International giving · Africa
Which US foundations give to South Africa?
US foundations sent $1.4B to organizations in South Africa across 4,503 grants, from 409 different funders. Read from IRS 990 filings.
The short version
- 409 US foundations have made grants to South Africa, totaling $1.4B across 4,503 grants on record.
- GATES FOUNDATION (WA) is the largest US funder of South Africa organizations, with $682M.
- THE KRESGE FOUNDATION is the most South Africa-focused funder, directing 98% of its overseas giving here.
- US giving to South Africa has fallen over the filing years on record.
The biggest funders, year by year
Each top funder of South Africa 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$682M | $40M | $47M | $42M | $65M | $87M | $114M | $154M | $132M | $0 | $0 |
| THE FORD FOUNDATION$136M | $12M | $15M | $15M | $18M | $14M | $18M | $20M | $23M | $0 | $0 |
| OPEN DOORS INTERNATIONAL INC$87M | $8M | $6M | $7M | $8M | $12M | $16M | $16M | $14M | $0 | $0 |
| HOWARD G BUFFETT FOUNDATION$55M | $0 | $55M | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Michael & Susan Dell Foundation$46M | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $11M | $11M | $12M | $11M | $0 | $0 |
| FOUNDATION TO PROMOTE OPEN SOCIETY$45M | $0 | $0 | $0 | $12M | $12M | $7M | $8M | $6M | $0 | $0 |
| THE ANDREW W MELLON FOUNDATION$34M | $12M | $10M | $7M | $291k | $450k | $0 | $3M | $2M | $0 | $0 |
| WELLSPRING PHILANTHROPIC FUND INC$30M | $2M | $3M | $5M | $3M | $4M | $4M | $4M | $5M | $0 | $0 |
| CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK$30M | $2M | $4M | $2M | $6M | $885k | $3M | $4M | $3M | $4M | $0 |
| THE SUSAN THOMPSON BUFFETT FOUNDATION$27M | $107k | $126k | $0 | $116k | $0 | $0 | $4M | $22M | $1000k | $0 |
| CHARLES STEWART MOTT FOUNDATION$24M | $4M | $5M | $2M | $3M | $3M | $3M | $3M | $2M | $0 | $0 |
| THE WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION$24M | $2M | $3M | $2M | $3M | $2M | $3M | $4M | $4M | $0 | $0 |
* 2025 onward is still arriving — 990s lag 12–24 months, so the most recent years under-report.
Top US funders of South Africa
South Africa's dedicated funders
Foundations that send most of their overseas money to South Africa — the specialists, not just the biggest checks.
What the money funds
By the stated purpose of 4,495 grants that carry one.
559 recipients
729 recipients
648 recipients
109 recipients
48 recipients
437 recipients
229 recipients
208 recipients
Largest recipients in South Africa
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.
38 US funders · 602 grants
5 US funders · 189 grants
1 US funder · 8 grants
2 US funders · 57 grants
1 US funder · 4 grants
1 US funder · 35 grants
Who funds whom
The largest funder-to-recipient ties — which US foundation backs which organization in South Africa.
Where the funders are
The US states home to the foundations giving to South Africa, shaded by dollars granted. Click a state.
Notable grants
The largest individual grants to South Africa on record.
Questions and answers
- Which US foundation gives the most to South Africa?
- GATES FOUNDATION is the largest US funder of South Africa organizations on record, with $682M across 841 grants.
- How much do US foundations give to South Africa?
- 409 US foundations have granted a combined $1.4B to organizations in South Africa across 4,503 grants in the IRS filings on record.
- What do US foundations fund in South Africa?
- The largest areas are health & medicine, research & science, general & operating support, by the stated purpose of the grants.