PayPal Giving Fund | Inside Philanthropy

OVERVIEW: The PayPal Giving Fund supports a wide variety of causes in the United States and around the world, including health, education, the environment, LGBTQ, veterans, global development, humanitarian relief, immigrants and refugees, and community development.

IP TAKE: The PayPal Giving Fund is not a traditional funder in any sense of the word. Because PayPal acts as both an intermediary for donors and makes its own grants, it can be difficult to tell which grants come from the Giving Fund and which from its users. This funder lacks transparency in several key areas, not least of which is its own internal grantee selection process, but it does provide access to several years of financial statements at the bottom of the About page. Reach out to customer support via the PayPal contact page. However, another way to get in the door here is through the employee giving program, where it matches employee donations up to $2,500 annually. This option requires networking with a PayPal employee.

PROFILE: Established in 2011, the PayPal Giving Fund is the philanthropic arm of PayPal, the online financial company, which was created by Max Levchin, Peter Thiel, and Luke Nosek in 1998 as Confinity. The company rebranded as PayPal in 2001 after merging with X.com, a similar company created by Elon Musk and others. It is currently one of the largest corporations in the United States. The Giving Fund seeks to help “people support their favorite charities online.” It utilizes an unusual giving model in that it redistributes donations from its users to the PayPal accounts of charities that have enrolled in its giving program. It also makes its own grants, but the funding priorities and selection process for these internal grants is unclear. According to tax filings, it broadly supports health, education, the environment, LGBTQ, veterans, global development, humanitarian relief, immigrants and refugees, and community development.

Grants for Health

While the PayPal Giving Fund does not appear to have clearly defined focus areas or grant programs, tax records show that a significant amount of support goes to health, healthcare, and health-related human services organizations. Grants here invest in local, national, and global nonprofits and focus on everything from community mental health, reproductive health, and other types of local medical care to organizations addressing a wide variety of health concerns across several continents. Organizations working to prevent, treat, or increase awareness of specific diseases also see support, as do maternal health groups that work to improve the health of pregnant women and new mothers and their children, both before and after birth.

Grants for Public Health and Access

Grants in the public health space cover everything from regional hospitals and other large providers of in-patient medical care to local community clinics and medical centers to service animal providers and practitioners of alternative medicine.

• Past grantees include Black Women For Wellness, South Shore Health System, Alliance for Health Policy, Health Science Center at Brooklyn Foundation, Association of Clinical Research Professionals, Sanford Health Foundation, and American Foundation for Firearm Injury Reduction in Medicine.
• Other grantees include Canine Companions for Independence, Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, and Syrian American Medical Society-Midwest Foundation.

Grants for Neuroscience and Health Research

The fund supports a wide range of organizations focused on brain health research and treatment, as well as groups working to raise awareness and correct misconceptions concerning diseases and conditions, such as ALS, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and spinal cord and brain injuries. These grants most often go to larger national organizations; however, smaller local groups frequently see support as well. Previous grantees in this area include Hydrocephalus Association, The Brain Aneurysm Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation of Missouri & Kansas, American Parkinson Disease Association, Tourette Association of America, Head Injury Association, American Brain Foundation, Foundation for the Advancement of Autistic Persons, Autism Society of Berks County, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Foundation, and Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.

PayPal Giving also supports all kinds of cancer related organizations, including those focused on research, prevention, and treatment. Cancer grants have gone to American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, Stomp the Monster, Tell Every Amazing Lady About Ovarian Cancer Foundation, and Prayers From Maria Foundation.

Grants for Mental Health

Mental health prioritize organizations that are focused on care and treatment, as well as mental health crisis intervention services, community health, and addiction prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, and long-term lifestyle counseling.

• Grantees in mental health include Wounded Warrior Project, Black Mental Health Alliance for Education & Consultation, Safe and Sober, Mental Health America, Asian Mental Health Project, Out Foundation, Erika’s Lighthouse: A Beacon of Hope for Adolescent Depression, and Training Institute for Mental Health.
• Other mental health grantees include Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, Pelican Cove Counseling Center, Helping Hand Home for Children, Remarkable Marriage and Family Institute, PTSD Foundation of America, and Justin T Wright Suicide Prevention Initiative Depression Research Foundation.

