CRI Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- CRI Foundation works by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should seek an introduction rather than send a cold proposal.
- Its stated priority is Africa, and its funding focuses on child and newborn health, mental health, development economics research and regional research infrastructure, with a preference for data-driven, evidence-based or evidence-generating programmes and a clear theory of change.
- Half of its grants to organisations were $125,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fell between $30,000 and $500,000, so a request in that typical range suits its usual pattern, though its largest grant was $3,300,000.
- In the filing, 85% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so its giving looks relationship-led, and it invites grantees to apply for renewal at the end of a grant cycle.
- Expect milestones to be agreed at the start of a grant and a check-in call usually twice a year, so plan for that reporting before you ask.
Overview
CRI Foundation is a US private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
CRI Foundation’s primary grant-making programme, CRI Health, provides grants to organisations and entities dedicated to improving health outcomes in Africa. It provides financial and non-financial support for high-impact implementers and focuses on critical unmet health needs, including child and newborn health and mental health. The foundation also funds academic research through the Weiss Fund and invests in regional research infrastructure in Africa. Its approach is collaborative and rigorous: it seeks data-driven, evidence-based or evidence-generating programmes. Early-stage organisations are expected to show high potential for big impact and a clear theory of change, while established organisations should demonstrate exceptional cost-effective impact. It seeks long-term relationships, setting milestones, checking in with grantees, and renewing support when they remain a fit with its funding strategy.
Themes
- Child and newborn health
- Mental health
- Development economics research
- Regional research infrastructure
Geographic Focus
Geography agnostic. Priority: Africa.
How to apply
At the end of a grant cycle, grantees who remain a fit for the foundation’s funding strategy are invited to apply for renewal.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 85% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 65 grants to organisations were $125,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- CRI Health seeks grantees that are data-driven and data-hungry, and looks for evidence-based or evidence-generating programmes.
- Early-stage organisations should demonstrate high potential for big impact.
- Early-stage organisations should have a clear and compelling theory of change and be driven to test and iterate on their model.
- Established organisations should have a record of exceptional cost-effective impact.
- The foundation also looks for game-changing wins, such as government adoption of a high-impact protocol or attributable influence of peers or institutions.
- At the start of a grant cycle, NGOs are asked to identify expected milestones, including health outcomes where appropriate and feasible.
- CRI usually asks grantees for reporting and a check-in call twice a year.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 6%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 27%
- The largest single recipient received 23% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 85% of grant dollars went to organisations CRI Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 26% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom, Uganda, Malawi, Canada).
- 44% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 27 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $150k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Fidelity Charitable · Charitable$3,300,0002024 tax year
- National Philanthropic Trust · Charitable$1,875,0002024 tax year
- Lwala Community Alliance · Charitable$750,0002024 tax year
- Friends of SolidAfrica · Charitable$500,0002024 tax year
- Alima · Charitable$500,0002024 tax year
- Wandikweza · Charitable$350,0002024 tax year
- Lively Minds · Charitable$350,0002024 tax year
- Young 1ove Foundation · Charitable$320,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kara Weiss — Executive Director
- Bonnie Weiss — Director
- Andrew Weiss — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $5,509,352 | $3,271,288 | $191,261,158 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,534,830 | $2,722,256 | $228,279,377 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $12,171,009 | $10,007,267 | $251,469,900 | Filing for 2024 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
Registers and filings
Other 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 CRI Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, Massachusetts
- crifoundation.org
Applying to CRI Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, Massachusetts
- crifoundation.org