Updated Oct 28, 2026
Private foundations based in District of Columbia
203 grantmaking foundations headquartered in District of Columbia, holding $9.2B in assets. Ranked by grants paid in their latest 990-PF; 16 on this page say they accept applications. For foundations ranked by where their grants went, see local funders.
| Foundation | Based in | Grants paid | Median grant | Accepts applications | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyss Foundationsince 1999 | Washington, DC | $223M1 grants · 2024 | $223M | Preselected only | $2.4B |
| Norman R Rales and Ruth Rales Foundationsince 1988 | Washington, DC | $132M13 grants · 2024 | $150K | Preselected only | $53M |
| Indian Paintbrush Foundationsince 1995 | Washington, DC | $103M19 grants · 2024 | $350K | Preselected only | $2.1B |
| Bhp Foundationsince 2014 | Washington, DC | $76M51 grants · 2024 | $670K | Preselected only | $185M |
| Wyss Medical Foundation Incsince 2009 | Washington, DC | $41M1 grants · 2025 | $41M | Preselected only | $29M |
| Public Welfare Foundation Incsince 1966 | Washington, DC | $26M164 grants · 2024 | $139K | Yes | $615M |
| Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundationsince 1949 | Washington, DC | $23M452 grants · 2024 | $35K | Yes | $636M |
| The Quetzal Trustsince 2001 | Washington, DC | $23M1 grants · 2025 | $23M | Preselected only | $344M |
| Wallace Global Fund IIsince 2009 | Washington, DC | $18M139 grants · 2025 | $75K | Preselected only | $35M |
| Eugene & Agnes E Meyer Foundationsince 1946 | Washington, DC | $14M274 grants · 2024 | $35K | Yes | $231M |
| Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundationsince 1962 | Washington, DC | $8.9M122 grants · 2024 | $50K | Preselected only | $111M |
| Carol and Gene Ludwig Family Foundationsince 2003 | Washington, DC | $8.2M51 grants · 2024 | $25K | Preselected only | $138M |
| Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundationsince 2015 | Washington, DC | $7.7M11 grants · 2024 | $186K | Preselected only | $103M |
| Summit Charitable Foundation Incsince 1991 | Washington, DC | $7.3M110 grants · 2024 | $50K | Preselected only | $159M |
| Bender Foundation Incsince 1959 | Washington, DC | $6.2M84 grants · 2024 | $50K | Preselected only | $157M |
| Wallace Genetic Foundation II Incsince 2017 | Washington, DC | $5.9M57 grants · 2025 | $50K | Preselected only | $112M |
| Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundationsince 1957 | Washington, DC | $5.3M142 grants · 2024 | $10K | Yes | $29M |
| Farvue Foundation Incsince 2010 | Washington, DC | $5.0M52 grants · 2025 | $50K | Preselected only | $97M |
| The Washington Home Incsince 1942 | Washington, DC | $4.6M41 grants · 2024 | $80K | Preselected only | $73M |
| Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trustsince 1951 | Washington, DC | $4.1M1 grants · 2024 | $4.1M | Yes | $88M |
| New Mighty Foundationsince 2006 | Washington, DC | $4.0M2 grants · 2025 | $2.0M | Preselected only | $25M |
| Richard W Goldman Family Foundationsince 2011 | Washington, DC | $3.9M23 grants · 2024 | $100K | Preselected only | $83M |
| Brendan & Helen Bechtel Foundationsince 2022 | Washington, DC | $3.9M31 grants · 2024 | $25K | Preselected only | $19M |
| Richard Lounsbery Foundation Incsince 1960 | Washington, DC | $3.8M56 grants · 2025 | $55K | Yes | $22M |
| Arca Foundationsince 1954 | Washington, DC | $3.8M54 grants · 2024 | $75K | Yes | $50M |
| Danaher Foundationsince 1953 | Washington, DC | $3.7M20 grants · 2025 | $50K | Preselected only | $58M |
| The Greenwall Foundationsince 1950 | Washington, DC | $3.3M66 grants · 2024 | $50K | Yes | $114M |
| Hill Snowdon Foundationsince 1962 | Washington, DC | $3.2M174 grants · 2024 | $7,500 | Preselected only | $39M |
| Galena-Yorktown Foundationsince 2009 | Washington, DC | $3.0M98 grants · 2024 | $10K | Preselected only | $40M |
| McIntosh Foundationsince 2014 | Washington, DC | $2.3M10 grants · 2025 | $50K | Preselected only | $47M |
| Cornerstone Foundation Incsince 2005 | Washington, DC | $2.2M12 grants · 2024 | $155K | Preselected only | $52M |
| Sylvan C Herman Foundation Incsince 2005 | Washington, DC | $2.0M5 grants · 2024 | $2,500 | Preselected only | $87M |
| The Nathan Seter Foundationsince 2002 | Washington, DC | $2.0M60 grants · 2024 | $10K | Preselected only | $23M |
| Webb Family Foundationsince 2004 | Washington, DC | $2.0M13 grants · 2024 | $150K | Yes | $21M |
