Imaginable Futures
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Imaginable Futures funds education equity and field strengthening work in Kenya, Brazil and the United States, so it is a strong geographic fit only for organisations working in those places.
- It funds by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to succeed; grant writers are better placed trying to build a relationship or being identified through existing networks rather than applying speculatively.
- Most grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $750,000, with a median of $225,000, so a request in that range is realistic, though the foundation has made grants as large as about $1,600,000.
- The majority of its grant dollars continue to go to organisations it has already funded in prior years, which points to a relationship-led, multi-year approach rather than a highly competitive open process, and it tends to prioritise general operating support and multi-year engagements where feasible.
- Given the invitation-only process, organisations without a connection to the foundation or outside its three funding countries should not expect to apply successfully.
Overview
Imaginable Futures is a US private foundation based in Redwood City, CA.
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
Imaginable Futures supports organisations and their collaborative efforts to advance equity in education, with work focused in Brazil, Kenya and the United States. It works alongside changemakers to strengthen local networks and solutions so learners—especially those historically denied access and opportunity—can thrive. Its approach invests in people, systems and ideas and strengthens education fields through research, capacity, infrastructure and leadership. It values collaboration, local leadership and listening to local realities, tailoring funding to partners’ needs. Support can include flexible general operating grants or project funding for research, convenings and other initiatives. The foundation also seeks multi-year relationships and keeps reporting simple and conversational.
Themes
- Education equity
- Field strengthening
Geographic Focus
Kenya; Brazil; the United States.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
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 201 grants to organisations were $225,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation first checks for strategic and geographic alignment with its funding countries.
- The foundation conducts business and impact due diligence before making funding decisions.
- The foundation prioritises general operating support and multi-year engagements where feasible.
- The foundation keeps reporting simple and conversational to reduce burden and encourage honest reflection.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 12%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 34%
- The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 85% of grant dollars went to organisations Imaginable Futures had funded in earlier filings.
- 26% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, United Kingdom).
- 22% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 63 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $200k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Alliance for Early Success · To support early childhood education$1,500,0002024 tax year
- National Black Child Development Institute · General support$1,500,0002024 tax year
- All Our Kin · General support$1,500,0002024 tax year
- Fundo Socioambiental Casa · To support equitable education$1,365,0002024 tax year
- Firelight Foundation · To support income security$1,202,0002024 tax year
- Aspen Institute · Project grant to support Grantee?s Ascend Program?s Postsecondary Success for Parents Initiative$1,166,6672024 tax year
- Generation Hope · General support$850,0002024 tax year
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · To support education research$750,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Patricia Christen — Director
- Jeffrey R Alvord — Director
- Pamela K Omidyar — Director
- Erin M Simmons — Treasurer
- Kristina G McNeff — Secretary
- Amy R Klement — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $19,743,670 | $21,795,806 | $57,954,615 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $26,230,555 | $22,173,121 | $55,455,566 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $22,651,093 | $22,003,842 | $52,225,573 | 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
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Applying to Imaginable Futures?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required