The American Independent Foundation
Washington, District of Columbia · EIN 331137541 · Private foundation
Based in Washington, District of Columbia, The American Independent Foundation has awarded $59.7M across 13 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2024. Its largest grant on record went to American Independent Media. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.
What The American Independent Foundation funds
The American Independent Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on education.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The American Independent Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Independent Media EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES | Washington, DC | $18.2M | 2022 |
| American Independent Media EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES | Washington, DC | $11.2M | 2024 |
| Democracy Matters EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES | Washington, DC | $11.0M | 2024 |
| Democracy Matters Foundation GENERAL SUPPORT | Washington, DC | $10.1M | 2024 |
| American Independent Media EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES | Washington, DC | $5.5M | 2023 |
| Media Matters Action Network EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES | Washington, DC | $1.0M | 2024 |
| Counteract Foundation GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Washington, DC | $900K | 2023 |
| Media Matters for America GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Washington, DC | $810K | 2023 |
| Franklin Education Forum GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Washington, DC | $700K | 2023 |
| Tides Foundation VOTER EDUCATION ACTIVITIES | Los Angeles, CA | $212K | 2023 |
| Sustainable Markets Foundation PROMOTE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM | New York, NY | $50K | 2023 |
| Yale University RESEARCH ACTIVITIES | New Haven, CT | $25K | 2024 |
| Utah Film Center GENERAL SUPPORT | Salt Lake City, UT | $25K | 2024 |
The American Independent Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from The American Independent Foundation
The American Independent Foundation'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 americanindependent.com.
Is The American Independent Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what The American Independent Foundation 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 The American Independent Foundation
- Does The American Independent Foundation accept grant applications?
- The American Independent Foundation'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 The American Independent Foundation fund?
- The American Independent Foundation's grants focus on education. Recent recipients include American Independent Media, American Independent Media, Democracy Matters. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does The American Independent Foundation give in grants?
- The American Independent Foundation reported $33.4M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2024). Across all years in our data it has awarded $59.7M over 13 grants.
- Where is The American Independent Foundation located?
- The American Independent Foundation is based in Washington, District of Columbia. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 331137541.
- How can I find foundations similar to The American Independent Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The American Independent Foundation, 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 The American Independent Foundation
Foundations similar to The American Independent Foundation
Other District of Columbia grantmakers with overlapping priorities: