In recent months, the philanthropic community has faced unprecedented attacks that threaten nonprofits and free speech nationwide. But the idea that philanthropy should be viewed with suspicion is deeply misguided. The truth is that charitable work and the spirit of pluralism run deep in our country’s history.
Charitable work has always been an expression of our free speech, our values, and our shared belief in giving back. The politicization of philanthropy is a threat to nonprofits everywhere, and NVF will continue to stand up for the rights of organizations, no matter their perspective, to do the charitable work they believe strengthens communities, the United States, and the world.
Lawson Bader, CEO of DonorsTrust, made a similar point last month. He warned against “dangerous” rhetoric that “weaponize[s] philanthropy in a way that is antithetical to philanthropic freedom” and “narrows the important boundary between citizen and state.”
Each year, we view New Venture Fund’s Form 990 as more than just a reporting milestone. It’s a chance to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the collective impact we’ve built together. Our 990s are also an important part of appropriate oversight and transparency, a reminder that philanthropy operates within that “important boundary” between government and society. In addition to the data shared on our Form 990, we are also please to present our 2025 NVF Impact Report that expands on key financial data, insights into the value of fiscal sponsorship, and of course snapshots of the impact of NVF projects.
We’re proud to share the stories and results of the past year, which show what’s possible when people, ideas, and communities come together to solve problems that government alone cannot fix or that go beyond the role of government.
At New Venture Fund, we do this through our operating model of fiscal sponsorship, which is at the heart of our work. Working with NVF allows community leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists to focus on their missions while we handle the administrative, financial, and compliance infrastructure that helps them grow responsibly and sustainably.
This model transforms good ideas into effective, lasting initiatives, empowering innovators to act quickly, scale thoughtfully, and drive measurable progress. Through this approach, we’ve helped hundreds of projects improve public health, expand economic and educational opportunities, protect the environment and natural resources, and make communities more resilient.
This year alone, New Venture Fund provided nearly $460 million in grants to almost 1,200 organizations across 49 states and territories and reaching every region around the world.
For instance, we supported Young Futures, a project helping teens and the adults who guide them find balance in an increasingly digital world. Young Futures supports initiatives designed to bolster both digital literacy and mental well-being, while strengthening a nationwide network of trusted adults and programs co-created with youth to guide the next generation through the digital age.
Creating opportunities for young people also means caring for their physical health and confidence. The Type 1 Diabetes Camps Project makes it possible for kids with T1D from low-income families to attend summer camps where they learn, connect, and have fun. NVF helps coordinate grants, support camp leaders, and strengthen a network that’s giving young people a sense of belonging.
Our work is also about reimagining and transforming environments. In Norwalk, Connecticut, NVF helped kick off the transformation of a decommissioned power plant into a waterfront park called Manresa Wilds. The project will reconnect the community to nearly two miles of shoreline along Long Island Sound. NVF helped the effort take root by serving as its initial fiscal sponsor, allowing work to begin quickly. When it opens, Manresa Wilds will offer spaces for activity and ecological learning, turning a once-polluted industrial site into a symbol of renewal and possibility.
Together, these partners represent philanthropy at its best.
Philanthropy remains one of our nation’s greatest strengths, filling the gaps that government can’t address and empowering people from every background to invest in innovation, service, and progress. At its core, philanthropy rests on the simple but powerful belief that when communities have the tools and resources they need, they can rise to meet great challenges.
Read the 2025 New Venture Fund Impact Report here or our 2024 Form 990 here for a window into the work we are doing to make the world a more just, equitable, and sustainable place.
