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10X Better Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.1M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.1M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $135,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: N/A (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: United States (primarily California and New York)

Contact Details

Overview

The 10X Better Foundation (EIN: 87-3883624) is a private foundation established by Tony Xu, co-founder and CEO of DoorDash, and his wife Patti Bao. As Giving Pledge signatories since 2021, they have committed to dedicating the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. With assets of approximately $10.6 million, the foundation focuses on addressing urgent environmental challenges through strategic grant-making to preselected organizations. The foundation's mission centers on protecting forests, oceans, and empowering youth to drive climate action. Operating on an invitation-only basis, the foundation distributed $135,000 in grants during 2023 to three carefully selected organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-discretion grant-making with the following documented grants:

  • Environmental and Climate Action Grants: $10,000 - $100,000 (supporting organizations addressing deforestation, ocean health, and youth climate movements)
  • Disaster Relief Support: $25,000 (supporting wildfire-impacted communities through established relief funds)

Priority Areas

The foundation invests in three interconnected focus areas:

Tropical Deforestation & Forests

  • Halting and reversing deforestation
  • Supporting just, sustainable development
  • Addressing deforestation as a climate change driver

Ocean Health & Climate

  • Climate mitigation solutions
  • Carbon sequestration initiatives
  • Human adaptation and resilience

Food Systems & Youth

  • Reducing food loss and waste
  • Supporting youth-led climate movements
  • Enabling young people to drive environmental change

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited proposals
  • Individual requests
  • Organizations outside their preselected partner network
  • Projects outside their three focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Co-Chairperson, President, and Secretary: Tony Xu - Co-founder and CEO of DoorDash, technology entrepreneur, and philanthropist who signed the Giving Pledge in 2021

Co-Chairperson and Treasurer: Patricia (Patti) Bao - Philanthropist and co-signatory of the Giving Pledge

Both leaders serve without compensation and bring significant business and philanthropic expertise to the foundation's operations.

From their Giving Pledge letter, the founders stated: "We believe the greatest return on investment is in other people. Our focus will be on investing in dreamers and doers who are underfunded or playing from behind."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states "No unsolicited grant proposals, please" on their website. Grants are awarded exclusively to preselected charitable organizations identified through the trustees' networks and strategic partnerships.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's known partnerships and grant-making patterns:

  • The foundation has partnered with established environmental organizations including Health in Harmony, Rainforest Action Network, World Wildlife Fund, ReFED, and the Youth Climate Justice Fund
  • Tony Xu's leadership role at DoorDash provides connections to the technology and business community in San Francisco
  • The foundation responds to urgent environmental crises, as demonstrated by their support for wildfire relief through the GoFundMe Impact Fund
  • Organizations working in their three focus areas (forests, oceans, youth climate action) with proven track records and innovative approaches may be identified through their existing partner networks

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation only model

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, based on their stated mission and known partnerships:

  • The foundation seeks "exceptional leaders and bold ideas" according to their mission statement
  • They focus on organizations that are "underfunded or playing from behind" per their Giving Pledge commitment
  • Recent partners include both large established organizations (WWF) and newer initiatives (Youth Climate Justice Fund), suggesting they value both proven track records and innovation
  • Their support for the GoFundMe Impact Fund demonstrates responsiveness to urgent, time-sensitive environmental disasters
  • All known partners work directly in one of their three focus areas with clear, measurable impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is a legitimate, active grant-making foundation but operates exclusively through invitation - do not submit unsolicited proposals
  • The foundation is still in early growth stages with relatively modest grant-making compared to assets, suggesting potential for expansion
  • Focus areas are highly specific: tropical deforestation, ocean climate solutions, and youth-led environmental movements
  • Leadership's background in technology and innovation suggests openness to bold, scalable solutions
  • The foundation's philosophy emphasizes investing in "dreamers and doers" who maximize human potential
  • Building relationships with their existing partner organizations may provide indirect pathways to consideration

References

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