David and Lucile Packard Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $367 million (2023)
Total Assets: Over $8 billion
Success Rate: <1% for unsolicited proposals; 15% of grants go to first-time grantees
Grant Range: $20,000 - $875,000+ (most grants $100,000-$500,000)
Geographic Focus: National and international, with local grantmaking in California (San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey counties) and Pueblo, Colorado
Total Grants (2023): 1,046 grants

Contact Details

Address: 343 Second Street, Los Altos, CA 94022 USA
Phone: +1 (650) 948-7658
Website: https://www.packard.org
Email Format: [first_initial][last]@packard.org (for staff contacts)

Funding Opportunities Page: https://www.packard.org/grantees/funding-opportunties/
Grants Database: https://www.packard.org/grantees/search-our-grants/

Organizations interested in partnering with the Foundation should review the appropriate program area and connect with relevant program staff through the website.

Overview

Founded in 1964 by Hewlett-Packard co-founder David Packard and his wife Lucile Salter Packard with a $100,000 endowment, the Foundation became one of the largest private foundations in the United States following a $2 billion donation in 1988 and David Packard's bequest in 1996. Now with over $8 billion in assets and $367 million in annual grantmaking (2023), the Foundation works toward "a Just Society Where People & Planet Flourish" through enduring solutions for people and nature with fair and inclusive systems. Under President and CEO Nancy Lindborg's leadership since 2020, the Foundation focuses on four core program areas: Conservation and Science, Reproductive Health, Children, Families, and Communities, and Local Grantmaking. The Foundation emphasizes long-term partnerships, community-led solutions, strategic investments in systemic change, and a strong commitment to racial justice and equity. The Foundation has undertaken biennial grantee perception surveys since 1996, demonstrating a commitment to transparent and responsive philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates through four main program areas with specific funding streams:

Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering: $875,000 per fellow over five years

Annual awards to 20 early-career scientists and engineers from 50 invited institutions
Nomination-based program (institutional nomination required)
Candidates in social sciences are not eligible

Conservation and Science: Varies widely

Marine conservation (California coast, Gulf of California, Western Pacific)
Energy and climate policy (U.S., China, Amazon)
Ocean research (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Center for Ocean Solutions)
Supports effective fisheries management, ending destructive fishing practices, coastal system sustainability

Reproductive Health: Varies by program

Promotes rights of individuals to make educated family planning decisions
Geographic focus: Ethiopia, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, and southern United States
Post-Dobbs era funding includes litigation efforts and reproductive freedom advocacy

Children, Families, and Communities: $50,000-$500,000

Early education through Preschool for California's Children program
Health insurance for all children
After-school programs for elementary and middle school students in California
Maternal and child health initiatives (e.g., Fresno County program: $50,000-$200,000 grants over 12 months)
Focus on U.S. South, supporting systems for moms, families, and children

Democracy, Rights, and Governance: $12.7 million awarded in 2025

Safety of civic leaders
Litigation efforts
Positive role for AI and emerging technologies in democracy
Includes investments like Humanity AI ($500 million, five-year initiative)

Local Grantmaking: Varies

Five contiguous California counties: San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey
Pueblo, Colorado (David Packard's birthplace)
Note: This program accepts Letters of Inquiry through an open process

Priority Areas

Climate resilience and adaptation in communities
Ocean health and sustainable fisheries
Scientific innovation and research
Reproductive rights and healthcare access
Early childhood education and family support systems
Racial justice and equity across all program areas
Democracy and civic engagement
Community-led solutions and local leadership development

What They Don't Fund

Lobbying and activities to influence specific legislation
Projects benefiting specific individuals
Religious purposes
Social sciences research (for Science and Engineering Fellowships specifically)
Organizations outside their defined program areas and geographic focus

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Nancy Lindborg (since August 2020)
Nancy Lindborg brings extensive experience in international development and peacebuilding. Under her leadership, the Foundation has emphasized climate resilience, racial justice, and reproductive freedom.

