4 major philanthropic foundations that aren't the Gates Foundation

The OECD Development Assistance Committee tracks over 40 philanthropic foundations, whose gross development disbursement in 2019 totaled $9 billion — a 3% increase from the $8.7 billion given in 2018. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s database sources information on official development assistance, grant spending, and other investments by bilateral donors and private philanthropic foundations — reporting on top sectors, geographical and organizational disbursements, and key programs. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which in 2019 accounted for 46% of private philanthropies’ total development disbursements, has been the top private donor since 2009. But there are others: Devex looked into the top grant-making foundations aside from the Gates Foundation, excluding microfinance and other non-grant-making foundations such as the BBVA Microfinance Foundation. Together, these foundations spent almost $1.1 billion in 2019 — just over a quarter of the Gates Foundation’s development financing in that year. Wellcome Founding year: 1936 Headquarters: London, United Kingdom Total annual development spending in 2019: $326.9 million Up by 22% from 2018, Wellcome's development grants in 2019 were largely channeled through universities, research institutes, and think tanks. By region, $77 million was allocated for Asia and $62 million for Africa. It also provided $12 million to multilateral organizations such as the International Vaccine Institute, United Nations Children's Fund, and World Health Organization. Wellcome funds scientists and researchers in over 70 countries, mainly supporting health programs. Some of its grants involved funding public engagement research or supporting the career development of researchers in areas related to health and well-being. It also pledged $100 million for COVID-19 research — $70 million for treatments and vaccines and $30 million for tracking research in low- and middle-income countries. Explore opportunities from Wellcome on Devex. Mastercard Foundation Founding year: 2006 Headquarters: Toronto, Canada Total annual development spending in 2019: $298.3 million The Mastercard Foundation disbursed most of its development financing in the form of grants, with only 2% channeled through multilateral agencies such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, UNICEF, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Among its top recipients — $121 million or 41% of its spending in 2019 — went to Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana. The foundation's programs across the African region are aligned with the Youth Africa Works strategy, which focuses on financial inclusion and education. Some of its commitments include a $300 million partnership with the Jobs Creation Commission to support entrepreneurs and small- and medium-sized enterprises in Ethiopia, as well as $200 million to build a network of entrepreneurs and young innovators in Ghana. Mastercard also led efforts related to the pandemic: In June 2021, it announced a plan to allocate $1.3 billion for pandemic response and economic recovery programs over the next three years in partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Explore opportunities from the Mastercard Foundation on Devex. Children’s Investment Fund Foundation Founding Year: 2002 Headquarters: London, United Kingdom Total annual development spending in 2019: $253 million The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation is the United Kingdom’s second-biggest foundation after Wellcome. It mainly partners with organizations and NGOs through unsolicited grants and partnerships, with programs focusing on maternal and child health and development, climate change, nutrition, education, and monitoring and evaluation. In 2019, grant distribution accounted for 99% of the $253 million development disbursement. $173 million was allocated to CSOs and $6 million to multilateral channels such as UNICEF, WHO, and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Africa received the biggest disbursement, with $102 million going to 29 countries across the continent, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria. By sector, $157 million was spent on health, $89 million on climate change and environment, and $72 million on gender and female empowerment. Examples of its commitments include $17 million for to design and test preschool models in Kenya awarded to RTI International, $5.4 million to reduce child mortality in India awarded to Jhpiego, and $12 million for smallholder farmers in Eastern Africa awarded to One Acre Fund. Explore opportunities from CIFF on Devex. Ford Foundation Founding Year: 1936 Headquarters: New York, United States Total annual development spending in 2019: $194 million The Ford Foundation’s development spending decreased by 15% in 2019 compared to the previous year. NGOs received 71% of its total 2019 grant spending: $74 million went to CSOs based in developing countries, including a $400 grant to Hlanganisa Institute for Development in Southern Africa, and $21 million to international CSOs. Primary geographic focus areas include Africa, with an allocation of $47 million, and Asia with $45 million — of which 44% was allocated for India, China, and Indonesia. Most of the Ford Foundation’s development finance was allocated for human rights and democratic participation for $134 million, including a $200 thousand grant to InformAction Limited to fund anti-corruption networks in Kenya. Last October 2021, it committed $16 million in grants to organizations in the global south to promote COVID-19 vaccine equity. Explore opportunities from the Ford Foundation on Devex. Try out Devex Pro Funding today with a free 5-day trial, and explore funding opportunities from over 850+ sources in addition to our analysis and news content.