Cato Institute
Washington, District of Columbia · EIN 237432162 · Private foundation
Cato Institute is a private foundation based in Washington, District of Columbia. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $669K in grants paid and $103.8M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 31 individual grants from this funder — $1.2M awarded across 2018–2025 — including its support for higher education. Below is its full funding profile.
What Cato Institute funds
Cato Institute's giving carries a documented focus on higher education.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Cato Institute, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Innocence Project Inc General Support | Brooklyn, NY | $250K | 2022 |
| Cuban American National Foundation Milton Friedman Prize Award 2018 | Miami, FL | $250K | 2019 |
| Free to Choose Network Production of documentary on school choice | Erie, PA | $80K | 2018 |
| York College of Pennsylvania General Support | York, PA | $62K | 2024 |
| America's Future Foundation GENERAL SUPPORT | Washington, DC | $60K | 2025 |
| Roots of Progress EVENT SUPPORT | Beaverton, OR | $50K | 2025 |
| Brookings Institution Collaboration | Washington, DC | $38K | 2024 |
| American Legislative Exchange Council GENERAL SUPPORT | Arlington, VA | $34K | 2025 |
| Moral Courage Project General Support | Brooklyn, NY | $30K | 2022 |
| Moral Courage Project General Support | Brooklyn, NY | $30K | 2024 |
| America's Future Foundation General Support | Washington, DC | $30K | 2024 |
| Center for Civil Society EVENT SUPPORT | Troy, MI | $25K | 2025 |
| Brookings Institution COLLABORATION ON SPHERE EVENT | Washington, DC | $25K | 2022 |
| Columbia University Research for Project | New York, NY | $23K | 2021 |
| Students for Liberty EVENT SUPPORT | Mclean, VA | $20K | 2025 |
Cato Institute giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from Cato Institute
Cato Institute's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at cato.org.
Is Cato Institute the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what Cato Institute has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about Cato Institute
- Does Cato Institute accept grant applications?
- Cato Institute's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does Cato Institute fund?
- Cato Institute's grants focus on higher education. Recent recipients include The Innocence Project Inc, Cuban American National Foundation, Free to Choose Network. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does Cato Institute give in grants?
- Cato Institute reported $669K in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2021). Across all years in our data it has awarded $1.2M over 31 grants.
- Where is Cato Institute located?
- Cato Institute is based in Washington, District of Columbia. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 237432162.
- How can I find foundations similar to Cato Institute?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Cato Institute, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
Find more funders like Cato Institute
Foundations similar to Cato Institute
Other District of Columbia grantmakers with overlapping priorities: