International giving · Americas
Which US foundations give to Nicaragua?
US foundations sent $14M to organizations in Nicaragua across 209 grants, from 43 different funders. Read from IRS 990 filings.
The short version
- 43 US foundations have made grants to Nicaragua, totaling $14M across 209 grants on record.
- MARK & KATHRYN FORD FAMILY (FL) is the largest US funder of Nicaragua organizations, with $2M.
- That is about $2 per resident across all years on file, for a country the World Bank classes as lower middle income.
- WINDS OF PEACE FOUNDATION is the most Nicaragua-focused funder, directing 100% of its overseas giving here.
- US giving to Nicaragua has risen over the filing years on record.
The biggest funders, year by year
Each top funder of Nicaragua with its total, and how that giving falls across the filing years — darker means more.
| '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARK & KATHRYN FORD FAMILY$2M | ||||||||
| CTG FOUNDATION$2M | ||||||||
| WELLSPRING PHILANTHROPIC FUND INC$1M | ||||||||
| THE FORD FOUNDATION$1M | ||||||||
| Project 14 Global Missions$1M | ||||||||
| WINDS OF PEACE FOUNDATION$921k | ||||||||
| FOUNDATION FOR A JUST SOCIETY$825k | ||||||||
| The Mano En Mano Charitable Foundation$684k | ||||||||
| GREATER IMPACT FOUNDATION$550k | ||||||||
| FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF$496k | ||||||||
| Rogers Charitable Fund$401k | ||||||||
| ARCUS FOUNDATION$270k |
* 2025 onward is still arriving — 990s lag 12–24 months, so the most recent years under-report.
Top US funders of Nicaragua
Nicaragua's dedicated funders
Foundations that send most of their overseas money to Nicaragua — the specialists, not just the biggest checks.
What the money funds
By the kind of organization receiving the money — universities, hospitals, research institutes, and so on.
2 recipients
1 recipient
3 recipients
3 recipients
2 recipients
Largest recipients in Nicaragua
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.
6 US funders · 20 grants
1 US funder · 3 grants
1 US funder · 4 grants
1 US funder · 5 grants
1 US funder · 5 grants
1 US funder · 4 grants
Who funds whom
The largest funder-to-recipient ties — which US foundation backs which organization in Nicaragua.
Where the funders are
The US states home to the foundations giving to Nicaragua, shaded by dollars granted. Click a state.
Notable grants
The largest individual grants to Nicaragua on record.
Questions and answers
- Which US foundation gives the most to Nicaragua?
- MARK & KATHRYN FORD FAMILY is the largest US funder of Nicaragua organizations on record, with $2M across 7 grants.
- How much do US foundations give to Nicaragua?
- 43 US foundations have granted a combined $14M to organizations in Nicaragua across 209 grants in the IRS filings on record, about $2 per resident.
- What do US foundations fund in Nicaragua?
- The largest areas are arts & culture, health & medicine, economic & community development, by the kind of organization receiving the money.