Key Quotes from Nancy Lindborg:

On climate resilience: "urgent focus on enabling communities to be more resilient in the face of increasingly severe fires, droughts and storms, with action well ahead of the disasters that devastate families and set back progress for years."
On racial justice: "often Black communities face the most severe and persistent gaps in opportunity, health outcomes, and overall well-being. These disparities demand focused attention and action."
On reproductive rights (post-Dobbs): "This is a dark day in America, marking one of the most consequential setbacks to women's rights in decades."
On community-centered approaches: "building the capacity of communities to adapt and thrive amid change is central to lasting climate solutions"

Board Chair: Jason Burnett (grandson of David and Lucile Packard)
Burnett, a nationally recognized climate change policy strategist, became the fourth chair in the Foundation's history and the second third-generation board chair. He has served as a Trustee since 2008 and previously served as a federal and local public official.

Board of Trustees: Comprises both Packard family members and General Trustees, overseeing all grant approvals and strategic direction.

The Foundation maintains an unusually transparent approach with detailed financials and governance information publicly available on its website.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Primary Approach: The Foundation operates primarily through an invitation-only model and does not accept unsolicited proposals in most program areas.

Key Statistics:

Less than 1% of annual grantmaking derives from unsolicited proposals
15% of grants go to first-time grantees
First-time grantees typically identified through Foundation staff research, referrals, or targeted open calls

Local Grantmaking Exception: The Local Grantmaking Program (California counties and Pueblo, Colorado) accepts Letters of Inquiry through an open process. Organizations should:

Review the Local Grantmaking FAQ page
Read all guidelines to ensure alignment with funding priorities
Submit an LOI to introduce the organization or program
Note: LOI is not a formal proposal nor a guarantee of funding

Letter of Inquiry Process (when applicable):

Should detail project objectives and relationship to Foundation priorities
If accepted, organization will be invited to submit a full proposal
Full proposals submitted only upon invitation
Board of Trustees reviews and approves all grants

Application Method: Online through specific program portals (when open calls exist)

Organizations interested in partnership should:

Carefully review the Foundation's grants database to understand funding patterns
Identify the appropriate program area
Contact the relevant program officer via the Foundation website
For most programs, wait for Foundation staff to initiate contact or for specific RFPs

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by program and follow an invitation-only process. Multi-year strategic grants may involve longer development timelines due to the Foundation's emphasis on building long-term partnerships and understanding organizational context.

Grantee Experience: The Foundation has streamlined proposal and reporting requirements following grantee feedback, resulting in significant decreases in time spent by grantees on grant requirements.

Success Rates

Unsolicited proposals: <1% success rate
First-time grantees: Represent 15% of all grants
Total awards (2023): 1,046 grants from available funds

The extremely low success rate for unsolicited proposals reflects the Foundation's strategic approach of proactively identifying organizations that align with their priorities rather than responding to open applications.

Reapplication Policy

Given the invitation-only model, traditional reapplication policies do not apply. The Foundation emphasizes long-term partnerships with grantees, often providing multi-year support. Organizations previously funded or in contact with program officers maintain ongoing relationships that may lead to continued funding based on strategic fit and performance.

Application Success Factors

The Foundation's approach emphasizes strategic partnerships over competitive applications. Key factors for organizations seeking to work with Packard:

Strong Alignment with Strategic Priorities:

Review the Foundation's detailed grants database to understand current funding patterns
Demonstrate how your work advances community-led solutions and systemic change
Show explicit commitment to racial justice and equity

Foundation Emphasis on Partnership Qualities: From their 2023 Grantee Perception Report, the Foundation values:

Organizations that welcome frontline community partners' perspectives in agenda setting
Engagement with those directly impacted by the funding
Transparency and strong communication
Organizations led by and serving communities of color (the Foundation has committed to addressing disparities in how they work with BIPOC-led organizations)

Program-Specific Considerations:

Conservation and Science:

Focus on specific geographies (California coast, Gulf of California, Western Pacific for marine; U.S., China, Amazon for climate)
Emphasis on practical solutions that integrate ecosystem conservation with human well-being

Reproductive Health:

Priority geographies: Ethiopia, Rwanda, DRC, India, southern U.S.
Post-Dobbs era: litigation, advocacy, and reproductive freedom work

Children, Families, and Communities:

California-focused with special attention to U.S. South
Systems-level change to better connect and improve access to family support services

Local Grantmaking:

Must serve San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey counties in California, or Pueblo, Colorado
This is the only program with an open LOI process

Foundation Values in Action: The Foundation's updated values include equity as a core principle, with a vision for "a just and equitable world where people and nature flourish." Successful partnerships demonstrate:

Community-centered approaches
Long-term thinking (the Foundation states: "The problems we seek to solve are complex, requiring long-term commitment to create lasting change")
Willingness to adjust strategies based on evaluation and learning
Contribution to building local leadership and capacity