Grants for Reproductive and Maternal Health

PayPal Giving’s grantmaking in reproductive health includes support for abortion and reproductive rights groups, in addition to conception counseling and family planning organizations.

• Past grantees here include Planned Parenthood chapters throughout the U.S., Northwest Abortion Access Fund, Carolina Abortion Fund, Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project, and Westside Family Health Center.

Support for maternal health includes funding for mother and baby healthcare, both during pregnancy and after birth. The types of groups that see support range from Groups receiving grants include those focused on neonatal health and breastfeeding advocacy.

• Grantees include Crisis Pregnancy Center of Gainesville, Harrisonburg Crisis Pregnancy Center, Boulder Pregnancy Resource Center, Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association, Chicon Pregnancy Resource Center, Agape Women’s Services, Mother and Unborn Baby Care of North Texas, The Journey to Parenthood Foundation, The Douglas County Community Health Clinic, and Western Pennsylvania Fund for Choice.

Grants for Diseases

Without clearly articulated focus areas, it can be difficult to know what PayPal Giving looks for in the groups it supports; however, it appears that the priority in disease funding goes to larger groups with the heft and resources available to make an impact. Smaller organizations receive support on a much smaller scale here than in other issue areas. Funded organizations include National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, VTLyme.org, Wake Up Narcolepsy, Dogs for Diabetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Sock-It 2 Hunter Syndrome, Foundation for Alcoholism Research, Nf2 Biosolutions, Kennedy’s Disease Association, Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts, and American Sleep Apnea Association.

Grants for Global Health

Global health grants do not demonstrate a priority for one part of the world over another and have responded to health concerns in Eastern Europe, central and South America, parts of the Caribbean, and both North and sub-Saharan Africa. Nonprofits serving parts of the Middle East and Asia have seen support as well.

• Previous grantees here include Aarogya Seva Global Health Volunteer Alliance, Haitian Health Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, Ukraine Children’s Aid Fund, Habibi International, Vision Nicaragua, Bumi Sehat Foundation International, Maasai Girls Fund, The Church of Shambhala Vajradhara Maitreya Sangha, Partners for Rural Health in the Dominican Republic, Global Midwife Response Incorporated, Ghana Health and Education Initiative, and World Telehealth Initiative.

Additionally, the fund’s global health grants support clean water around the world and see a clear connection between clean water and the overall health in a community.

• Water grantees include charity: water, Water.org, Water for South Sudan, Water First International, Water Access Now, Pure Water for The World, Innovation: Africa, and Global Water Challenge.

Grants for Education

The PayPal Giving Fund’s support for education is primarily focused on providing access to higher education for those who may be left out, funding projects at elementary, middle, and high schools, and support organizations that provide education services, such as tutoring and mentorship to both youth and adult learners.

General education grantees include organizations working in education broadly and those that may not focus exclusively on education but that operate one or more education programs. Grant recipients include the Tim Tebow Foundation, Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations, Congregation Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe, The Prison Scholar Fund, The Marine Mammal Center, The Wild Animal Sanctuary, Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, Behind Every Door Ministries, Every Child a Reader, Saddle Up and Read, and Indian Land Athletic Booster Club.

Grants for Higher Education

While many higher education grants do support institutions of higher learning throughout the United States, many more of these grants go to scholarship and education assistance funds, such as Kevin M Eidt Scholarship Fund, American Indian College Fund, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and United Negro College Fund.

Grants for K-12 Education

Primary and secondary school groups see a lot of support as well. These grants primarily go to individual schools and local school districts, with smaller numbers of grants going to education support organizations that serve students in this age group.

• Past grants have gone to Evergreen School District in Washington, Eastside College Preparatory School in California, Red Cloud Indian School in South Dakota, and Margolin Hebrew Academy-Yeshiva of the South in Tennessee.
• Support organization grantees include American Family Education, California Congress of Parents Teachers Students, and The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.

Grants for STEM Education

Without clear focus areas, it is difficult to tell how much importance the fund places on support for STEM education. Tax records show that it does make grants in this area; however, it tends to receive less support than other types of education funding.

