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The JPB Foundation (now Freedom Together Foundation)

Annual Giving
$424.0M
Grant Range
$297K - $0.9M
Success Rate
22%

The JPB Foundation (now Freedom Together Foundation)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $424 million (2023); $500 million committed (2024)
  • Total Assets: ~$4.2 billion
  • Success Rate: 22% for new grantees; 78% for repeat grantees (highly favors existing partnerships)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only process)
  • Grant Range: $297,013 (avg. new grantee) - $890,202 (avg. repeat grantee); Median: $500,000
  • Geographic Focus: United States, with emphasis on New York

Contact Details

Address: 875 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10022

Phone: 212-935-9860

Email: info@jpbfoundation.org

Website: https://www.freedomtogether.org (redirects from jpbfoundation.org)

Media Contact: media@freedomtogether.org

Note: The foundation does NOT accept unsolicited proposals. Organizations must be invited to apply.

Overview

The JPB Foundation, founded by Barbara Picower in 2011 with $1.2 billion from her late husband Jeffry Picower's estate, has grown to become one of the 25 largest foundations in the United States with assets of approximately $4.2 billion. In December 2024, the foundation officially rebranded as the Freedom Together Foundation under the leadership of President Deepak Bhargava, who assumed the role in February 2024. From 2012 through 2023, the foundation distributed $2.7 billion through approximately 3,900 grants. The foundation's evolution reflects a strategic shift from issue-area silos (poverty, environment, medical research) toward a power-building approach centered on strengthening multiracial democracy, supporting grassroots organizing, and empowering communities denied systemic power. The board has authorized spending roughly double the required private foundation minimum payout for two years (2024-2025) to advance this mission, representing an approximately 40% increase over 2022 grantmaking levels.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation has restructured its grantmaking around five program areas (2024-present):

Democracy, Gender, and Racial Justice (Amount range not specified)

  • Protecting voting rights and defending democratic institutions
  • Combating authoritarianism
  • Supporting vulnerable populations and LGBTQ+ communities (newly expanded focus)
  • Application: Invitation only

Community and Worker Power (Amount range not specified)

  • Funding unions and grassroots organizations
  • Building working-class organizing across racial and gender lines
  • Supporting economic justice initiatives
  • Application: Invitation only

Movement Infrastructure and Explorations (Amount range not specified)

  • Leadership development and capacity building
  • Narrative change strategies
  • Collaborative network building among field leaders
  • Application: Invitation only

Faith, Bridging, and Belonging (Amount range not specified)

  • Coalition-building across diverse communities
  • Engaging faith communities and rural constituencies
  • Spiritual support for movement leaders
  • Application: Invitation only

Reproductive Justice, Medical Research, and NYC Community Grants (Amount range varies significantly)

  • Reproductive health initiatives
  • Neurological research, particularly learning and memory (major grants to MIT's Picower Institute: $25 million+)
  • Local New York City community projects
  • Application: Invitation only

Priority Areas

The foundation actively funds:

  • Power-building organizations working with historically marginalized communities (people of color, workers, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals)
  • Grassroots organizing and movement infrastructure across multiple issue areas
  • Democracy protection efforts, including voting rights and institutional safeguards
  • Environmental justice initiatives, particularly frontline communities (NDN Collective, Solutions Project, Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice)
  • Economic justice including fair wages, worker rights, and poverty alleviation (National Domestic Workers Alliance, One Fair Wage, Low Income Investment Fund)
  • Medical research focusing on neurological dysfunction, learning, and memory
  • Collaborative networks that enable cross-movement learning and joint strategy development
  • Faith-based organizing and bridging initiatives
  • Reproductive justice and healthcare access

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside the United States
  • Unsolicited proposals (foundation uses invitation-only selection process)
  • Individual researchers or scholars (except through institutional partnerships)
  • Single-organization initiatives (prefers network and collaborative approaches)
  • Organizations not aligned with power-building for marginalized communities
  • Projects that perpetuate issue silos rather than addressing interconnected systems

Governance and Leadership

Barbara Picower - Founder and President Emerita (2011-2024) Barbara Picower established the foundation in 2011 following a historic $7.2 billion settlement related to the Bernie Madoff scandal, the largest single forfeiture in American judicial history. Grantees and fellow funders consistently emphasize "Get to know Barbara" as key advice, noting her ethos of "respect for the wisdom of nonprofit leaders, humility, but also confidence in asking questions." Picower's approach to convenings enables "open dialogue" and "she has the ability to set an expectation for safety, honesty and directness because she is not micromanaging." She remains deeply involved as President Emerita.

Deepak Bhargava - President (February 2024-present) Former community organizer and long-time social justice advocate, Bhargava describes the foundation's mission as supporting "people who have been denied power to build it, so they can change unjust systems and create a more democratic, inclusive, and sustainable society." He emphasizes that philanthropy should be "superb listeners" and "part of communities of practice trying to address the biggest challenges of our time," which means "rolling up your sleeves and getting out into the community, listening to the community, asking questions, having opinions certainly, but being in dialogue and being open to new ideas, perspectives, and leadership."

