King Baudouin Foundation United States (KBFUS) is the American branch of the King Baudouin Foundation (KBF), an international grantmaking foundation based in Brussels, Belgium. It provides grants to left-of-center organizations, operates donor-advised funds, and allows such organizations to raise tax-deductible donations from foreign donors. 1
The Institute for Human Sciences, an Austrian-based humanities educational organization associated with billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros, fundraises from its American supporters through KBFUS. 2
Background
King Baudouin Foundation United States was founded in 2002. Based in New York City, it is the American branch of the King Baudouin Foundation, a grantmaker dedicated to “democracy” and “diversity” in European countries and abroad. 1
The King Baudouin Foundation was founded in 1976 and runs initiatives in Africa such as the Africa Prize. It also helped establish the European Foundation Center, the Network of European Foundations, the European Venture Philanthropy Association, and Transnational Giving Europe. 31 It is a partner of the European Policy Center. KBF also serves as a philanthropic advisor to individuals and corporations that seek to contribute to communities. 1
Activities
King Baudouin Foundation runs two annual Signature Programs: “the Art of Science and Fundraising” and “Spotlight African Innovators.” They are participatory “full-immersion” conventions for professionals and philanthropists. Participation is by invitation only and the Foundation considers the sessions “intensive.” 4
The Art and Science of Fundraising invites members from European and African universities and cultural institutions to study how to implement more successful development strategies. It hosts discussion panels with New York fundraising professionals to inform invitees on strategic planning, trustee involvement, prospect identification, donor cultivation, capital campaigns, and planned giving. 5
Spotlight African Innovators is a convention that highlights the work of significant creative partners from Africa with the goal of uniting them with interested investors and philanthropists. In alternate years, KBFUS also celebrates the winner of the Africa Prize, one of its parent groups’ initiatives, that awards winners €200,000 and connections with donors, bringing them on a roadshow in the United States to raise awareness for their issue and organization. 6
Funding
KBFUS has facilitated at least $130 million in grants since roughly 2019. 1 It runs the “American Friends Fund,” a fund for foreign nonprofits to receive tax-deductible gifts from institutions and individuals in the United States. KBFUS charges a management fee on all contributions. 7
The Institute for Human Sciences, an Austrian-based humanities educational organization associated with billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros, fundraises from its American supporters through KBFUS. 8
In 2020, KBFUS had a total revenue of $56,677,232, total expenses of $57,245,460, and net assets of $29,883,8240 according to its tax returns. 9
According to its tax returns, KBFUS dedicated $46,988,712 to European recipients, $6,963,813 to Sub-Saharan African recipients, $1,076,114 to Middle Eastern and North African recipients, $174,439 to North American recipients outside the U.S., $15,830 to East Asian and Pacific recipients, and $50,000 to Russia and neighboring recipients. 10
Leadership
As of October 2022, Jean Paul Warmoes was the executive director of KBFUS. He is a former director of the King Baudouin Foundation. Its board is chaired by Thomas Leysen, the chairman of Umicore and Mediahuis, a European publishing group, and the chair of the supervisory board of Royal DSM. On the investment committee, Ahmed Fahmin of Alapointe Capital served as chair, with other members hailing from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Fiduciary Trust International. 11
To support the World Health Organization to strengthen health systems to deliver and monitor services that support nurturing care for young children and to ensure global validity of the Global Scale for Early Development.
for the World Health Organization, fiscally sponsored by Myriad USA, Inc., to strengthen national health systems in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique and scale the Global Scale for Early Development measurement tool to improve child development outcomes
To strengthen the capacity of nine high-risk countries in the African region to respond to coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, through interventions addressing risk communication, infection protection and control, case management, and surveillance by WHO-aFRO.
to strengthen health systems to deliver and monitor services that support nurturing care for early childhood development.
$6,738,219
2025
Children's Hospital Foundation
to enhance the hospital's facilities to advance patients' experience.
$6,668,884
2022
Fonds Recherche Neurosciences
to fund research initiatives in the field of neurosciences, to help accelerate our understanding of the nervous system and the diseases that affect it.
$6,530,234
2022
King Baudouin Foundation
for the Erie Fund, to support initiatives globally in the fields of mental health, human suffering, and living conditions in prisons.
$6,397,200
2022
King Baudouin Foundation
for the Erie Fund, to support initiatives globally in the fields of mental health, human suffering, and living conditions in prisons.
$6,036,471
2025
Fondation Mansart – Parcs Et Demeures De France
to support arts and culture.
$5,437,510
2025
Rmf – Richard Mille Fund
to promote research in neuroscience.
$5,005,500
2022
King Baudouin Foundation
for the Erie Fund, to support initiatives globally in the fields of mental health, human suffering, and living conditions in prisons.
to strengthen health systems, support early childhood development and perinatal mental health worldwide.
$4,909,503
2025
Rmf – Richard Mille Fund
to promote research in neuroscience.
$4,804,443
2022
Foundation in Support of Who
to provide urgent medical assistance for the most vulnerable people affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
$4,504,000
2023
Fonds Recherche Neurosciences
to fund research initiatives in the field of neurosciences, to help accelerate our understanding of the nervous system and the diseases that affect it.
$4,278,400
2023
Domaine National de Chambord
to support the restoration of the chateau's six dome lanterns, ensuring their structural stability and recreating and replacing their lost ornamentation.
$4,000,000
2025
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
to support the development and advancement of innovative melanoma cell therapy research from the lab to clinical trials.
$3,973,865
2023
Fonds Recherche Neurosciences
to fund research initiatives in the field of neurosciences, to help accelerate our understanding of the nervous system and the diseases that affect it.
$3,968,000
2025
King Baudouin Foundation
for its Luc Walter Fund which will support young lyric talents.
$3,968,000
2024
Albert de la Chapelles Konststiftelse
to establish a new wing of the Ekenas Museum, for the presentation of high-quality art in the province of Western Nyland, Finland.
$3,906,995
2023
Fonds Recherche Neurosciences
to enhance research in the field of neuroscience by supporting Paris Brain Institute's efforts to develop international collaborations with research centers worldwide.
$3,458,000
2022
Vision Catalyst Fund
for its efforts to improve eye health globally by providing glasses and lenses and funding vision programs that focus on system change.
$3,293,000
2020
King Baudouin Foundation
for the Erie Fund, to support nonprofit initiatives working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response in France, Belgium and other countries, providing medical care or social services to the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and poor. – COVID-19
$3,293,000
2020
King Baudouin Foundation
For the Erie Fund, To support nonprofit initiatives working on the frontlines of the coronavirus/COVID-19 response in France, Belgium and other countries, providing medical care or social services to the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and poor.
$3,202,010
2024
King Baudouin Foundation
for the Erie Fund, to support initiatives globally in the fields of mental health, human suffering, and living conditions in prisons.
$3,197,010
2020
Albert de la Chapelles Konststiftelse
to fund the construction of a new wing of the Ekenas Museum, for the presentation of high-quality art in the province of Western Nyland, Finland. – COVID-19
9. King Baudouin Foundation United States, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2020. Part I. Lines 12, 18, 22.
10. King Baudouin Foundation United States, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2020. Schedule F, Part I, 3 – Activities per Region.
