Funding search · EIN 941655673 · Menlo Park, CA

The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

5,652
grants reported
$1.75B
total given
2022–2024
filing years
$150,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 20222024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

staffboardgiftmatchingmemberseducationclimatedevelopment

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is builtReport an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

  • Global climate mitigation, industrial decarbonization, clean energy policy
  • US democracy, election trust, civic institutions, racial justice groups
  • Gender justice, reproductive health, feminist economies in Africa
  • Education: teaching and learning, community schools, civic education
  • Western US conservation, rivers, wildfire, water policy
  • Economic policy reimagining and evidence-informed governance

Typical grant

Median grant is $150,000 with the middle half between $50,000 and $300,000, so most of the portfolio is modest even though the totals are enormous. The eight-figure checks go to intermediaries and pooled funds they helped build, ClimateWorks, European Climate Foundation, Energy Foundation, New Venture Fund, and those repeat annually. Multi-year and repeat giving is the norm; the same names recur across 2022 to 2024.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

  • FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
  • POOLED FUND
  • DECARBONIZATION
  • GENDER-JUST
  • EVIDENCE AND EQUITY

Positioning adjacent work

  • Anchor to a named theme they already fund: industrial decarbonization, election trust, community schools, or gender-just economies.
  • Ask in the $150,000 to $300,000 band for a first grant; seven figures goes to established intermediaries.
  • Request general operating support rather than project funding; it is their dominant phrasing.
  • If work is international, tie it to Africa, China, or Latin America, where their non-US grants concentrate.

Worth knowing: California and DC recipients take the bulk of the money, and a small set of intermediaries (ClimateWorks, European Climate Foundation, New Venture Fund, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Windward Fund) absorb the largest checks by fiscal sponsoring pooled funds. Getting into one of those pooled vehicles is often a more realistic path than a direct grant, and the giving pattern reads as long relationships rather than fresh entrants.

1 grant matching “special education · $400

  • $400

    Community Alliance for Special Education · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    Matching gift of staff and board members

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

  • Stichting European Climate Foundation37 grants · $86.7M
  • Climateworks Foundation25 grants · $66.0M
  • New Venture Fund75 grants · $43.5M
  • Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors48 grants · $40.2M
  • United States Energy Foundation12 grants · $31.6M
  • Windward Fund15 grants · $31.1M
  • Amalgamated Charitable Foundation17 grants · $30.0M
  • San Francisco Foundation4 grants · $23.1M
  • Resources Legacy Fund24 grants · $18.1M
  • The Energy Foundation6 grants · $17.6M

Giving over time

$552.6M
2022
$582.6M
2023
$615.7M
2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 5,652 grants.

  • $11.8M

    Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2022

    For the climate finance fund

  • $11.2M

    Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2024

    For the climate finance fund

  • $11.2M

    Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2023

    For the climate finance fund

  • $11.0M

    Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2024

    For the climate finance fund

  • $10.0M

    Amalgamated Charitable Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024

    For the global fund for a new economy

  • $10.0M

    Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $10.0M

    Amalgamated Charitable Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023

    For the buildus fund project

  • $10.0M

    Climate Leadership Initiative · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $10.0M

    Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $10.0M

    Humboldt Area Foundation · Bayside, CA · 2023

    For the klamath fund

  • $10.0M

    Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    For general operating support

  • $9.0M

    Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $9.0M

    Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $9.0M

    Columbia University in the City of New York · New York, NY · 2022

    For the center for political economy

  • $9.0M

    Stichting European Climate Foundation · 2022

    For general operating support

  • $8.0M

    The Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    For general operating support

  • $8.0M

    United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    For general operating support

  • $7.5M

    Msi-US · Washington, DC · 2024

    For support of the challenge fund

  • $7.5M

    San Francisco Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $7.5M

    San Francisco Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $7.5M

    San Francisco Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    For general operating support

  • $7.0M

    New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2024

    For the creativity in teaching and learning pooled fund

  • $7.0M

    The Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $7.0M

    Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $6.7M

    Windward Fund · Washington, DC · 2022

    For the methane hub

  • $6.7M

    Windward Fund · Washington, DC · 2024

    For the methane hub

  • $6.7M

    Windward Fund · Washington, DC · 2023

    For the methane hub

  • $5.5M

    Community Vision Capital & Consulting · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    For the performing arts acquisition fund

  • $5.5M

    United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $5.0M

    Election Trust Initiative Llc · Washington, DC · 2024

    For the election trust initiative

  • $5.0M

    Naacp Empowerment Programs · Baltimore, MD · 2024

    For support of the naacp to establish an endowment

  • $5.0M

    Election Trust Initiative Llc · Washington, DC · 2023

    For the election trust initiative

  • $5.0M

    Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University Term · Tallahassee, FL · 2023

    For the cyber policy institute (cy)

  • $5.0M

    Miami Foundation · Miami, FL · 2023

    For the press forward pooled fund

  • $5.0M

    Spelman College · Atlanta, GA · 2023

    For a program to prepare the next generation of cyber, security, and policy experts

