The Aditi Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6.95M (2024 charitable disbursements); $13.3M distributed in 2022
• Success Rate: Not applicable — no public application process
• Decision Time: Not applicable — grants made to preselected organizations only
• Grant Range: $20,000 – $3,500,000 (average approximately $600,000–$668,000)
• Geographic Focus: National (USA) — documented grantees across AL, AZ, CO, DC, GA, HI, IL, IA, LA, MA, MN, MS, NE, NY, TN, TX and additional states

Contact Details

• Administrative Address: 201 S Phillips Ave, Suite 200, Sioux Falls, SD 57104-6449
• Trustee: South Dakota Trust Company LLC (administrative trustee)
• No public website, email address, or application portal
• EIN: 85-1110829

Overview

The Aditi Foundation is a private, non-operating grantmaking foundation incorporated in South Dakota and recognized as a 501(c)(3) entity since September 2021. It operates under a directed trust structure, with South Dakota Trust Company LLC serving as administrative trustee and three named managers — Lee Roper-Batker, Keith Baum, and William Brody — exercising discretion over grantmaking and distributions. The foundation has no public-facing mission statement, but its self-described program activity is "providing consulting services to 18 charitable organizations to enable them to be more efficient and self-reliant."

Despite holding relatively modest assets (approximately $203,000–$4.3M at year-end depending on the filing year), the foundation is a significant pass-through grantmaker, distributing tens of millions of dollars annually sourced from external contributions (97% of revenue). Grantmaking grew rapidly from 12 awards totaling approximately $6.6M in 2020 to 22 awards totaling $13.3M in 2022. In 2024, the foundation distributed approximately $6.95M across 19 awards. The foundation funds organizations across a broad range of US states, with no exclusive regional focus. Grants are made exclusively to preselected charitable organizations; no unsolicited applications are accepted.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Aditi Foundation does not publicly describe named grant programs or formal funding streams. All grantmaking is discretionary, directed by the foundation's managers. Based on publicly available 990-PF data, grants range from approximately:

• Smaller awards: $20,000 – $100,000
• Mid-range awards: $100,000 – $1,000,000
• Largest awards: Up to approximately $3,500,000

The foundation's average grant sits in the $600,000–$668,000 range, indicating a preference for substantial, multi-hundred-thousand-dollar investments rather than small or pilot grants.

Priority Areas

The foundation has not published explicit funding priorities. However, several signals point to likely areas of focus:

• Gender equity and women's economic security: The foundation's lead manager, Lee Roper-Batker, spent two decades leading the Women's Foundation of Minnesota and is nationally recognized for work on gender equity, racial justice, economic empowerment for women, and ending sex trafficking. Her philanthropic philosophy — described publicly as integrating research, public policy, and grantmaking — is likely reflected in the foundation's priorities.
• Racial justice and social change: Documented grantees include Neo Philanthropy, a well-known intermediary that funds social justice, civic engagement, and racial equity organizations across the US South and beyond. This connection suggests alignment with civil rights, civic participation, and community organizing.
• Capacity building and organizational effectiveness: The foundation's own program description specifically references making organizations "more efficient and self-reliant," suggesting a strong interest in building durable nonprofit infrastructure rather than only project-based work.
• Multi-state civic infrastructure: The breadth of states receiving grants (including Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Iowa, Hawaii, and others) suggests a strategy supporting networks and coalitions operating across geographies, consistent with the types of funds managed by intermediaries like Neo Philanthropy.

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited grant applications of any kind — the foundation explicitly states it only funds preselected organizations.
• Individuals (the foundation only makes grants to qualifying charitable organizations).
• Single-state or highly localized work is unlikely to be a primary focus given the national scope of documented giving.
• No evidence of funding for arts, humanities, environmental, or international development purposes has been documented publicly.

Governance and Leadership

Managers

Lee Roper-Batker (Manager, compensated $75,000/year) The foundation's highest-paid manager and almost certainly its primary grantmaking decision-maker. Roper-Batker retired in January 2020 after 18 years as President and CEO of the Women's Foundation of Minnesota (WFMN), during which she increased annual grantmaking by 840% (from $319,000 to $3M) and grew the endowment by 213% (from $8M to $26M). Under her leadership, WFMN pioneered the state's first program to end sex trafficking and launched the $40M Young Women's Initiative of Minnesota, a public-private partnership targeting young women of color. She co-founded Prosperity Together, a nonpartisan coalition of public women's foundations committed to $100M for low-income women's economic security. She served as former board chair of the Women's Funding Network. She currently sits on the board of A Call to Men and the national board of AAUW, and formerly worked with President Obama's White House Council on Women and Girls.

Her published philanthropic perspective, co-authored with Surina Khan of the Women's Foundation of California (2018): "In recent years, women's funding groups have played a key role in securing legislative victories at the state level that advance gender equity... [F]oundations must put policy first."

Keith Baum (Manager, compensated $20,000/year) Limited public information is available about Keith Baum's background and professional history in relation to the Aditi Foundation. He appears to play an advisory or co-management role.

William Brody (Manager, compensated $20,000/year) Multiple notable individuals named William Brody exist in US philanthropy. The individual associated with the Aditi Foundation has not been confirmed in publicly available sources to be any specific public figure. His role appears to be co-management alongside the other named managers.

South Dakota Trust Company LLC (Trustee, compensated $12,000/year) Serves as the administrative trustee under South Dakota's directed trust framework, which separates the investment/distribution decision-making (exercised by the managers) from the formal legal trustee function. This is a standard structure for private foundations seeking to benefit from South Dakota's trust laws while retaining advisor control over philanthropic strategy.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Aditi Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has explicitly stated in its IRS filings that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." There is no grants portal, request for proposals, open deadline, or submission process of any kind.

