Sixty Four Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $11,854,333 (total giving to date)
• Recent Annual Grants: $3,948,633 (2022)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only grantmaking)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Multi-state (primarily New York, California, and Texas)

Contact Details

Address:
401 E Corporate Dr, Suite 200
Lewisville, TX 75057
United States

EIN: 98-0364976

Note: No public website, email, or phone number available.

Overview

The Sixty Four Foundation (also referred to as "The Six Four Foundation") is a private independent foundation established in 2002 and granted tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3). Based in Lewisville, Texas, the foundation maintains total assets of approximately $10.2 million and has distributed $11.85 million in total grants since inception. In 2022, the foundation distributed $3.95 million across 17 grant awards. The foundation operates as a traditional private foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking, focusing primarily on education, human services, philanthropy, and voluntarism. Led by President V. Prem Watsa, the foundation has maintained consistent grantmaking activity with an average of 12-17 awards annually over recent years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Sixty Four Foundation does not operate formal, named grant programs with published funding ranges. Instead, grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of directors based on the foundation's charitable purposes.

Application Method: Invitation only/trustee discretion - no public application process

Priority Areas

Based on IRS filings, the foundation's primary funding focus areas include:

1. Education - Primary focus area
2. Human Services - Significant funding allocation
3. Philanthropy and Voluntarism - Support for grantmaking and volunteer organizations
4. General Charitable Purposes - Broad charitable mission

Geographic Giving Preferences

The foundation has awarded grants to organizations across multiple states, with primary concentration in:

• New York
• California
• Texas
• Additional states include: District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation operating through trustee discretion, funding decisions are made internally without published restrictions.

Governance and Leadership

President: V. Prem Watsa

Vice President: Jennifer Allen

Directors:

• Thomas Rowe
• Roger D. Lace

The foundation is governed by this small board of directors who make all grantmaking decisions. V. Prem Watsa, the foundation's president, is a prominent businessman known for his extensive philanthropic activities, particularly in education. He has stated publicly that he believes "education is the way to rise above adverse circumstances" and that "with an education, there are no limits to what can be accomplished."

The foundation reports zero officer compensation, indicating that leadership serves on a volunteer basis.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Sixty Four Foundation does not have a public application process. This is a private foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Grants are awarded based on decisions made by the foundation's board of directors. Organizations are typically identified and selected by the trustees rather than through a competitive application process. This approach is common for smaller private foundations where board members identify causes and organizations aligned with the foundation's charitable purposes.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded at trustee discretion rather than through scheduled review cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. The foundation made 17 awards in 2024, 15 awards in 2023, 17 awards in 2022, 12 awards in 2021, and 10 awards in 2020, reflecting trustee-identified grantmaking opportunities.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

As this foundation operates without a public application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations that receive funding from the Sixty Four Foundation are typically:

• Identified by board members based on alignment with the foundation's mission in education, human services, and philanthropy
• Organizations working in the foundation's primary geographic areas of interest (New York, California, Texas)
• Entities that align with the trustees' charitable interests and values, particularly in education

Given the foundation's president's documented belief in education as a transformative force, organizations focused on educational access, opportunity, and achievement may align well with the foundation's values, though this does not constitute an invitation to apply.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or proposals
• Trustee-directed giving: All grants are awarded based on board discretion and internal identification of charitable opportunities
• Consistent grantmaking: The foundation maintains regular annual giving, averaging 12-17 grants per year
• Multi-state reach: While based in Texas, the foundation funds organizations across multiple states, particularly in New York and California
• Education focus: The foundation's primary interest area is education, followed by human services and philanthropic support
• Private foundation structure: As a traditional private foundation with $10.2 million in assets, the foundation maintains a focused grantmaking approach
• No staff infrastructure: With volunteer leadership and no reported staff, the foundation operates with a lean administrative structure typical of family or trustee-directed foundations

References

• Instrumentl 990 Report for Sixty Four Foundation. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/six-four-foundation
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Sixty Four Foundation (EIN 98-0364976). Accessed January 20, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/980364976
• GuideStar Profile: Sixty Four Foundation. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/98-0364976
• V. Prem Watsa - Horatio Alger Association. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://horatioalger.org/members/detail/v-prem-watsa/
• V. Prem Watsa - Dakshana Foundation. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://www.dakshana.org/people/v-prem-watsa/