  • $5.0M

    Election Trust Initiative Llc · Washington, DC · 2022

    For support of the election performance project

  • $5.0M

    Florida International University · Miami, FL · 2022

    For cybersecurity@fiu

  • $5.0M

    The Bridgespan Group · Boston, MA · 2022

    For the knowledge and innovation fund

  • $5.0M

    Turtle Mountain Community College · Belcourt, ND · 2022

    For the cyber law & policy program

  • $4.6M

    Western Conservation Foundation · Denver, CO · 2022

    For general operating support

  • $4.5M

    United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $4.5M

    International Sustainable Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    For general operating support

  • $4.3M

    Water Foundation · Sacramento, CA · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $4.1M

    Western Conservation Foundation · Denver, CO · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $4.0M

    Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    For the global industrial decarbonization program

  • $4.0M

    International Sustainable Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $4.0M

    Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For the global industrial decarbonization program

  • $4.0M

    New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2023

    For support of the fenomenal funds

  • $4.0M

    Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    For the global industrial decarbonization program

  • $4.0M

    Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    For work on global industrial decarbonization

  • $3.9M

    Center for Popular Democracy · Brooklyn, NY · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $3.5M

    Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    For support of u.s. Foreign economic policy for global green industrial policy

  • $3.5M

    Colorofchangeorg Education Fund · Oakland, CA · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $3.5M

    Water Foundation · Sacramento, CA · 2023

    For the water solutions fund

  • $3.3M

    Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    For the global industry hub initiative

  • $3.1M

    Amalgamated Charitable Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024

    For the democracy frontlines fund

  • $3.0M

    Liberty Hill Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2024

    For the environmental leadership initiative

  • $3.0M

    Policylink · Oakland, CA · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $3.0M

    Resources Legacy Fund · Sacramento, CA · 2024

    For wildfire strategies

  • $3.0M

    Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2024

    For the global commons alliance

  • $3.0M

    Chronicle of Philanthropy · Washington, DC · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $3.0M

    Climate Leadership Initiative · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $3.0M

    International Sustainable Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $3.0M

    Resources Legacy Fund · Sacramento, CA · 2023

    For wildfire strategies

  • $3.0M

    Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2023

    For the global commons alliance

  • $3.0M

    National Center for Civic Innovation · New York, NY · 2022

    For supporting the openscied project

  • $3.0M

    Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2022

    For the climate leadership initiative

  • $3.0M

    Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2022

    For the global commons alliance

  • $3.0M

    The Seattle Foundation · Seattle, WA · 2022

    For support of the education forward fund

  • $3.0M

    United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    For the midwest climate and democracy initiative

  • $3.0M

    Water Foundation · Sacramento, CA · 2022

    For the water solutions fund

  • $2.9M

    Global Impact · Alexandria, VA · 2023

    For the future of online trust and safety fund

  • $2.8M

    Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund Open Gov Hub · Washington, DC · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $2.8M

    Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund · Washington, DC · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $2.7M

    Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2022

    For the climate emergency collaboration group

  • $2.6M

    Rei Cooperative Action Fund · Sumner, WA · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $2.5M

    Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    For the clean cooling collaborative

  • $2.5M

    Rf Catalytic Capital · New York, NY · 2024

    For invest in our future

  • $2.5M

    Tara Climate Ltd · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $2.5M

    New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2023

    For the women's funds collaborative

  • $2.5M

    Tara Climate Ltd · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $2.5M

    Climateworks Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    For the clean cooling collaborative

  • $2.5M

    New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2022

    For the climate and clean energy equity fund

  • $2.5M

    New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2022

    For the women's funds collaborative

  • $2.5M

    Rf Catalytic Capital · New York, NY · 2023

    For invest in our future

  • $2.4M

    George Washington University · Washington, DC · 2024

    For a series of forums on civic teaching as a core principle in education

  • $2.1M

    Western Conservation Foundation · Denver, CO · 2024

    For the state conservation program

  • $2.1M

    Protect Democracy Project · Washington, DC · 2023

    For general operating support

  • $2.1M

    Colorofchangeorg Education Fund · Oakland, CA · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $2.0M

    Community Initiatives · Oakland, CA · 2024

    For community schools learning exchange

  • $2.0M

    International Budget Partnership · Washington, DC · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $2.0M

    Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, MD · 2024

    For the center for economy and society at the snf agora institute

  • $2.0M

    Msi-US · Washington, DC · 2024

    For support of msi's programs in east and francophone west africa

  • $2.0M

    New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2024

    For support of the fenomenal funds

  • $2.0M

    Rockefeller Brothers Fund · New York, NY · 2024

    For multistakeholder carbon neutrality strategy development and implementation in china

  • $2.0M

    Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2024

    For the climate emergency collaboration group

  • $2.0M

    United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    For federal and local power programs

  • $2.0M

    Women in Informal Employment - Weigo Ltd · 2024

    For general operating support

  • $2.0M

    Amalgamated Charitable Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023

    For the families and workers fund's powering good climate and infrastructure careers funding initiative

  • $2.0M

    Liberty Hill Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    For the environmental leadership initiative

View all 5,652 grants →

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Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.