Non-profit

Valhalla Foundation

Website:

www.valhalla.org/

Location:

Woodside, CA

Tax ID:

20-0478828

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $465,139,878
Expenses: $116,508,931
Assets: $798,059,895

Type:

Nonprofit charitable foundation

 

Founded:

2003

Founders:

Scott Cook and Signe Otsby

Executive Director:

Amy Rodde

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Valhalla Foundation (Valhalla) is a nonprofit foundation located in Woodside, California that focuses on early childhood education, medical research funding, environmental issues, and equity. It collaborates with other nonprofits, its two main partners being The Audacious Project and Blue Meridian Partners. The Valhalla Foundation was founded in 2003 by Intuit co-founder Scott Cook and his spouse Signe Otsby. 1 Valhalla’s operations are supported by Fox Hollow Ventures, Cook and Otsby’s family office, and employees are employed by Fox Hollow Ventures. 2

Activities

The key areas of focus of the Valhalla Foundation are early childhood development, K-12 education, medical research and talent, environmental issues, and data literacy. The Foundation has noted that early childhood development through age five is its main area of focus. 3 Early childhood development programs include research projects, field-building efforts, and groups providing solutions. 4

In K-12 education, Valhalla has funded Khan Academy, The City Fund, Owl Ventures, Imagine Learning, Code for America, and KIPP Public Charter Schools. 5 Valhalla Foundation funds medical research and breakthroughs by working on multiple sclerosis, autoimmune diseases, and other medical breakthroughs. 6 Valhalla has mainly funded environmental programs through the Environmental Defense Fund but has worked with other organizations on air quality. 7

The Valhalla Foundation works with researchers and educators to increase a data literacy divide among students. 8 Valhalla states it has made numerous donations to COVID relief, racial justice issues, and is a proponent of left-wing diversity, equity, and inclusion. 9 In 2021, Valhalla made a multiyear grant to the Center for Policing Equity. 10

Collaboration

The Valhalla Foundation partners funding projects with The Audacious Project, a project of the TED Foundation that groups have criticized for funding left-of-center policy goals. 11 Audacious Project programs supported by the Valhalla Foundation include Educate Girls, Waterford Upstart, Living Goods, Last Mile Health, One Acre Fund, and Thorn. 12

The Valhalla Foundation also lists Blue Meridian Partners as a key partner donating $10 million in 2021. 13 Blue Meridian Partners received notoriety in 2020 after receiving a donation from Mackenzie Scott, listing it as one of the 116 Organizations Driving Change. 14 Other Blue Meridian Partners funders include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Druckenmiller Foundation, George Kaiser Family Foundation, JPB Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Duke Endowment, and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. 15

Finances

In 2021, the Valhalla Foundation had net assets of $839,554,681. 16 According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2021 Valhalla Foundation recorded $50,541,806 in revenue and $103,655,046 in expenses. 17 In 2020, the Foundation had $465,139,878 in revenue and $116,508,931 in expenses. 18

Leadership

Scott Cook and his spouse Signe Otsby are the founders and sole trustees of the Valhalla Foundation. 19 Cook is a co-founder of the Intuit corporation. 20 Cook and Otsby have given at least $700 million to philanthropy groups through personal donations and the Valhalla Foundation, signing the Giving Pledge to donate a majority of their wealth to philanthropy. 21

Amy Rodde has been executive director of the Valhalla Foundation since 2019. 22 Previously, Rodde was a partner at The Bridgespan Group. 23 She also has previously worked for Education for Change, NewSchools Venture Fund, and Bain and Company. 24

References

  1. “The Valhalla Charitable Foundation Overview.” Pitchbook. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://pitchbook.com/profiles/limited-partner/53197-48#overview; “Overview.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Valhalla_Director.pdf
  2. “Overview.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Valhalla_Director.pdf
  3. “Overview.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Valhalla_Director.pdf.
  4. “Early Childhood Development.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/early-childhood-development/.
  5. “K-12 Education.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/k12-education/.
  6. “Medical Research and Talent.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/medical-research/.
  7. “Environmental Innovation.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/environmental-innovation/.
  8. “Data Literacy.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/data-literacy/
  9. “Overview.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Valhalla_Director.pdf.
  10. “Valhalla Foundation Has Made A Multi-Year Grant Committing to the Center for Policing Equity.” Valhalla Foundation. April 19, 2021. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/2021/04/19/valhalla-foundation-has-made-a-multi-year-grant-commitment-to-the-center-for-policing-equity/.
  11. “Collaborative Philanthropy.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/collaborative-philanthropy/; “About.” The Audacious Project. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.audaciousproject.org/about; “The Audacious Project.” Influence Watch. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.influencewatch.org/organization/the-audacious-project/.
  12. “Collaborative Philanthropy.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/collaborative-philanthropy/
  13. “Collaborative Philanthropy.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/collaborative-philanthropy/; Valhalla Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2021.
  14. Scott, Mackenzie. “116 Organizations Driving Change. Medium. July 28, 2020. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/116-organizations-driving-change-67354c6d733d.
  15. “Our Partners.” Blue Meridian Partners. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.bluemeridian.org/our-partners/.
  16. Valhalla Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2021.
  17. Valhalla Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2021.
  18. Valhalla Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2020.
  19. “Overview.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Valhalla_Director.pdf; “Trustees.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/people/.
  20. “Overview.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Valhalla_Director.pdf.
  21. “Trustees.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/people/.
  22. “Amy Rodde.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-rodde-2951b3/; “Staff.” Valhalla Foundation. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://valhalla.org/people/.
  23. “Amy Rodde.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-rodde-2951b3/.
  24. “Amy Rodde.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-rodde-2951b3/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: June 1, 2004

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form PF $465,139,878 $116,508,931 $798,059,895 $92,369,599 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2019 Dec Form PF $252,416,941 $56,813,154 $338,737,521 $36,755,763 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2015 Dec Form PF $-2,671,348 $13,731,540 $85,347,482 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form PF $-27,775 $6,386,548 $99,602,194 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form PF $13,269,556 $4,823,721 $106,016,517 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form PF $21,443,698 $3,615,761 $98,205,478 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form PF $63,829,846 $10,928,819 $98,638,474 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Valhalla Foundation

    175 Fox Hollow Road
    Woodside, CA