International giving · Africa
Which US foundations give to Sierra Leone?
US foundations sent $107M to organizations in Sierra Leone across 179 grants, from 48 different funders. Read from IRS 990 filings.
The short version
- 48 US foundations have made grants to Sierra Leone, totaling $107M across 179 grants on record.
- THE SUSAN THOMPSON BUFFETT FOUNDATION (NE) is the largest US funder of Sierra Leone organizations, with $68M.
- CATALYST FOR PEACE is the most Sierra Leone-focused funder, directing 98% of its overseas giving here.
- US giving to Sierra Leone has risen over the filing years on record.
The biggest funders, year by year
Each top funder of Sierra Leone with its total, and how that giving falls across the filing years — darker means more.
| '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24 | '25* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE SUSAN THOMPSON BUFFETT FOUNDATION$68M | |||||||||
| WORLD CHILDRENS FUND$22M | |||||||||
| THE ROCKDALE FOUNDATION INC$5M | |||||||||
| TENACRE FOUNDATION$2M | |||||||||
| GATES FOUNDATION$2M | |||||||||
| WELLSPRING PHILANTHROPIC FUND INC$1M | |||||||||
| Global GLOW$953k | |||||||||
| THE VIBRANT VILLAGE FOUNDATION$945k | |||||||||
| CHARLES STEWART MOTT FOUNDATION$890k | |||||||||
| THE ROYER FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION$666k | |||||||||
| CATALYST FOR PEACE$553k | |||||||||
| MULAGO FOUNDATION$550k |
* 2025 onward is still arriving — 990s lag 12–24 months, so the most recent years under-report.
Top US funders of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone's dedicated funders
Foundations that send most of their overseas money to Sierra Leone — the specialists, not just the biggest checks.
What the money funds
By the stated purpose of 179 grants that carry one.
14 recipients
22 recipients
28 recipients
14 recipients
14 recipients
11 recipients
9 recipients
4 recipients
Largest recipients in Sierra Leone
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 · 5 grants
1 US funder · 3 grants
1 US funder · 8 grants
2 US funders · 9 grants
1 US funder · 5 grants
1 US funder · 6 grants
Who funds whom
The largest funder-to-recipient ties — which US foundation backs which organization in Sierra Leone.
Where the funders are
The US states home to the foundations giving to Sierra Leone, shaded by dollars granted. Click a state.
Notable grants
The largest individual grants to Sierra Leone on record.
Questions and answers
- Which US foundation gives the most to Sierra Leone?
- THE SUSAN THOMPSON BUFFETT FOUNDATION is the largest US funder of Sierra Leone organizations on record, with $68M across 3 grants.
- How much do US foundations give to Sierra Leone?
- 48 US foundations have granted a combined $107M to organizations in Sierra Leone across 179 grants in the IRS filings on record.
- What do US foundations fund in Sierra Leone?
- The largest areas are health & medicine, food, water & agriculture, education & schools, by the stated purpose of the grants.