| United States Japan Foundationsince 1981 | Washington, DC | $2.0M72 grants · 2024 | $19K | Yes | $102M |
| Friedman - French Foundation Incsince 1993 | Washington, DC | $1.8M21 grants · 2024 | $50K | Preselected only | $55M |
| Saul Foundation for Progress Incsince 2015 | Washington, DC | $1.7M5 grants · 2024 | $300K | Preselected only | $44M |
| Washington Children S Foundationsince 2008 | Washington, DC | $1.5M5 grants · 2024 | $300K | Preselected only | $15M |
| Herb Block Foundationsince 2002 | Washington, DC | $1.4M1 grants · 2024 | $1.4M | Yes | $55M |
| Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trustsince 2017 | Washington, DC | $1.3M14 grants · 2024 | $39K | Preselected only | $39M |
| Isadore and Bertha Gudelsky Family Foundation Incsince 1956 | Washington, DC | $1.3M37 grants · 2024 | $15K | Preselected only | $21M |
| Byrne and Pamela Murphy Family Foundationsince 2022 | Washington, DC | $1.3M19 grants · 2024 | $20K | Preselected only | $24M |
| Forsythia Foundation Incsince 2016 | Washington, DC | $1.1M17 grants · 2024 | $50K | Preselected only | $34M |
| If Foundationsince 1982 | Washington, DC | $1.1M50 grants · 2024 | $20K | Yes | $21M |
| Good Words Foundationsince 2019 | Washington, DC | $945K19 grants · 2024 | $25K | Preselected only | $19M |
| Kimsey Foundationsince 1997 | Washington, DC | $945K44 grants · 2024 | $10K | Preselected only | $45M |
| The Charles I and Mary Kaplan Family Foundationsince 1959 | Washington, DC | $900K1 grants · 2025 | $900K | Preselected only | $17M |
| US Justice Charitable Foundatin Incsince 2008 | Washington, DC | $890K5 grants · 2024 | $109K | Preselected only | $23M |
| Enfranchisement Foundationsince 1999 | Washington, DC | $781K15 grants · 2024 | $25K | Preselected only | $17M |
| Freeman Foundationsince 1990 | Washington, DC | $702K24 grants · 2025 | $23K | Preselected only | $21M |
| Jsrctsince 2024 | Washington, DC | $600K5 grants · 2025 | $25K | Preselected only | $16M |
| Mark and Anne Hansen Foundationsince 2007 | Washington, DC | $529K16 grants · 2024 | $10K | Yes | $20M |
| Robertson Foundation for Government Incsince 2006 | Washington, DC | $340K20 grants · 2024 | $599 | Preselected only | $23M |
| Fund II Foundationsince 2015 | Washington, DC | $323K43 grants · 2024 | $5,000 | Yes | $92M |
| El Hibri Foundationsince 2001 | Washington, DC | $320K14 grants · 2025 | $18K | Yes | $28M |
| Missionsquare Foundationsince 2022 | Washington, DC | $275K5 grants · 2024 | $25K | Preselected only | $17M |
| Jensam Foundation Incsince 1997 | Washington, DC | $238K9 grants · 2024 | $10K | Preselected only | $21M |
| Building Hope Financesince 2004 | Washington, DC | — | — | Preselected only | $193M |
| Ibis Groupsince 2008 | Washington, DC | — | — | Not stated | $78M |
| Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundationsince 1965 | Washington, DC | — | — | Yes | $63M |
Sources: IRS Business Master File (assets), ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and IRS 990-PF e-file (grants paid, application policy). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own Part XV checkbox.
Open grant programs in District of Columbia
All 2| Deadline | Grant | Funder | Award ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rollingno deadline | DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities — Organizational GrantsStateDC Commission on the Arts and Humanities | DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | HumanitiesDC — Humanities GrantsStateHumanitiesDC | HumanitiesDC | Not listed |
Common questions
How many private foundations are based in District of Columbia?
Our directory lists 203 private grantmaking foundations in District of Columbia with at least $1 million in assets, holding a combined $9.2B. The data comes from the IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File and Form 990-PF.
How do I get a grant from a private foundation?
Start with foundations that already fund organizations like yours nearby. Read the grantee list on each profile, check whether the foundation accepts applications (it says so on its 990-PF), and lead with a short letter of inquiry. Many family foundations fund only organizations they already know; an introduction through a shared grantee or board member works better than a cold proposal.
Can you help us approach foundations?
Yes. Our grant writers research foundation prospects, write letters of inquiry, and build a foundation fundraising plan. Request a free consultation.