PLOUGHSHARES FOUNDATION
Annual Giving
$3.5M+2% YoY
Grants
367
Median Grant
$5K
Organizations Funded
203
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Foundation Overview
Mission
To eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons by promoting and funding patient-focused research. The largest foundation singularly focused on reducing this danger, growing and amplifying the impact of the most effective advocates and organizations in the world through critical funding and trusted field building support.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
$10 million Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Initiative from US Department of Defense; Infantile Spasms Initiative; Nuclear Legacy Week conference support; Jeffrey Lewis research on North Korea and China nuclear activities; National Committee on North Korea outreach; Beyond the Bomb initiative
How to Apply
Contact Program team prior to submitting grant proposal to ensure it meets areas of interest. Staff can make discretionary grants up to $50,000 between board meetings for urgent projects. Encourages prospective applicants to contact their Program team.
Does Not Fund
Very few restrictions on grantmaking. No geographical limitations. Able to fund direct lobbying programs. Makes grants to individuals.
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$3.5M
Grants
367
Median
$5K
States
29
$3.5M
Grants
369
Median
$5K
States
30
$3.4M
Grants
374
Median
$5K
States
30
Grant Size Distribution
$5K
Typical Grant (Median)
$999
Smallest
$3K
25th Pctile
$10K
75th Pctile
$85K
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $3K and $10K.
Largest Recent Grants
$85K
2024
PARTNERS IN HEALTH
MA · $50,000 FOR WORK IN HAITI AND MEXICO
$75K
2024
LENNY ZAKIM FUND
MA · YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY AND ILLNESS
$75K
2024
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
MD · FOR AID TO GAZA, THE WEST BANK, AND ISRAEL AND FOR WORK ALONG THE US/MEXICO BORDER
$60K
2024
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE
MN · FOR CRISIS WORK IN GAZA AND ISRAEL AND FOR AID AND WORK WITH AFGHANS WORLDWIDE
$60K
2024
EARLHAM COLLEGE
IN · $40,000 FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS; $20,000 FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.