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The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation

Annual Giving
$695.2M
Grant Range
$3K - $54.9M

The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $695.2 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $2.27 billion (2023)
  • Grant Range: $3,000 - $54.9 million
  • Median Grant: $395,000
  • Geographic Focus: International and U.S., with scholarship focus on Nebraska
  • Application Method: Invitation only / No public application process

Contact Details

Scholarships Only:

Note: The foundation only responds to inquiries about college scholarships. For organizational grant funding, the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.

Overview

The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation (STBF) was founded in 1964 as the Buffett Foundation and renamed in 2004 in honor of Warren Buffett's late first wife, Susan Thompson Buffett, after her estate contributed approximately $2.9 billion to the foundation. With total assets of $2.27 billion as of 2023 and annual giving of $695.2 million across 373 grants in 2024, STBF ranks among the largest private foundations in the United States. The foundation operates with two primary focus areas: it is the top private funder of sexual and reproductive health and rights work worldwide, and it has provided college scholarships to Nebraska students for over 50 years. The foundation maintains a notably private profile, operating through proactive grantmaking rather than open application processes. Warren Buffett pledged nearly $3 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway stock to the foundation in 2006, to be distributed over time. As of 2024, the foundation has distributed over $8.4 billion cumulatively, positioning it among the largest U.S. family-led philanthropies.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Reproductive Health and Family Planning (International and U.S.)

  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $54.9 million
  • Typical Range: $50,000 - $750,000
  • Focus: Contraception access, safe abortion services, family planning programs
  • Method: Invitation only, proactive grantmaking

Nebraska College Scholarships

  • Type: Need-based competitive scholarships for first-time college freshmen
  • Application: Online application opens November 1st, due February 1st
  • Eligibility: Nebraska residents graduating from Nebraska high schools or earning GED, attending Nebraska public colleges

Priority Areas

Global Reproductive Health

  • Family planning and contraception programs
  • Safe abortion access and services
  • Reproductive health infrastructure in developing countries
  • Ministry of Health partnerships in Africa and other regions
  • Support for major global health organizations (WHO, international NGOs)

U.S. Reproductive Health

  • Abortion access and rights protection
  • Contraception services
  • Reproductive health advocacy
  • Support for national reproductive health organizations

Education (Nebraska Focus)

  • College access and success programs
  • Need-based scholarships for Nebraska students
  • Support for Nebraska public colleges and universities

Recent Major Grant Recipients (2023-2024)

  • NAF Hotline Fund: $54.9 million (program support)
  • Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean: $33.6 million (program support)
  • Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda: $30.0 million (program support)
  • World Health Organization: $22.7 million (program support)
  • Ministry of Health and Social Action, Senegal: Significant support (program support)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and does not fund organizations outside their identified priorities in reproductive health and Nebraska education.

Governance and Leadership

Board Chair: Susan Alice Buffett (daughter of Warren and Susan Thompson Buffett)

President/Executive Director: Allen Greenberg (former son-in-law of Warren Buffett, serving since 1987; compensation over $800,000 in 2023)

Board Members: Include Peter Buffett and other family members

Key Personnel History: Allen Greenberg was offered the executive director position in 1987 and was, for years, the foundation's only employee. Under his leadership, the foundation grew into the third-largest private grantmaking foundation in America. Though he divorced Susan Alice Buffett in 1995, he remains president of the foundation.

Operational Structure: The foundation maintains a U.S. home office in Omaha, Nebraska, and a global home office in Kigali, Rwanda, reflecting its significant international reproductive health work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Organizational Grants: This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." The foundation practices proactive grantmaking, meaning it actively identifies and approaches organizations it wishes to fund rather than responding to applications.

For Nebraska College Scholarships:

  • Online application opens November 1st annually
  • Application deadline: February 1st at 5:00 PM CT/4:00 PM MT
  • Must also complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
  • Apply at buffettscholarships.org
  • Awards are competitive with a limited number available; the foundation cannot fund all eligible applicants

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies grantees through its own research and networks rather than through applications. Specific intelligence about their selection process includes:

  • Organization Profile: The foundation prefers large, established nonprofits with proven capacity to scale operations. Grantees "tend to be large, established nonprofits that can scale or have at least a national presence, if not global."