On the foundation's philosophy, Bhargava states: "No matter what issue you care about—housing, healthcare, poverty, or climate justice—the core issue is who has power in society and who doesn't." He notes that "oppressed people live multi-issue lives" and explicitly calls out "issue siloes" as an obstacle, expecting leaders to "fluidly traverse" between different areas of work.

Regarding the name change to Freedom Together Foundation, Bhargava explains: "Freedom is the keystone value in American civic life," and "the 'Together' in our name emphasizes, as so many movements have done, that freedom is best understood as a collective undertaking."

Board Structure: The foundation maintains a private board structure. Specific trustee information is not publicly disclosed beyond the leadership mentioned above.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Critical: The foundation does NOT accept unsolicited proposals.

The JPB/Freedom Together Foundation operates through a strict invitation-only selection process:

  1. Identification Phase: Foundation staff proactively identify and research organizations aligned with their strategic priorities
  2. Invitation to Apply: Selected organizations receive direct invitations to submit proposals
  3. Relationship-Based: According to past applicants and funders, "cultivating a relationship with the President or senior-level staff is essential to receiving an invitation to apply"
  4. Network Participation: Organizations may be invited to join foundation-convened networks or communities of practice, which can lead to funding opportunities

Strategic Networking Approaches:

  • Connect with current grantees to understand foundation priorities and approach
  • Participate in conferences and convenings where foundation staff are present
  • Identify and engage with foundation program officers in relevant issue areas
  • Build visibility through leadership in collaborative movements and networks
  • Focus on demonstrating power-building work with marginalized communities

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation's invitation-only process means timeline varies by program area and organizational relationship. The foundation has committed to "not disappearing into a black hole for years" during its transition, maintaining active grantmaking throughout strategic shifts.

Success Rates

Overall Statistics (2017-2019 data):

  • 22% of grants went to new grantees
  • 78% of grants went to repeat grantees
  • 339 total grants awarded in 2019

Key Insight: The foundation strongly favors sustained partnerships with existing grantees. New organizations face significant barriers to entry, making the cultivation of relationships with staff and demonstration of alignment with foundation values critical.

Reapplication Policy

Given the invitation-only model, there is no formal reapplication process for unsolicited proposals. For invited grantees:

  • Strong preference for multi-year partnerships rather than one-time grants
  • Repeat grantees receive significantly larger average grants ($890,202 vs. $297,013 for new grantees in 2019)
  • Organizations demonstrating impact and alignment with evolving strategic priorities are likely to receive continued invitations

Application Success Factors

Direct Guidance from Foundation Leadership

On Building Relationships: "Get to know Barbara" remains essential advice from fellow funders and grantees. The foundation values authentic dialogue and expects applicants to understand Barbara Picower's ethos of collaboration and respect for nonprofit wisdom.

On Foundation Values: Deepak Bhargava states the foundation seeks to "learn from people who are on the cutting edge of trying to solve some of the hardest problems we face." Organizations should demonstrate they are innovating and leading in their fields.

On Approach to Issues: The foundation expects organizations to address "multi-issue" challenges rather than remain in single-issue silos. Demonstrate how your work connects economic justice, democracy, climate, and other intersecting systems.

On Power-Building: Focus proposals on how your work builds lasting power for communities historically denied it. Bhargava emphasizes this is the "core issue" regardless of specific program area.

Recent Grant Examples

Environment/Climate Justice:

  • NDN Collective (Indigenous-led climate work)
  • The Solutions Project
  • Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice
  • Black Millennials 4 Flint
  • Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange of Philadelphia
  • Alabama's Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice

Economic Justice/Worker Power:

  • National Domestic Workers Alliance
  • National Day Laborer Organizing Network
  • One Fair Wage
  • Low Income Investment Fund
  • Kentucky's Mountain Association for Community Economic Development
  • Housing Partnership Network of Boston

Democracy and Organizing Infrastructure:

  • Center for Popular Democracy
  • Alliance for Youth Organizing
  • Community Change
  • Grassroots Global Justice Alliance ($1.1 million, 2023)
  • Center for American Progress ($3.4 million for anti-poverty efforts, 2017)

Medical Research:

  • MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory ($25 million major gift + $2 million innovation fund)
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Connecticut Children's Medical Center
  • Baylor College of Medicine

Reproductive Justice:

  • Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Language and Terminology

The foundation uses specific language that applicants should mirror:

  • "Power-building" and "power denied/power gained"
  • "Multiracial democracy"
  • "Historically marginalized communities"
  • "Movement infrastructure"
  • "Authentic collaboration"
  • "Systems change" rather than "service delivery"
  • "Community and worker power"
  • "Bridging and belonging"
  • "Frontline communities"

