International giving · Asia
Which US foundations give to Sri Lanka?
US foundations sent $25M to organizations in Sri Lanka across 517 grants, from 84 different funders. Read from IRS 990 filings.
The short version
- 84 US foundations have made grants to Sri Lanka, totaling $25M across 517 grants on record.
- THE LEONA M AND HARRY B HELMSLEY CHARITABLE TRUST (NY) is the largest US funder of Sri Lanka organizations, with $5M.
- TRUTH TO POWER FOUNDATION is the most Sri Lanka-focused funder, directing 38% of its overseas giving here.
- US giving to Sri Lanka has risen over the filing years on record.
The biggest funders, year by year
Each top funder of Sri Lanka 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 LEONA M AND HARRY B HELMSLEY CHARITABLE TRUST$5M | |||||||||
| THE FORD FOUNDATION$5M | |||||||||
| WIJERAMA FAMILY FOUNDATION INC$2M | |||||||||
| The Coca-Cola Foundation Inc$2M | |||||||||
| GATES FOUNDATION$2M | |||||||||
| FOUNDATION FOR A JUST SOCIETY$1M | |||||||||
| TRUTH TO POWER FOUNDATION$581k | |||||||||
| THE WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION$525k | |||||||||
| SJV AND EJ CHELVANAYAKAM FOUNDATION INC$391k | |||||||||
| THE HARITH FOUNDATION$342k | |||||||||
| HELA BIMA WORLD$326k | |||||||||
| LEVI STRAUSS FOUNDATION$326k |
* 2025 onward is still arriving — 990s lag 12–24 months, so the most recent years under-report.
Top US funders of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's dedicated funders
Foundations that send most of their overseas money to Sri Lanka — the specialists, not just the biggest checks.
What the money funds
By the stated purpose of 515 grants that carry one.
17 recipients
129 recipients
18 recipients
13 recipients
42 recipients
32 recipients
17 recipients
56 recipients
Largest recipients in Sri Lanka
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 · 6 grants
1 US funder · 9 grants
1 US funder · 6 grants
5 US funders · 12 grants
2 US funders · 4 grants
1 US funder · 2 grants
A further $20k across 2 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 Sri Lanka.
Where the funders are
The US states home to the foundations giving to Sri Lanka, shaded by dollars granted. Click a state.
Notable grants
The largest individual grants to Sri Lanka on record.
Questions and answers
- Which US foundation gives the most to Sri Lanka?
- THE LEONA M AND HARRY B HELMSLEY CHARITABLE TRUST is the largest US funder of Sri Lanka organizations on record, with $5M across 3 grants.
- How much do US foundations give to Sri Lanka?
- 84 US foundations have granted a combined $25M to organizations in Sri Lanka across 517 grants in the IRS filings on record.
- What do US foundations fund in Sri Lanka?
- The largest areas are food, water & agriculture, education & schools, general & operating support, by the stated purpose of the grants.