Ahimsa Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Ahimsa Foundation accepts requests only from organisations it has preselected, so an unsolicited request will not be considered and a small charity should not send one.
- Its stated work centres on food-system transition and animal wellbeing, so a request is most likely to fit if it sits in those areas, and no geographic focus is stated.
- Repeat giving is strong: 99% of its grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, so an existing relationship matters more than a cold approach.
- Its grants are large, with about 8 in 10 of its 13 grants to organisations falling between $290,000 and $43,000,000 and half about $9,750,000 or less, so any request should be sized to that rather than to a small charity's usual budget; the band is not a ceiling because its largest grant was about $45,500,000.
Overview
Ahimsa Foundation is a US private foundation based in Niwot, CO.
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
Ahimsa Foundation works to accelerate the shift towards a more sustainable and ethical future by actively investing to transition the food system away from animal proteins to healthier and more sustainable options. It makes investments through partner funds as well as some limited direct investments. Its stated investment activity includes investing in organisations pursuing the wellbeing of all animals. Its direct charitable work has included a sanctuary for cows and advocacy against animal cruelty through a vegan-diet message. Its approach combines investment in food-system change with animal-focused advocacy.
Themes
- Food-system transition
- Animal wellbeing
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants spread across the United States.
How to apply
Contributions are limited to preselected charitable organizations; unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% 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 13 grants to organisations were about $9,750,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 61% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Ahimsa Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 100% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 5 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $9.7M (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Advocate for the wellbeing of all animals$45,710,0002024 tax year
- Karuna Foundation · Advocate for the wellbeing of all animals$12,530,0002024 tax year
- National Philanthropic Trust · Advocate for the wellbeing of all animals$9,735,0002024 tax year
- Charityvest · Advocate for the wellbeing of all animals$5,092,6142024 tax year
- Go Dharmic · Advocate for the wellbeing of all animals$1372024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Jay Karandikar — Treasurer
- Satish Karandikar — Secretary
- Shaleen Shah — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $50,069,582 | $42,815,000 | $992,879,705 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $80,570,806 | $71,720,000 | $962,960,503 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $79,991,246 | $73,067,751 | $1,067,518,678 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to Ahimsa Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Niwot, CO
- ahimsafdn.org
Applying to Ahimsa Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Niwot, CO
- ahimsafdn.org