Common Success Patterns

  1. Network Leadership: Organizations leading or actively participating in collaborative networks and coalitions
  2. Multi-Year Track Record: Demonstrated history of sustained impact (note the 78% repeat grantee rate)
  3. Grassroots Base: Clear connection to and accountability to affected communities
  4. Strategic Alignment: Evolution toward democracy protection and power-building themes
  5. Innovation: Operating at "cutting edge" of field with innovative approaches
  6. Collaborative Spirit: Willingness to participate in foundation-convened learning communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Do Not Submit Unsolicited Proposals: This is non-negotiable. Instead, focus on building visibility in the field and relationships with foundation staff through conferences, networks, and collaborative initiatives.

  2. Demonstrate Power-Building, Not Just Services: The foundation has evolved from traditional service-provision funding to supporting organizations that build lasting political and economic power for marginalized communities. Frame all work through this lens.

  3. Think Multi-Issue and Systemic: Single-issue approaches are explicitly discouraged. Show how your work addresses interconnected systems of oppression and connects economic justice, democracy, climate, and racial equity.

  4. Prioritize Long-Term Partnership Over Quick Wins: With 78% of grants going to repeat grantees, the foundation values sustained relationships. Initial grants to new grantees average $297,013 while repeat grantees average $890,202—nearly three times larger.

  5. Engage with Foundation Networks: Participation in foundation-convened learning communities, convenings, and collaborative strategy sessions provides visibility and demonstrates alignment with foundation values.

  6. Connect with Current Grantees: Fellow grantees are valuable resources for understanding the foundation's culture, priorities, and approach. The foundation values peer learning and cross-organization collaboration.

  7. Stay Current on Strategic Evolution: The December 2024 rebrand to Freedom Together Foundation and the expanded focus on democracy protection, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigrant communities signal ongoing strategic evolution. Organizations should demonstrate awareness of and alignment with these shifts.

  8. Prepare for Deep Engagement: The foundation doesn't operate as a passive funder. Expect active partnership, participation in convenings, openness to foundation questions and dialogue, and collaboration with other grantees in the portfolio.

References

  1. Freedom Together Foundation Official Website. "President's Letter: We Are Now the Freedom Together Foundation." December 9, 2024. https://www.freedomtogether.org/2024/12/09/we-are-now-the-freedom-together-foundation/ (Accessed January 2025)

  2. Freedom Together Foundation. "Press Release: The JPB Foundation Announces New Funding to Strengthen Democracy as Deepak Bhargava Enters Role as President." February 6, 2024. https://www.freedomtogether.org/2024/02/06/press-release-new-funding/ (Accessed January 2025)

  3. InfluenceWatch. "JPB Foundation." https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/jpb-foundation/ (Accessed January 2025)

  4. InfluenceWatch. "Freedom Together Foundation." https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/freedom-together-foundation/ (Accessed January 2025)

  5. Inside Philanthropy. "Freedom Together Foundation | Inside Philanthropy." https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-f/jpb-foundation (Accessed January 2025)

  6. Inside Philanthropy. "'Transformation' at the JPB Foundation: Eight Questions with Deepak Bhargava, President-Elect." September 18, 2023. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2023-9-18-eight-questions-with-deepak-bhargava-jpb-foundation-president-elect (Accessed January 2025)

  7. Inside Philanthropy. "'Get to Know Barbara.' Inside the JPB Foundation." December 17, 2019. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2019-12-17-get-to-know-barbara-inside-the-jpb-foundation (Accessed January 2025)

  8. Inside Philanthropy. "Funder Spotlight: 6 Things to Know About the JPB Foundation's Environmental Grantmaking." March 2, 2022. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022-3-2-funder-spotlight-6-things-to-know-about-the-jpb-foundations-environmental-grantmaking (Accessed January 2025)

  9. Instrumentl. "JPB Foundation: Should You Pursue Their Grants?" https://www.instrumentl.com/blog/jpb-foundation-grants-guide (Accessed January 2025)

  10. Fast Company. "New president of the multibillion-dollar JPB Foundation looks to strengthen democracy." https://www.fastcompany.com/91050393/deepak-bhargava-jpb-foundation-progressive-philanthropy-democracy (Accessed January 2025)

  11. Philanthropy News Digest. "JPB Foundation commits $500 million for 2024 grantmaking." https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/jpb-foundation-commits-500-million-for-2024-grantmaking (Accessed January 2025)

  12. Bridgespan. "The Freedom Together Foundation (formerly JPB Foundation)." https://www.bridgespan.org/stories-of-impact/the-jpb-foundation (Accessed January 2025)

  13. Candid Foundation Directory. "Freedom Together Foundation." https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=THEJ344 (Accessed January 2025)

  14. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Freedom Together Foundation." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/900747216 (Accessed January 2025)

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