Visa Foundation
Preselected recipients only
Visa Foundation is a private foundation in San Francisco, California. In tax year 2024 it gave $38.8 million in 81 grants; the typical grant was $250,000 and the largest $6.6 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$38.8 million
- Number of grants81
- Typical grant$250,000
- Largest grant$6.6 million
- Assets$501 million
- New grantees47%
Giving in 2024 was up from $35.8 million the year before.
47% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $35.1 million | 65 | $406 million |
| 2023 | $35.8 million | 89 | $505 million |
| 2024 | $38.8 million | 81 | $501 million |
How to apply
Visa 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.
What Visa Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 14 states, the most to Delaware. It also paid $9.2 million in 24 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 2 | $8.1 million |
| New York | 16 | $5.1 million |
| California | 14 | $4.8 million |
| District of Columbia | 6 | $3.8 million |
| Virginia | 4 | $2.6 million |
| Washington | 3 | $2.6 million |
| Georgia | 2 | $1.0 million |
| Maryland | 1 | $500,000 |
| Illinois | 2 | $310,000 |
| Minnesota | 1 | $250,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General & Unrestricted | $6.6 million |
| African Guarantee Fund - for Small and Medium Size | Expenditure Responsibility Grant | $2.0 million |
| International Bank for Reconstruction and Developm | Support the growth and resilience of SMBs by collaborating with government and financial institutions to 1) improve access to business & digital training and 2) improve access to financing | $2.0 million |
| La Clippers Foundation | To support the purposes of the FireAid funds being raised in connection with the FireAid Benefit Concert | $2.0 million |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General & Unrestricted | $1.5 million |
| Kiva Microfunds | Donor adviser fund - k-daf | $1.4 million |
| Tipping Point Community | Addressing youth homelessness in the Bay Area | $1.3 million |
| Womens World Banking Inc | Empowering Women-Owned Small and Micro Businesses | $1.2 million |
| 2X Global Limited | the Climate Gender Equity Fund (CGEF) | $1.0 million |
| Black Economic Alliance Foundation | To support the CBE | $1.0 million |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | To Charities Aid Foundation America ("CAF America") | $1.0 million |
| Pro Mujer Inc | To support the growth of women-led businesses through the provision of holistic services that increase their access to capital | $1.0 million |
| Un Women Australia Incorporated | UN Women: Care & Green Impact Entrepreneurship Program | $1.0 million |
| The Uk Online Giving Foundation | General & Unrestricted | $657,533 |
| Pro Mujer Inc | Support women-led SMBs in LAC through programs that (1) expand access to business and digital literacy training and (2) expand access to capital | $600,000 |
| Technoserve Inc | To support the growth of gender diverse, green and agricultural businesses in India and Sub-Saharan Africa | $600,000 |
| 2X Global Limited | to support 2X Global's ongoing mission | $500,000 |
| Agra | To empower 20,000 women and youth farmers in Nigeria's agri-food systems through ag-tech and innovative finance solutions | $500,000 |
| American National Red Cross | American Red Cross' Annual Disaster Giving Program(ADGP) | $500,000 |
| Black Innovation Alliance | To support Strengthening the Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in the U.S. | $500,000 |
| Global Impact Investing Network Inc | The Impact Lab fund | $500,000 |
| Inco Community Inc | Unlocking the economic potential of women-led businesses in the UK&I | $500,000 |
| New Venture Fund | To support the Tipping Point Fund on Impact Investing | $500,000 |
| Operation Hope | To support HOPE Network & Digital Solution for SMBs | $500,000 |
| Oxfam-America Inc | To support B-READY: Building Resilient, Adaptive, and Disaster-Ready Communities | $500,000 |
| Realize Impact | Demonstrating the Potential and Business Readiness of Entrepreneurial Households | $500,000 |
| Technoserve Inc | Support a business accelerator program that provides entrepreneurship training and fundraising support to start-ups that are driving job creation and economic mobility across India | $500,000 |
| Tides Center | To support VC Include (VCI)'s efforts to level the playing field for emerging and diverse fund managers in the US | $500,000 |
| World Savings and Retail Banking Institute | Expenditure Responsibility | $500,000 |
| The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network Cic | Supporting refugee entrepreneurship in the UK, Greece, and Holland | $375,000 |
| Opportunity International Inc | To support women-led SMBs with technical assistance and digital finance solutions to grow and digitalize their business | $300,000 |
| Singa Global | To support newcomer entrepreneurship in Europe | $300,000 |
| Agora Partnerships | To support Juntas Contamos and an Information Exchange Platform Extension | $250,000 |
| Community Reinvestment Fund Inc | To support the program From Outputs to Outcomes: Deploying CRF Insights to Measure the Impact of the California Rebuilding Fund | $250,000 |
| Eyelliance Inc | To support Catalyzing Inclusive Growth of the Retail Optical Sector in LMICs | $250,000 |
| Huge Thing Spolka Z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia | Expenditure Responsibility | $250,000 |
| Inclusiv Inc | To support Maximizing Financial Inclusion Impact in the U.S. | $250,000 |
| International Charitable Organization - East Europ | To support Scaling Ukraine's GovTech Initiative to the World | $250,000 |
| Kiz Sinnova Ges Fuer Soziale Innovationen GGMBH | To support Perspektive neuStart in fostering inclusive entrepreneurship and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Germany | $250,000 |
| PT Kanika Cahaya (Aka Instellar) | Instellar aims to grow Indonesia's Impact Entrepre | $250,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Brooke D Arena
- Frank Cooper
- Oliver Jenkyn
- Kathleen Kavanagh
- Graham Macmillan
- Ryan McInerney
- Colleen Ostrowski
- Chris Suh
- Kelly Mahon Tullier
Questions people ask
Does Visa Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Visa Foundation give?
$38.8 million in tax year 2024, across 81 grants, with a typical grant of $250,000.
Who runs Visa Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Brooke D Arena (Sec), Frank Cooper (Dir), Oliver Jenkyn (Dir) and Kathleen Kavanagh (Dir) among 9 officers and trustees.
What does Visa Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly international, youth programs and human services.