Civis Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Civis Foundation's themes are arts and letters, historic preservation, community building and civic initiatives, so a request should show clearly how the work fits one of them.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold proposal is not the route; a group should look for a warm introduction instead.
- Half of its 34 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $25,000 and $1,600,000, so a modest request in that region matches its typical grants, although the largest grant was about $12,500,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- None of its grant dollars in the latest filing went to organisations it had funded in the earlier filings, so repeat funding should not be assumed.
- No geographic focus is stated, so location alone should not rule a group out, though the filings show grants mainly in the United States and New York.
Overview
Civis 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
Civis Foundation makes grants to organisations and initiatives that intersect with its mission and focus areas. Its work spans Arts & Letters, supporting artists and writers whose work gives form to civic life; historic preservation, preserving and activating historic homes, buildings and neighbourhoods; community building, backing projects and enterprises that bolster civic infrastructure, equitable access to opportunity and place-based assets; and civic initiatives, supporting efforts that encourage citizens to engage with difference, confront injustice and shape policies grounded in empathy and reason. The foundation describes these strands as connected to a shared, interdependent future and says it works through coalitions and partnerships. Its stated approach includes both grantmaking and impact investing.
Themes
- Arts and letters
- Historic preservation
- Community building
- Civic initiatives
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in the United States and New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, none 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 34 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Civis funds organisations and initiatives that intersect with its mission and focus areas.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 61% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 0% of grant dollars went to organisations Civis Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 79% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 7 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- National Black Theater · Supporting programs$50,0002024 tax year
- HeadCount · Supporting programs$50,0002024 tax year
- Open to Debate · Supporting programs$30,0002024 tax year
- Hudson-Athens Lighthouse · Supporting programs$25,0002024 tax year
- Campaign Legal Center · Protecting voter access$25,0002024 tax year
- Student Pirg · Supporting programs$25,0002024 tax year
- Teh LGBT Community Center · Supporting programs$25,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Eric Galloway — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $11,495,692 | $10,720,000 | $76,316,585 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $15,049,247 | $14,615,000 | $73,854,843 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,020,442 | $230,000 | $91,619,647 | 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
🎯 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 Civis Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY
- civis.org
Applying to Civis Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY
- civis.org