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The Roddenberry Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.1M
Grant Range
$3K - $1.0M

The Roddenberry Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,063,224 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $1,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Global (issue-agnostic and geographic-agnostic)
  • Total Assets: $83.7 million

Contact Details

Address: 15260 Ventura Blvd Ste 1040, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-5345
Phone: 818-382-7800
Website: www.roddenberryfoundation.org
Contact Form: roddenberryfoundation.org/contact-us/
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram (@theroddenberryfoundation)

Overview

Founded by Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, son of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, The Roddenberry Foundation embodies Gene's vision of "a more progressive, inclusive and harmonious society." With approximately $83.7 million in assets, the foundation distributed $5,063,224 across 153 awards in 2023. The foundation is issue-agnostic and geographic-agnostic, supporting innovative thinking, original ideas, and extraordinary people across everything from WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), education, food security, and climate change to human rights, justice, equity, civil rights, environmental protection, immigration and refugee rights, and LGBTQ+ and women's rights. Under the leadership of CEO Lior Ipp, the foundation has evolved its strategic approach to prioritize early-stage, locally-led initiatives and 21st-century activism that combines strategic impact with technological innovation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Catalyst Fund: $2,500 - $15,000
Currently not accepting applications
Supports early-stage, innovative projects with big ideas and bold vision. Open to anyone, anywhere in the world—individuals, teams, non-profits, or social enterprises. Applications accepted year-round (when open) through online portal. Recipients have 9 months to complete project activities.

The Roddenberry Fellowship: $50,000
On pause beginning 2026
A 12-month program for U.S.-based activists, leaders, and advocates using innovative strategies to safeguard human rights and ensure an equal and just society. Limited to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, or visa holders who are principals of initiatives with budgets of $2M or less. Includes professional coaching, virtual collaboration sessions, and two in-person retreats. Three-round application process: minimal initial application, detailed second round for select candidates, virtual interviews for finalists.

The Roddenberry Prize: $1,500,000 total ($1M grand prize + finalist awards)
Biennial global competition to crowdsource bold solutions to pressing issues requiring audacious, far-reaching, and scalable responses. The 2024 Prize focused on early-stage AI ventures aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Three-round application process starting with Letters of Intent. Winner: iCardio.ai ($1M); Finalist: Noetik ($250,000).

+1 Global Fund: Varies
Nomination-driven platform (not open to direct applications) for discovering, strengthening, connecting, and amplifying locally-led initiatives in the Global South. Organized by sector (WASH, food security, health). Peer nominations sourced through Network Partners and Nominators who receive honoraria. Selected organizations receive funding plus capacity building, promotion to other funders, and cohort membership.

Priority Areas

The foundation is deliberately issue-agnostic, supporting innovation across all social and global challenges. Key characteristics they fund:

  • Innovation and Risk-Taking: Projects that "depart from the status quo" and look at problems in new ways
  • Bold Vision: Big ideas with high potential for impact across entire communities, cities, or countries
  • Systems Change: Focus on influencing broader systems, not just direct service delivery
  • 21st-Century Activism: Strategic, technology-enabled approaches combining impact orientation with grassroots organizing
  • Locally-Led Solutions: Especially in the Global South through the +1 Global Fund
  • Early-Stage Ideas: Projects on the cusp of launching, piloting programs, or pivoting in new directions

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects that are small in scope and limited in scale
  • Projects lacking clear innovation or novelty
  • Organizations focused solely on peer direct service without systems-level impact
  • Projects where the problem is too narrowly defined or it's unclear how the solution will lead to measurable change

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Heidi Roddenberry, Board Chair
  • Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry
  • Andrew Garb
  • Morton Kessler

Senior Leadership:

  • Lior Ipp, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of +1 Global Fund
  • Meg Busse, Chief Operating Officer

Leadership Philosophy

CEO Lior Ipp has articulated a clear vision for the foundation's approach: "We are particularly engaged in trying to be as proactive as possible instead of reactive, and thinking about how we can address issues that are relevant to the world."

On the foundation's strategic evolution, Ipp explained: "The board got together after the election and we felt that we couldn't continue with business as usual. We are still looking for bold ideas and creative solutions, but this is a pivot for us to invest in activists and activism."

Ipp emphasizes moving "beyond traditional funding approaches that prioritize well-established organizations and instead recognizing the transformative potential of small-scale systems changers." He describes modern activism as: "People think activism is all about marching and screaming loudly, but these people are phenomenally well-organized and they're oriented around impact the way an entrepreneur or nonprofit would be. There is a 21-century activism that isn't your grandfather's activism. It's about using technology platforms, delivering impact, and being strategic."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application methods vary significantly by program:

Catalyst Fund (when accepting applications):

  • Online application portal at apply.roddenberryfoundation.org
  • Rolling basis with no set deadlines
  • Single-round application process
  • Applicants do not need to be 501(c)3 organizations
  • Applications must be submitted in English
  • Must be 18 years or older

Roddenberry Fellowship:

