Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,854,998 (2024); $5,375,800 (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: N/A (not publicly disclosed)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: National and international (U.S. cities and China)
• Total Assets: $102.9 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 1301 2nd Ave Suite 2100, Seattle, WA 98101-3800

Website: Not publicly available

Email: Not publicly available

Phone: Not publicly available

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or proposals.

Overview

The Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation was established in 2012 (IRS ruling year) as a private grantmaking foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Founded by Li Lu, the founder and chairman of Himalaya Capital, the foundation makes grants to organizations that work to improve the lives of people in need. With total assets of approximately $102.9 million as of 2024, the foundation has consistently distributed grants annually, awarding $5.4 million across 26 grants in 2023 and $3.9 million in 2024. The foundation's approach focuses on human rights, education, and disaster relief, reflecting Li Lu's personal commitment to these causes—he is a past recipient of the Raoul Wallenberg Human Rights Award and the Reebok Human Rights Award. The foundation operates exclusively through pre-selected charitable organizations and does not maintain a public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation does not operate open grant programs. All grants are made to pre-selected organizations identified by the foundation's leadership.

Recent Grant Activity:

• 2024: $3,854,998 distributed
• 2023: $5,375,800 distributed across 26 awards
• 2022: 20 awards made
• 2021: 26 awards made

Priority Areas

Based on the founder's philanthropic focus and documented activities, the foundation supports:

• Human Rights: Organizations working to advance human rights and civil liberties
• Education: Educational institutions and programs
• Disaster Relief and Emergency Response: Particularly healthcare-related emergency response (evidenced by COVID-19 donations of over $1.5 million to 100+ hospitals and medical institutions in China)
• Healthcare: Support for healthcare workers and medical institutions
• Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Communities: Aligned with Li Lu's broader philanthropic work through The Asian American Foundation

Geographic Focus: The foundation has funded projects in major U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as internationally in locations such as Shenzhen, China.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly disclosed, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Governance and Leadership

Li Lu - Founder and Grantor

Li Lu is the founder and primary supporter of the Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation. He is also the founder and chairman of Himalaya Capital, a value-oriented investment firm established in 1997. Li Lu serves as a trustee of both Columbia University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Beyond this foundation, Li Lu co-founded and chairs The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), which has raised over $1 billion to support AAPI communities, and co-founded the Guardians of the Angeles Charitable Foundation to combat the COVID-19 crisis.

Awards and Recognition: Li Lu has received the Raoul Wallenberg Human Rights Award from the Congressional Human Rights Foundation, the Reebok Human Rights Award, and the John Jay Award from Columbia College.

The foundation's tax filings indicate no compensation is paid to officers, suggesting a volunteer board structure.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded on an invitation-only basis, with the foundation proactively identifying and selecting organizations to support based on the founder's philanthropic priorities and strategic interests.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, decision timelines are determined on a case-by-case basis for organizations selected by the foundation.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates exclusively through pre-selected organizations, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that align with the foundation's documented priorities may be more likely to be identified for support:

Alignment Areas Based on Documented Giving:

• Organizations addressing human rights issues, particularly those affecting marginalized communities
• Educational institutions (given Li Lu's trustee roles at Columbia and Caltech)
• Emergency relief and healthcare initiatives, especially during crisis situations
• Programs supporting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities
• Organizations with strong governance and measurable impact in their fields

Known Funding Examples:

• COVID-19 Response: The foundation provided over $1.5 million in financial assistance and medical supplies to more than 100 hospitals and medical institutions in Wuhan and other parts of China during the pandemic
• Guardians of the Angeles Charitable Foundation: Received support for frontline healthcare workers during COVID-19

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. They exclusively support pre-selected organizations.
• Relationship-Driven: Access to funding requires existing relationships or connections to the foundation's leadership and network.
• Crisis Response: The foundation has demonstrated significant responsiveness to emergency situations, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting openness to urgent humanitarian needs.
• Human Rights Focus: Li Lu's personal history as a human rights advocate and award recipient suggests strong alignment with organizations advancing civil liberties and human rights.
• Education and Healthcare: The founder's connections to major educational institutions and documented healthcare funding indicate these as priority areas.
• Substantial Resources: With over $100 million in assets, the foundation has significant capacity for major grants to aligned organizations.
• Board Connections: Organizations with connections to Columbia University, Caltech, or the Asian American Foundation may have better visibility to the foundation's leadership.

References

• Cause IQ. "The Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation | Seattle, WA." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-li-lu-humanitarian-foundation,455193233/ (Accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Li Lu Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/455193233 (Accessed January 2026)
• Charity Navigator. "Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation." https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/455193233 (Accessed January 2026)
• Columbia Business School. "Himalaya Capital Founder and Columbia University Trustee Li Lu Donates $1.5 Million to Aid Healthcare Workers." https://business.columbia.edu/leading-through-crisis/ideas-work/himalaya-capital-founder-and-columbia-university-trustee-li-lu (Accessed January 2026)
• Caltech Board of Trustees. "Mr. Li Lu - Board of Trustees." https://board.caltech.edu/board-members/mr-li-lu (Accessed January 2026)
• Committee of 100. "Li Lu." https://www.committee100.org/members/luli/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory. "The Li Lu Foundation | Foundation Directory." https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=LILU001 (Accessed January 2026)
• Instrumentl. "The Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation | Seattle, WA | 990 Report." https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/li-lu-humanitarian-foundation (Accessed January 2026)