Bob Woodruff Foundation (or Bob Woodruff Family Foundation) is a private grantmaking organization that primarily gives to veteran causes. It was founded by ABC reporter Bob Woodruff and his family after he sustained traumatic brain injury while covering the Iraq War.
The foundation does not solely give money to veterans’ causes. It has also given money to groups like environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) practice Nationswell, tech equity nonprofit NPower, and the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC).
In March 2022, MacKenzie Scott announced she had given $3,863,125,000 to 465 organizations since June 2021, with the Bob Woodruff Foundation among the recipients. 1
Background
Covering the January 2006 transfer of power between American and Iraqi security forces as a reporter for ABC’s “World News Tonight,” journalist Bob Woodruff was riding in an armored vehicle in the region when it was struck by a roadside bomb. Woodruff received a life-threatening traumatic brain injury. His wife, Lee, quickly assumed the role of caregiver for her injured husband. 2
During the time Bob was in a coma, Lee came to know the families of service members suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and depression. When Bob recovered, their family decided to take up philanthropic work for veterans. 2
Activities
Bob Woodruff Foundation specializes in aid for injured veterans, raising money for and donating to veterans, their families, and veteran caregivers. 2 As of 2022, the foundation claimed it had invested $124,000,000 into related programs, amounting to over 585 grants and 12,000,000 veterans and families aided. 3
The foundation does not solely give money to veteran causes. It has also given money to groups like environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) practice Nationswell, tech equity nonprofit NPower, and the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC). 4
Funding
In 2020, the Bob Woodruff Foundation had a total revenue of $9,841,207, total expenses of $13,894,483, and net assets of $17,723,459. In 2019, it had a total revenue $20,205,011, total expenses of $12,530,136, and net assets of $21,779,932. 5
Bob Woodruff Foundation’s past donors have included Alpha-Omega Charitable Foundation, the Amherst Foundation, Ann G. and James B. Ritchey Foundation, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard Family Foundation, Deborah Elkins Foundation, Evan and Tracy Segal Family Foundation, Half Moon Foundation, Rubenstein Family Trust, the Manowitz and Drillings Family Foundation, Morrissey Family Foundation, Sobel Family Supporting Foundation, Theodore Cross Family Charitable Foundation, Thrill Hill Foundation, and Weinberger Family Foundation. 6
In 2022 and 2025 the Bob Woodruff Foundation received a grant from Yield Giving, MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic initiative started in 2022. Scott is the former wife of Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos and gave over $7.16 billion to various organizations in 2025. 71
All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:
Total Grant Value:$125,860,018
Number of Grants:689
Number of Funders:281
Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:
Amount
Year
Funder
Subject
$20,000,000
2025
MacKenzie Scott
MacKenzie Scott made an unrestricted grant of $20 million to Bob Woodruff Foundation. The Bob Woodruff Foundation ensures that our nation's veterans, service members, and their families have stable and successful futures.
Mackenzie Scott made an unrestricted grant of $15 million to Bob Woodruff Foundation to accelerate the impact and resources available for the military and veteran community. Funding will be used to expedite its efforts and role as a global leader in high-impact philanthropic investment for veterans, their families, and caregivers.
URGENT NEEDS SUPPORT TO VETERANS AND MILITARY-CONNECTED FAMILIES IN MAUI
$885,000
2024
Move United
ADAPTIVE SPORTS; USAWFL ALL-STAR GAME
$846,650
2023
Move United
USA WHEELCHAIR FOOTBALL LEAGUE; CHAMPIONSHIP GAME; EFFORTS SUPPORTING SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS IN KANSAS CITY
$600,000
2024
The University of Texas Foundation Inc
CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH
$503,000
2022
Move United
1) EXPAND AND SUPPORT A SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GIVES AT LEAST 125 VETERANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH BY PARTICIPATING IN WHEELCHAIR FOOTBALL IN MOVE UNITED CHAPTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND 2) PROVIDE TRAINING TO AT LEAST 100 ADAPTIVE SPORTS STAFF, INSTRUCTORS, AND VOLUNTEERS TO ENSURE VETERANS EXPERIENCE HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMMING FROM LOCAL CHAPTERS
$500,800
2024
University of Florida Foundation, Inc.
PHYSICAL HEALTH
$455,000
2023
The University of Texas Foundation Inc
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES — STRONG STAR TRAINING INITIATIVE; STRONG FAMILIES
$428,393
2020
UT Health San Antonio
STRONG STAR TRAINING INITIATIVE: GULF COAST EXPANSION
$428,000
2024
Volunteers of America of Florida, Inc
HOUSING SERVICES; DISASTER RELIEF
$426,250
2021
Move United
STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING THE USA WHEELCHAIR FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND VETERAN OUTREACH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Bob Woodruff Family Foundation. 2020. Schedule I, Part II, Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Bob Woodruff Family Foundation. 2020. Part I, “Current Year” lines 12, 18, 22; “Prior Year” lines 12, 18, 22.