  • Online application through dedicated portal
  • Three-round process: (1) minimal initial application, (2) detailed application for select candidates, (3) short virtual interviews
  • Currently on pause beginning 2026

Roddenberry Prize:

  • Three-round process starting with Letters of Intent
  • Biennial competition (not annual)
  • Specific focus areas change with each prize cycle

+1 Global Fund:

  • No direct applications accepted
  • Nomination-only through Network Partners and designated Nominators
  • Not accessible to organizations unless they are nominated by someone within the network

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines are not publicly disclosed by the foundation. The multi-round processes for the Fellowship and Prize take several months from initial submission to final decision. Catalyst Fund decisions appear to be made on a rolling basis when the program is accepting applications.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publish comprehensive success rate statistics. Available data points:

  • In 2023: 153 awards made
  • Total applications received to date: 7,600 from 92 countries
  • Grants awarded in 22 countries and 27 U.S. states
  • One specific initiative ("7 Million Strong") received over 400 applications from 47 states and territories

Reapplication Policy

For Unsuccessful Applicants:

  • Cannot resubmit the same proposal
  • May reapply if the project has evolved since the last application
  • For the Catalyst Fund specifically: 12-month waiting period required for new or different ideas
  • No public reapplication policy disclosed for Fellowship or Prize programs

Important Restriction: If you have already received a grant from the Foundation, you are no longer eligible to apply for another grant from any Roddenberry Foundation program.

Additional Rules:

  • May only apply for one Roddenberry Foundation initiative at a time

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Explicitly Seeks

Based on official guidance and leadership statements, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Innovation and Departure from Status Quo
The foundation prioritizes ideas that "depart from the status quo and require looking at a problem and its solution in a new light." Don't propose conventional approaches—they want to see genuinely novel thinking.

2. Clear Potential for Broad Impact
Show "high potential for impact across an entire community, city, or country." Narrowly defined problems or unclear pathways to measurable change will not succeed.

3. Deep Community Understanding and Track Record
Ideal applicants have "a deep commitment and understanding of the issue and community, with experience, a support network, and relevant knowledge to lead this work."

4. Strategic Planning with Clear Metrics
Applications must include "strategies and robust plans that will produce tangible results, with clearly described success metrics, required resources, and articulated clear, achievable impact."

5. Systems-Level Thinking
The foundation "tends to not fund organizations that are only doing peer direct service" but focuses on "organizations or individuals who are looking at the ways in which they can influence the broader system."

Specific Application Guidance

From the foundation's FAQ and guidance materials:

Be Thorough: "Every required question in the application is crucial to helping them understand your plans and ultimate goals, so answer all questions with as much detail as possible."

Request Appropriate Funding: "Align your request with what you need—if you need $7k, don't ask for $12k. Consider how much funding you need right now and how you will use it to advance your idea."

Strategic Budget Justification: "If you have a $200k budget, explain what you can do with $15k and why it's important they support you and your idea."

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

Understanding the types of projects the foundation supports:

Catalyst Fund Examples:

  • Development of low-cost methods using locally available raw materials in production of female hygiene products
  • Anonymous reporting platform via SMS or Android App to expose criminal activities
  • Technologies to address roofing challenges
  • Simple, patient-friendly innovative device to increase TB detection

2024 Roddenberry Prize Winner:

  • iCardio.ai: AI-powered platform automating cardiac ultrasound interpretation for real-time heart health analysis

2024 Prize Finalist:

  • Noetik: AI-driven cancer immunotherapy platform using machine learning for personalized treatment

Evaluation Criteria

The foundation evaluates based on:

  • Innovation
  • Potential impact
  • Ecosystem engagement
  • Originality
  • Community-based understanding
  • Sustainable strategy

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Innovation is Non-Negotiable: Don't apply with incremental improvements or conventional approaches. The foundation is explicit about wanting "big, bold ideas" that depart from the status quo. If you're doing what others are doing, you won't be competitive.

  2. Think Systems Change, Not Just Direct Service: The foundation explicitly states it tends not to fund direct service-only organizations. Show how your work influences broader systems, policies, or practices—not just how many people you serve.

  3. Early-Stage is Actually Preferred: Unlike many funders, Roddenberry actively seeks projects "on the cusp of launching" or "piloting a program." Don't be discouraged if you're early-stage; be encouraged.

  4. One Grant Per Lifetime: The foundation's policy that prior grantees cannot reapply to any program makes each application exceptionally high-stakes. Make your first application count.

  5. Issue-Agnostic Means Competitive: Because the foundation doesn't restrict by issue area, you're competing against innovative projects across all social sectors globally. Your innovation and impact potential must be extraordinarily compelling.

  6. Strategic Activism Over Traditional Organizing: CEO Lior Ipp's vision of "21st-century activism" emphasizes technology platforms, strategic impact, and entrepreneurial approaches. Frame your work in these terms rather than traditional organizing language.

  7. Monitor Program Availability: Both the Catalyst Fund and Fellowship have been paused or temporarily closed. Watch the website closely and be ready to apply quickly when programs reopen, as rolling deadlines mean early applications may have advantages.

References

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