Relationship Building: Since 99% of funding comes from solicited proposals and 85% goes to repeat grantees, building relationships with program officers is essential:

Attend sector-specific events where Foundation staff may be present
Connect through intermediaries or peer organizations already funded by Packard
Demonstrate thought leadership in Foundation priority areas
For Local Grantmaking, use the open LOI process to introduce your organization

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only model predominates: With <1% success for unsolicited proposals, traditional grant writing strategies don't apply. Focus on relationship building and demonstrating alignment with Foundation priorities through your organization's work and visibility in the field.
Study the grants database extensively: The Foundation maintains a comprehensive, searchable database of all grants. This is your best resource for understanding current funding patterns, typical grant sizes, and which organizations are being funded in your area of work.
Local Grantmaking offers the only open door: If you serve California counties (San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey) or Pueblo, Colorado, the Local Grantmaking Program's open LOI process is your best entry point.
Long-term partnership over transactional grants: The Foundation emphasizes multi-year relationships and expects partners to work collaboratively on systemic change. Demonstrate capacity for sustained engagement and willingness to adapt strategies based on learning.
Equity and community leadership are non-negotiable: Following feedback from their 2020 Grantee Perception Report, the Foundation has deepened commitments to racial justice and working differently with BIPOC-led organizations. Your organization's leadership, governance, and approach to centering affected communities matter significantly.
Transparency and responsiveness are mutual expectations: The Foundation is noted for unusual transparency and has streamlined reporting requirements based on grantee feedback. They expect partners to maintain open communication and collaborative problem-solving approaches.
Geographic specificity matters: Whether it's specific coastal regions for marine conservation or the U.S. South for family support, the Foundation has clear geographic priorities. Ensure your work aligns with these defined areas.

References

Packard Foundation Homepage. (2025). The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. https://www.packard.org/
Inside Philanthropy. (2025). David and Lucile Packard Foundation. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-p/david-and-lucile-packard-foundation
Packard Foundation. (2025). Funding Opportunities. https://www.packard.org/grantees/funding-opportunties/
Packard Foundation. (2025). Search Our Grants Database. https://www.packard.org/grantees/search-our-grants/
Packard Foundation. (2024). The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Announces the 2025 Class of Packard Fellows for Science and Engineering. https://www.packard.org/insights/news/the-david-and-lucile-packard-foundation-announces-the-2025-class-of-packard-fellows-for-science-and-engineering/
Inside Philanthropy. (2025). How Packard Is Navigating the Democracy Space Amid Unprecedented Disruption. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/how-packard-is-navigating-the-democracy-space-amid-unprecedented-disruption
Wikipedia. (2025). David and Lucile Packard Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_Lucile_Packard_Foundation
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. (2025). David And Lucile Packard Foundation. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/942278431
Packard Foundation. (2024). 2023 Grantee Perception Report Results. https://www.packard.org/insights/news/2023-grantee-perception-report-results/
Packard Foundation. (2024). The David and Lucile Packard Foundation 2023 Grantee Perception Report - Public. https://www.packard.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2023-Grantee-Perception-Report-Results.pdf
Packard Foundation. (2025). Our People - Board of Trustees. https://www.packard.org/about/our-people/board-of-trustees/
Packard Foundation. (2024). Jason Burnett Named Next Chair of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation Board of Trustees. https://www.packard.org/insights/news/jason-burnett-named-next-chair-of-the-david-and-lucile-packard-foundation-board-of-trustees/
Packard Foundation. (2025). Nancy Lindborg Biography. https://www.packard.org/bio/nancy-lindborg/
Packard Foundation. (2024). Packard Foundation CEO Nancy Lindborg Joins Critical Conversation on the Importance of Climate Resilience. https://www.packard.org/insights/news/packard-foundation-ceo-nancy-lindborg-joins-critical-conversation-on-the-importance-of-climate-resilience/
Packard Foundation. (2024). Our History. https://www.packard.org/about/our-history/
Packard Foundation. (2024). Financials and Governance. https://www.packard.org/about/financials-and-governance/
Packard Foundation. (2025). Contact. https://www.packard.org/contact/
Packard Foundation. (2024). 2024 Impact Report. https://www.packard.org/2024-impact-report/

All sources accessed December 25, 2025.

David And Lucile Packard Foundation