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NoVo Foundation

Annual Giving
$170.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $1.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $170 million
  • Success Rate: Invitation-only (22% of awards to new grantees over past 3 years)
  • Decision Time: Varies (relationship-based, no fixed timeline)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000+ (average: $338,000)
  • Geographic Focus: National (U.S. and Canada) with strong emphasis on Hudson Valley/Kingston, NY region

Contact Details

Main Office:

NoVo in Kingston (Hudson Valley regional office):

Note: NoVo does not accept unsolicited proposals. Contact is primarily for relationship building and informational purposes.

Overview

Founded in 2006 by Peter and Jennifer Buffett, the NoVo Foundation began with an initial endowment of 350,000 shares of Berkshire Hathaway stock (approximately $1 billion) from Warren Buffett. As of 2023, the foundation holds $720 million in assets and distributes close to $170 million in grants annually through 501 grants. The foundation's name, "NoVo," means "new" in Latin, reflecting its mission to catalyze a transformation in society from one based on domination to one grounded in partnership and equality. Following Warren Buffett's guidance to "go where people aren't necessarily going," NoVo focuses on addressing root causes of systemic issues through initiatives supporting Indigenous communities, sustainable food systems, racial and gender justice, and community development. In 2020, the foundation underwent comprehensive restructuring, transitioning some programs including its landmark girls and women work to the Tides Foundation's Advancing Girls Fund, while deepening its commitment to Indigenous-led work and establishing NoVo in Kingston (2023) for dedicated Hudson Valley regional grantmaking.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

NoVo Foundation recently eliminated distinct grantmaking programs in favor of an integrated approach. Current funding flows through several interconnected focus areas:

Indigenous Communities Portfolio

  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000+
  • Focus: Native and community-led schools, language revitalization (language nests), culturally appropriate learning, Indigenous knowledge systems
  • Major Recipients: Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Knowledge Holder's Fund at RSF Social Finance, First Nations Development Institute, Indian Land Tenure Foundation, Hopi Foundation, Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi, First People's Fund
  • Application: By invitation only

Sustainable Food Systems & Agriculture

  • Grant Range: Varies widely
  • Focus: Community- and Indigenous-led initiatives for producing, distributing, and sharing healthy foods; local food sovereignty
  • Recipients include: Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation, Chester Agricultural Center, Soul Fire Farm Institute, Catskills Agrarian Alliance
  • Strong emphasis on Hudson Valley/Kingston region

Advancing Girls Fund (via Tides Foundation)

  • Annual Commitment: ~$23 million (2023)
  • Focus: Adolescent girls and young women of color (ages 11-25), including trans and gender-expansive youth
  • Geographic Focus: U.S. and global south
  • Note: This work transitioned to Tides Foundation in 2020 with NoVo as primary funder through 2025

Hudson Valley Regional Grantmaking (NoVo in Kingston)

  • Annual Investment: $39-46 million in Kingston area
  • Focus: Community development, food security, housing, education, community organizing, racial justice
  • Range: Small grassroots groups to large intermediaries
  • Total regional investment 2017-2023: Over $140 million

The Life Story Grants (Historical program)

  • Grant Range: $100,000 - $600,000
  • Focus: Social justice storytelling and narrative change

Priority Areas

Core Values & Approaches:

  • Transforming society from domination to partnership
  • Love for children, land, and community
  • Supporting Indigenous, racial, gender, and immigrant justice
  • Community-led and bottom-up approaches
  • Addressing root causes rather than symptoms
  • Holistic, healing visions for humanity
  • Trust-based, long-term relationship building

Current Strategic Focus:

  • Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination
  • Native language and cultural preservation
  • Sustainable, regenerative food systems
  • Local living economies (especially Hudson Valley)
  • Community development and resilience
  • Social justice movements and storytelling
  • Nature-based, culturally appropriate alternative education

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Restrictions:

  • No unsolicited proposals accepted - All grants are by invitation only
  • No funding for isolated projects without systemic approach
  • Avoid making small contributions to activities with many possible funders
  • Do not fund projects that would likely proceed without NoVo's involvement
  • Since 2022: No longer funding nonprofits focused on preventing gender-based violence (work transitioned to other funders)

Strategic Limitations:

  • Focus on relatively few activities where NoVo can make important difference
  • Concentrate resources on needs that would not be met without their efforts
  • Prioritize work that addresses root causes over short-term fixes
  • Emphasis on Indigenous-led, community-led initiatives rather than top-down approaches

Governance and Leadership

Co-Presidents and Co-Chairs of Board of Directors:

  • Jennifer Buffett: Responsible for day-to-day creation and oversight of vision, strategy, and program development
  • Peter Buffett: Youngest son of investor Warren Buffett; musician and philanthropist

Organizational Structure:

  • Small, lean team (unable to manage open application process due to team size)
  • Established separate branch "NoVo in Kingston" in 2023 for local Hudson Valley work

Leadership Philosophy & Quotes:

Jennifer Buffett on their strategic approach: "We work a lot on vision first, then we strategize and plan, plan, plan! We work hard to figure out what we can realistically accomplish and what we can leverage to advance our aims, and then we find the best partners we can."

On founding guidance from Warren Buffett: "The only instruction Warren gave was to go where people aren't necessarily going — to pick a place where you can really make a difference, and stick with it."

On why women and girls: "Everywhere we went, it was so obvious that women and girls were left out of the decision-making. They have no assets, and they were bearing the enormous burdens of conflict situations and patriarchal families. We thought, This is where we can make a difference."

Key Staff Roles:

  • Program Officers for various portfolios including Indigenous Communities, Promoting Local Living Economies
  • Grants Associates managing application and reporting processes
  • Managing relationships with Tides Foundation for Advancing Girls Fund (Shauné Zunzanyika serves as Managing Director)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Critical Note: NoVo does NOT accept unsolicited proposals.

All grants are offered by invitation only. The foundation forms new partnerships through:

  • Slow, trusting relationship building
  • Foundation's own research and analysis based on strategic priorities
  • Networking with key staff members
  • Being visible in relevant fields and movements

Pathway to Consideration:

  1. Build visibility in relevant fields (Indigenous rights, sustainable food systems, community development, etc.)
  2. Network strategically with NoVo staff members relevant to your focus area
  3. Focus on Kingston/Hudson Valley if local to the region - regional work may offer more access
  4. Demonstrate alignment with root causes approach and community-led values
  5. Be patient - relationship building takes considerable time and effort

Exception for Hudson Valley: Organizations working in Kingston, NY and surrounding Mid-Hudson Valley may contact hello@novoinkingston.org to share information about community resilience work. While still not accepting unsolicited proposals, regional organizations may find it worthwhile to reach out.

Application Method: By personal invitation only. Invited organizations receive specific application guidance and support.

Decision Timeline

No fixed timeline: Due to invitation-only model and relationship-based approach, there are no standard application cycles or decision timeframes.

Relationship Development: Expect relationship building to take substantial time (months to years) before receiving an invitation to apply.

Grant Duration: Many grants are multi-year commitments reflecting long-term partnership approach. The foundation emphasizes sustained support rather than one-off grants.

Success Rates

Traditional Success Rate: Not applicable - no open application process

New Grantee Statistics:

  • 22% of awards over past 3 years went to new grantees
  • 54% went to new grantees in 2018
  • 25% went to new grantees in 2019
  • Trend suggests increasing focus on deepening existing partnerships

Grant Volume:

  • 501 grants awarded in 2023
  • 606 grants awarded in 2022
  • 651 grants awarded in 2021

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable in traditional sense. Partnerships are ongoing relationships rather than discrete application cycles. Existing grantees work with program officers on continued funding discussions.

Application Success Factors

Critical Alignment Factors

1. Root Causes Approach NoVo seeks organizations addressing systemic issues rather than symptoms. Demonstrate how your work tackles underlying power structures and creates lasting transformation.

2. Community-Led & Bottom-Up Jennifer Buffett emphasizes finding "the best partners we can." Show authentic community leadership, particularly Indigenous leadership for relevant work. NoVo values organizations led by those most impacted.

3. Strategic Fit with Current Priorities Focus has shifted heavily toward Indigenous communities, sustainable food systems, and Hudson Valley regional work. Organizations outside these areas face limited prospects.

4. Holistic, Healing Vision NoVo seeks "holistic and healing visions for humanity." Frame your work within broader paradigm shift from domination to partnership, emphasizing interconnections between issues.

