Hidden Leaf Foundation is a grantmaking organization that funds left-of-center advocacy groups. Each year, it states that it gives up to $2 million to around 35 organizations. ^{1 2}

In March 2023, Hidden Leaf Foundation Executive Director Supriya Lopez Pillai announced that it would give $375,000 across five years to Climate Justice Alliance and “invest” $500,000 in its Reinvest in Our Power Campaign revolving loan fund. Lopez Pillai clarified that the “investment” is not expected to yield a return, and she claims such profitless investments in environmentalist businesses are necessary to be proactive about alleged environmental issues. ³

Background

Hidden Leaf Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation that was founded in 1988 by David Brown, co-founder of the commercial real estate development firm Reynolds and Brown, and his three daughters Karie Brown, Tara Brown, and Kristen Stinnett-Brown. Brown’s daughters “governed” Hidden Leaf Foundation until Supriya Lopez Pillai became executive director in 2018. ^{4 5}

Hidden Leaf Foundation provides grants to left-of-center advocacy organizations. ⁶ Its website states that it distributes up to $2 million in grants each year to around 35 organizations. It exclusively gives to organizations with a charitable designation or are sponsored by one. ⁷ Hidden Leaf Foundation also states that it only gives to organizations with a budget of $5 million or less. ⁸

Grantmaking

The Solutions Project is a grantee of Hidden Leaf Foundation. ⁹ It is a nonprofit advocacy group that organizes campaigns in support of environmentalist causes. Since 2019, this organization has committed to have 95 percent of its grantmaking go towards ethnic-minority led groups and 80 percent of to go towards women-led groups. ¹⁰

Essie Justice Group is a nonprofit organization that advocates for eliminating incarceration under the banner of criminal justice reform. It campaigns in support of abolishing prisons, eliminating cash bail requirements, and trains individuals to become prison “abolitionists.” ¹¹ Alongside other major left-of-center grantmakers, Hidden Leaf Foundation is listed as a partner on Essie Justice Group’s website. ¹²

Chicago Torture Justice Center is a left-of-center advocacy group that lists Hidden Leaf Foundation as a funder. This organization campaigns in support of “radical resourcing” to fund social programs for those dealing with incarceration personally or are allegedly victims of police violence. It solicits funding for childcare for people attending community meetings, for people who need assistance attending court dates, and for food for activists engaged in Chicago Torture Justice Center’s advocacy. ¹³

Financials

In 2021, Hidden Leaf Foundation reported $4.8 million in total revenue, including $2.4 million in investment income and $1.8 million in net rental income. ¹⁴ It also reported $3.3 million in total expenses, including $2.0 million in grants paid. ¹⁵

Leadership

Supriya Lopez Pillai has served as the executive director of Hidden Leaf Foundation since 2018. In 2011, she founded Vision & Ink, a consulting firm for left-of-center advocacy groups, and from 2008 to 2012, she worked as executive director for Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing. Prior to that, she worked for several global nonprofit organizations, supporting left-of-center campaigns on gender, LGBT, and abortion issues. ¹⁶

1. “Grantmaking Strategy Framework for 2022.” Hidden Leaf Foundation. Accessed October 23, 2023. https://hiddenleaf.org/grantmaking/grantmaking-overview/grantmaking-strategy-framework-for-2022-and-beyond-transformation-for-the-sake-of-building-power/.
2. “Guidance for Grant Seekers.” Hidden Leaf Foundation. Accessed October 23, 2023. https://hiddenleaf.org/grantmaking/guidance-for-grant-seekers/.
3. Lopez Pillai, Supriya. “For Real Climate Justice, Philanthropy Must Support the Front Lines, Fund Early and Fund Big.” Inside Philanthropy, March 28, 2023. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2023/3/21/for-real-climate-justice-philanthropy-must-support-the-front-lines-fund-early-and-fund-big.
4. “Overview.” Hidden Leaf Foundation. Accessed October 23, 2023. https://hiddenleaf.org/about/overview/.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Hidden Leaf Foundation. 2021. Part VIII.
6. “Grantmaking Overview.” Hidden Leaf Foundation. Accessed October 23, 2023. https://hiddenleaf.org/grantmaking/grantmaking-overview/.
7. “Guidance for Grant Seekers.” Hidden Leaf Foundation. Accessed October 23, 2023. https://hiddenleaf.org/grantmaking/guidance-for-grant-seekers/.
8. “Grantmaking Strategy Framework for 2022.” Hidden Leaf Foundation. Accessed October 23, 2023. https://hiddenleaf.org/grantmaking/grantmaking-overview/grantmaking-strategy-framework-for-2022-and-beyond-transformation-for-the-sake-of-building-power/.
9. “Our Funders.” The Solutions Project. Accessed October 23, 2023. https://thesolutionsproject.org/who-we-are/our-funders/.
10. “Grantmaking.” The Solutions Project. Accessed October 23, 2023. https://thesolutionsproject.org/what-we-do/grantmaking/.
11. “Campaign & Policy Work.” Essie Justice Group, October 15, 2022. https://essiejusticegroup.org/what-we-do/policy/.
12. “Support the Power of Women with Incarcerated Loved Ones.” Essie Justice Group, September 26, 2023. https://essiejusticegroup.org/waystogive/.
13. “Radical Resourcing.” Chicago Torture Justice Center. Accessed October 23, 2023. https://www.chicagotorturejustice.org/radicalresourcing.
14. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Hidden Leaf Foundation. 2021. Part I, lines 5-12.
15. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Hidden Leaf Foundation. 2021. Part I, lines 24-25.
16. “About Hidden Leaf.” Hidden Leaf Foundation. Accessed October 23, 2023. https://hiddenleaf.org/about/staff-board/.