NoVo Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 47-0824753 · since 2021novofoundation.org·California, New York·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$214M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$30,000 to $500k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$150k

Typical grant (median)

508 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

NoVo Foundation funds work around children's wellbeing, adult health and agency, agricultural training and research, and resilient local food systems in the Hudson Valley, so check your work sits within one of these themes before considering an approach.
A realistic request would fall within its typical grant range of $30,000 to $500,000, as about eight in ten of its grants to organisations do, with a median grant of $150,000; its very largest grant, to Tides Foundation, is a regranting relationship unlikely to be a guide for most applicants.
The foundation states plainly that it does not accept unsolicited requests and funds by invitation only, so organisations without an existing connection should not send in a speculative proposal.
Giving also looks strongly relationship-led rather than open to competition, since 86% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the previous two years' filings, so repeat support to known partners seems to be the norm.
No geographic focus is stated, though its filings show grants mainly in New York and California; this is not a rule about who may apply, simply where funding has tended to land.

Overview

NoVo Foundation is a US private foundation based in Hurley, NY.

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

NoVo Foundation says it supports people and organisations that may serve as lifeboats through turbulent times, seeking to preserve, protect and nourish; its concise emphasis is Women and children first. It describes a wide variety of grants with specific orientations, aimed at releasing joy, wonder and curiosity in children and supporting health, well-being and agency in adults. The filing also describes direct work in professional farmer training and agricultural research, alongside food-processing projects intended to support an equitable, ecologically resilient local food system in the Hudson Valley.

Themes

Children's wellbeing
Adult health and agency
Agricultural training and research
Resilient local food systems

Geographic Focus

No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York and California.

How to apply

The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% 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 1,617 grants to organisations were $150,000 or less.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

New York67%

California12%

Massachusetts2%

District of Columbia2%

South Dakota1%

New Mexico1%

6 other states: 5%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 9%

The largest single recipient received 28% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations NoVo Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
56% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

508 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $150k

How much do they typically give?

Share of 508 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$5k–$10k1%

$10k–$25k2%

$25k–$50k7%

$50k–$100k16%

$100k–$250k42%

$250k–$500k19%

$500k–$1M8%

$1M and over6%

Median $150k (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Women Building Up · Women building up
$20,000,0002024 tax year
Tides Foundation · Advancing girls fund
$19,337,4502024 tax year
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · Donor advised fund
$14,000,0002024 tax year
Tides Center · One generation
$10,000,0002024 tax year
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley · Radio kingston
$8,261,6702024 tax year
Rupco Inc · Housing support
$5,000,0002024 tax year
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · Spirit aligned leadership program
$4,500,0002024 tax year
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · Donor advised fund
$3,350,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Kimberly Mclain — Chief Financial Officer
Aaron Stern — Secretary
Peter Buffett — Co-President
Jennifer Buffett — Co-President
Julianne Schrader Ortega As Of 412 — Managing Director, HVFH (As Of 4/1/24)
Matthew Tye — Managing Director, Nik, Mill, Crop Sho

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$273,150,876	$195,124,661	$545,384,793	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$174,051,842	$169,364,905	$719,322,289	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$237,536,467	$214,143,310	$937,820,671	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.