5. Long-term Relationship Potential Foundation prefers sustained partnerships. Demonstrate organizational capacity for long-term engagement and learning.

Building Relationships with NoVo

Staff Networking:

  • Identify NoVo program officers relevant to your focus area
  • Attend conferences and convenings in relevant fields where NoVo staff may be present
  • Connect through existing grantees or intermediary organizations
  • Demonstrate thought leadership through publications, speaking engagements

For Hudson Valley Organizations:

  • Contact hello@novoinkingston.org with thoughtful introduction
  • Demonstrate understanding of Kingston community needs and resilience work
  • Show connections to existing local efforts NoVo supports

Demonstrated Impact: While not accepting proposals, being known for strong results in aligned areas increases likelihood of NoVo proactively reaching out.

Language and Values

Key Terminology NoVo Uses:

  • "Transformation from domination to partnership"
  • "Root causes" vs. symptoms
  • "Community-led" and "Indigenous-led"
  • "Bottom-up approach"
  • "Holistic" and "healing"
  • "Love for children, land, and community"
  • "Local living economies"
  • "Resilience"

Recent Grantees as Examples

Indigenous Communities:

  • Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples (major recipient)
  • Indigenous Knowledge Holder's Fund at RSF Social Finance
  • First Nations Development Institute
  • Tribal language revitalization programs across the U.S.
  • Native-led schools and language nests

Sustainable Food & Agriculture:

  • Soul Fire Farm Institute
  • Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation
  • Catskills Agrarian Alliance
  • Chester Agricultural Center
  • Regional food sovereignty initiatives

Community Development (Kingston/Hudson Valley):

  • Diverse range from large intermediaries to small grassroots groups
  • Food security organizations
  • Housing initiatives
  • Education programs
  • Community organizing efforts

What Makes NoVo Unique

Small Team, High Trust: The foundation operates with a small team and explicitly cannot manage open process. This necessitates high-trust relationships and careful partner selection.

Spend-Down Approach: Unlike most foundations, NoVo's budget is tied to annual Berkshire Hathaway stock gifts from Warren Buffett (5% of remaining shares annually), with commitment to spend 100% received rather than building endowment.

Willingness to Shift: The 2020 strategic shift demonstrated foundation's willingness to pivot and transition work (like girls and women) to other vehicles when strategic priorities evolve.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Do Not Apply Directly - NoVo does not accept unsolicited proposals under any circumstances. Traditional grant writing will not work with this funder. Focus instead on building organizational visibility and reputation in aligned fields.

  2. Build Long-Term Visibility - Invest in becoming a recognized leader in Indigenous rights, sustainable food systems, or Hudson Valley community development. NoVo finds partners through research and field scanning. Being visible at relevant conferences, publications, and networks increases likelihood of invitation.

  3. Align with Current Strategy - NoVo's 2020 restructuring significantly narrowed focus. Primary opportunities now exist for: Indigenous-led organizations (especially language/culture revitalization), sustainable food system initiatives, and Hudson Valley/Kingston regional work. Girls and women's work transitioned to Tides Foundation's Advancing Girls Fund.

  4. Emphasize Community Leadership - NoVo strongly values community-led and Indigenous-led approaches. Organizations led by those most impacted by issues have stronger alignment than outside organizations serving communities.

  5. Think Relationship, Not Transaction - Jennifer Buffett describes their approach as finding partners through "slow and trusting relationship building." If invited to apply, approach as beginning of long-term partnership rather than one-time grant. Demonstrate capacity for sustained engagement and learning.

  6. Root Causes Matter - Frame your work around systemic transformation rather than isolated service delivery. NoVo seeks organizations addressing underlying power structures and paradigm shift from "domination to partnership."

  7. Hudson Valley Organizations Have Special Access - If working in Kingston, NY or Mid-Hudson Valley region, consider reaching out to hello@novoinkingston.org with thoughtful introduction about community resilience work. While still invitation-based, regional focus may provide more accessible entry point.

References

Official NoVo Foundation Sources:

Inside Philanthropy Articles:

Philanthropy New York:

Chronicle of Philanthropy:

Tides Foundation:

Regional News Coverage:

National Council for Responsive Philanthropy:

Grant Research Tools:

Financial Information:

Leadership Quotes:

All sources accessed November 2025.

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