Children's Defense Fund
Washington, District of Columbia · EIN 520895622 · Private foundation
Children's Defense Fund is a private foundation based in Washington, District of Columbia. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $1.9M in grants paid and $32.0M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 142 individual grants from this funder — $16.3M awarded across 2020–2024 — including its support for arts & culture. Below is its full funding profile.
What Children's Defense Fund funds
Children's Defense Fund's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, community improvement, education, faith-based (christian), health care, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include children, families, youth pop.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Children's Defense Fund, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National League of Cities Institute PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Washington, DC | $1.4M | 2024 |
| New Yorkers for Children PROGRAM SUPPORTS | New York, NY | $1.3M | 2022 |
| Save the Children Federation Inc PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Fairfield, CT | $1.0M | 2024 |
| Unidosus PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Washington, DC | $1.0M | 2024 |
| National League of Cities Institute PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Washington, DC | $750K | 2023 |
| Start Early PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Chicago, IL | $648K | 2024 |
| Center for the Study of Social Policy PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Washington, DC | $583K | 2024 |
| The Center for the Study of Social Policy PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Washington, DC | $583K | 2024 |
| The James B Hunt Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy Foundatio PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Cary, NC | $557K | 2024 |
| Unidosus PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Washington, DC | $300K | 2023 |
| Save the Children Federation Inc PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Fairfield, CT | $300K | 2023 |
| Start Early PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Chicago, IL | $300K | 2023 |
| The Center for the Study of Social Policy PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Washington, DC | $300K | 2023 |
| The James B Hunt Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy Foundatio PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Cary, NC | $300K | 2023 |
| The Connie Rice Institute for Urban Peace PROGRAM SUPPORTS | Los Angeles, CA | $257K | 2023 |
Children's Defense Fund giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from Children's Defense Fund
Children's Defense Fund'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 childrensdefense.org.
Is Children's Defense Fund the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what Children's Defense Fund 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 Children's Defense Fund
- Does Children's Defense Fund accept grant applications?
- Children's Defense Fund'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 Children's Defense Fund fund?
- Children's Defense Fund's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include National League of Cities Institute, New Yorkers for Children, Save the Children Federation Inc. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does Children's Defense Fund give in grants?
- Children's Defense Fund reported $1.9M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $16.3M over 142 grants.
- Where is Children's Defense Fund located?
- Children's Defense Fund is based in Washington, District of Columbia. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 520895622.
- How can I find foundations similar to Children's Defense Fund?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Children's Defense Fund, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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