International giving · Africa
Which US foundations give to Kenya?
US foundations sent $1.6B to organizations in Kenya across 5,234 grants, from 470 different funders. Read from IRS 990 filings.
The short version
- 470 US foundations have made grants to Kenya, totaling $1.6B across 5,234 grants on record.
- GATES FOUNDATION (WA) is the largest US funder of Kenya organizations, with $949M.
- SEEDS OF CHANGE FOUNDATION is the most Kenya-focused funder, directing 96% of its overseas giving here.
- US giving to Kenya has fallen over the filing years on record.
The biggest funders, year by year
Each top funder of Kenya with its total, and how that giving falls across the filing years. A stronger color means more.
| Funder | '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24 | '25* | '26* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GATES FOUNDATION$949M | $69M | $84M | $107M | $104M | $102M | $140M | $150M | $194M | $0 | $0 |
| THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION$81M | $13M | $19M | $16M | $15M | $8M | $6M | $3M | $1M | $0 | $0 |
| THE WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION$70M | $3M | $6M | $6M | $5M | $6M | $12M | $15M | $17M | $0 | $0 |
| THE FORD FOUNDATION$67M | $11M | $9M | $8M | $9M | $8M | $7M | $7M | $7M | $0 | $0 |
| THE SUSAN THOMPSON BUFFETT FOUNDATION$59M | $0 | $0 | $0 | $325k | $1M | $15M | $2M | $12M | $29M | $0 |
| CONRAD N HILTON FOUNDATION$53M | $0 | $2M | $726k | $3M | $14M | $10M | $11M | $12M | $0 | $0 |
| WELLSPRING PHILANTHROPIC FUND INC$50M | $2M | $3M | $5M | $5M | $8M | $6M | $11M | $10M | $0 | $0 |
| FOUNDATION TO PROMOTE OPEN SOCIETY$18M | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3M | $3M | $3M | $5M | $4M | $0 | $0 |
| CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK$17M | $2M | $392k | $2M | $2M | $435k | $2M | $1M | $2M | $5M | $0 |
| SEEDS OF CHANGE FOUNDATION$17M | $833k | $887k | $793k | $946k | $1M | $3M | $4M | $5M | $0 | $0 |
| Mastercard Foundation$15M | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $15M | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| SEGAL FAMILY FOUNDATION INC$10M | $0 | $0 | $1M | $2M | $3M | $930k | $841k | $3M | $0 | $0 |
* 2025 onward is still arriving — 990s lag 12–24 months, so the most recent years under-report.
Top US funders of Kenya
Kenya's dedicated funders
Foundations that send most of their overseas money to Kenya — the specialists, not just the biggest checks.
What the money funds
By the stated purpose of 5,221 grants that carry one.
299 recipients
805 recipients
617 recipients
400 recipients
521 recipients
212 recipients
200 recipients
97 recipients
Largest recipients in Kenya
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.
2 US funders · 60 grants
1 US funder · 39 grants
6 US funders · 56 grants
9 US funders · 82 grants
2 US funders · 31 grants
1 US funder · 27 grants
A further $55k across 3 grants 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 Kenya.
Where the funders are
The US states home to the foundations giving to Kenya, shaded by dollars granted. Click a state.
Notable grants
The largest individual grants to Kenya on record.
Questions and answers
- Which US foundation gives the most to Kenya?
- GATES FOUNDATION is the largest US funder of Kenya organizations on record, with $949M across 693 grants.
- How much do US foundations give to Kenya?
- 470 US foundations have granted a combined $1.6B to organizations in Kenya across 5,234 grants in the IRS filings on record.
- What do US foundations fund in Kenya?
- The largest areas are food, water & agriculture, health & medicine, general & operating support, by the stated purpose of the grants.