Passport Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation says it backs bold, innovative work on toxic chemicals, stronger regulation, safer alternatives, and research and public engagement that can produce large-scale, lasting change, and it does not fund the status quo or incremental change, so only work of that kind fits.
- Its filings state no geographic focus, so location alone should not rule you out, though its grants have mainly gone to organisations in California, District of Columbia, New York, Washington and North Carolina.
- Most grants are modest: half of its 163 grants to organisations across three filings were $35,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $250 and $200,000, so a request near the lower end of that typical band is a realistic starting point, although its largest grant was $500,000.
- Repeat giving is heavy, with 87% of grant dollars to organisations in its most recent filing going to groups it had also funded in one of the two earlier filings, so a new applicant should expect a competitive process and should lead with the long-term vision the foundation says it values.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so send a short funding inquiry to info@passportfoundation.org.
Overview
Passport Foundation is a US private foundation based in Wilmington, DE.
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
Passport Foundation invests in organisations tackling toxics challenges with bold, innovative solutions, seeking large-scale and lasting impact. It backs work at the intersection of science, policy, industry and public engagement, and describes its grantees as boundary-pushers and pioneers. Its priorities include stronger, enforceable regulation, shifting supply chains away from toxic chemicals towards safer alternatives, research that informs policy and consumer action, and public engagement to build momentum for systemic reform. It describes its approach as data-driven and results-oriented, and favours structural shifts and long-term investment rather than quick fixes. Its support spans science, advocacy, policy, consumer engagement and innovation.
Themes
- Toxic chemicals
- Stronger regulation
- Corporate accountability
- Safer alternatives
- Scientific research
- Public engagement
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, District of Columbia, New York, Washington and North Carolina.
What They Don't Fund
- The status quo
- Incremental change
How to apply
For funding inquiries, contact the foundation by email at info@passportfoundation.org.
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 163 grants to organisations were $35,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation prioritises big structural shifts, including stronger regulations, corporate accountability and market incentives for safer alternatives.
- It backs data-driven, results-oriented solutions with measurable impact, including science, advocacy and innovation that advance policy and accountability.
- It values leaders willing to sustain long-term work, with the vision and endurance systemic change requires.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 9%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 5%
- The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to organisations Passport Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 4% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Sweden, United Kingdom).
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 44 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $32,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Earthjustice · Protecting Against Toxic Chemical Exposures$300,0002024 tax year
- Natural Resources Defense Council · NRDC Toxics Initiative Support$300,0002024 tax year
- University of California, San Francisco · Defending Science and Promoting Evidence-Based Decision-Making to Protect Health from Toxic Environmental Chemicals$200,0002024 tax year
- Toxic-Free Future · General & Unrestricted$175,0002024 tax year
- Environmental Working Group · EWG Food Chemicals Campaign$125,0002024 tax year
- Toxic-Free Future · Mind the Store$125,0002024 tax year
- International Pollutants Elimination Network · Expenditure Responsibility Grant$125,0002024 tax year
- Coming Clean · General & Unrestricted$125,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Michelle Ruggeri — Treasurer
- Joanne Poile — Director
- Jim Cunningham — Director
- John H Burbank III — Director, President
- Ani Arutyunyan — Secretary, Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $5,884,290 | $3,889,862 | $77,342,418 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,721,413 | $3,710,670 | $60,185,025 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,550,988 | $2,611,913 | $72,991,589 | 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 Passport Foundation?
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Applying to Passport Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required