The Kavli Foundation
Preselected recipients only
The Kavli Foundation is a private foundation in Los Angeles, California. In tax year 2024 it gave $25.2 million in 107 grants; the typical grant was $65,550 and the largest $2.0 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$25.2 million
- Number of grants107
- Typical grant$65,550
- Largest grant$2.0 million
- Assets$604 million
- New grantees49%
Giving in 2024 was up from $19.8 million the year before.
49% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $19.8 million | 120 | $596 million |
| 2024 | $25.2 million | 107 | $604 million |
How to apply
The Kavli Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Kavli Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 14 states, the most to California. It also paid $5.0 million in 30 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 18 | $4.5 million |
| Massachusetts | 17 | $2.7 million |
| New York | 9 | $1.8 million |
| Texas | 3 | $1.1 million |
| District of Columbia | 14 | $978,213 |
| Washington | 1 | $450,000 |
| Illinois | 3 | $350,000 |
| Maryland | 3 | $229,953 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $173,000 |
| Missouri | 2 | $65,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at Stanford Univers | The via project: the milky way as a dark matter laboratory | $2.0 million |
| Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind at Ucsd | Kavli institute for brain and mind - phase iii | $1.0 million |
| Kavli Institute for Nanoscience at Delft University of Technology | Kavli institute innovation award kind | $853,800 |
| Kavli Neural Systems Institute (Rockefeller University) | Kavli nsi phase iii | $833,333 |
| William Marsh Rice University | Kavli exploration award - carbon nanotubes 2023 | $632,500 |
| National Academy of Sciences | Kavli frontiers of science symposia | $600,000 |
| Brandeis University | Nice sengupta 2024 | $550,000 |
| Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research at MIT | Kavli institute for astrophysics and space research phase iii | $500,000 |
| Kavli Institute for Brain Science at Columbia University | Kavli institute for brain science at columbia : phase iii-a | $500,000 |
| Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience at the Norwegian University | Ki for systems neuroscence at ntnu phase iii | $500,000 |
| Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at Peking University | Kavli institute for astronomy and astrophysics at peking university 2019-2023 | $479,000 |
| University of Washington Foundation | Nice riffell 2024 | $450,000 |
| William Marsh Rice University | Qg3d-rice 2024 | $426,863 |
| Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe at the Univ | Kavli institute for the physics and mathematics of the universe - phase i | $375,000 |
| University of Copenhagen | Kavli exploration award - kermen 2023 | $347,440 |
| Individual | $250,000 | |
| Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe at the Univ | Kavli institute for physics and mathematics of the universe - phase ii | $250,000 |
| Regents of the University of California at Berkeley | Kavli center for ethics, science, and the public | $250,000 |
| Individual | $250,000 | |
| Individual | $250,000 | |
| The Chancellor Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge | Kavli centre for ethics, science, and the public | $250,000 |
| University of California Berkeley Foundation | Kavli berkeley discovery fellows 2024 | $220,000 |
| Institut du Cerveau Et de la Moelle Epiniere | Kavli exploration award - fkne de juan-sanz 2023 | $213,944 |
| Kavli Institute for Nanoscience at Delft University of Technology | Kavli institute of nanoscience phase iii | $200,000 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard College | Kavli-laukien postdoctoral fellows | $200,000 |
| University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Education | Kavli institute for theoretical sciences at university of chinese academy of sciences | $200,000 |
| Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne | Neuro open source software (noss): deeplabcut 2024 | $195,500 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation | Kavli exploration award - handy 2024 | $170,000 |
| Individual | $166,667 | |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Kanwisher kp award donation: mcgovern institute for brain research | $166,667 |
| Individual | $166,667 | |
| Johns Hopkins University | Justice in basic research agendas (jubra): an equity-centered protocol for assessing basic research (nce scisoc) | $149,953 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | Qg3d-stanford 2024 | $143,750 |
| Tata Institute of Fundamental Research | Neuro open source software (noss): moose 2024 | $134,852 |
| Individual | $125,000 | |
| Individual | $125,000 | |
| President and Fellows of Harvard College | Kavli exploration award - garner 2024 | $115,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (Rpa) | Support of science philanthropy | $110,000 |
| Falling Walls | Ethics and public engagement about breakthrough science | $100,000 |
| Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind at Ucsd | Kavli discovery fellows 2024 | $100,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Rockell N Hankin
- Douglas K Freeman
- Henry Yang
- Richard Meserve
- Mary Sue Coleman
- Gunnar Nilsen
- Shirley Malcolm
- Emily Ann Carter
- Cynthia Friend
- Alice Galstian
- Mark Chancellor
- Pauline Poompan
Questions people ask
Does The Kavli Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does The Kavli Foundation give?
$25.2 million in tax year 2024, across 107 grants, with a typical grant of $65,550.
Who runs The Kavli Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Rockell N Hankin (Chairman), Douglas K Freeman (Secretary), Henry Yang (Director) and Richard Meserve (Director) among 12 officers and trustees.
What does The Kavli Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, science and research and international.