Unlikely Collaborators Foundation
Preselected recipients only
Unlikely Collaborators Foundation is a private foundation in Wichita, Kansas. In tax year 2024 it gave $1.8 million in 15 grants; the typical grant was $55,000 and the largest $799,153. 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$1.8 million
- Number of grants15
- Typical grant$55,000
- Largest grant$799,153
- Assets$37.0 million
- New grantees27%
Giving in 2024 was down from $2.4 million the year before.
27% 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 | $2.4 million | 33 | $33.0 million |
| 2024 | $1.8 million | 15 | $37.0 million |
How to apply
Unlikely Collaborators 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 Unlikely Collaborators Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 8 states, the most to Massachusetts.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1 | $799,153 |
| California | 6 | $353,066 |
| New York | 1 | $230,000 |
| Colorado | 2 | $147,750 |
| Maryland | 1 | $100,000 |
| Texas | 2 | $85,000 |
| Florida | 1 | $25,000 |
| Indiana | 1 | $25,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University | Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is among the top one percent most cited scientists in the world for her revolutionary research in psychology and neuroscience. She is a University Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University. UC supports Dr. Barrett's research into the evolution and development of the human brain for the sake of understanding meaning-making and the Science of Perception Box. | $799,153 |
| Project Ijtihad DBA Moral Courage Project | The Moral Courage Project teaches people to turn contentious issues and divisive dialogues into constructive conversations and healthy teamwork with UC supporting all of its efforts. | $230,000 |
| Pen America Los Angeles | PEN America supports emerging writers in finding their voice and sharing their stories. The UC grant funds in person writing workshops in Los Angeles that help early career and underrepresented writers reflect on personal experience and expand perception box through creative expression. | $130,566 |
| Naropa University | Naropa University is an accredited university and the only school in the country that grounds the student experience in contemplative education principles. Whether students are studying to become a therapist, an educator, an artist, or an entrepreneur, Naropa infuses contemplative education into every program because awareness of the present moment will serve anyone in their future career. UC supports psychedelic training scholarships and training retreats for underrepresented groups, cosponsorship of space at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Conference, the Psilocybin Facilitator Program, and the Naropa Tea House, all with the goal of psychedelics being utilized in therapy to aid participants in getting a deeper understanding of their traumas and stories. | $122,750 |
| Holistic Life Foundation | Unlikely Collaborators' grant supports the Holistic Life Foundation in expanding the Perception Box by bringing mindfulness practices into schools across six U.S. cities through the Mindful Moment (MM) program. Designed for both students and staff, MM provides a safe space to slow down, regain emotional control, and practice mindfulness techniques such as yoga and meditation. By offering tools to recognize and manage unhealthy emotional states, the program fosters conflict reduction, violence prevention, and long-term resilience, empowering participants to cultivate inner peace and self-awareness beyond the immediate moment. | $100,000 |
| Harvest Home | The grant is earmarked to support Harvest Home's Alumnae Program providing graduates of the residential program with case management and emotional wellbeing support, coaching and mentorship, leadership development, skills building workshops, and community building and resourcing events. | $75,000 |
| KALW Public Media Inc | Uncuffed is the country's leading radio and podcast training program for individuals in prisons to empower them to tell their stories while developing job skills and inspiring change. The UC grant enables expansion and implementation of programs at San Quentin and Solano prisons and launching of the program at the California Institution for Women. | $75,000 |
| John P McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science | The Health Museum inspires passion and curiosity in health, the medical sciences, and the human body. UC supports the implementation and evaluation of art-based initiatives to expand perspectives on health and thus the walls of their Perception Box. | $55,000 |
| Creative Visions Foundation | Unlikely Collaborators' grant supports Take Me Out Feet First, a powerful documentary project produced by Creative Visions Foundation. The funding will underwrite one of the series' eleven episodes, featuring the voices of 20-25 terminally ill individuals across the U.S. illuminating their courage and dignity at the end of life. | $35,000 |
| Swan Songs Musical Last Wishes | Swan Songs creates a sense of connection for individuals near the end of life by gifting them private concerts and supports live music in a community by compensating artists for those concerts. UC's support will enable the growth of Community Affiliates programs to expand Swan Songs beyond Austin to more locales. | $30,000 |
| American Red Cross - LA Region | American Red Cross provides relief and support to those in crisis. UC supports healing workshops for veterans including "Mind-Body" workshops to improve emotional intelligence, as well as "Resiliency" workshops to help boost coping skills for service members and their loved ones after both deployment and reintegration into civilian life. | $25,000 |
| Fiscal Sponsorship Allies | Sleepawake Camp is a four-week residential immersive camp for 18-30-year-olds looking for personal transformation, deep connection, and community. Sleepawake Camp addresses the neglected dimensions of our lives, orienting us toward a sense of wholeness and authentic happiness through science, psychology, gameplay, and ancient wisdom. The UC grant supports scholarships for those seeking financial aid, enabling participation from those who might not otherwise be able to attend. | $25,000 |
| Motus Theater | Motus Theater uses autobiographical storytelling to explore identity and personal transformation. The UC grant supports TRANSformative Stories, a touring production that invites audiences to expand their Perception Box through powerful, perspective-shifting monologues. | $25,000 |
| Purpose Built Families Foundation | Purpose Built Families Foundation (PBFF) provides trauma-informed care to address underlying causes of poverty, homelessness, addiction, and suicide. The UC grant enables PBFF to plan, promote, and implement an intensive experiential PAIRS (Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills) training seminar for homeless and at-risk military veterans in South Florida. | $25,000 |
| Create Now Inc | Los Angeles-based Create Now empowers youth and young adults from ages 3 to 24 through a variety of arts programs in multiple disciplines that help them to heal and thrive. The UC grant enables Create Now to grow operational staff and implementation in more L.A. schools to meet the growing needs of the community. | $12,500 |
Officers and trustees
- Lisa Gregorian
- Zach Goren
- Elizabeth R Koch
Questions people ask
Does Unlikely Collaborators Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Unlikely Collaborators Foundation give?
$1.8 million in tax year 2024, across 15 grants, with a typical grant of $55,000.
Who runs Unlikely Collaborators Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Lisa Gregorian (Director/President), Zach Goren (Director/Secretary/Treasurer) and Elizabeth R Koch (Director/Chair).
What does Unlikely Collaborators Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, science and research and health.