Woka Foundation
Preselected recipients only
Woka Foundation is a private foundation in Newbury Park, California. In tax year 2024 it gave $10.3 million in 45 grants; the typical grant was $225,000 and the largest $1.0 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$10.3 million
- Number of grants45
- Typical grant$225,000
- Largest grant$1.0 million
- Assets$192 million
- New grantees21%
Giving in 2024 was down from $18.8 million the year before.
21% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $18.8 million | 42 | $129 million |
| 2024 | $10.3 million | 45 | $192 million |
How to apply
Woka 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 Woka Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 15 states, the most to California. It also paid $50,000 in 1 grant to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 9 | $3.1 million |
| District of Columbia | 8 | $2.8 million |
| Massachusetts | 7 | $1.5 million |
| New York | 4 | $1.3 million |
| Virginia | 3 | $1.0 million |
| Colorado | 3 | $950,000 |
| Washington | 2 | $550,000 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $500,000 |
| Florida | 1 | $330,000 |
| Kansas | 1 | $250,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Green America | Soil Carbon Initiative | $1.0 million |
| New Energy Nexus | General operating support | $1.0 million |
| Activate | General operating expenses and climate tech fellows | $700,000 |
| Ashoka | Select and support Ashoka Climate Fellows | $500,000 |
| Elemental Excelerator Elemental Imp | General operating support | $500,000 |
| Global Greengrants | Gender & Environment | $400,000 |
| African Women Rising | General operating support | $400,000 |
| Climate Foundation | General operating support | $400,000 |
| Rockefeller Family Fund FCOG | General operating support for Funder's Collaborative on Oil and Gas initiative | $400,000 |
| International Biochar Initiative | Capacity building support | $350,000 |
| Center for Climate Integrity | General operating support | $350,000 |
| Oil Change International | General operating support | $350,000 |
| OpEPA BWL | Support the Bioregional Weaving Labs | $330,000 |
| Natural Resource Defense Council | Rewrite the Future initiative | $300,000 |
| Agroecology Fund | General operating support for Agroecology Fund | $300,000 |
| Deployus | General Operating Support | $300,000 |
| Groundswell International | General operating support | $300,000 |
| Kakenya's Dream | General operating support | $300,000 |
| Action for the Climate Emergency | General operating support | $300,000 |
| Mad Agriculture | General operating support | $250,000 |
| The Land Institute | General operating support | $250,000 |
| Quivira | General operating support | $230,000 |
| Rainforest Action Network | Forest program and Community Action grants | $225,000 |
| Women's Environment and Development | Support gender-just & environmentally sound climate solutions | $200,000 |
| Conservation International | Global Mangrove Alliance | $200,000 |
| Greenwave | General operating support | $200,000 |
| Forge | Cleantech startups | $200,000 |
| Deployus | General Operating Support for Urgent Investment Priorities | $200,000 |
| Mongabay | General operating support and Natural Climate Solutions reporting | $200,000 |
| 350org | General operating support | $200,000 |
| Covering Climate Now | General operating support for Covering Climate Now initiative | $200,000 |
| Amazon Watch | General operating support | $200,000 |
| Ohio River Valley Institute | General operating support for Ohio River Valley Institute | $200,000 |
| The Hive Fund for Climate Gender Ju | General operating support for Hive Fund | $200,000 |
| Rural Climate Partnership | General operating support for Rural Climate Partnership | $200,000 |
| Oil Change International | Field-wide coordination efforts | $200,000 |
| Regenerative Farms | General operating support | $150,000 |
| Mangrove Action Project | General operating support | $150,000 |
| White Buffalo Land Trust | Jalama Ranch Programs | $150,000 |
| Nurturing Minds | General operating support | $150,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Rod Womer
- Barbara Karplus
- Krista Kurth
Questions people ask
Does Woka Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Woka Foundation give?
$10.3 million in tax year 2024, across 45 grants, with a typical grant of $225,000.
Who runs Woka Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Rod Womer (CEO/ Director), Barbara Karplus (Scty/Tres/Dir) and Krista Kurth (Director).
What does Woka Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly environment and conservation and international.