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Koum Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$93.2M
Grant Range
$15K - $10.0M

Koum Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $93.2 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $10,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Bay Area, Israel, Eastern Europe

Contact Details

  • Phone: 415-903-3200
  • Address: 405 El Camino Real 603, Menlo Park, CA 94025
  • Website: None
  • Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Koum Family Foundation, established in 2015 by WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum, has rapidly become one of the most significant funders of Jewish causes globally. With assets exceeding $3.3 billion and annual grantmaking of approximately $90-100 million, the foundation focuses primarily on supporting the international Jewish community and Israel. The foundation operates through a proactive, invitation-only funding approach, with Jan Koum personally selecting organizations aligned with his interests and priorities. Despite its massive scale of giving, the foundation maintains an exceptionally low public profile, with no website or public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

While specific named programs are limited, the foundation focuses on:

  • Major Institutional Support: $1,000,000 - $10,000,000 (for established Jewish organizations)
  • Community Organization Grants: $100,000 - $2,500,000 (Jewish Community Centers, synagogues)
  • Education Initiatives: $50,000 - $3,000,000 (particularly early childhood Jewish education)
  • Israel Support: $500,000 - $5,000,000 (healthcare, education, advocacy)
  • Humanitarian Aid: $100,000 - $3,000,000 (Ukraine-focused, medical equipment)

Priority Areas

  • Jewish community organizations (particularly Chabad-affiliated)
  • Jewish early childhood education
  • Israel studies and advocacy programs
  • Healthcare infrastructure in Israel
  • Support for Jewish communities in Eastern Europe/CIS countries
  • Ukrainian humanitarian causes (especially with Jewish connections)
  • Bay Area Jewish institutions

What They Don't Fund

  • Non-Jewish organizations (rare exceptions for Ukrainian humanitarian causes)
  • Organizations without connections to their existing network
  • General operating support for organizations outside Jewish mission alignment

Governance and Leadership

Jan Koum - Director/Founder

  • Co-founder and former CEO of WhatsApp (sold to Facebook for $19.3 billion in 2014)
  • Born in Kyiv, Ukraine; immigrated to California at age 16
  • Maintains extreme privacy in his philanthropy despite giving at massive scale

Yana Kalika - President & CEO

  • Compensation: $430,300 (2024)
  • Former learning technologies manager at Genentech
  • Quote: "We firmly believe that investing in Jewish Early Childhood Education in the Bay Area is not just an investment in the next generation, but in the very fabric of our heritage"

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "prefers a proactive funding approach and does not accept unsolicited requests for funding." Grants are made entirely at the discretion of Jan Koum according to his interests and funding priorities. Organizations are identified and invited by foundation leadership rather than through open applications.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on analysis of grant patterns and foundation operations:

  • The foundation actively identifies organizations through existing grantee networks, particularly Chabad-affiliated organizations
  • High-level introductions through current grantees appear to be the primary pathway, especially through major recipients like the European Jewish Association, Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS, and Bay Area JCCs
  • Organizations involved in collaborative initiatives the foundation supports (like the EarlyJ Initiative or Power in Partnership Fund) may gain visibility
  • Stanford University connections and programs focused on Israel studies have proven successful pathways
  • The foundation participates in select Bay Area Jewish community convenings and philanthropic collaboratives

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed - operates on invitation-only basis

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates by invitation only, traditional application advice doesn't apply. However, organizations that have successfully received funding share these characteristics:

  • Strong Chabad connections: Analysis shows "more than any other cause, Koum gives to nonprofits affiliated with Chabad-Lubavitch"
  • Eastern European/CIS focus: Organizations serving Jewish communities in Russia, Ukraine, and former Soviet states receive consistent major support
  • Bay Area presence: Local Jewish institutions, particularly JCCs and early childhood programs, are regular recipients
  • Proven scale and impact: The foundation's median grant of $350,000 and most common grant of $1 million indicates preference for established organizations
  • Collaborative approach: Organizations participating in joint initiatives like EarlyJ or Power in Partnership Fund have received support
  • Personal relevance to Jan Koum: Ukraine connections, immigrant support services, and organizations addressing Eastern European Jewish heritage align with founder's background

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No direct application pathway exists - networking through existing grantees is essential
  • Focus on Jewish mission is non-negotiable - "Groups whose mission does not address Jewish causes will almost certainly be unsuccessful"
  • Chabad affiliation provides significant advantage in gaining foundation attention
  • Collaborative initiatives offer best entry point - participating in foundation-supported collaboratives like EarlyJ can lead to direct support
  • Scale matters - foundation prefers meaningful grants ($1M typical) over small amounts
  • Geographic alignment helps - Bay Area, Israel, and Eastern Europe/CIS are priority regions
  • Maintain relationships with current grantees - particularly major recipients who may facilitate introductions

References

  • ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF filings (2015-2024): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/475446562
  • Grantmakers.io - Koum Family Foundation Profile: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/475446562-koum-family-foundation/
  • Inside Philanthropy - "Koum Family Foundation" profile (accessed January 2025)
  • eJewish Philanthropy - "As Jewish donors reconsider academia, Jan Koum doubles down, endowing Israel studies at Stanford" (2024)
  • Times of Israel - "WhatsApp's reclusive founder has quietly become a megadonor to Jewish causes" (2022)
  • Stanford University - "Gift from the Koum Family Foundation endows Israel Studies Program" (November 2024)
  • J. The Jewish News of Northern California - "$10M 'lifeline' helps Bay Area JCCs survive pandemic losses" (2022)
  • Candid Foundation Directory Online - Profile #3668174 (accessed January 2025)
  • Chronicle of Philanthropy - "No. 4: Jan Koum" (2018)
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