  • Grant Size Indicators: Global and reproductive health grants are often made in amounts greater than $10 million to support large global nonprofits and NGOs, suggesting the foundation seeks partners capable of implementing major programs.

  • Inside Connections: Multiple sources note that "interested grantseekers will likely have difficulty securing funding without an inside connection" and recommend that grantseekers "will need to network deeply here."

  • Foundation Staff Identification: The foundation employs professional staff including a Director of Grants Management and Director of Evaluation and Learning (College Access and Success), suggesting active program officer engagement in identifying potential grantees.

  • Stated Mission Alignment: In a 2016 job listing, the foundation stated its mission is to "prevent unintended pregnancy and ensure access to safe abortion in the U.S. and internationally," providing clear guidance on their funding priorities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the proactive nature of their grantmaking, decision timelines vary based on foundation-initiated contact with organizations.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation does not publish statistics on how many organizations it considers versus funds, as it does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for organizational grants, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Foundation Priorities

The foundation has demonstrated clear, focused priorities over decades:

Reproductive Health Focus: The foundation's 2016 job listing explicitly stated its mission: "prevent unintended pregnancy and ensure access to safe abortion in the U.S. and internationally." Organizations working on these specific issues align most closely with foundation priorities.

Scale and Capacity: Analysis of recent grants reveals the foundation's preference for organizations capable of major programmatic work. As noted in research, "Global and reproductive health grants are often made in amounts greater than $10 million in support of large global nonprofits and NGOs." Organizations should demonstrate:

  • Proven track record of program implementation
  • Capacity to manage multi-million dollar grants
  • National or international scope
  • Ability to scale interventions

Geographic Priorities: Recent major grants show concentrated activity in:

  • Sub-Saharan Africa (Rwanda, Senegal, and other countries)
  • U.S. domestic reproductive health programs
  • Ministry of Health partnerships in developing countries

Organizational Characteristics of Funded Organizations

  • Established Track Record: The foundation prefers "large, established nonprofits" rather than emerging organizations
  • Global or National Presence: Organizations with at least national reach, if not global operations
  • Collaborative Capacity: Evidence of grants to Ministries of Health suggests ability to work with government entities
  • Major NGOs: WHO, National Abortion Federation, and similar high-profile organizations receive significant funding

Building Credibility

Since the foundation operates through proactive identification of grantees:

  • Sector Visibility: Organizations should be visible leaders in reproductive health and rights
  • Peer Recognition: Being known among other major funders and implementing organizations in the sector
  • Demonstrated Impact: Evidence of successful program outcomes at scale
  • Network Connections: Relationships with organizations already funded by the foundation

What NOT to Do

  • Submit unsolicited proposals (they will not be reviewed)
  • Contact the foundation about organizational grants (they only respond to scholarship inquiries)
  • Apply if you are a small, local, or emerging organization without national/international reach
  • Seek funding outside reproductive health (international/U.S.) or Nebraska education priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation exclusively uses proactive grantmaking for organizational grants—do not submit unsolicited proposals, as the foundation clearly states it "does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

  • Scale Matters: The foundation targets large, established organizations with national or international reach. With a median grant of $395,000 and grants ranging up to $54.9 million, they seek partners capable of implementing major programs. Small or local organizations are unlikely to be considered.

  • Clear Mission Focus: The foundation's stated mission (from 2016 job listing) is to "prevent unintended pregnancy and ensure access to safe abortion in the U.S. and internationally." Organizations must align precisely with reproductive health priorities or Nebraska college access.

  • Geographic Concentration: Recent major grants show significant investment in Sub-Saharan Africa (Rwanda, Senegal) and U.S. reproductive health infrastructure. International work focuses on Ministry of Health partnerships and major global NGOs.

  • Relationship-Based Funding: Multiple sources emphasize that "interested grantseekers will likely have difficulty securing funding without an inside connection." Sector visibility, peer recognition, and networks within reproductive health and rights communities are essential.

  • Extremely Private Operations: The foundation "does not even mention its efforts on its website" and has been characterized as "secretive" for its non-transparent practices. This reinforces that traditional grant-seeking approaches will not work.

  • Foundation-Initiated Contact Only: If the foundation is interested in your organization, they will reach out. Focus efforts on building sector prominence and demonstrating impact at scale rather than attempting direct contact.

References

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