Focusing Philanthropy Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $26.3 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: United States and internationally

Contact Details

• Website: focusingphilanthropy.org
• Location: Santa Monica, CA
• EIN: 45-2405071

Overview

Focusing Philanthropy Inc is a public foundation established in 2012 that applies an investment model approach to philanthropy. With over $156 million contributed to date impacting more than 13 million lives, the foundation focuses on overcoming barriers to human potential through strategic investments in programmes that increase income and improve access to healthcare and education. The founders cover 100% of operational expenses, allowing all donor contributions to go directly to programme support.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

• Programmes that overcome barriers to unleash human potential
• Income generation and economic mobility initiatives
• Healthcare access improvements
• Education and workforce development programmes
• High-impact, scalable interventions with measurable outcomes

Focus on Investment Model

The foundation conducts rigorous diligence, ongoing monitoring, and transparent reporting on all investments, treating philanthropic giving with the same rigour as financial investments.

Governance and Leadership

• Lawrence Gilson: Founder and Chairman (unpaid position)
• Frank Beadle de Palomo: Chief Executive Officer (seasoned nonprofit executive with nearly four decades of experience in global health and organisational growth; previously served as President & CEO of mothers2mothers)

The foundation maintains lean operations with a strong commitment to maximising programme impact, as the founders cover all administrative and operational costs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not appear to have a public application process. Grants are likely awarded through proactive identification of high-impact organisations and programmes that align with their investment model approach. They conduct extensive due diligence on potential grantees before making funding decisions.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on available information, Focusing Philanthropy appears to proactively identify organisations through their investment model approach. Documented partnerships include Per Scholas for training individuals underrepresented in IT for high-growth careers, RefugePoint for refugee support in Kenya, One Acre Fund for smallholder farmers in Africa, and Water For People for clean water and sanitation solutions. Organisations with proven, scalable models for addressing income, healthcare, or education barriers may align with their priorities.

Application Success Factors

Organisations that may align with Focusing Philanthropy's approach demonstrate:

• Substantial, measurable impact on beneficiaries
• Strong institutional credibility and track record
• Clear capacity to effectively deploy additional funding
• Scalable programme models
• Focus on overcoming systemic barriers to human potential
• Strong monitoring and evaluation frameworks

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focusing Philanthropy operates more like an impact investment fund than a traditional foundation
• They prioritise measurable, scalable impact over traditional grant-making approaches
• The foundation covers all operational costs separately, maximising donor impact
• They seek organisations with proven models rather than accepting unsolicited proposals
• Strong emphasis on data, monitoring, and transparent reporting
• Focus areas include economic mobility, healthcare access, and education
• Partnership approach with extensive due diligence and ongoing monitoring
• Geographic scope includes both domestic (United States) and international programmes

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Focusing Philanthropy Inc (accessed May 2026)
• Focusing Philanthropy official website (focusingphilanthropy.org) (accessed May 2026)
• IRS Form 990 data for EIN 45-2405071 (2023 filing)