Peter G. Peterson Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $26.5 million (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: 6-8 weeks for initial inquiry response
Grant Range: $6,000 - $1,600,000 (average: $363,000)
Geographic Focus: United States (national impact preferred)
Total Assets: Over $1 billion

Contact Details

Address: New York, NY

Phone: Not publicly listed

Overview

The Peter G. Peterson Foundation was established in 2008 by businessman and philanthropist Peter G. Peterson with a $1 billion commitment to address America's long-term fiscal challenges. As a nonpartisan organization, the Foundation works to increase public awareness of key fiscal challenges threatening America's future and to accelerate action on solutions. Led by Chairman and CEO Michael A. Peterson, the Foundation partners with think tanks, universities, media outlets, and nonprofits across the ideological spectrum. The Foundation has awarded 302 grants totaling $105 million since 2021, supporting research, education, and advocacy initiatives that promote fiscal sustainability, healthcare cost reduction, democratic strengthening, and next-generation leadership development. In 2024, the Foundation awarded $26.5 million across 73 grants from total assets exceeding $1 billion.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation organizes its grant-making through three major portfolio areas:

Research and Analysis: Funds rigorous, independent research and policy analysis from leading think tanks, academic institutions, and subject matter experts across the ideological spectrum. Grant range varies widely based on project scope.

Effective Democracy: Supports projects that strengthen policymaking institutions, election administration, and collaborative governance. Includes the Election Trust Initiative and programs that equip elected leaders with knowledge and skills for solutions-oriented policymaking.

Next Gen Leaders: The flagship program is Up to Us Leadership Network, described as "the nation's leading talent pipeline for fiscal leadership," which equips college students with advocacy, policy, and leadership skills through campus-based programs.

Notable Initiative - Solutions Initiative (2011): Awarded $200,000 grants to six organizations (American Enterprise Institute, Bipartisan Policy Center, Center for American Progress, Economic Policy Institute, The Heritage Foundation, and Roosevelt Institute Campus Network) to develop comprehensive fiscal sustainability plans.

Recent Grant Examples:

$1,600,000 to Catalyst for Payment Reform (two-year grant)
$1,000,000 to Becker Friedman Institute, University of Chicago (Pandemic Response Policy Research Fund)
$500,000 - $1,500,000 to Peterson Center on Healthcare grantees (one to three-year periods)
$6,000 per organization for Fiscal Internship Program support

Priority Areas

Fiscal Policy and Sustainability: Research and education on federal budget deficits, national debt, and long-term fiscal challenges
Healthcare Policy: Cost reduction strategies, healthcare system efficiency, and policy innovation (e.g., Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker)
Democratic Institutions: Election administration, secure voting systems, transparent governance, and collaborative policymaking
Youth Engagement: Campus-based programs, fiscal education for college students, and next-generation leadership development
Nonpartisan Policy Development: Supporting organizations across the political spectrum to develop evidence-based solutions

What They Don't Fund

Organizations based outside the United States
Institutions that discriminate based on race, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation
Activities prohibited for private foundations
Projects unrelated to fiscal challenges, economic sustainability, healthcare policy, or democratic strengthening

Governance and Leadership

Michael A. Peterson - Chairman and CEO (son of founder Peter G. Peterson)

D. Ronald Daniel - Chairman

Michael G. Manasse - President and Chief Operating Officer

Board of Directors includes distinguished leaders:

Joan Ganz Cooney - Co-founder of Sesame Workshop and Peter G. Peterson's widow
Sen. Bill Bradley - Former United States Senator and Managing Director at Allen & Company LLC
Robert Rubin - Former United States Secretary of the Treasury and Co-Chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations
Sheryl Sandberg - Former Chief Operating Officer of Facebook
Donna Shalala - President of University of Miami and former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
George Shultz - Former United States Secretary of State (deceased)
David M. Walker - Former Comptroller General of the United States

Quote from Leadership:

Michael A. Peterson has stated: "The national debt soaring past $37 trillion sends yet another clear message about America's unsustainable fiscal path. Fiscal policy matters for every American because rising debt inhibits economic growth and puts upward pressure on inflation and interest rates, driving up the cost of everything from grocery shopping to buying a home."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation accepts unsolicited grant inquiries through a rolling application process:

Initial Letter of Inquiry: Organizations submit grant concepts via email to inquiries@pgpf.org
Research Phase: Prospective applicants are encouraged to research the Foundation's grants database (pgpf.org/grants) to understand the types of initiatives and programs supported
Staff Review: The Foundation reviews inquiries to determine alignment with mission, eligibility, and current funding priorities
Invitation to Apply: If the inquiry meets eligibility requirements and falls within current funding areas, staff will contact the organization and request a detailed application
No Status Inquiries: Applicants are asked not to contact the Foundation about inquiry status during the initial review period

Application Method: Rolling basis via email inquiry

Decision Timeline

Initial Response: 6-8 weeks from receipt of letter of inquiry
Full Application Review: Timeline not publicly specified; varies by project scope
Notification: Via email or phone from Foundation staff

Eligibility Requirements

The Foundation has specific preferences for grantees:

Legal Status: U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Organizational Maturity: Prefers organizations in existence for at least two years
Operating Budget: Prefers organizations with annual budgets of at least $1 million
Impact Capacity: Seeks partners with ability to implement programming for national impact
Mission Alignment: Grant requests must be directly related to the Foundation's mission and priorities

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly disclosed. The Foundation receives a "high volume of requests" according to their website, suggesting competitive selection. In 2024, they awarded 73 grants from presumably many more inquiries.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Organizations are encouraged to maintain communication with Foundation staff regarding future opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's documented preferences and funded projects, successful applicants demonstrate:

Mission Alignment: The Foundation explicitly states it "considers grant requests directly related to the Foundation's mission and priorities." Applications must clearly address fiscal sustainability, healthcare cost challenges, democratic strengthening, or next-generation leadership development.

Nonpartisan Approach: The Foundation emphasizes supporting organizations "across the ideological spectrum" and values "bringing together people and ideas" from diverse political perspectives. Michael A. Peterson has highlighted the importance of bipartisan collaboration in addressing fiscal challenges.

National Impact Potential: The Foundation "seeks to partner with organizations that have the ability to implement programming for national impact," not local or regional projects. Successful grantees include major think tanks (Brookings Institution, Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute), universities (Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown), and national policy organizations.

Established Track Record: With preferences for organizations operating for at least two years with budgets exceeding $1 million, the Foundation favors established institutions with proven capacity. Examples include Policy Research Inc., National Bureau of Economic Research, and Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Evidence-Based Research: The Foundation funds "rigorous, original data and policy analysis" and supports projects like the Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker that provide empirical evidence for policy discussions.

Innovation Within Mission: While favoring established organizations, the Foundation seeks to "identify, fund and scale new ideas and approaches" that advance fiscal solutions, as evidenced by the Solutions Initiative bringing together seven think tanks to develop competing debt stabilization plans.

Budget Realism: Grant amounts vary significantly based on scope—from $6,000 Fiscal Internship Program grants to multi-year awards exceeding $1.5 million. The average grant is $363,000, suggesting most projects receive mid-six-figure support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Research the portfolio first: Review the Foundation's grants database at pgpf.org/grants to understand funded projects and identify alignment before submitting an inquiry
Demonstrate national reach: The Foundation explicitly seeks partners with "ability to implement programming for national impact"—local or regional projects are unlikely to succeed
Show cross-ideological appeal: Emphasize how your work engages diverse political perspectives and contributes to nonpartisan solutions
Meet the size threshold: Organizations with annual budgets under $1 million or less than two years of operating history face significant barriers
Be patient and professional: Expect 6-8 weeks for initial response and do not follow up during this period, as requested by the Foundation
Align with current priorities: Focus applications on fiscal sustainability, healthcare costs, democratic institutions, or youth leadership—the Foundation's four core portfolio areas
Emphasize evidence and rigor: Highlight research methodology, data sources, and how your work will contribute original analysis to policy discussions

References

Information accessed December 2024