• Many of these grants go toward promoting equity and increasing diversity in the sciences.
• Previous grantees include Python Software Foundation, Code.org, Black Girls Code Inc, Friends of Girls Academic Leadership Academy, Free Software Foundation, Hacker Initiative, Machine Intelligence Research Institute, Design With Us, Riseup Labs, Tucson Educational Empowerment for Minorities, On-Ramps to Careers, and Mathematical Association of America.

Grants for Environment, Wildlife Conservation, and Animal Rescue

Environment grants tend to focus more on the care and restoration of natural resources, supporting wildlife biodiversity, and domesticated animal welfare, rather than on environmental justice or mitigating climate change. PayPal Giving funds groups of all sizes here, from local nonprofits to larger national and international organizations, although grants for the latter tend to have more zeros.

• Environment and preservation of natural resources grantees include Sierra Club Foundation, Ocean Conservancy, National Parks Conservation Association, Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance, Environmental League of Massachusetts, Harvest Preserve Foundation, and Yosemite Foundation.
• Wildlife conservation and biodiversity grants have gone to World Wildlife Fund, North American Butterfly Association, African Wildlife Foundation, Center for Whale Research, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, and Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research Education and Conservation.
• Support for pets and domesticated animals has gone to Best Friends Animal Society, Paws Crossed Animal Rescue, Iowa Farm Sanctuary, Milos Sanctuary and Special Needs Cat Rescue, Goats of Anarchy, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), San Diego Humane Society, Karuna Horse Rescue, Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge, and American Wild Horse Conservation.

Grants for LGBTQ

The PayPal Giving Fund’s support for LGBTQ+ causes primarily centers on advocacy and policy groups and local organizations that serve communities in their geographic region.

• Previous LGBTQ grantees include The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, Encircle: LGBTQ Family and Youth Resource Center, AIDS Connecticut, Gettysburg Pride, Deaf Queer Resource Center, Rainbow Railroad USA, and Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative.
• Other grantees include Golden Rainbow of Nevada, Transgender Advocates Knowledgeable Empowering, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, and Capital Pride Alliance Incorporated.

Grants for Veterans and Miliary

The fund supports veterans and military families throughout the United States through grants to a variety of organizations focused on returning soldiers, wounded veterans, and military families of different kinds.

• Wounded soldiers are often supported with long-term assistance that includes physical, mental, and emotional healthcare.
• Returning veterans can receive job and skills training, access to education resources, wellness and lifestyle mentorship, and community integration assistance.
• Families of current service members and recently returned veterans often receive support for education, basic needs, and access to healthcare of all kinds.
• Grant recipients that support veterans and military families include Wounded Warrior Project, The Heroes Journey, Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, Freedom Dogs, Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation, Stop Soldier Suicide, Cell Phones for Soldiers, Ride for Your Flag, Active Valor, Working Dogs for Vets, Darby’s Warrior Support, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 41-1, and Operation Support our Troops.

Grants for Arts and Culture, and Arts Education

Arts and culture organizations do not see as many grants as those in other areas, but they often see significant support nevertheless. Nonprofits that broadly promote and advocate for art and artists receive the most support, as do organizations actively engaged in providing local communities with arts education. Arts grants can go to both smaller, local groups or larger, national organizations.

Many recipients of general arts grants are not focused exclusively on the arts, but they have a program or project that centers arts advocacy or arts education. Grantees that have seen significant support include Down Syndrome Society of Rhode Island, Pro Arts Inc, Made in Her Image, Light Industry Cinema Projects, Art In Action, Asian Hall of Fame, White Columns, Artists Re-envisioning Tomorrow, Vermont Center for Photography, Intersection for the Arts, Decatur Arts Alliance, Women in Animation, and Center for Indian Cultural Education.

In addition to the arts, the Giving Fund provides support to historical and cultural heritage and preservation organizations. These are typically nonprofits focused on one aspect of local history or working to preserve a culturally significant area, building, tradition. Grantees include National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, The Clan Currie Society, Honey Run Covered Bridge Association, Trout Valley Preservation and Restoration Society, Orchard Street Gatehouse Historical Association, Texas Forest Trail Region, and Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park.

Grants for Visual Arts, Music, Theater, and Dance

Visual arts groups that receive support from PayPal Giving are often museums or cultural and historical heritage organizations that have special collections or exhibits. Performing arts grants can go to any type of group that advocates for and promotes different types of artistic performances, with music, dance, and theater being the most common. Less common are grants to nonprofits that provide direct assistance to artists or performers in financial need or in a time of crisis; however, these groups see support from time to time.

