The Christensen Fund
Historical FunderSan Francisco, California · EIN 94-6055879 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$13.2M
Organizations funded134
Typical grant$75,000
Total assets$354.5M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $10,000 and $150,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | AN EMAIL SHOULD BE ELECTRONICALLY S |
|---|---|
| Address | ADDRESS WWWCHRISTENSENFUNDORG, SAN FRANCISCO CA 94107 |
| Phone | 4156441620 |
| Form and materials | PROSPECTIVE GRANTEES ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT FULL PROPOSALS ELECTRONICALLY (PRE-GRANT INQUIRY). THE INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED, NOT LIMITED TO: IDENTITY, CONTACT INFORMATION, TAX STATUS, REGISTRATION AND GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, KEY OFFICERS AND MAJOR FUNDERS, ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND, GOVERNANCE, KEY PRIORITIES, ACTIVITIES, AND PRACTICES OF THE ORGANIZATION. A DETAILED PROJECT PURPOSE, PROJECT DESCRIPTION, BUDGET, ACTIVITIES, TIMELINE, AND ANTICIPATED RESULTS ARE REQUIRED FOR GRANTS OVER WHICH THE CHRISTENSEN FUND EXERCISED EXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITY. |
| Deadlines | SEE BELOW |
| Restrictions | NO RESTRICTIONS |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
68% of grants went outside California.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs | Copenhagen, DA | General support | $350,000 |
| Indigenous Peoples Rights Inc | West Boothbay Harbor, ME | General support | $350,000 |
| Snowchange Cooperative | Lehtoi, FI | General support | $325,000 |
| Rudolf Steiner Foundation Dba Rsf Social Finance | San Francisco, CA | Support for the pawanka fund | $300,000 |
| Center for Research and Development in Drylands | Marsabit, KE | General support | $300,000 |
| Rights and Resources Institute Inc | Washington, DC | General support | $300,000 |
| Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Initiatives | Nairobi, KE | Genral support | $280,000 |
| Forest Peoples Programme | Moretoninmarsh, UK | General support | $260,000 |
| Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation | Nanyuki, KE | General support | $260,000 |
| Rainforest Foundation Inc | Brooklyn, NY | Core support for the global alliance of territorial communities -- a fiscally sponsored project of the rainforest foundation, inc. | $250,000 |
| Cultural Survival | Cambridge, MA | General support | $250,000 |
| International Indian Treaty Council | Tucson, AZ | General support | $250,000 |
| International Indian Treaty Council | Tucson, AZ | Support to engage with the united nations environment programme (unep) | $250,000 |
| International Indigenous Women's Forum | Lima, PE | General support | $250,000 |
| International Land and Forest Tenure Facility | Stockholm, SW | General support | $250,000 |
| Native Americans in Philanthropy | Washington, DC | Support for the tribal community vision partnership | $250,000 |
| Fondo Defensores Ac | Guadalajara, MX | General support | $250,000 |
| Illuminative Inc | Tusla, OK | General support | $250,000 |
| Tebtebba Foundation Inc | Baguio City, RP | General support | $250,000 |
| Samburu Women Trust | Nanyuki, KE | General support | $240,000 |
| Pastoralist Women for Health and Education | Isiolo, KE | General support | $230,000 |
| Law College Association of the University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | Support for the united nations special rapporteur | $225,000 |
| The Pastoralists Indigenous Non Governmental Organization's Forum (Pingo's) | Arusha, TZ | General support | $220,000 |
| Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation | Chiang Mai, TH | General support | $200,000 |
| Kivulini Trust | Isiolo, KE | General support | $200,000 |
| Legal Advice Centre | Nairobi, KE | General support | $200,000 |
| Namati Inc | Nairobi, KE | General support | $200,000 |
| Reseau Des Populations Autochtones Et Locales Pour LA Gestion Durable Des E | Yaounde, CM | General support | $200,000 |
| Alliance for a Just Society | Seattle, WA | Support for native organizers alliance -- a fiscally sponsored project of the alliance for a just society | $200,000 |
| Solidaritas Masyarakat Adat Asia | Bogor, ID | General support | $170,000 |
