The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Foundation's stated themes are just societies, the natural world, and families and communities, so a small nonprofit should first test whether its work fits one of these and the goals behind them, such as strong civil society, climate solutions or children's healthy starts.
- Half of its grants to organisations are $150,000 or less, and most fall between $45,000 and $500,000, so a modest request in that region is realistic; the largest grant the filings report is about $55,000,000, so that band is typical rather than a ceiling.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but only a small share of grants come from unsolicited proposals and the filings give no general submission steps, so a short approach is worth making without expecting an open door.
- Repeat funding dominates, with 80% of grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had already funded, so the process looks relationship-led and a first approach should be patient and well prepared.
- Grants are primarily made through tax-exempt charitable organisations, so applicants without that status should check this before approaching the Foundation.
Overview
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is a US private foundation based in Los Altos, 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
The Foundation works with people and communities to create enduring solutions for just societies and a healthy, resilient natural world. Its goals are to build just societies through strong civil society and inclusive institutions and governance; protect and restore nature through climate solutions, a healthy ocean, and scientific innovation and discovery; and invest in families and communities, prioritising children’s healthy starts and resilient communities. It focuses on the institutions, policies and power structures behind long-term outcomes, listens to and invests in people driving change, and works in partnership locally, nationally and internationally. It grounds its strategies in science, data and direct experience, commits for the long term while remaining agile, and selects partners thoughtfully, evaluating progress and adjusting strategies. Grants are for charitable, educational or scientific purposes, primarily through tax-exempt charitable organisations.
Themes
- Just societies
- Natural world
- Families and communities
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, District of Columbia, New York and countries outside the United States.
How to apply
The website reports that a small share of grants come from unsolicited proposals, but it provides no general submission steps for organisations.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 80% 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 3,283 grants to organisations were $150,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation focuses on institutions, policies, practices, and the distribution of power and resources that shape long-term outcomes.
- It invests in people most affected by the issues, whose knowledge and experience are essential to finding solutions.
- It values partnerships at local, national, and international levels, with diverse perspectives and shared ownership.
- It grounds strategies in science, data, and direct experience, and remains open to learning and adapting.
- It funds and works on a long horizon while staying agile when circumstances demand.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 6%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 17%
- The largest single recipient received 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 80% of grant dollars went to organisations The David and Lucile Packard Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 10% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Indonesia, Ethiopia, United Kingdom, Mexico).
- 21% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 1,028 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $150k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute · Mbari$54,926,0322024 tax year
- Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health · Lpfch$20,000,0002024 tax year
- ClimateWorks Foundation · Environment and Science$10,500,0002024 tax year
- ClimateWorks Foundation · Environment and Science$10,000,0002024 tax year
- Climate Breakthrough · Environment and Science$7,500,0002024 tax year
- Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · Just Societies$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation · Environment and Science$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Resources Legacy Fund · Families and Communities$3,000,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Michael Klag — Trustee
- Sierra Clark — Trustee
- Emily Fan — Secretary & General Counsel
- Kimberly Sargent — Chief Investment Officer
- Craig T Neyman — CFO & COO
- Nancy Lindborg — President & CEO
- Lisa Clark — Chief People Officer
- Louise Stephens — Trustee
- Anne Gates — Trustee
- Katherine Orr — Trustee
- Stephen Lockhart — Trustee
- Michael C Camunez — Trustee
- Jason K Burnett — Chair
- Mimi Alemayehou — Trustee (As Of June 2024)
- David M Orr — Trustee
- Julie E Packard — Vice Chair
- Marielena Hincapie — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $540,606,159 | $432,111,125 | $8,263,286,693 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $458,216,523 | $367,013,209 | $8,324,855,767 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $452,085,577 | $349,965,123 | $8,547,237,871 | 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
Applying to The David and Lucile Packard Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (650) 948-7658
- Los Altos, CA
- packard.org
Applying to The David and Lucile Packard Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (650) 948-7658
- Los Altos, CA
- packard.org