The Loud Hound Foundation is a San Francisco-based left-of-center grantmaking foundation. 1
William Moritz is the president of the Loud Hound Foundation. His father, venture capital billionaire and Sequoia Capital director Michael Moritz, is the Loud Hound Foundation’s secretary and treasurer. 2 3 4
History and Leadership
Loud Hound Foundation was founded in 2017. In July 2017, the foundation received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. 5
William Moritz is the president of the Loud Hound Foundation. His father, venture capital billionaire and Sequoia Capital director Michael Moritz, is Loud Hound Foundation’s secretary and treasurer. 4 3 4 Melissa Narula and Wendy Yu Einhorn are the foundation’s other officers. 6
Activities
The Loud Hound Foundation is a San Francisco-based private grantmaking foundation that primarily funds New York- and San Francisco-based nonprofits with five-and six-figure grants. 4
In 2022, the Loud Hound Foundation paid left-of-center philanthropic advisory firm Arabella Advisors $208,667 for philanthropy advisory services. 6That same year, Loud Hound Foundation gave grants of $5,000,000 to the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, $3,100,000 to the Arabella-managed New Venture Fund, and $1,500,000 to the Miami Foundation. 7 8
Loud Hound Foundation also paid Pacific Foundation Services for program and administrative services in 2022. 9
Grantmaking
Loud Hound Foundation’s primary activity is grantmaking to left-of-center and liberal organizations. It is the primary funder of San Francisco-based organizations such as the Bolinas Community Land Trust and the East Bay Community Law Center. 10
In 2022, the foundation gave $5,000,000 to the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, $3,100,000 to the left-of-center New Venture Fund, $1,500,000 to the Miami Foundation, $400,000 to Internews Network, $100,000 to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, and $25,000 to Borealis Philanthropy, Chinese Progressive Association, Common Counsel Foundation, NEO Philanthropy, The Praxis Project, State Voices, and Transgender Law Center. 8 8
In 2021, the foundation made $10,121,500 in grants. These grants included $3,000,000 to the New Venture Fund; $3,000,000 to the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation; $1,500,000 to the Miami Foundation; $500,000 to Chalkbeat Inc. in support of VoteBeat’s activities in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin; $400,000 to Internews Network; $300,000 to Solutions Journalism Network; $100,000 to the North Star Fund; $100,000 to Resource Generation; $100,000 to the Robin Hood Foundation; $100,000 to the Groundswell Fund; and $100,000 to Make the Road New York. Loud Hound Foundation also gave between $25,000 and $50,000 to Borealis Philanthropy, the Black Voters Matter Institute, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, GiveWell, the Common Counsel Foundation, the Economic Security Project, the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, the Jobs with Justice Education Fund, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, NEO Philanthropy, People’s Action Institute, The Praxis Project, State Voices, and the Transgender Law Center. 11
Loud Hound Foundation made $8,020,500 of grants in 2020. The foundation’s six- and seven-figure grants that year included $1,900,000 to the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, $500,000 to ProGeorgia State Table, $425,000 to the Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, $375,000 to the Texas Civil Rights Project, $275,000 to Borealis Philanthropy, $200,000 to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, $200,000 to the Economic Security Project, $200,000 to the Robin Hood Foundation, $200,000 to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, $200,000 to Hopewell Fund, $200,00 to the People’s Action Institute, $200,000 to Jobs with Justice, $175,000 to the New York Community Trust, $160,000 to State Voices, $160,000 to the Tides Foundation, $150,000 to the Alliance for Youth Organizing, $150,000 to Make the Road New York, $150,000 to Groundswell Fund, $130,000 to Blueprint North Carolina, $125,000 to the New Georgia Project, $100,000 to the Movement Strategy Center, $100,000 to the Center for Tech and Civic Life, $100,000 to the East Bay Community Law Center, $100,000 to Democracy North Carolina, $100,000 to the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, and $100,000 to Resource Generation. 12
Funding
In 2022, the Loud Hound Foundation reported revenue of $6,148,067 and expenses of $966,676. 1 In 2021, the foundation reported revenue of $38,630,222 and expenses of $30,147,385. 13
Loud Hound Foundation president William Moritz funded the foundation with $12,072,184 of his own money in 2022. 14 Moritz also gave the foundation $37,759,258 in 2021 15 and $46,580,957 in 2020. 16 The foundation’s assets tripled in size from 2019 to 2020 to reach $111 million in 2020. 4
References
- “Loud Hound Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813588263/202303189349101805/full.
- [1] Kavate, Michael. “This Bay Area Billionaire’s Foundation is Booming. Here’s What We Know About Crankstart.” Inside Philanthropy. September 21, 2022. Accessed via Web Archive March 13, 2024. https://archive.ph/fBaIT#selection-1291.0-1294.0.
- “Michael Mortiz.” Forbes. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/profile/michael-moritz/?sh=405599076439.
- Kavate, Michael. “This Bay Area Billionaire’s Foundation is Booming. Here’s What We Know About Crankstart.” Inside Philanthropy. September 21, 2022. Accessed via Web Archive March 13, 2024. https://archive.ph/fBaIT#selection-1291.0-1294.0.
- “Letter of Determination.” Internal Revenue Service. July 17, 2017. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_81-3588263_LOUDHOUNDFOUNDATION_04282017_01.tif.
- “Loud Hound Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part VII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813588263/202303189349101805/full.
- [1] “Loud Hound Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part XIV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813588263/202303189349101805/full.
- “Loud Hound Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part XIV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813588263/202303189349101805/full.
- [1] “Loud Hound Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part VII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813588263/202303189349101805/full
- “Loud Hound Foundation.” CauseIQ Organization Profile. Accessed March 13, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/loud-hound-foundation,813588263/.
- “Loud Hound Foundation. “Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Part XIV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813588263/202223189349106587/full.
- “Loud Hound Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2020. Part XIV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813588263/202143159349103159/full.
- “Loud Hound Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813588263/202223189349106587/full.
- “Loud Hound Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Schedule B. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813588263/202303189349101805/full.
- [1] “Loud Hound Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Schedule B. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813588263/202223189349106587/full.
- “Loud Hound Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF). 2020. Schedule B. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813588263/202143159349103159/full.