The Howard G. Buffett Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Howard G. Buffett Foundation focuses on food security, conflict mitigation, countering human trafficking, and smaller cheetah and mountain gorilla conservation work, with a geographic priority of the U.S., so check your work sits within one of these themes before approaching.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and operates by invitation only, so a small charity cannot simply submit a proposal and must instead be identified or approached directly by the foundation.
- No grant range is stated, so it is not possible to say what a realistic request size would be.
- General operating support is not funded, so organisations seeking that kind of support should not apply.
- Because it says it focuses where it has unique expertise, where few others are willing to work and where it sees a chance to catalyse transformational change, this appears to be a highly selective, relationship-led funder rather than one that runs an open, competitive application round.
Overview
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation is a US private foundation based in Decatur, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation invests in food security, conflict mitigation and countering human trafficking, and continues smaller investments in cheetah and mountain gorilla conservation. Its food-security work supports agricultural resource development and management for smallholder farmers in the developing world through research, conservation-based production practices, water resource management and education, with attention to vulnerable and under-resourced farmers. Its conflict work seeks to improve conditions that fuel violence and supports communities affected by conflict, as well as projects promoting economic development, good governance, strong institutions and citizen security. Its human-trafficking initiative builds capacity and amplifies the efforts of law enforcement, prosecutors and victim service providers in targeted communities. In the U.S., it raises awareness of hunger, particularly rural hunger, and promotes conservation-based agricultural systems.
Themes
- Food security
- Conflict mitigation
- Countering human trafficking
- Cheetah conservation
- Mountain gorilla conservation
Geographic Focus
Priority: U.S.
What They Don't Fund
- General operating support
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
What the foundation says:
- It focuses grantmaking where it has unique expertise, where few others are willing to work and where it sees an opportunity to catalyse transformational change.
Officers and directors
- Charlotte Ryan — Treasurer
- Erin Morgan — Director
- Ann Kelly Bolten — President
- Michael D Walter — Director
- Heidi Heitkamp — Director
- Trisha A Cook — Secretary
- Devon G Buffett — Director
- Howard G Buffett — Chairman & CEO
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $503,789,015 | $457,671,720 | $720,697,528 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $486,280,982 | $462,005,815 | $784,389,066 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $717,420,050 | $494,963,612 | $737,675,908 | Filing for 2025 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
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to The Howard G. Buffett Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Applying to The Howard G. Buffett Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required