Surdna Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Surdna Foundation funds nonprofit organisations across the United States working on inclusive economies, sustainable environments and thriving cultures, so check that your work sits within one of these three programmes before approaching.
- Most grants are modest: about eight in ten fall between $3,000 and $350,000, and half of all grants are $75,000 or less, though the median grant was $75,000 and the largest was about $4,100,000, so a modest to mid-sized request is realistic.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry; it builds long-term relationships with prospective grantees, and these relationships can lead to an invitation to apply, so focus on building a relationship rather than sending a cold proposal.
- It looks relationship-led rather than a simple open competition, since 87% of its grant dollars to organisations in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in the two previous filings, though this reflects a share of dollars rather than of the number of grants made.
- For its Thriving Cultures programme only, it does not fund individuals directly (though it does fund organisations that make grants to individual artists), capital campaigns or building construction, projects based or focused outside the United States, tribal lands or U.S. territories, purchase of equipment, or awards, scholarships or endowment funds.
Overview
Surdna 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
Surdna makes grants to nonprofit organisations in the United States through work on inclusive economies, sustainable environments and thriving cultures. Its Inclusive Economies work supports businesses owned by people of colour and community voice in economic planning, seeking just and equitable economic growth. Sustainable Environments focuses on low-wealth communities and communities of colour, backing community control, ownership and stewardship of land and infrastructure. Thriving Cultures invests in artists, culture-bearers, designers and media-makers of colour, alongside nonprofit arts organisations and intermediaries that can make direct, sizable grants to artists and small arts organisations of colour. Its approach includes strategic grantmaking, partnerships, field-building and long-term relationships with people, organisations, communities and movements working towards racial justice.
Themes
- Inclusive economies
- Environmental and climate justice
- Land stewardship
- Arts and racial justice
- Cultural criticism
- Narrative change
- Policy and movement convenings
Geographic Focus
United States.
What They Don't Fund
- Thriving Cultures Program only: Individuals (However, we do fund organizations that make grants to individual artists.); Capital campaigns or building construction; Projects that are based or focused outside of the United States, tribal lands, or U.S. territories; Purchase of equipment; Awards, scholarships, or endowment funds
How to apply
The foundation builds long-term relationships with prospective grantees; these relationships can lead to an invitation to apply. It does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry.
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 1,138 grants to organisations were $75,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Inclusive Economies emphasises businesses owned by people of colour, with an emphasis on African-Americans and Latinos.
- Sustainable Environments prioritises environmental and climate justice frontline and grassroots movements, particularly those led by people of colour.
- Thriving Cultures funds nonprofit arts organisations and intermediaries able to make direct, sizable grants to artists and small arts organisations of colour.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 12%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 12%
- The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to organisations Surdna Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (The Netherlands).
- 20% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 397 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $90,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Julia Dyckman Andrus Memorial · General support$4,082,5002024 tax year
- John E. Andrus Memorial · General support$4,022,5002024 tax year
- New Venture Fund · General support$959,0002024 tax year
- NDN Collective · General support$775,0002024 tax year
- Neighborhood Funders Group · General support$750,0002024 tax year
- Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs · General support$750,0002024 tax year
- Living Cities · General support$665,0002024 tax year
- Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · General support$625,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Timothy D Thorpe — Director
- Elizabeth Shogren — Director
- Melissa D' Arienzo — Director
- Ommeed Sathe — Director
- Miguel Santana — Director
- Cameron Griffith — Director
- Michelle Depass — Director
- Davis Benedict — Director
- Amachie Ackah — Director
- Peter C Voorhees — Secretary / Treasurer
- Shari T Wilson — Vice Chairperson
- Caitlin Boger Hawkins — Chairperson
- Elizabeth Cahill — VP, Communications & Engagement
- Adam Connaker — Director, Impact Investing
- Marc De Venoge — VP Finance & Investing
- Donald Chen — President / CEO
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $105,542,174 | $54,655,193 | $1,166,632,706 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $77,062,549 | $58,875,114 | $1,163,466,026 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $51,006,657 | $56,522,953 | $1,231,171,978 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Surdna Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (212) 557-0010
- New York, NY
- surdna.org
Applying to Surdna Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (212) 557-0010
- New York, NY
- surdna.org