Grant Details

The Foundation supports leaders and institutions working to achieve a biologically rich, sustainable world where all families can plan for their children and all children reach their potential. The foundation works on the issues our founders cared about most. They also invest in efforts to learn from our work and increase the impact of our investments through targeted evaluation and communications grants.

The foundation is currently funding programs under the following categories:

1. Climate Change - In partnership with other funders, the Packard Foundation has invested in the ClimateWorks Foundation and their network of hundreds of non-profit organizations worldwide. Together, they are focused on proven and emerging mitigation strategies that will make the biggest difference.
2. Children, Families, and Communities - The Packard Foundation aims to help children have a strong start in life by ensuring that all the adults in their lives are equipped with the best information, coaching, resources, and support they need to help the children in their care grow and thrive.
3. Reproductive Health - The Reproductive Health program is committed to promoting reproductive health and rights, with a focus on high quality information and services. The Packard Foundation places a special emphasis on engaging and serving youth, and they believe that young people have the best potential for building and sustaining a movement of change.
4. The Ocean - Creating positive, lasting change will not be easy, but it is possible. For half a century, the Packard Foundation has made investments to expand our understanding of the ocean and has worked with partners to improve its long-term health. They continue to invest in countries and global strategies that help improve our ocean's sustainability.
5. Local Grantmaking - The Local Grantmaking Program supports grantees across the five contiguous counties of San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey to create communities where everyone has access to the resources and services they need to be strong, resilient, and have opportunities to explore, grow, and thrive.
6. Conservation and Science - The Packard Foundation supports creative, timely research to spark fresh thinking and produce effective, innovative solutions. In addition, we have a longstanding commitment to supporting institutions that use the power of science to generate new knowledge about our Earth's natural systems and communicate that knowledge to the public.
7. Land Conservation - Since its inception, the Packard Foundation has supported land conservation in the North American West. Over the years, the Foundation has supported a wide range of activities to protect these special landscapes—including scientific research, policy research, advocacy, building capacity of organizations engaged in this work, and supporting the purchase of critical lands or easements protecting those lands.
8. Agriculture, Livelihoods, and Conservation - Building upon years of exploratory grantmaking, research, and engagement with local communities, the Packard Foundation are exploring solutions that balance agricultural economic opportunities with environmental sustainability through the Agriculture, Livelihoods, and Conservation strategy. Our work builds on the Foundation's experience with climate and land use, and our work in reproductive health.
9. Organizational Effectiveness - In collaboration with grantee partners, Foundation program staff, and external experts, OE develops capacity building cohorts that support groups of leaders and organizations. These cohorts provide participants with opportunities to strengthen individual skills and organizations, as well as build the collaborative relationships that are key to achieving greater impact as a field or movement.