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Kolibri Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$4.4M
000

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,401,448 (2024)
  • Success Rate: N/A (Invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: N/A (Invitation-only process)
  • Grant Range: Varies by cycle
  • Geographic Focus: United States, including Puerto Rico
  • Total Assets: $22.5 million (spending down by end of 2027)

Contact Details

Website: https://kolibrifdn.org/

Note: Contact information is limited as this is an invitation-only funder.

Overview

Kolibri Foundation is a movement-led family foundation established in 2017 when the Farbman family inherited a conservative family foundation and officially launched in 2021. The foundation is committed to radical redistribution of wealth and will spend down all assets by the end of 2027. With approximately $22.5 million in total assets, Kolibri distributed $4.4 million in grants in 2024. Their mission is to resource and amplify movements at the intersections of gender, racial, and economic justice that center the healing and ending of systemic and interpersonal violence. The foundation operates through trust-based philanthropy principles, providing multi-year unrestricted funds with no reporting requirements and minimal application processes. Their approach prioritizes BIPOC-led movement leadership and seeks to influence other foundations and wealthy families to adopt similar redistributive practices.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Kolibri operates themed grant cycles:

  • Reimagining Safety Fund (2022): $3 million distributed to 26 BIPOC organizations
  • Reimagining Power Fund (2024): $6.3 million distributed to 21 organizations
  • Reimagining Resistance Fund (2025): $6.75 million distributed to 23 organizations (final multi-year grantmaking cycle)

All grants are multi-year, unrestricted funds with no reporting requirements.

Priority Areas

Core Focus: Organizations working to build power through organizing and movement-building

Power Building Types Supported:

  1. Organizing Power: Collective recruitment and alignment
  2. Governing Power: Equitable leadership over resources
  3. Narrative Power: Shaping transformative stories and messaging
  4. Cultural Power: Sustaining threatened cultural practices
  5. Economic Power: Resisting exploitative capitalism

Political Lenses:

  • Healing Justice
  • Racial Justice
  • Disability Justice
  • Ending Gender-Based Violence

Strategic Approach: The foundation believes building power is required for long-term systemic change and focuses on movements challenging capitalism, white supremacy, and heteropatriarchy.

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the foundation's invitation-only model and focus on power-building movements suggests they do not fund:

  • Organizations not engaged in organizing or movement-building work
  • Service-only organizations without a power-building analysis
  • Organizations not centered in the political lenses listed above

Governance and Leadership

Board Structure:

  • Requires 3 family members
  • At least 4 non-family board members
  • Movement leaders integrated into governance

Key Board Members (2024):

  • Cara Page, Director (Compensation: $30,358)
  • Ramatu Bangura, Director (Compensation: $30,000)
  • Tameika Mcharris, Director (Compensation: $30,000)
  • Gill Freemyn, Director (Compensation: $30,000)

Founding Story: In 2017, the Farbman family inherited a conservative family foundation and chose to completely reimagine it. Movement leaders Cara and Thenjiwe joined the board during this transformation process, helping shape the foundation's commitment to BIPOC-led movement leadership and radical wealth redistribution.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Kolibri Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. Grantmaking is done collaboratively by staff and board members who identify and invite organizations aligned with their mission and values.

The foundation explicitly states: "Our current grantmaking is done by invitation-only" and selection is done "collaboratively by our staff and our board."

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation does not provide specific pathways for organizations to proactively get on their radar. Their invitation-only model is based on existing relationships within movements and the knowledge of board members and staff who are themselves movement leaders.

Important Note: The foundation completed their final multi-year grantmaking cycle in June 2025 and will continue supporting previously funded organizations through their 2027 spend-down, but is not taking on new grantees.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable due to invitation-only model. Organizations are identified and invited by the foundation rather than going through an application timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable as there is no public application process. The foundation provides multi-year funding to selected partners.

Application Success Factors

Note: Since this is an invitation-only funder who completed their final grant cycle in June 2025, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding what the foundation values provides insight into their selection criteria:

What Kolibri Values:

  • Power-Building Analysis: Organizations must demonstrate they are building power through organizing and movement-building, not just providing services
  • Political Alignment: Work must engage with one or more of their four political lenses (Healing Justice, Racial Justice, Disability Justice, Ending Gender-Based Violence)
  • BIPOC Leadership: Strong preference for BIPOC-led organizations
  • Systemic Change Focus: Organizations challenging capitalism, white supremacy, and heteropatriarchy
  • Movement Connections: Deep integration in movement ecosystems

Foundation's Philosophy: Kolibri states they "deeply value the process of relational grant making and trust-based philanthropy," meaning they prioritize long-term relationships and trust over traditional metrics and reporting.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-Only: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and has completed their final grantmaking cycle (June 2025)
  • Spend-Down Timeline: The foundation is spending down all assets by end of 2027, supporting only existing grantee partners going forward
  • Trust-Based Approach: Multi-year unrestricted funding with no reporting requirements demonstrates commitment to trust-based philanthropy
  • Movement Leadership: Board includes movement leaders, not just traditional philanthropists, ensuring grantmaking is movement-informed
  • Power-Building Essential: Organizations must demonstrate power-building work through organizing and movement-building, not just service delivery
  • Political Lens Required: Successful grantees work must align with at least one of their four political lenses (Healing Justice, Racial Justice, Disability Justice, Ending Gender-Based Violence)
  • Not a Traditional Funder: This foundation represents a radical reimagining of traditional philanthropy, prioritizing wealth redistribution over perpetual endowment

References

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