems and undertake lifesaving activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Nations Foundation Inc?
United Nations Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check unfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is United Nations Foundation Inc's EIN?
United Nations Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2368165. 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 November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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