The Pfizer Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 13-6083839 · since 1955pfizer.com/about/responsibility/global-impact/the-pfizer-foundation·California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, New York, United States, Virginia·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$23.2M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$50 to $2,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$200

Typical grant (median)

9,304 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

The filing says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold proposal is unlikely to get a hearing; the realistic route is to build a relationship first and wait to be invited.
Its stated themes are access to innovative care, health systems, vaccine-preventable illness, community health, breast cancer care and disaster response, so a group working in those areas fits best.
Most grants are small: about 8 in 10 fall between $50 and $2,000 and the median is $240, so a modest request matches its usual giving, though its largest grant was $8,000,000 to one organisation that regrants to others.
Repeat giving is strong: in its most recent filing, 87% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in the two earlier filings, which suggests it relies heavily on existing relationships.
No geographic focus is stated, so do not rule your organisation out on location.

Overview

The Pfizer 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 its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Pfizer Foundation works to help build healthier communities around the world, investing in locally-led organisations through a community-centred approach. Its grantmaking addresses global health challenges by supporting locally- and country-led solutions that improve access to innovative care, strengthen health systems and reduce vaccine-preventable illness. It backs community-based organisations and local innovators working to improve quality of care and health systems, as well as community health centres and free clinics delivering infectious-disease prevention and care in medically underserved communities. Its support also advances breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and care, strengthens immunisation delivery, and helps health organisations prepare for and respond to disasters and resulting health crises. Through colleague engagement, it encourages matching gifts, volunteer rewards and skills-based volunteering for causes colleagues find meaningful.

Themes

Access to innovative care
Health systems
Vaccine-preventable illness
Community health
Breast cancer care
Disaster response

Geographic Focus

No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York, Virginia, District of Columbia, California, Connecticut and the United States.

How to apply

The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 87% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 31,785 grants to organisations were $240 or less.

What the foundation says:

It invests in locally-led organisations and applies a community-centred approach.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

New York25%

Virginia19%

District of Columbia10%

California10%

Connecticut5%

Washington5%

6 other states: 16%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 10%

The largest single recipient received 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to organisations The Pfizer Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
24% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

9,304 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $200

How much do they typically give?

Share of 9,304 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k79%

$1k–$2.5k13%

$2.5k–$5k4%

$5k–$10k3%

$10k–$25k1%

$25k–$50k<1%

$50k–$100k<1%

$100k–$250k<1%

$250k–$500k<1%

$500k–$1M<1%

$1M and over<1%

Median $200 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

JHPIEGO · Access to innovative care - breast cancer project
$4,000,0002024 tax year
Direct Relief · Address vaccine preventable illness for underserved populations in u.s.
$2,500,0002024 tax year
American Red Cross · Emergency response
$1,000,0002024 tax year
Myriad USA · To support zipline
$1,000,0002024 tax year
Myriad USA · To the global health innovation grant program
$1,000,0002024 tax year
Save the Children · To reduce infectious disease in children under 5 in ethiopia
$1,000,0002024 tax year
Future for Ukraine · Ukraine humanitarian responses
$500,0002024 tax year
International Rescue Committee · Zero-dose immunization program in ethiopia
$500,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

David Denton — Director (as of 1/2023)
Aida Habtezion — Director
Aamir Malik — Director
William C Steere Jr — Director
Payal Sahni — Director
Sally Susman — Vice Chairman
Albert Bourla — Chairman
Brian Byala — Treasurer
Julia Wu — Secretary
Caroline Roan — President
Darren Back — Executive Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$52,088,243	$51,003,994	$256,390,731	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$49,591,716	$45,690,467	$255,366,549	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$30,321,913	$23,239,421	$255,288,291	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.