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Skyline Foundation

Annual Giving
$80.7M
Grant Range
$4K - $4.0M
Decision Time
7mo

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Skyline Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $80.7 million (2023 990-PF filing)
  • Success Rate: Invitation only - no open application process
  • Decision Time: Board approval twice yearly (June and December)
  • Grant Range: $4,000 - $4,000,000
  • Median Grant: $250,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (U.S.)
  • Grant Type: 90% multi-year, unrestricted general operating support

Contact Details

Overview

Skyline Foundation was established in 2000 by David Filo (co-founder of Yahoo!) and Angela Filo, with a mission to return wealth created through Yahoo! back to society. Previously known as Yellow Chair Foundation until June 2023, the foundation operates with approximately $1.05 billion in net assets (as of 2023 990-PF filing). In 2024, Skyline distributed $98 million to 279 organisations, more than doubling from $47.2 million across 120 grants in 2023. The foundation's core mission is to "move money to organisations that address problems at their roots and change systems to create a more just future." Executive Director Angie Chen, who joined in April 2023, leads a small team committed to trust-based philanthropy, with approximately 90% of their grantmaking taking the form of multi-year, unrestricted general operating support. The foundation partners with Pacific Foundation Services for shared infrastructure and maintains an endowment screened to avoid environmentally and socially harmful investments.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Skyline Foundation focuses on four core programme areas, with grants typically ranging from $4,000 to $4 million and a median of $250,000:

  • Climate Solutions: Multi-year grants ($225,000 - $6 million over 3-4 years) supporting equitable, scalable climate strategies. Recent examples: Clean Air Task Force ($6M over 4 years), Climate Catalyst ($5.25M over 3 years), ClimateWorks Foundation ($4M over 4 years)

  • Just Democracy: Multi-year grants ($1.2M - $2M over 3-4 years) safeguarding democratic rights and civil liberties. Recent examples: Alliance for Safety and Justice ($2M over 4 years), ProPublica ($5M over 3 years), Florida Rights Restoration Coalition ($1.5M over 4 years)

  • Equity in Education: Multi-year grants ($1M - $1.6M over 3-4 years) improving outcomes for low-income students and students of colour. Recent examples: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards ($1.6M over 4 years), Teaching Lab ($1.5M over 3 years), Teach Plus ($1.5M over 3 years)

  • Birth Justice: Multi-year grants supporting integration of midwifery into healthcare. Recent example: Californians for the Advancement of Midwifery ($225,000 over 3 years)

Application Method: Invitation only, with board approval twice yearly (June and December)

Priority Areas

Climate Solutions:

  • Defending and securing policies for 100% clean energy transition
  • Technological innovation for climate mitigation
  • Protecting community access to clean air, water, and resilient conditions
  • Mobilising grassroots power for equitable climate action

Just Democracy:

  • Expanding voting access and democratic participation for marginalised communities
  • Economic security policies as foundation for democracy
  • High-quality investigative and accountability journalism
  • Diverse newsroom leadership and building public trust

Equity in Education:

  • Equitable public school funding
  • Supporting diverse, well-equipped teachers and school leaders
  • Removing systemic barriers to college access for underrepresented students

Birth Justice:

  • Expanding access to midwifery-centred care models
  • Scaling birth centres as choice-expanding alternatives
  • Growing and diversifying the midwifery workforce

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's invitation-only model and focus on systems-level change suggests they do not fund:

  • Organisations not aligned with their four core programme areas
  • Short-term or project-specific initiatives (preference for multi-year general operating support)
  • Organisations engaging in partisanship or ideology rather than addressing complex problems
  • Organisations without established field recognition or effective partnerships

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Angela Filo (Co-Founder): Brings expertise in education, nonprofit work, journalism, and technology
  • David Filo (Co-Founder): Yahoo! co-founder with engineering and technology background

Key Staff

  • Angie Chen, Executive Director: Joined April 2023, previously worked at Libra Foundation
  • Raquel Donoso, Senior Programme Officer, Equity in Education & Director of Programmes
  • Shereen D'Souza, Senior Programme Officer, Climate Solutions
  • Jenny Montoya Tansey, Senior Programme Officer, Just Democracy
  • Tanya Khemet Taiwo, Senior Programme Officer, Birth Justice
  • Rose Brookhouse, Grants Manager
  • Prizma Vazquez, Executive Assistant & Office Manager

Leadership Philosophy

Angie Chen on the foundation's approach:

  • "Our core mission is to move money to organisations that address problems at their roots."
  • "If we're acknowledging that organisations are working on complicated systems change issues, we want to give them space for risk and creativity."
  • "Our definition of effectiveness is if we are effectively supporting the grantees, because they're the ones holding the strategy and vision."
  • "What drew me to the Skyline Foundation is how the board has a common orientation to the one we had at Libra, where they're centred around the expertise and leadership of grantee partners."

Angela Filo on their values:

  • "Great journalism is essential to a thriving democracy. We have to invest in training the next generation of journalists who will ensure that communities have access to reliable and responsive information they can trust."
  • On supporting ACLU: "Advocacy for criminal justice, reproductive, voting, privacy, and other rights make the work of the ACLU so compelling and their watchdog role so important."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Skyline Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. Throughout the year, programme team members actively identify and connect with potential partners whose work aligns with foundation priorities.

If your organisation's work clearly aligns with one of their four programme areas, you may reach out at info@skylinefoundation.org. However, the foundation will only schedule meetings when there is a clear opportunity for partnership.

When programme leads identify promising grantees, they invite applications using "new or existing materials and/or a virtual meeting." Programme staff then prepare written recommendations to the Board for approval.

Getting on Their Radar

Skyline Foundation programme staff work year-round to identify organisations aligned with their priorities through:

Direct Outreach to Skyline:

  • Email info@skylinefoundation.org if your work clearly aligns with their programme areas (Climate Solutions, Just Democracy, Equity in Education, or Birth Justice)
  • Note: They only schedule meetings when clear partnership opportunities exist

What Skyline Looks for When Identifying Partners:

  • Organisations earning respect in their field and partnering effectively with others
  • Leadership that demonstrates field recognition
  • Organisations that could become long-term partners (grants reflect growth trajectory)
  • Leadership and boards that are inclusive and caring toward staff
  • Accountability to the communities they serve

Decision Timeline

  • Board Meetings: Grants are approved twice yearly, typically in June and December
  • Year-Round Identification: Programme staff connect with potential partners throughout the year
  • Timeline Commitment: Foundation pledges clear communication about timelines and reporting requirements

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only model, with programme staff identifying approximately 140-280 organisations annually for partnership (based on 2023-2024 figures).

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for an invitation-only funder. Organisations are identified and invited by programme staff based on ongoing assessment of field landscape and strategic fit.

Application Success Factors

Since Skyline operates by invitation only, success depends on being identified by their programme staff as a strategic partner. Based on their stated selection criteria and philosophy, organisations most likely to be invited share these characteristics:

Five Key Selection Criteria:

  1. Connection to Strategy: Clear alignment between your organisation's work and Skyline's programme strategy and focus areas within Climate Solutions, Just Democracy, Equity in Education, or Birth Justice

  2. Scale and Innovation: Organisations creating "systems level" change with significant potential impact - not just addressing symptoms but tackling root causes

  3. Long-Term Partnership Potential: Sustainable organisations suitable as multi-year collaborators; grant amounts reflect organisational growth trajectory

  4. Nonpartisan Nature: Groups addressing "complex problems" while avoiding "partisanship and ideology"

  5. Leadership & Collaboration: Organisations that have earned respect in their field, partner effectively with others, have inclusive leadership caring toward staff, and demonstrate accountability to communities served

Trust-Based Philosophy in Practice:

Angie Chen emphasises that Skyline's "definition of effectiveness is if we are effectively supporting the grantees, because they're the ones holding the strategy and vision." This means:

  • The foundation trusts grantee partners as the experts on their work
  • 90% of grants are unrestricted, multi-year general operating support
  • They prioritise giving grantees "space for risk and creativity"
  • Programme staff are "centred around the expertise and leadership of grantee partners"

Recent Funding Patterns:

Organisations recently funded tend to:

  • Work on systems-level change in one of the four programme areas
  • Have established field recognition (examples: ProPublica, Environmental Defence Fund, Clean Air Task Force)
  • Receive multi-year commitments (3-4 year grants are common)
  • Receive substantial support (median $250K, with many grants $1M+)

Foundation Commitments to Partners:

  • Clear communication about timelines and reporting requirements
  • Respectful, transparent grantee relationships
  • Equitable support prioritising organisations with greatest needs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: You cannot apply directly - focus on building field recognition and connecting with programme staff if your work aligns with their four core areas

  • Systems-level change is essential: Skyline prioritises organisations addressing root causes and changing systems, not just treating symptoms of social problems

  • Multi-year, unrestricted support is the norm: 90% of grants are general operating support over 3-4 years, reflecting commitment to long-term partnership and trust-based philanthropy

  • Field recognition matters: Organisations must have earned respect in their field and demonstrate effective partnerships with other organisations

  • Leadership and values alignment: Inclusive leadership, staff care, and accountability to communities served are explicit selection criteria

  • Contact strategically: If alignment is clear, reach info@skylinefoundation.org - but only if you can demonstrate clear connection to their programme strategy and systems-level approach

  • Biannual decision cycle: Grants are approved in June and December, with programme staff working year-round to identify partners for upcoming board meetings

References

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