International giving · Americas
Which US foundations give to El Salvador?
US foundations sent $48M to organizations in El Salvador across 417 grants, from 65 different funders. Read from IRS 990 filings.
The short version
- 65 US foundations have made grants to El Salvador, totaling $48M across 417 grants on record.
- HOWARD G BUFFETT FOUNDATION (IL) is the largest US funder of El Salvador organizations, with $8M.
- FOCUS CENTRAL AMERICA is the most El Salvador-focused funder, directing 25% of its overseas giving here.
- US giving to El Salvador has fallen over the filing years on record.
The biggest funders, year by year
Each top funder of El Salvador with its total, and how that giving falls across the filing years — darker means more.
| '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24 | '25* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOWARD G BUFFETT FOUNDATION$8M | |||||||||
| THE FORD FOUNDATION$7M | |||||||||
| Conflict and Development Research Fund$6M | |||||||||
| GATES FOUNDATION$5M | |||||||||
| CONRAD N HILTON FOUNDATION$5M | |||||||||
| JPMORGAN CHASE FOUNDATION$4M | |||||||||
| FOUNDATION TO PROMOTE OPEN SOCIETY$4M | |||||||||
| FOUNDATION FOR A JUST SOCIETY$950k | |||||||||
| MARGARET A CARGILL FOUNDATION$900k | |||||||||
| ROCKEFELLER BROTHERS FUND INC$885k | |||||||||
| FOCUS CENTRAL AMERICA$853k | |||||||||
| ARCUS FOUNDATION$630k |
* 2025 onward is still arriving — 990s lag 12–24 months, so the most recent years under-report.
Top US funders of El Salvador
El Salvador's dedicated funders
Foundations that send most of their overseas money to El Salvador — the specialists, not just the biggest checks.
What the money funds
By the stated purpose of 417 grants that carry one.
27 recipients
52 recipients
23 recipients
25 recipients
21 recipients
48 recipients
29 recipients
9 recipients
Largest recipients in El Salvador
Spelling, accent, abbreviation, and language variants of the same organization are merged into one recipient. Organizations abroad have no US EIN, so this resolution is best-effort.
3 US funders · 19 grants
1 US funder · 1 grant
1 US funder · 1 grant
3 US funders · 11 grants
1 US funder · 3 grants
1 US funder · 2 grants
A further $3k across 1 grant went to recipients the filings name only in the aggregate (“various”, “multiple organizations”, and the like), so they can’t be attributed to a single organization.
Who funds whom
The largest funder-to-recipient ties — which US foundation backs which organization in El Salvador.
Where the funders are
The US states home to the foundations giving to El Salvador, shaded by dollars granted. Click a state.
Notable grants
The largest individual grants to El Salvador on record.
Questions and answers
- Which US foundation gives the most to El Salvador?
- HOWARD G BUFFETT FOUNDATION is the largest US funder of El Salvador organizations on record, with $8M across 1 grants.
- How much do US foundations give to El Salvador?
- 65 US foundations have granted a combined $48M to organizations in El Salvador across 417 grants in the IRS filings on record.
- What do US foundations fund in El Salvador?
- The largest areas are relief & humanitarian, general & operating support, economic & community development, by the stated purpose of the grants.