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Kahle-Austin Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.3M
Grant Range
$15K - $0.5M

Kahle-Austin Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1.6 - $7 million (fluctuates yearly)
  • Average Grant Size: $15,000
  • Major Grants: Up to $500,000+ (Internet Archive receives millions)
  • Assets: $147,121,537
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily San Francisco Bay Area, with some national and international grants
  • Application Process: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

Address: 319 Main St, Biddeford, ME 04005

Note: The foundation does not maintain a website or public contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Kahle-Austin Foundation was established in 1998 by computer scientist Brewster Kahle (founder of the Internet Archive) and his wife, Mary Austin (founder of the San Francisco Center for the Book). With assets totaling approximately $147 million, the foundation is a low-profile private funder that primarily supports the specific interests of its founders. The foundation's grantmaking has fluctuated between $1.6 and $7 million annually in recent years. Its strategic focus centers on digital access, internet media, education (particularly educational technology), and book arts and culture. The foundation prioritizes ongoing support to a select group of grantees with which the founders are personally affiliated, with a strong geographic preference for the San Francisco Bay Area.

Funding Priorities

Primary Recipients

The foundation provides ongoing, substantial support to organizations led by its founders:

  • Internet Archive: The largest recipient, having received $13.5 million between 2003 and 2024 according to Candid data. This nonprofit digital library provides free access to digitized materials.
  • San Francisco Center for the Book: Co-founded by Mary Austin, offers book arts classes, lectures, exhibitions, and over 400 workshops annually in letterpress printing, bookbinding, and bookmaking.

Priority Areas

Digital Access & Internet Media

  • Free software and open internet initiatives
  • Digital libraries and archives
  • Information access and preservation
  • Internet policy and advocacy

Education

  • Educational technology and technology-based solutions to educational problems
  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Higher education (selective support)

Arts & Culture

  • Book arts and preservation
  • Cultural institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area

Past Recipients Include:

  • Public Knowledge (nonprofit focused on intellectual property law and digital marketplace competition)
  • Free Software Foundation (supporting the free software movement)
  • Frank Foundation (technology-based education solutions)
  • Oberlin College and Wellesley College
  • Urban High School and Presidio Hill School (both San Francisco-based)
  • Royal Asiatic Society (digitization of palm leaf manuscripts project)

Geographic Focus

While headquartered in Maine, the foundation primarily funds organizations in:

  • San Francisco Bay Area, California (strong preference)
  • Other U.S. locations: New York, Washington D.C., Ohio, Maine
  • International: Auckland, Toronto, and select international projects

Governance and Leadership

Board Members (all volunteer, uncompensated):

  • Brewster L. Kahle: Chairman, founder of the Internet Archive
  • Mary K. Austin: Co-Chair/Secretary, co-founder of the San Francisco Center for the Book
  • Jeff Ubois: Director

The foundation's grantmaking closely reflects the personal interests and professional affiliations of its founders, particularly their commitment to digital access, educational technology, and book arts.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has explicitly indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

The foundation does not operate a website or maintain an open application program. Grants are awarded to organizations with which Brewster Kahle and Mary Austin have existing relationships or affiliations.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's documented grantmaking patterns:

  • Follow Brewster Kahle's public presence: Interested organizations can monitor his personal blog and social media accounts to understand his current philanthropic interests and priorities. This is one of the few public windows into the foundation's evolving focus areas.

  • Alignment with founder interests: The foundation funds organizations operating in spaces where the founders are personally active - digital libraries, internet freedom, educational technology, and book arts. Organizations working at the intersection of these areas and with strong San Francisco Bay Area connections are more likely to be considered.

  • Relationship-driven grantmaking: The foundation's giving history shows long-term, substantial support to organizations where the founders have direct involvement or personal connections. This suggests that personal relationships and trust are critical factors.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of this funder, success factors are inferred from their documented giving patterns:

Strong Alignment with Founder Interests

  • The foundation's largest grants go to organizations founded or led by Brewster Kahle and Mary Austin themselves (Internet Archive, San Francisco Center for the Book)
  • Secondary grants support aligned causes: free software, digital access, internet policy, educational technology, and book arts
  • Organizations should demonstrate clear alignment with themes of digital preservation, open access, or educational innovation

Geographic Considerations

  • Strong preference for San Francisco Bay Area organizations
  • Some national and international funding for highly aligned projects
  • Maine connections may be considered given the foundation's headquarters location

Mission-Driven Focus

  • The foundation supports organizations working on systemic issues around information access, digital rights, and educational equity
  • Preference for organizations with innovative, technology-based approaches
  • Long-term, sustainable projects rather than short-term initiatives

Relationship and Trust

  • All available evidence suggests this foundation funds organizations where personal relationships and trust have been established
  • Cold outreach is not accepted according to their stated policy

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited applications and only funds preselected organizations
  • Founder-affiliated grantmaking: The largest grants go to organizations founded or led by Brewster Kahle and Mary Austin
  • Digital access and education focus: Strong interest in internet archives, free software, educational technology, and book arts
  • San Francisco Bay Area preference: Geographic focus strongly favors the Bay Area, though some national/international grants are made
  • Relationship-driven: Success requires existing relationships or affiliations with the founders
  • Long-term partnerships: The foundation provides ongoing support to a select group of grantees rather than one-time grants
  • Monitor Brewster Kahle's public activities: His blog and social media provide the best insight into evolving philanthropic interests
  • High-value grants possible: While average grant size is $15,000, aligned organizations can receive up to $500,000 or more

References

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