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Visa Foundation

Annual Giving
$35.1M
Grant Range
$1K - $7.4M

Visa Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $35.1 million (2023)
  • Total Committed: $350+ million since 2017
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $7,400,000
  • Median Grant: $250,000
  • Geographic Focus: Global (60+ countries)
  • Total Assets: $405+ million
  • Application Method: Invitation only / No unsolicited proposals

Contact Details

Email: VisaFoundation@visa.com
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Address: 300 Toni Stone Xing Fl 2, San Francisco, CA 94158-2586
Website: https://corporate.visa.com/en/sites/visa-foundation.html

Overview

Founded in 2017, the Visa Foundation is a corporate foundation with over $405 million in assets that has committed more than $350 million across 150+ global partners. The foundation supports financially underserved people and communities around the world through access and growth of micro and small enterprises, and addresses broader community needs and humanitarian response in times of crisis. In 2023, the foundation awarded $35.1 million through 65 grants. Through grant-making and investing, Visa Foundation prioritizes the growth of gender diverse and inclusive small and micro businesses, with a particular emphasis on women-owned enterprises. The foundation operates through strategic partnerships rather than open applications, working closely with organizations that align with their mission of creating inclusive economies where individuals, businesses, and communities can thrive.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Equitable Access Initiative (Launched April 2020)

  • Five-year, $200 million strategic commitment
  • $60 million in grants + $140 million in impact investments
  • Focus: Gender diverse and inclusive SMBs worldwide
  • As of January 2023: $162 million committed to 60 grantees and investees in 60+ countries
  • Impact: Supported 3.4 million small businesses globally

Visa Foundation Gives

  • Employee-directed giving program
  • Focuses on social issues in communities where Visa employees live and work
  • Over $2 million deployed across eight cities
  • Employees nominate and vote on causes
  • Grantees receive financial support plus Visa volunteer assistance

Strategic Partnerships

  • Grants range from $1,000 to $7.4 million
  • Median grant: $250,000
  • Partners include nonprofits providing SMB support, investors, and ecosystem-focused entities
  • Ongoing support model for organizations expanding financial services access

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

  • Women-owned and women-led small and micro businesses
  • Financial inclusion and access to digital economy
  • Underserved communities and entrepreneurs
  • Gender-lens investment and economic empowerment

Secondary Focus:

  • Homelessness prevention (particularly youth homelessness)
  • Poverty alleviation
  • Humanitarian crisis response
  • Community development in areas where Visa operates
  • Climate and sustainability initiatives for SMBs

Geographic Priorities:

  • Global scope with emphasis on emerging markets
  • Sub-Saharan Africa (recent strategic expansion)
  • San Francisco Bay Area (local community impact)
  • Markets where Visa has significant operations

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not explicitly publish exclusions, but based on their strategic focus:

  • Organizations not aligned with SMB development or financial inclusion
  • Projects without clear connection to underserved communities
  • Individual businesses (they fund intermediary organizations)
  • Organizations without track record in their priority areas

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

Najada Kumbuli - President (appointed December 2024)

  • Manages impact investing and grantmaking
  • Serves as Visa Inc.'s head of global philanthropy
  • Previously served as head of investments since 2020
  • Pivotal in shaping endowment investment strategy

Graham Macmillan - Former President (2019-2024)

  • Led foundation during major expansion including Equitable Access Initiative
  • Oversaw commitment of over $350 million across 150+ global partners

Kelly Mahon Tullier - Board Chair

  • Vice Chair of Visa Inc.
  • Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer
  • Corporate Secretary of Visa Inc.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Visa Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding at this time.

How Grants Are Awarded:

  • Strategic partnerships identified by foundation leadership
  • Employee nominations through Visa Foundation Gives program
  • Invitation-only grantmaking aligned with strategic initiatives
  • Multi-year commitments to anchor partners in key focus areas

Contact for Inquiries: Organizations interested in learning more about the foundation's work can contact VisaFoundation@visa.com, though this does not constitute an application pathway.

Decision Timeline

Given the invitation-only structure, there are no standard decision timelines. Strategic partnerships appear to be developed through:

  • Direct outreach from foundation leadership
  • Multi-year commitments (e.g., five-year Equitable Access Initiative)
  • Ongoing relationships with anchor partners

Success Rates

Not applicable due to invitation-only model. In 2023, the foundation made 65 grants totaling $35.1 million, working with 150+ partners since inception.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

While there is no public application process, organizations that have successfully partnered with Visa Foundation share these characteristics:

Alignment with Strategic Priorities:

  • Focus on women-owned and gender-diverse small and micro businesses
  • Proven track record in financial inclusion and SMB support
  • Ability to operate at scale in emerging markets
  • Strong measurement and impact reporting capabilities

Types of Organizations Funded: Based on recent grants, successful partners include:

  • Women's World Banking ($3.6 million, 2023) - empowering women-owned SMBs with up to $20 million committed over five years
  • Tipping Point Community ($4.0 million, 2023) - addressing youth homelessness in Bay Area
  • Operation HOPE ($500,000, 2024) - financial coaching for women-owned businesses
  • AfriLabs - technology hub network supporting African entrepreneurs
  • Graça Machel Trust - Pan-African women's economic empowerment
  • Hand in Hand - micro business support in Kenya (75% women-owned)
  • LISC - supporting women entrepreneurs of color in the U.S.
  • American Online Giving Foundation ($7.4 million, 2023)
  • 2X Global ($1.0 million, 2023) - Climate Gender Equity Fund

Partnership Characteristics:

  • Three categories: nonprofits providing SMB support, investors, and ecosystem-focused entities
  • Capacity building and support services orientation
  • Global reach or deep local expertise
  • Commitment to gender lens across operations
  • Ability to leverage Visa's network and expertise

Strategic Approach: The foundation seeks to "mitigate systemic barriers facing small businesses, particularly those led by women or people from underrepresented groups." Partners generally provide capital, capacity building, and support services to gender-inclusive and diverse SMBs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted - This foundation operates exclusively through strategic partnerships and invitation-only grantmaking
  • Employee connection matters - The Visa Foundation Gives program involves employee nominations, so connections with Visa employees in your community could be valuable
  • Scale and impact focus - Foundation invests in organizations with proven ability to reach thousands of small businesses, not individual enterprises
  • Gender lens is critical - Virtually all funding prioritizes women-owned, women-led, or gender-diverse businesses
  • Multi-year partnerships preferred - Major commitments like the $20 million to Women's World Banking span five years, indicating preference for sustained partnerships
  • Emerging markets experience valued - Significant portion of investment ($140 million) targets emerging markets
  • Hybrid approach - Foundation combines grants with impact investments, so organizations with investment-ready models may have additional opportunities
  • Measurement expectations - Foundation publishes detailed impact reports; partners must have robust data collection and reporting capabilities

References

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