The Freeman Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Work that fits the foundation's themes of Asian education, humanitarian relief, land conservation and historic preservation is the clearest match, especially where it builds mutual understanding between Americans and East Asians.
- A realistic request sits near its typical grant band of about $25,000 to $560,000, with a median grant of $100,000 and half of its grants at $100,000 or less; that band is typical rather than a ceiling, since its largest grant was $2,800,000.
- Because 82% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded earlier, existing relationships appear to matter a good deal, so a first approach should be made carefully and with the foundation's record in mind.
- To apply, submit a cover letter containing the pertinent information requested in the annual report; the filing gives no deadlines, so a first approach can be timed to suit your own plans.
- Its priority areas, as reported in other published sources, include Vermont, Hawai'i, Japan, China, the United States, Southeast Asia, Việt Nam and Samoa, which may help you judge how well your work fits.
Overview
The Freeman Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (educationaboutasia.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation’s primary mission is to facilitate mutual understanding between Americans and East Asians. It focuses on developing greater appreciation between the United States and Asia through collaborations with K–12, undergraduate and graduate institutions, and supports Asian educational programming and exchanges for Asian students to study in the US. Its work also includes policy research organisations and humanitarian groups, with disaster-relief efforts in Asia. It has a strong interest in land conservation and historic preservation in Vermont, Hawai`i, Japan and China. Its grant record includes universities and schools, cultural and educational bodies, conservation and preservation organisations, and humanitarian organisations.
Themes
- Asian education
- Humanitarian relief
- Land conservation
- Historic preservation
Geographic Focus
Priority: Vermont; Hawai`i; Japan; China; United States; Southeast Asia; Việt Nam; Samoa. (as reported in other published sources)
How to apply
Submit a cover letter containing the pertinent information requested in the annual report.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 82% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 164 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 16%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 7%
- The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 82% of grant dollars went to organisations The Freeman Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 9% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 95 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- First Nations Development Institute · General support$1,650,0002024 tax year
- Institute of International Education · General support$1,330,0002024 tax year
- Vermont Land Trust · General support$1,225,0002024 tax year
- MAG America · General support$1,200,0002024 tax year
- Hawaii Good Food Alliance · General support$1,032,3502024 tax year
- Save the Children Federation · General support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- National Association of Japan-America Societies · General support$711,2802024 tax year
- First Nations Development Institute · General support$650,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Alec Freeman — Director
- Juefei Wang — Director
- Shereen Goto — Director
- George S Tsandikos — Trustee
- David R Stack — Trustee
- Graeme Freeman — Trustee, President
- Robin Sato — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $23,594,195 | $19,940,871 | $394,661,676 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $24,212,294 | $19,080,000 | $458,853,819 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $26,302,463 | $20,420,140 | $491,232,694 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to The Freeman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (808) 944-7663
- New York, NY
Applying to The Freeman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (808) 944-7663
- New York, NY