The 1440 Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $2,145,162 (2023)
Total Assets: $226,837,472
Average Grant Size: $1,072,581
Geographic Focus: Primarily California, with national reach for specific programs
Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications
Organizations Supported: 250+ to date

Contact Details

Website: www.1440foundation.org
Email: foundation@1440.org (for philanthropic program inquiries)
Location: Saratoga, CA

Overview

Founded in 2010 by Joanie and Scott Kriens, The 1440 Foundation takes its name from the 1,440 minutes in each day, inspired by a moment of heightened gratitude Joanie experienced while gardening. With assets totaling over $226 million, the foundation makes grants to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working in healthcare resilience and collaboration, inner wellbeing, and community building. The foundation has supported more than 250 nonprofit organizations since its inception. Unlike traditional foundations, 1440 operates through an invitation-only model, proactively identifying organizations that align with their vision rather than accepting unsolicited applications. The foundation is particularly known for its work supporting pancreatic cancer collaboration through the Canopy Cancer Collective (co-founded by pancreatic cancer survivor Joanie Kriens), advancing psychedelic medicine research, and providing restorative programs for healthcare workers and nonprofit leaders.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Healthcare Resilience and Collaboration - Cancer Focus

Major grants averaging $500,000 - $1,000,000+
Supports the Canopy Cancer Collective, operating in 14 major hospitals nationwide including Mass General at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, UCSF Medical, Stanford, UCLA, and UC San Diego
Partnership with Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) to advance pancreatic cancer immunotherapy clinical trials
Focus on empowering people with hope, new treatments, and innovative options to live beyond pancreatic cancer through coordinated care and data sharing

Inner Wellbeing

Grants range from $25,000 to $1,000,000+
Supports organizations advocating for mental self-care, licensed psychedelics, and scientific disciplines to help people regain and maintain inner wellbeing
Major partnerships include Psychedelic Science Funders Collaborative (PSFC), BrainFutures, International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins, and Usona Institute
Investment partners have included Headspace (meditation platform) and organizations advancing the field of "inner fitness"

Community Building

Grants typically $25,000 - $500,000
Supports nonprofit leaders and organizations which empower their communities to thrive
Focus on places "underestimated, but ripe with potential"
Areas include: empowering youth with skills to build a new future, connecting unhoused neighbors with services, and focusing on welfare of people and animals in communities
Example: $200,000 emergency grant to Health Trust's Meals on Wheels program for Santa Clara County seniors
Past grantees include Peer Health Exchange and San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center

Special Initiatives

The 1440 Challenge: $75,000 total to recognize up to three ideas, products, or solutions related to relationship skills through technology
Philanthropic healing programs through 1440 Multiversity (provided at no cost to healthcare heroes, nurses, first responders, educators, and nonprofit leaders)

Priority Areas

Pancreatic cancer research and coordinated care - particularly innovative immunotherapies and collaborative care models
Mental health and inner wellbeing - including psychedelic medicine research, mindfulness, and neuroaesthetics
Nonprofit leader wellbeing and capacity building - programs to help leaders prioritize self-care and avoid burnout
Community resilience in underresourced areas - youth empowerment, services for unhoused populations, community wellness
Social and emotional learning - particularly school-based programs
Collaboration and relationship building - using technology and other means to strengthen human connection

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Governance and Leadership

Joan (Joanie) Kriens - President
A pancreatic cancer survivor who co-founded the Canopy Cancer Collective. For more than two decades, she has worked with nonprofits helping students and educators increase self-awareness, reduce stress, and learn mindfulness. Her foundational efforts launched some of the first school-based social and emotional learning programs in the United States. On collaboration: "I ended up coming across doctors, researchers and others who were willing to collaborate, which isn't always the case. I didn't realize how important that collaboration was until I was in the middle of it."

Scott Kriens - Vice President
Technology executive and philanthropist who co-founded the foundation with Joanie.

Ken Baker - Treasurer/Secretary

The foundation's approach is deeply personal and rooted in lived experience. As Joanie describes, the 1440 name came from a moment in her garden when she was "overcome by a feeling of happiness, contentment and joy" and wondered "how many minutes there are in each day, and how we might live more often in this high-definition kind of way."