• Grantees in the visual arts include Piedmont Railroad Museum & Library, Frick Art & Historical Center, Racing History Preservation Group, Colorado Computer Museum, Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum, Virginia Quilt Museum, Wentworth Military Academy Museum, African-American Museum – Bowling Green Area Inc, Lt Michael Murphy Navy Seal Museum, and Perry County Historical Museum.
• Music grants have gone to MusiCares, The ASCAP Foundation, School of Honk, The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, Save The Music Foundation, California Bluegrass Association, Seattle Jazzed, Bay Area Jazz Society, New Orleans Musicians’ Assistance Foundation, Jail Guitar Doors, Cleveland Institute of Music, Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, Boston City Singers, and Where Music Carries Us.
• Dance grants have gone to Body Traffic, Syren Modern Dance, Abundance Academy of the Arts, Bruce Wood Dance Co, Indigenous Roots, Kids Dance Outreach, Minnesota Dance Theatre & School, Pasadena Dance Theatre, Fort Lauderdale Children’s Ballet Theatre, Mannakin Theater and Dance, Ballet North Texas, Ballet in the City, and Leap of Faith Dance Company.
• Theater grants go to Atlanta Shakespeare Company, Notch Theatre Company, Chopin Theatre Productions, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Rooftop Theatre Collaborative, Pig Iron Theatre Company, G K Chesterton Theatre Company, True Colors Theatre Company, East End Special Players, Original Practice Shakespeare Festival, Chandler Youth Theatre, The Stephen Foster Drama Association, and Chemically Imbalanced Productions.

Grants for Global Development, Humanitarian and Disaster Relief, Human Rights, and Immigrants and Refugees

The Giving Fund supports development and assistance programs worldwide, especially those focused on hunger and famine relief, humanitarian and disaster response, and aid for refugees and other displaced peoples. It also makes grants to smaller, local nonprofits that work to help immigrants, refugees and other new arrivals to the United States adjust to their new communities.

• Groups in this space that have seen support include World Central Kitchen, World Food Program USA, Friends of Fondacioni Firdeus, Anoopam Mission, United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, Congregation Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe, Justice for Migrant Families, Advocates for Immigrant Survivors, Digambar Jain Sangh of Northern California, and YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit.
• Other global grants have gone to Indian Muslim Relief and Charities, American Red Cross, Selam Foundation, Arcenciel USA, All Dulles Area Muslim Society, Asian American Federation, Hope for Ukraine, International Prisoners Family Conference, Ethiopian Community Center in Sacramento, Yemeni American Society, Beit El Baraka, and Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership.

Grants for Community Development, Housing and Homelessness

PayPal Giving’s community development and human services support generally goes to groups working on community improvement and beautification projects and to organizations focused on serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness and food insecurity.

• Many of these are smaller groups that operate at the local level and serve specified populations within a clearly defined geographic area, including community foundations, neighborhood associations, and nonprofits that provide direct aid, such as homeless shelters, food banks, and other basic needs service centers.
• Grantees in this space include Keep Austin Beautiful, The Park People of Milwaukee County, Adopt One Block, Friends of Francis William Park, Neighborhood Land Power Project, Somerville Homeless Coalition, Coalition for the Homeless, Homestretch, 200 Muslim Women Who Care, Rescue Mission of Salt Lake, Metropolitan Ministries, Communities of Faith for Housing, Anacortes Family Center, The Center for the Homeless, Casa Ruby, South Coast Gospel Mission, Calvary Women’s Services, and Brooklyn Rescue Mission Urban Harvest Center.

Important Grant Details:

Grant amounts typically run between $5,000 and $5 million, but most grants remain near the lower end of that range. The fund gave over $345 million in grants in a recent year and held more than $70 million in assets.

• The Giving Fund does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding.
• Instead, it invites grantseekers to enroll with its user donation program, which allows donors to give via PayPal, eBay, and other online platforms.
• PayPal Giving acts as the intermediary and provides donors with a receipt and disburses the funds to the selected charities’ PayPal accounts.

Direct general questions to PayPal’s online contact form.

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