Children's Defense Fund
Funding Overview
From IRS Form 990 filings · 2023–2025
Total received
$27.6M
Foundation funders
122
Grants recorded
200
Years covered
2023–2025
Who funds Children's Defense Fund?
Children's Defense Fund is funded by 122 grantmakers, led by Lilly Endowment Inc ($6.0M), National Basketball Association Foundation ($4.5M), The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ($2.5M). In total, IRS Form 990 filings record $27.6M in grants to Children's Defense Fund between 2023–2025.
Show all 122 funders
Funding over time
Grant dollars and counts received per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6.7M (2025) to $13.2M (2023). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $6.7M.
What grants has Children's Defense Fund received?
Individual grants from IRS Form 990 filings, newest first
| Year | Funder | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lilly Endowment Inc | CHRISTIAN FAITH&LIFE STORYTELLG INIT | $5,000,000 |
| 2025 | Lilly Endowment Inc | THRIVING CONGREGATIONS INITIATIVE | $1,000,000 |
| 2025 | Marin Community Foundation | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| 2025 | The Tow Foundation Inc | CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND-NY | $100,000 |
| 2025 | Greater Twin Cities United Way | PROGRAM COSTS | $53,250 |
| 2025 | BI3 Fund | OHIO CHILDREN'S BUDGET COALITION | $50,000 |
| 2025 | Lilly Endowment Inc | CHRISTIAN FAITH&LIFE STORYTELLG INIT | $50,000 |
| 2025 | Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES | $30,250 |
| 2025 | National Philanthropic Trust | PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT | $22,250 |
| 2025 | Ttees Joseph Martinson Memorial Fund | GENERAL OPERATING | $15,000 |
| 2025 | Charities Aid Foundation America | CHARITABLE DONATION | $10,755 |
| 2025 | PB&J Foundation Inc | OPERATING | $10,000 |
| 2025 | National Immigration Law Center | PROTECTING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES | $10,000 |
| 2025 | The Chicago Community Trust | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes | $10,000 |
| 2025 | Ploughshares Foundation | GENERAL | $8,000 |
| 2025 | Community Shares of Mid Ohio | PASS-THROUGH | $6,032 |
| 2025 | Jewish Communal Fund | IN FURTHERANCE OF GRANTEE'S TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,800 |
| 2025 | Jewish Communal Fund | IN FURTHERANCE OF GRANTEE'S TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,800 |
| 2025 | The Comer Family Foundation Inc | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| 2025 | Olivieri Johnston Family Foundation | CURRENT USE FOR GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $2,000 |
| 2025 | The William and Mildred Kaplan | FOUNDATION DONATION | $2,000 |
| 2025 | Zoe Grace Foundation | General needs | $2,000 |
| 2025 | CSP Charitable Foundation | CHARITABLE | $1,500 |
| 2025 | David & Margaret Engel Family Foundation | ALL GRANTS ARE FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE EXEMPT ORG | $1,500 |
| 2025 | Timken-Sturgis Foundation | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| 2025 | The Joseph and Felicia Weber Family Foundation Inc | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| 2025 | Kave Family Foundation | CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND BUILDS COMMUNITY SO YOUNG PEOPLE GROW UP WITH DIGNITY, HOPE, AND JOY. | $1,000 |
| 2025 | William and Mary Little Foundation | GENERAL SUPPORT | $800 |
| 2025 | Solomon & Rose Turetsky Foundation | ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT ENSURE CHILDREN A QUALITY EDUCATION, TO SECURING HEALTH COVERAGE FOR MILLIONS OF CHILDREN IN POVERTY. | $250 |
| 2025 | The Barr Foundation | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION | $250 |
Showing 30 most recent of 200 recorded grants.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who funds Children's Defense Fund?
Children's Defense Fund is funded by 122 grantmakers, led by Lilly Endowment Inc ($6.0M), National Basketball Association Foundation ($4.5M), The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ($2.5M). In total, IRS Form 990 filings record $27.6M in grants to Children's Defense Fund between 2023–2025.
Who is Children's Defense Fund's largest funder?
Lilly Endowment Inc is the largest recorded funder of Children's Defense Fund, with $6.0M across 3 grants (2025).
How much grant funding has Children's Defense Fund received?
IRS 990 filings record $27.6M in grants to Children's Defense Fund across 200 grants from 122 funders between 2023–2025. Filings are published on a delay, so recent grants may not appear yet.
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Grant data is drawn from IRS Form 990 filings via Grantable's GrantGraph™. Filings are published on a delay; recent grants may not appear yet.
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