On their collaborative approach, Joanie has stated: "This is one of the things we love about working with SVCF — there was an ask for community support that we wouldn't have otherwise been aware of... Because of the collaborative community that SVCF has created among local funders and donors, we were able to partner with SVCF and several others to offer these programs for free to the participants, and together we have been able to help a lot of people."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The 1440 Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through an invitation-only process where the foundation proactively identifies organizations that align with their mission and vision. In 2023, the foundation made just 2 grants totaling $2,145,162, reflecting their highly selective, strategic approach to philanthropy.

Getting on Their Radar

Participation in Relevant Networks and Collaboratives
The foundation values collaboration and is involved in several specific networks where they identify potential partners:

The Psychedelic Science Funders Collaborative (PSFC) - for organizations working in psychedelic medicine research
Silicon Valley Community Foundation network - Joanie has specifically mentioned discovering opportunities through SVCF's collaborative community of local funders
The Canopy Cancer Collective - for cancer centers working on pancreatic cancer care innovation
Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy network - for immunotherapy research organizations

Connection to 1440 Multiversity Programs
The foundation works closely with 1440 Multiversity and has provided scholarships and grants through these programs. Nonprofit leaders, healthcare workers, and educators who participate in 1440 Multiversity's restorative programs may develop relationships that lead to future partnership opportunities.

Existing Relationships in Their Focus Areas
The foundation operates through personal connections and shared vision. Organizations already working with their current grantees or operating in the same ecosystems (pancreatic cancer care, psychedelic research, nonprofit leader support) may be noticed through those networks.

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only funder, these factors describe what the foundation looks for when identifying potential partners:

Vision Alignment is Paramount
The foundation emphasizes that they "align with leaders who have a similar vision" and look for "leaders whose vision illuminates the future they are bringing to light." This isn't just about matching focus areas - it's about shared philosophy and approach to creating change.

Practical Solutions with Real-World Evidence
According to their stated approach, the foundation requires "real-world evidence and applications" and looks for "practical solutions." They're not interested in purely theoretical or aspirational work - they want to see demonstrable impact.

Focus on Underresourced Areas
The foundation specifically seeks "realizable programs that can make the greatest impact in areas that are traditionally under resourced." As they state in their community building focus, they support "places underestimated, but ripe with potential."

Collaboration and Data Sharing
Given Joanie's personal experience with cancer treatment and the foundation's emphasis on the Canopy Cancer Collective, collaboration is central to their approach. Organizations that work in silos or are unwilling to share data and best practices are unlikely to align with their values. Joanie specifically highlighted: "There's no one person who tells you about all of the trials going on and whether you'd be a good candidate for any of them" - reflecting her commitment to collaborative models that break down information barriers.

Willingness to Serve as Learning Organizations
The foundation provides "additional strategic resources beyond financial support to truly catalyze their grantees' efforts," suggesting they prefer working with organizations open to capacity building and learning.

Large-Scale Impact Potential
With an average grant size over $1 million and only 2 grants made in 2023, the foundation makes significant investments in a small number of organizations they believe can create transformational change at scale.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This is an invitation-only funder - Do not submit unsolicited proposals. Focus instead on getting connected through their established networks and collaboratives.
Extremely selective with very large grants - Only 2 grants totaling $2.1 million in 2023, with average grant size over $1 million. This is strategic philanthropy, not broad-based grantmaking.
Personal experience drives priorities - Joanie's pancreatic cancer journey directly shaped their major healthcare focus. Understanding the founders' lived experience and values is crucial to understanding what they'll support.
Collaboration is non-negotiable - Whether it's cancer centers sharing data, funders partnering through SVCF, or psychedelic researchers working together, the foundation values and requires collaborative approaches.
Network strategically in their ecosystems - The Psychedelic Science Funders Collaborative, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Canopy Cancer Collective, and 1440 Multiversity programs are all potential entry points for building awareness.
Focus on "hope for living well" - This phrase captures their philosophy. They're interested in organizations that help people thrive, not just survive, across all three focus areas.
Evidence and practicality matter - They want to see real-world applications and demonstrable results, not just promising ideas.

References

Research conducted December 25, 2025