Musk Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 85-2133087 · since 2020muskfoundation.org·California, Ohio, Texas·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$474M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$18,000 to $5M

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$1M

Typical grant (median)

52 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

Musk Foundation funds renewable energy research and advocacy, human space exploration, paediatric research, science and engineering education, and the development of safe artificial intelligence, alongside recorded support for carbon-removal technology, school and university operations, coding and computer-science education, health initiatives, disaster relief and humanitarian aid, so a proposal should sit clearly within one of these areas.
No geographic focus is stated.
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so it works by invitation only and unsolicited applications should not be sent.
Around eight in ten of its grants to organisations fall between $18,000 and $5,000,000, with half of its grants at $500,000 or less (the median), though its largest grant has reached $54,000,000, so a modest request is the realistic starting point for most applicants.
More than half of its grant dollars go to organisations it had already funded in the previous two filings, suggesting giving is relationship-led and weighted towards repeat recipients rather than being highly open to newcomers.

Overview

Musk Foundation is a US private foundation based in Austin, TX.

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

The Musk Foundation says its grants are made in support of renewable energy research and advocacy, human space exploration research and advocacy, paediatric research, science and engineering education, and the development of safe artificial intelligence to benefit humanity. Its filings also record support for carbon-removal technology, school and university operations, coding and computer-science education, health initiatives, disaster relief and humanitarian aid. The recipient rows include schools and school districts, universities, education organisations, research and health institutions, disaster-response and food-relief charities, and public agencies. Its stated fields span research and advocacy as well as education and humanitarian support.

Themes

Renewable energy research and advocacy
Human space exploration
Pediatric research
Science and engineering education
Safe artificial intelligence

Geographic Focus

No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Ohio, California and Texas.

How to apply

The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 55% 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 124 grants to organisations were $500,000 or less.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Ohio31%

California30%

Texas25%

Missouri2%

New York2%

Washington2%

6 other states: 5%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%

The largest single recipient received 31% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 55% of grant dollars went to organisations Musk Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
<1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Germany).
31% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

52 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $1M

How much do they typically give?

Share of 52 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$10k–$25k4%

$25k–$50k0%

$50k–$100k2%

$100k–$250k15%

$250k–$500k10%

$500k–$1M17%

$1M and over52%

Median $1M (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Fidelity Charitable · Support of public charities
$25,000,0002024 tax year
Fidelity Charitable · Support of public charities
$10,003,6432024 tax year
Baylor Scott & White Healthcare · Support health initiatives
$7,157,0002024 tax year
X Prize Foundation · Support technological development for carbon removal
$5,450,0002024 tax year
Windward School · Support school operations and programs
$5,000,0002024 tax year
Seton Fund · Support health intiatives
$5,000,0002024 tax year
Austin Habitat for Humanity · Support affordable housing and community development
$5,000,0002024 tax year
University of Texas at Austin · Support university operations and programs
$3,250,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Matilda Simon — Director
Jared Birchall — Secretary & Treasurer & Director
Elon Musk — President & Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$165,521,865	$160,461,913	$5,050,765,516	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$237,275,888	$236,621,463	$9,452,177,174	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$474,745,343	$474,325,312	$14,733,241,124	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.