BHP Foundation
Preselected recipients only
BHP Foundation is a private foundation in Washington, District of Columbia. In tax year 2024 it gave $75.0 million in 51 grants; the typical grant was $669,784 and the largest $11.5 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$75.0 million
- Number of grants51
- Typical grant$669,784
- Largest grant$11.5 million
- Assets$185 million
- New grantees24%
Giving in 2024 was up from $55.5 million the year before.
24% 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 | $55.5 million | 53 | $250 million |
| 2024 | $75.0 million | 51 | $185 million |
How to apply
BHP 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 BHP Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 6 states, the most to Virginia. It also paid $48.0 million in 35 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 6 | $15.9 million |
| District of Columbia | 4 | $4.5 million |
| New York | 3 | $3.3 million |
| Washington | 1 | $2.0 million |
| California | 1 | $1.3 million |
| North Carolina | 1 | $669,784 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Nature Conservancy (TNC) | Valdivian coastal reserve - annual disbursement and travel reimbursement | $11.5 million |
| Great Barrier Reef Foundation | Resilient reefs initiative - phase 2 scaling | $7.1 million |
| Makeway Foundation | Nwt on the land youth collaborative (donor collaborative fund) | $6.5 million |
| Csiro | Stem champions project (2022 - 2026) | $3.7 million |
| University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre (BMC) | Right care, first time, where you live youth mental health | $3.6 million |
| Indigenous Desert Alliance (Ida) | Keeping the deserts connected - phase 2 | $3.4 million |
| University of Sydney (The Matilda Centre) | Mentally healthy future | $3.1 million |
| Smartice Sea Monitoring & Information Inc | Ice navigation, economic self determination and culture preservation for inuit youth and communities | $2.5 million |
| Brookings Institution | Global collaboration to advance anti-corruption | $2.4 million |
| Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (Eiti) | Eiti: opening ownership in the extractive industries | $2.3 million |
| Landesa | Community smart consultation and consent + alto mayo - carbon project | $2.0 million |
| Fundacion Tierra Austral (Fta) | Conservation corridor chile - phase 2 sustainable exit grant | $2.0 million |
| Rainforest Alliance (Ra) | Landscale (ra) | $2.0 million |
| Results for Development Institute Inc | Governance action hub | $1.8 million |
| Fundacion Re-Imagina | Digital education knowledge - consortium 21st century education chile) | $1.6 million |
| Reconciliation Australia | Narragunnawali: reconciliation in schools and early learning - phase 2 | $1.5 million |
| The Nature Conservancy (TNC) | Boreal - forest conservation | $1.5 million |
| Australian Indigenous Governance Institute (Aigi) | Supporting self-determined governance for indigenous development outcomes - phase 2 | $1.4 million |
| University of Alberta (Uofa) Cilldi | Indigenous youth through education | $1.4 million |
| Pacific Institute | Advancing water equity and resilience | $1.3 million |
| Conservation International Foundation | Alto mayo project seeks to promote a sustainable landscape model where livelihoods are improved through simultaneously promoting conservation and sustainable production, resilient to climate change. | $1.2 million |
| Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (Cier) | Consent-based water governance | $1.1 million |
| Global Impact for Open Ownership | Amplifying bot impact project - open ownership | $1.0 million |
| Open Contracting Partnership (Ocp) | Promoting social inclusion & environmental sustainability in resource-rich countries - phase 2 | $1.0 million |
| Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (Eiti) | Eiti: opening ownership in the extractive industries | $785,539 |
| Duke University | Internet of water (iow) | $669,784 |
| Education Endowment Foundation | Building a global evidence ecosystem for learning | $622,631 |
| Fundacion Tierra Austral (Fta) | Conservation corridor chile - phase 2 | $600,000 |
| Fundacion Para la Inclusion Tecnolgica Kodea | Digital skills for the xxi century | $549,082 |
| Fundacion Capital Azul | Coastal communities program - resilience network | $540,881 |
| Reconciliation Australia | Indigenous governance program - phase 2 | $519,072 |
| Ecoagriculture International Inc | Integration of iplc values and voice in landscape finance | $500,000 |
| International Institute for Sustainable Development (Iisd) | Mainstreaming natural infrastructure on the canadian prairies | $495,588 |
| Fundacion Encuentros del Futuro | 2025 fundacion encuentros del futuro - small grant | $460,000 |
| Fundacion Chile | Coastal communities program - resilience network | $400,000 |
| Pollination Foundation | Iplc nature markets credits | $265,000 |
| Fundacion Chile | Sumar saberes - small grant | $260,000 |
| Ban Ki-Moon Centre | Leadership development for native and indigenous youth in the americas (fellowship program) with ban ki moon centre | $250,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy (TNC) | Coastal communities program - resilience network | $250,000 |
| Australian National University (Anu) | Centre for indigenous economic transformation | $234,654 |
Officers and trustees
- Vandita Pant
- Kristen Ray
- Natalie Easton
- Sarah Costello
- Helen Dransfield
- Carlos Avila
- James William Agar
- Heather Anne Brown
- Bronwyn Anne Wilkinson
- JP Morgan Trust Company of Delaware
Questions people ask
Does BHP Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does BHP Foundation give?
$75.0 million in tax year 2024, across 51 grants, with a typical grant of $669,784.
Who runs BHP Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Vandita Pant (Chair), Kristen Ray (President/Executive Officer), Natalie Easton (Treasurer (Thru 12/09/24)) and Sarah Costello (Treasurer (Began 12/09/24)) among 10 officers and trustees.
What does BHP Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly international, environment and conservation and education.