Who funds Cato Institute?
188 private foundations reported grants to Cato Institute in Washington, District of Columbia totaling $12.0 million across 190 grants in tax years 2022 to 2025. The largest funder was Susquehanna Foundation, with $3.0 million.
From the funders' IRS Form 990-PF filings.
- Foundation funders188
- Grants reported190
- Total received$12.0 million
- Funders taking applications23
Funders of Cato Institute that accept applications
If your organization does similar work, these foundations are prospects: they already fund work like Cato Institute's and say in their IRS filings that they accept applications.
- The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc
- Carnegie Corporation of New York
- Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated
- The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
- Gale Foundation
- The McWethy Foundation
- The Brinson Foundation
- The Hunt Family Foundation
- John William Pope Foundation
- Margaret H & James E Kelley Foundation Inc
- The Armstrong Foundation
- Bruce and Deborah Duncan Foundation
- Jameson Freedom & Education Foundation
- The David and Elaine Lozier Foundation
- JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation
Foundations that fund Cato Institute
| Foundation | Purpose given | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Susquehanna Foundation | General fund | 1 | $3.0 million |
| EL Craig Foundation | Host committee-co-chair | 1 | $1.0 million |
| Galashiels Fund LTD | Annual support | 1 | $1.0 million |
| Krfrench Family Foundation | Research | 1 | $802,530 |
| The Donald and Paula Smith Foundation | To further donee's exempt purpose | 1 | $650,000 |
| The Kilts Family Foundation | General charitable purposes | 1 | $500,000 |
| The Searle Freedom Trust | Education and outreach | 3 | $400,000 |
| The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | To support the Project to Defend the Free Economy | 1 | $350,000 |
| D F Dillon Foundation | Program | 1 | $250,000 |
| Carnegie Corporation of New York | For core support of its immigration program | 1 | $233,300 |
| The Opportunity Foundation | Programs advancing the foundationsstrategic goals as discussed with petergoettler (pres.) et al. | 1 | $225,000 |
| The Cynthia Elkins Foundation | General use | 1 | $225,000 |
| Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation | Unrestricted | 1 | $200,000 |
| Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated | Center for global liberty and prosperity | 1 | $180,000 |
| The Ohnell Family Foundation | Education | 1 | $150,000 |
| The Martino Family Foundation Co Michael E Martino | To support the Libertarian think tank that conducts research and public policy analysis to promote policies consistent with individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. | 1 | $150,000 |
| The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation | For support of the congressional fellowship program | 1 | $150,000 |
| The Margulis Foundation for Freedom and Opportunity | General operating | 1 | $124,600 |
| Dunard Fund USA LTD | General support | 1 | $110,000 |
| Pivotal Foundation | For the exempt purpose of the organization | 1 | $100,000 |
| The Alta and John Franks Foundation | Unrestricted gift to 501(c)(3) org | 1 | $100,000 |
| The Negaunee Foundation | Unrestricted use | 1 | $100,000 |
| Mike A Myers Foundation | Project sphere education initiative-promotes american public policy based on individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peaceful international relations | 1 | $100,000 |
| Gale Foundation | Unrestricted | 1 | $75,000 |
| The Lowndes Foundation Inc | Contribution | 1 | $70,000 |
| Goyanes Family Foundation Inc | General support | 1 | $67,000 |
| The Hilibrand Foundation | General support | 1 | $60,000 |
| The Carter Chapman Shreve Family Foundation | General & Unrestricted | 1 | $60,000 |
| The Reams Foundation Inc | General | 1 | $50,000 |
| The McWethy Foundation | Unrestricted general | 1 | $50,000 |
| Offerdahl Family Foundation | Works to increase the understanding of public policies based on the principles of limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and peace. | 1 | $50,000 |
| The Dunn Foundation | General support | 1 | $50,000 |
| The Brinson Foundation | Sphere education initiative | 1 | $50,000 |
| The Hunt Family Foundation | 1 of 2 on $100k commitment | 1 | $50,000 |
| John Dawson Foundation | Charitable purpose | 1 | $50,000 |
| Collin and Joanna Roche Family Foundation | General & Unrestricted | 1 | $50,000 |
| Guenther Family Foundation | To support charitable function & programs | 1 | $50,000 |
| Townsend Family Foundation | Public policy research organization - operations | 1 | $48,400 |
| The Barrington Foundation Inc | Unrestricted | 1 | $40,000 |
| John William Pope Foundation | Unrestricted grant | 1 | $40,000 |
| Andrew Foundation | Educational | 1 | $40,000 |
| Olson Family Foundation Inc | General | 1 | $34,750 |
| Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc | General & Unrestricted | 1 | $30,000 |
| The Downey Family Foundation Inc | General support | 1 | $30,000 |
| Forward Vision | General purpose | 1 | $30,000 |
| Bernard & Nancy Karwick Foundation | General | 1 | $30,000 |
| Bayne Foundation Inc | General Support | 1 | $29,895 |
| The Freedom and Justice Foundation Inc | To originate, disseminate, and increase understanding of public policies based on the principles of individuals liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace | 1 | $25,050 |