All grantees are identified and selected at the sole discretion of the foundation's managers. Organizations cannot apply directly under any circumstances.

Getting on Their Radar

There is no publicly documented process by which organizations can proactively enter the Aditi Foundation's consideration. However, the following funder-specific intelligence may be useful:

• Connections to Women's Foundation of Minnesota networks: Given Lee Roper-Batker's two-decade history leading WFMN and her continued involvement in the Women's Funding Network and AAUW, organizations known within those networks — particularly those working on gender equity, economic security for women, and related policy advocacy — are most likely to fall within her philanthropic sphere.
• Neo Philanthropy relationship: The Aditi Foundation is documented to have funded Neo Philanthropy, which itself serves as an intermediary and collaborative fund manager for social justice work. Organizations that are existing grantees of Neo Philanthropy's collaborative funds (such as the Four Freedoms Fund or State Infrastructure Fund) may be better positioned to come to the Aditi Foundation's attention through those relationships.
• A Call to Men and AAUW: Lee Roper-Batker serves on the boards of both organizations. These represent networks through which she remains active and may encounter new organizations aligned with her values.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable — there is no application cycle. Grantmaking decisions are made at the discretion of the managers on an ongoing basis.

Success Rates

Not applicable — no competitive application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable.

Application Success Factors

As this foundation does not accept applications, the concept of "application success factors" in the traditional sense does not apply. However, for grant writers seeking to understand the foundation's priorities — whether to approach known intermediaries or build visibility in aligned networks — the following is relevant:

• Alignment with gender equity and racial justice: Given Lee Roper-Batker's entire professional career and the foundation's documented connections to Neo Philanthropy (a civil rights and social justice intermediary), organizations working at the intersection of gender equity, racial justice, civic participation, and economic empowerment are most closely aligned with the foundation's likely priorities.
• Policy and systems-change orientation: Roper-Batker has publicly stated that foundations "must put policy first" to advance gender equality. Organizations pursuing legislative change, policy advocacy, or systemic reform (rather than purely service-delivery models) appear best aligned.
• Demonstrated track record and organizational resilience: The foundation's program description emphasizes helping organizations become "more efficient and self-reliant," suggesting a preference for established organizations with demonstrated capacity, rather than nascent or start-up projects.
• Multi-state or national scope: The breadth of states in the foundation's documented giving suggests a preference for networks, coalitions, and intermediaries operating across multiple states rather than purely local direct-service organizations.
• Existing relationships: As an invitation-only funder, relationship proximity to Lee Roper-Batker or the broader women's funding movement networks is the most critical factor determining whether an organization enters this foundation's consideration.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No application process exists: The Aditi Foundation is strictly invitation-only and will not respond to unsolicited grant requests. Do not attempt to contact the foundation directly seeking funding.
• Grantmaking is substantial: Grants range from $20,000 to $3.5M, with an average in the $600,000+ range — this is a significant funder for organizations it selects to support.
• The lead manager's background is the strongest signal: Lee Roper-Batker's career focus on gender equity, racial justice, economic security for women, ending sex trafficking, and policy advocacy is the best available guide to the foundation's likely funding interests.
• Neo Philanthropy is a documented grantee and potential pathway: Being a grantee of Neo Philanthropy's collaborative funds (particularly those focused on Southern states, civic engagement, and racial equity) may increase an organization's visibility within the foundation's networks.
• The foundation is a pass-through structure: Revenue is drawn almost entirely from external contributions (97%), and nearly all expenditure goes to grants. This suggests the donors behind the foundation are actively channeling philanthropic capital rather than drawing on a traditional endowment — grantmaking levels may fluctuate significantly year to year.
• National reach, Southern state emphasis: Documented grantees span many states, with notable representation in Deep South states (Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee) alongside Midwest and Northeast organizations — consistent with civic engagement and social justice infrastructure funding patterns.
• Capacity building is valued: The foundation's own stated purpose includes helping organizations become "more efficient and self-reliant," suggesting that organizational effectiveness, sustainability, and institutional resilience are valued attributes in grantees.

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — The Aditi Foundation (EIN: 85-1110829) https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/851110829 Accessed: February 2025. Source for financial data, leadership compensation, tax filing years, and revenue/expense breakdowns (2020–2024).

2. Instrumentl — The Aditi Foundation 990 Report https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-aditi-foundation Accessed: February 2025. Source for grant range ($20,000–$3,500,000), number of awards by year, and grantee state distribution.

3. Cause IQ — The Aditi Foundation https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-aditi-foundation,851110829/ Accessed: February 2025. Source for foundational organizational details and financial data.

4. Grantmakers.io — The Aditi Foundation Profile https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/851110829-the-aditi-foundation/ Accessed: February 2025. Source for grantee data by tax year and award counts.

5. A Call to Men — Board of Directors: Lee Roper-Batker https://www.acalltomen.org/about/board/board-of-directors/lee-roper-batker/ Accessed: February 2025. Source for Lee Roper-Batker's professional biography, board affiliations, and causes.

6. Women's Foundation of Minnesota — Lee Roper-Batker Retirement Announcement https://www.wfmn.org/press/lee-roper-batker-announces-retirement-after-18-years-as-president-ceo-of-the-womens-foundation-of-minnesota/ Accessed: February 2025. Source for Lee Roper-Batker's tenure achievements (840% grantmaking increase, 213% endowment growth, Young Women's Initiative, MN Girls Are Not For Sale campaign).