Viking Global Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 90-0512778 · since 2009vikingglobal.com/viking-global-foundation·Connecticut, New York, San Francisco·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$3.6M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$100 to $7,050

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$950

Typical grant (median)

423 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

Viking Global Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send a cold application; its volunteer Grants Committee of Viking employees identifies organisations and makes the funding decisions.
Its stated priorities are educational equity, environmental sustainability and capacity building, and its Geographic focus line lists Connecticut, New York City and San Francisco as priorities, so an organisation working elsewhere should not assume it is excluded.
Most of its grants are small: half of its grants to organisations were $1,000 or less, and typical grants fall between $100 and $7,050, though its largest grant was $375,000, so that band is not a ceiling and a modest request suits it best.
About 82% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded before, and the committee assesses leadership, governance, outcomes, financial management and openness to partnership, so a first approach should be a relationship built over time rather than a single request.
The filing gives no deadlines, so timing depends on the committee's own process.

Overview

Viking Global Foundation is a US private foundation based in Stamford, CT.

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 Foundation focuses its engagement and grantmaking on educational equity, environmental sustainability and furthering the philanthropic pursuits of individual Vikings. Its education work seeks to increase access to education and economic opportunities for low-income families and individuals, addressing systemic inequities and helping marginalised communities achieve their potential. Its environmental work aims to create more sustainable communities through urban agriculture, conservation and equitable access to parks and greenspace. It also provides capacity-building support and community grants that help nonprofit partners strengthen operational capacity and respond to crises. Its early-childhood education grants support organisations in Connecticut, New York City and San Francisco. The Foundation describes its grants as strategic, supporting high-impact organisations with strong leaders and proven track records. A volunteer committee of Viking employees identifies potential organisations, participates in due diligence and makes funding decisions.

Themes

Educational equity
Environmental sustainability
Capacity building
Emergency relief

Geographic Focus

Priority: Connecticut; New York City; San Francisco.

How to apply

A volunteer Grants Committee of Viking employees identifies potential organisations, participates in due diligence and makes final funding decisions.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 82% 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 1,104 grants to organisations were $1,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The Foundation assesses leadership and governance, organisational effectiveness, outcomes and impacts, financial management, and openness to partnership.
It supports high-impact organisations with strong leaders and proven track records.
The committee builds relationships with nonprofit leaders and supports them in achieving their grant goals.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

New York57%

Connecticut28%

Colorado4%

California3%

Massachusetts2%

Virginia1%

6 other states: 4%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 1%

The largest single recipient received 8% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 82% of grant dollars went to organisations Viking Global Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
<1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Hong Kong).
4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

423 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $950

How much do they typically give?

Share of 423 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k50%

$1k–$2.5k19%

$2.5k–$5k11%

$5k–$10k10%

$10k–$25k4%

$25k–$50k1%

$50k–$100k1%

$100k–$250k3%

$250k–$500k<1%

Median $950 (tax year 2024)

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

Advocates For Children · General support
$375,0002024 tax year
Diaper Bank of Connecticut · General support
$241,0002024 tax year
Lena Foundation · General support
$204,0002024 tax year
Family Centers · General support
$175,0002024 tax year
Fund for Public Health in New York · General support
$150,0002024 tax year
Read to Grow · General support
$150,0002024 tax year
Jumpstart for Young Children · General support
$150,0002024 tax year
Children's Aid · General support
$150,0002024 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Scott Zinober — Director
Rose Shabet — Director
O Andreas Halvorsen — Director
James Sullivan — Secretary
Brian Clark — Treasurer - Term Start 8/2024
Molly Brethauer — President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$3,828,402	$3,254,364	$6,616,787	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$3,926,459	$3,500,210	$6,001,769	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$3,153,772	$3,634,444	$7,092,219	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.