Skyline Foundation
Skyline Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2000 by Angela and David Filo, it funds organizations working to address problems at their roots and shift systems toward a more equitable and just future.
Key facts about Skyline Foundation
In short: Skyline Foundation gave $80.4M across 194 grants in 2024 (avg $415K), top state California. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 94-3380194
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $80,436,334
- Grants made (2024)
- 194
- Average grant
- $414,620
- Median grant
- $250,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (44 of 176, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,262,052,039
- Primary geography
- California (25% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- Skyline makes grants by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.3B
+20.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$80.4M
+23.7% YoY
Grant Count
194
+28.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$415K
-3.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Skyline Foundation reported a distributable amount of $55.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Skyline Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 44 of 176 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $328K; repeat grants $500K. How we count
Medians: $250K first-time, $300K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 180% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 151% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
Skyline describes its mission as finding and funding organizations with inspired, innovative leadership whose missions align with its values and vision for the future. Its work is guided by a belief in addressing systemic problems and shifting systems toward greater equity and justice.
In Climate Solutions, Skyline supports work on clean-energy policy, climate-mitigating technologies, clean air and water, resilient communities, and community power. Just Democracy includes civil rights and civil liberties, democratic participation, economic security, and journalism. The foundation’s journalism priorities include investigative and accountability reporting and more diverse pathways into journalism careers and leadership. Equity in Education focuses on improving outcomes, especially for low-income students and students of color, through public-school funding, educator support, and college access and success. Birth Justice aims to improve the U.S. birth experience through the full integration of midwifery into the health care system.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work funded. The Environmental Defense Fund describes its mission as finding practical, lasting solutions to serious environmental problems, including stabilizing the climate and supporting people’s health. The ACLU Foundation says it works to cultivate and share understanding of civil liberties and civil rights. The American Journalism Project describes itself as supporting and building local nonprofit news organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Skyline reported 194 grants totaling $80,436,334. Grant amounts ranged from $50,000 to $3,000,000, with a median of $250,000. The foundation emphasizes long-term partnerships and flexible support; its 2024 filing includes grants designated for general support as well as project-specific purposes.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $3,000,000 each to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation and the Environmental Defense Fund, both for general support; $2,500,000 to the Sierra Club Foundation for an energy project; and $2,000,000 to the Natural Resources Defense Council for general support. Other grants included $1,500,000 each to the American Journalism Project and Economic Security Project for general support, and $1,000,000 to the Center for Carbon Removal for general support.
Skyline’s board approves grants twice a year, usually in June and December. Program staff identify organizations aligned with the foundation’s priorities. When program leads decide to recommend potential grantees, they invite applications, which may consist of new or existing materials and/or a virtual meeting. Program staff prepare written recommendations for board approval.
Invitation Only
Skyline makes grants by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests. It welcomes inquiries from organizations whose work aligns with its priorities, but says it schedules meetings only when there is a clear opportunity for partnership.
Ready to take the next step with Skyline Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Skyline’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares were California (25%), New York (24%), and Washington, DC (22%), followed by Massachusetts (6%) and Illinois (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 194 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $21.9M (2020) to $80.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 194 grants totaling $80.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated ($4.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $21.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,000,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
622 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 198 grants of 622 (32%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc New York, NY | General Support | $3,000,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated New York, NY | General Support | $3,000,000 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Oakland, CA | Energy Project | $2,500,000 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council Inc New York, NY | General Support | $2,000,000 |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Washington, DC | For the charitable purposes of resource equity funders collaborative | $1,500,000 |
| American Journalism Project Inc Washington, DC | General Support | $1,500,000 |
| Economic Security Project Inc New York, NY | General Support | $1,500,000 |
| Rewiring America Inc Washington, DC | General Support | $1,500,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors New York, NY | For the Charitable Purposes of Climate Catalyst | $1,500,000 |
| The Miami Foundation Miami, FL | General Support to Press Forward | $1,500,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,262,052,039 | $173,098,151 | $111,149,359 | $80,436,334 |
| 2023 | $1,046,937,741 | $123,536,507 | $89,365,418 | $65,046,683 |
| 2022 | $836,387,339 | $132,595,017 | $79,484,032 | $47,155,707 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,262,052,039 | $1,046,937,741 | $836,387,339 |
| Revenue | $173,098,151 | $123,536,507 | $132,595,017 |
| Expenses | $111,149,359 | $89,365,418 | $79,484,032 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $83,308,135 | $67,066,136 | $48,435,437 |
| Net Investment Income | $146,676,373 | $109,707,368 | $117,314,833 |
| Distributable Amount | $55,184,077 | $44,708,736 | $37,527,723 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Filo as president and Angela Filo as CFO and secretary. Skyline’s website also lists the following staff: Angie Chen, Bettina Chang, Eddie Whitfield, Jenny Montoya Tansey, Kelly Costa, Lisa Dinh, Prizma Vazquez, Raquel Donoso, Rose Brookhouse, Roxanne Hanson, Shereen D’Souza, and Takeshi Benjamín Kaji.
Skyline Foundation is led by David Filo, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Filo
President
President & Director → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Filo
CFO & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 1660 Bush Street 300, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 561-6540
Website: https://skylinefoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Skyline Foundation
How much does Skyline Foundation give each year?
Skyline Foundation gave $80.4M across 194 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $65.0M across 151 grants.
What is Skyline Foundation's typical grant size?
Skyline Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $414,620, across 194 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Skyline Foundation that year got $328K on average.
Where does Skyline Foundation give grants?
Skyline Foundation's top state is California, with 25% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (24%) and District of Columbia (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (34 grants), New York, NY (19 grants), San Francisco, CA (13 grants) and Oakland, CA (13 grants).
Does Skyline Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 60% of Skyline Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (117 of 194) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Skyline Foundation's largest grantees?
Skyline Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated ($4,000,000 across 2 grants), American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc ($3,000,000) and Sierra Club Foundation ($2,500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,000,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Skyline Foundation?
Skyline Foundation reported $1.3B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $83.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $55.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Skyline Foundation fund?
Skyline describes its mission as finding and funding organizations with inspired, innovative leadership whose missions align with its values and vision for the future. Its work is guided by a belief in addressing systemic problems and shifting systems toward greater equity and justice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Skyline Foundation?
Skyline makes grants by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Skyline Foundation's EIN?
Skyline Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3380194. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Skyline Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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