| Stephen S and Dolores R Smith Foundation | General contribution | 1 | $25,000 |
| The Harjen Charitable Foundation | General contribution | 1 | $25,000 |
| Red Bird Hollow Foundation | Charitable | 1 | $25,000 |
| Margaret H & James E Kelley Foundation Inc | Operations | 1 | $25,000 |
| The Steve & Lana Hardy Foundation | General and unrestricted. | 1 | $25,000 |
| The Armstrong Foundation | National and state policy | 1 | $25,000 |
| Michael F Tweedle and Christine A Poon Foundation | Unrestricted grant | 1 | $25,000 |
| Jaggers Family Foundation | General & Unrestricted | 1 | $25,000 |
| Charles M & Gloria Parrish Foundation | N/a | 1 | $21,500 |
| The Ruthmarc Foundation Inc | Educational activities | 1 | $20,700 |
| Bruce and Deborah Duncan Foundation | General operating support | 1 | $20,000 |
| The Beach Foundation | General fund | 1 | $20,000 |
| Grayson Family Foundation | General | 1 | $20,000 |
| Jameson Freedom & Education Foundation | To support policy research championing individual liberty, free markets and peaceful international affairs. | 1 | $20,000 |
| Dugan Charitable Trust | To fulfill the exempt purposes of the charity | 1 | $18,437 |
| Holman Foundation Inc | Unrestricted charitable gift | 1 | $15,000 |
| Tepas Family Foundation | The cato institute is a public policy research organization (a think tank) dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace | 1 | $15,000 |
| The David and Elaine Lozier Foundation | Publication supporting/providing public policy research and information distribution | 1 | $15,000 |
| George and Kathleen Anderson Charitable Trust | General operating | 1 | $15,000 |
| JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation | Support for general operations | 1 | $15,000 |
| John & Patricia Adams Family Foundation | Educational | 1 | $11,000 |
| Glenn Greenberg and Linda Vester Foundation Inc | Charitable | 1 | $10,000 |
| Kristin & Michael Reed Family Foundation Inc | Civil liberties-seeks to broaden the parameter of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional american priciples of limited government, individual liberty, free markets & peace.civil liberties-seeks to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional american principles.civil liberties-programs to preserve liberty,freedom & peace. | 1 | $10,000 |
| Ambos Mundos | To originate, disseminate, and incre | 1 | $10,000 |
| The Katsaros Family Foundation | General charitable operations | 1 | $10,000 |
| The Kleinschmidt Family Foundation | Unrestricted | 1 | $10,000 |
| David and Susan Kreisman Family Foundation | Grant | 1 | $10,000 |
| Yellow-Crowned Foundation | General operations | 1 | $10,000 |
| The Kilrea Foundation | Charitable - general support | 1 | $10,000 |
| Frankel Family Charitable Trust | General funding | 1 | $10,000 |
| Hawk Ridgeview Foundation | General operations | 1 | $10,000 |
| Foundation for Individual Liberty | Assistance for charitable purposes | 1 | $10,000 |
| Town Branch Foundation | To support general operations | 1 | $10,000 |
| B & E Collins Foundation | Restricted grant to fund sphere education initiatives program | 1 | $10,000 |
| The Rhines Foundation | Support of educational organization | 1 | $10,000 |
| Fiel Foundation Inc | General | 1 | $10,000 |
| Peter G Peterson Foundation | To support the peter g. Peterson foundation fiscal internship program. | 1 | $6,000 |
| Daniel J Taylor Family Charitable Foundation | Program costs | 1 | $6,000 |
| Brinkley Family Foundation | To further the exempt purpose | 1 | $6,000 |
| Richard Seth Staley Educational Foundation A Nevada Nonprofit Corp | Social issues - general education - public | 1 | $6,000 |
| Charles F de Ganahl Family Foundation | Unrestricted | 1 | $5,000 |
| The Rogers Foundation Inc | Donation | 1 | $5,000 |
| Stephen and Jennifer Errico Foundation | Charity | 1 | $5,000 |
| The Joseph B Glossberg Foundation | Donation | 1 | $5,000 |
| The Butler Family Foundation | To leave future generations a freer and more prosperous world | 1 | $5,000 |
| Thom & Gail Williamsen Family Foundation | General charitable purpose | 1 | $5,000 |
| Bill Kent Family Foundation Inc | Charitable programs | 1 | $5,000 |
| John and Nancy Edwards Family Foundation | Defend america's heritage of individual liberty, free markets, and constitutionally limited government. | 1 | $5,000 |
| The Roger and Cynthia Borgelt Family Foundation | General fund | 1 | $5,000 |
| William S Knight Foundation Inc | Project sphere education initiative | 1 | $5,000 |
| National Life Group Charitable Foundation Inc | Social justice | 1 | $4,000 |
| The TKBW Private Foundation | General purpose | 1 | $4,000 |
Using this list
A foundation that already gives to Cato Institute gives in its field and region, so the list doubles as a prospect list for similar organizations in Washington. Open a foundation to see its application rules, typical grant and every other grant it paid.
Questions people ask
Who funds Cato Institute?
Susquehanna Foundation, EL Craig Foundation, Galashiels Fund LTD, Krfrench Family Foundation and The Donald and Paula Smith Foundation, and 183 more, according to their IRS Form 990-PF filings.
How much does Cato Institute get from foundations?
$12.0 million in 190 reported grants from 188 private foundations in tax years 2022 to 2025. Government grants and gifts from individuals are not included.
Which of these funders accept applications?
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated, The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation and Gale Foundation say in their filings that they accept applications.