| Ogiek Peoples' Development Program | Nakuru, KE | General support | $160,000 |
| Friends of Lake Turkana Trust | Lodwar, KE | General support | $160,000 |
| Alliance for a Just Society | Seattle, WA | Support for native organizers alliance -- a fiscally-sponsored project of alliance for a just society | $150,000 |
| Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara | South Jakarta, ID | General support | $150,000 |
| Colorado Plateau Foundation | Flagstaff, AZ | General support | $150,000 |
| Denver Art Museum Inc | Denver, CO | Core support for an art program | $150,000 |
| Dynamique Des Groupes de Peuples Autochtones | Kinshasa, CG | General support | $150,000 |
| International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs | Copenhagen, DA | To enhance participation in united nations human rights processes | $150,000 |
| Rewild | Austin, TX | Support for initiatives in latin america | $150,000 |
| Resource Conflict Institute | Nakuru, KE | General support | $150,000 |
| Strategies for Northern Development | Moyale, KE | General support | $150,000 |
| Ujamaa Community Resource Team | Arusha, TZ | General support | $150,000 |
| Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Initiatives (Dlci) | Nairobi, KE | Promote networking and capacity-building of peoples toward implementing national policies for securing customary tenure, focusing on… | $150,000 |
| Gayo Pastoral Development Initiative | Addis Ababa, ET | General support | $130,000 |
| Coalition of Pastoralist Civil Society Organizations Inc | Kampala, UG | To enhance the pastoralist network in northeastern uganda and its cross-border collaboration with northern kenya. | $120,000 |
| Horn of Africa Development Initiative | Marsabit, KE | Support of pastoralist communities in northern kenya. | $120,000 |
| Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners | Narok, KE | To support maasai pastoralists | $120,000 |
| Pastoralists Alliance for Resilience and Adaptation Across Nations | Nanyuki, KE | General support | $120,000 |
| Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation | Chiang Mai, TH | Support for 2025 meeting in thailand | $110,000 |
| North Eastern Province Aid | Nairobi, KE | Facilitate dialogue amoung kenya's wajir county cross-border communities | $110,000 |
| Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara | South Jakarta, ID | Promotion and defense of rights in the the philippines. | $100,000 |
| Alliance of Local Communities in Hardship Areas | Moyale, KE | Support creation of multi-stakeholder platform to promote peoples in dabel artisanal mining sites. | $100,000 |
| Asociacion Civil de Trabajo Socioambiental de LA Amazonia Wataniba | Caracas DC, VE | General support | $100,000 |
| Frontier Counties Development Council | Nairobi, KE | Support for the frontier counties leaders conference 2024 | $100,000 |
| Indigenous Resource Management Organization-Iremo | Marsabit, KE | General support | $100,000 |
| Karamoja Herders of the Horn | Moroto, UG | To promote dialogue karamoja and turkana peoples | $100,000 |
| Pastoral Women's Council | Arusha, TZ | General support | $100,000 |
| Pastoralist Integrated Support Programme | Marsabit, KE | Support for the dasanach people | $100,000 |
| Podaali - Fundo Indigena Da Amazonia Brasileira | Manaus, BR | General support | $100,000 |
| Rainforest Foundation Inc | Brooklyn, NY | Rapid response addressing the needs of communities affected by the fires in belize. | $100,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 134 grants to organizations.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native American Rights Fund | Boulder, CO | General support | $500,000 |
| Servicios Integrales Emuri Ac | Creel, | General support | $400,000 |
| Cultural Survival | Cambridge, MA | General support | $250,000 |
| International Indian Treaty Council | Tucson, AZ | General support | $250,000 |
| International Land and Forest Tenure Facility | Stockholm, | General support | $250,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $13,235,092 | 139 |
| 2023 | $12,878,050 | 156 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 10, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202513149349102576
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 94-6055879
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.