bp foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation says it directs humanitarian relief to areas in need where bp has significant local employee and business presence, and its stated geographic focus is around the world, so a charity whose humanitarian work fits that description has a clear reason to look at it.
- It does not accept unsolicited proposals and funds by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered, and the sensible first step is to build a relationship and wait to be invited.
- Typical grants reported in the filings run from $10,000 to $695,000, with a median of $100,000, but across the last three filings half of its five grants to organisations were $100,000 or less, so a modest request is the safer size to have ready if an invitation comes.
- Repeat giving is small: in the filing, 5% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its two earlier filings.
- Work outside humanitarian relief is a weaker fit on the foundation's own description, and the Employee Matching Fund runs through requests from eligible bp employees rather than from charities.
Overview
bp foundation is a US private foundation based in Houston, TX.
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 bp foundation supports humanitarian relief efforts in areas in need where bp has significant local employee and business presence. It also operates the Employee Matching Fund, through which eligible bp employees can request matching funds for eligible non-profit organisations. The matching programme links those funds to employees’ volunteer time, charitable donations and participation in fundraising pledge events, and allows employees to choose how they contribute to communities. The foundation describes its work as helping communities around the world through humanitarian relief assistance and employee matching. Its stated support therefore combines humanitarian relief with employee-linked funding for non-profit organisations.
Themes
- Humanitarian relief
- Employee matching gifts
Geographic Focus
Priority: Around the world.
How to apply
The bp foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 5% 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 5 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation directs humanitarian relief to areas in need where bp has significant local employee and business presence.
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 79% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 5% of grant dollars went to organisations bp foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 10% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- United Way of Greater Houston · Severe weather and derecho recovery fund$100,0002024 tax year
- Convoy of Hope · Humanitarian relief related to hurricanes helene and milton$100,0002024 tax year
- American Red Cross · Disaster relief to help those affected by the texas wildfires$10,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- David Werman — General Tax Officer
- Nike Thorpe — Corporate Secretary
- Donald L Kettering — Treasurer
- Andy Zone — Chief Financial Officer
- Tara Harrison — Executive Director
- Chan Boodhai — Director
- Hans Boas — Director
- Mary Streett — Chairman And President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,814,189 | $5,998,991 | $5,331,811 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $9,022,543 | $8,322,502 | $4,761,253 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $7,961,981 | $7,218,711 | $3,248,643 | 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
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At a glance
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Applying to bp foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required