The Libra Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation that supports left-of-center advocacy organizations in the United States and around the world. Its funding priorities include left-of-center social policy, immigration, abortion, and the environment. Notable recipients of large Libra Foundation grants include the ACLU Foundation, the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, Earthrights International, Drug Policy Alliance, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Center for Reproductive Rights, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. ¹

It is the principal philanthropic vehicle for Nicholas Pritzker and his wife Susan. Pritzker is a billionaire member of the Pritzker political family that made its money through the Hyatt hotels chain. ²

Background

Since its founding in 2002, the Libra Foundation has donated millions of dollars to hundreds of left-progressive advocacy organizations. ^{3 4} Serving as the philanthropic-vehicle of billionaire-philanthropists Nicholas and Susan Pritzker, and their four children, the Libra Foundation funds social justice and drug policy, environmentalist policy, and LGBT interests. ^{5 6} In 2019, the Pritzker family appointed a new executive director of the Libra Foundation that will help the organization transition into a so-called “Libra 2.0.”. ^{7 8}

Major Grant Areas

With over 230 grantees as of December 2019, the Libra Foundation has doled out $76 million to support left-progressivism since its inception. ⁹ The Libra Foundation claims its main priority is supporting grassroots startups, but large, well-established, organizations have received more funding in recent years. ¹⁰

Opposed to the political influence levied by business and money, the foundation backs various labor unions and union-aligned advocacy groups, including National Domestic Workers Alliance and the Working World. It also supports left-of-center news outlets such as Mother Jones, New Media Ventures, and the Center for Investigative Reporting. ¹¹

Liberal Social Policy and Immigration

The foundation has given more money to left-progressive “social justice” organizations than any other area, a total of nearly $38 million since 2011. A sizeable portion of its social justice funding has gone to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Drug Policy Alliance, and other large organizations. ¹²

In response to the Trump administration’s intensified efforts to curb illegal immigration, the Libra Foundation has enhanced its funding of liberal expansionist immigration groups. ¹³

Abortion

The Libra Foundation has ramped-up its funding of abortion providers and activists since President Trump took office. By the first half of 2019 alone, the group had already spent $550,000 combatting new abortion restrictions in some Southern states, the money flowing to groups such as Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Center for Reproductive Rights. ¹⁴

Environment

In 2019, the foundation set aside $12.7 million for environmental causes. It currently focuses on conservation efforts and what it calls “environmental justice” initiatives. ¹⁵

Race

The Libra Foundation was one of the original donors to fund the creation of the California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF) at the end of 2020. The CBFF is a left-of-center grantmaking organization that funds California-based groups that seek to eliminate what it perceives as systemic racism. It used funding from the original donors to provide grants that went towards advocacy for targeted redistricting, so-called racial equity, and the firing of who it determines are racist police officers. ¹⁶

Financials

According to public records from 2017, the Libra Foundation has approximately $334 million in total assets on hand. ¹⁷ Meanwhile, the foundation’s annual grants and contributions amount to nearly $16 million. ¹⁸

Leadership

Nicholas Pritzker serves as chairman and CEO of the Libra Foundation, while his wife, Susan Pritzker, serves as vice president. Crystal Hayling, executive director of the Libra Foundation, joined the organization in 2017. ¹⁹ Prior to joining Libra, Hayling fought to expand government control and provision of health care in California as CEO of the Blue Shield of California Foundation. ^{20 21}

1. Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the IRS. Queries conducted January 8, 2020.
2. “Nicholas Pritzker.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine. Accessed January 8, 2020. https://www.forbes.com/profile/nicholas-pritzker/#49ab533d59d6.
3. “The Libra Foundation.” GuideStar. Accessed November 11, 2019. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/30-0031117.
4. Rojc, Philip. “Inside the Libra Foundation: How a Branch of the Pritzker Family Backs Movement Building.” Inside Philanthropy. October 22, 2018. Accessed November 2, 2019. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2018/10/22/inside-the-libra-foundation-how-a-branch-of-the-pritzker-family-backs-movement-building.
5. Rojc, Philip. “Inside the Libra Foundation: How a Branch of the Pritzker Family Backs Movement Building.” Inside Philanthropy. October 22, 2018. Accessed November 2, 2019. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2018/10/22/inside-the-libra-foundation-how-a-branch-of-the-pritzker-family-backs-movement-building.
6. “Nicholas Pritzker, II.” Forbes. October 2, 2019. Accessed December 5, 2019. https://www.forbes.com/profile/nicholas-pritzker-ii/.
7. “About Us.” The Libra Foundation. Accessed November 2, 2019. https://www.thelibrafoundation.org/about/.
8. Williams, Tate. “How One of the Country’s Wealthiest Families Is Linking Up Climate and Justice.” Inside Philanthropy. January 14, 2015. Accessed November 18, 2019. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2015/1/14/how-one-of-the-countrys-wealthiest-families-is-linking-up-cl.html.
9. “Grantees.” The Libra Foundation. Accessed November 2, 2019. https://www.thelibrafoundation.org/grantees/.
10. Rojc, Philip. “Inside the Libra Foundation: How a Branch of the Pritzker Family Backs Movement Building.” Inside Philanthropy. October 22, 2018. Accessed November 2, 2019. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2018/10/22/inside-the-libra-foundation-how-a-branch-of-the-pritzker-family-backs-movement-building.
11. Rojc, Philip. “Inside the Libra Foundation: How a Branch of the Pritzker Family Backs Movement Building.” Inside Philanthropy. October 22, 2018. Accessed November 2, 2019. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2018/10/22/inside-the-libra-foundation-how-a-branch-of-the-pritzker-family-backs-movement-building.
12. Rojc, Philip. “Inside the Libra Foundation: How a Branch of the Pritzker Family Backs Movement Building.” Inside Philanthropy. October 22, 2018. Accessed November 2, 2019. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2018/10/22/inside-the-libra-foundation-how-a-branch-of-the-pritzker-family-backs-movement-building.
13. Kappe, Laurie. “$350,000 in Grants Approved in Response to Family Separation at the Border.” The Libra Foundation, August 15, 2018. Accessed December 28, 2019. https://www.thelibrafoundation.org/2018/08/350000-in-grants-approved-in-response-to-family-separation-at-the-border/.
14. “Grantees.” The Libra Foundation. Accessed November 2, 2019. https://www.thelibrafoundation.org/grantees/.
15. “Program Areas.” The Libra Foundation. Accessed January 7, 2020. https://www.thelibrafoundation.org/program-areas/.
16. California Black Freedom Fund, February 4, 2021. https://cablackfreedomfund.org/#partners.
17. The Libra Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF). 2017.
18. The Libra Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF). 2017.

19. Nakae, Maria. “‘Changing Course’ Award For Incorporating Feedback: The Libra Foundation.” National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. 2019. Accessed November 18, 2019. https://www.ncrp.org/initiatives/ncrp-impact-awards/past-ncrp-impact-awards-winners/2019-ncrp-impact-award-winners/the-libra-foundation.
20. “About Crystal Hayling.” Crystal Hayling, November 3, 2009. Accessed November 26, 2019. https://crystalhayling.com/about/.
21. Williams, Tate. “How One of the Country’s Wealthiest Families Is Linking Up Climate and Justice.” Inside Philanthropy. January 14, 2015. Accessed November 18, 2019. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2015/1/14/how-one-of-the-countrys-wealthiest-families-is-linking-up-cl.html.