Valhalla Foundation

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. ² Early childhood development programs include research projects, field-building efforts, and groups providing solutions. ³

In K-12 education, Valhalla has funded Khan Academy, The City Fund, Owl Ventures, Imagine Learning, Code for America, and KIPP Public Charter Schools. ⁴ Valhalla Foundation funds medical research and breakthroughs by working on multiple sclerosis, autoimmune diseases, and other medical breakthroughs. ⁵ Valhalla has mainly funded environmental programs through the Environmental Defense Fund but has worked with other organizations on air quality. ⁶

The Valhalla Foundation works with researchers and educators to increase a data literacy divide among students. ⁷ Valhalla states it has made numerous donations to COVID relief, racial justice issues, and is a proponent of left-wing diversity, equity, and inclusion. ² In 2021, Valhalla made a multiyear grant to the Center for Policing Equity. ⁸

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. ⁹ Audacious Project programs supported by the Valhalla Foundation include Educate Girls, Waterford Upstart, Living Goods, Last Mile Health, One Acre Fund, and Thorn. ¹⁰

The Valhalla Foundation also lists Blue Meridian Partners as a key partner donating $10 million in 2021. ¹¹ Blue Meridian Partners received notoriety in 2020 after receiving a donation from Mackenzie Scott, listing it as one of the 116 Organizations Driving Change. ¹² 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. ¹³

In July 2025, Valhalla Foundation  joined a coalition including the Gates Foundation, Ballmer Group, and Stand Together the to launch NextLadder Ventures, a $1 billion initiative aimed at expanding economic opportunity for low-income Americans. The 15-year effort supports for-profit and nonprofit entrepreneurs and organizations in developing tools to aid those suffering from job loss, housing instability, or health crises. Ryan Ripple currently serves as the CEO of NextLadder Ventures, previously serving as the founding director of U.S. economic mobility and opportunity at the Gates Foundation. In order to aid in this development, NextLadder ventures will employ Artificial Intelligence tools developed by Anthropic AI. ¹⁴

Finances

In 2021, the Valhalla Foundation had net assets of $839,554,681. ¹⁵ According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2021 Valhalla Foundation recorded $50,541,806 in revenue and $103,655,046 in expenses. ¹⁵ In 2020, the Foundation had $465,139,878 in revenue and $116,508,931 in expenses. ¹⁶

Leadership

Scott Cook and his spouse Signe Otsby are the founders and sole trustees of the Valhalla Foundation. ¹⁷ Cook is a co-founder of the Intuit corporation. ² 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. ¹⁸

Amy Rodde has been executive director of the Valhalla Foundation since 2019. ¹⁹ Previously, Rodde was a partner at The Bridgespan Group. ²⁰ She also has previously worked for Education for Change, NewSchools Venture Fund, and Bain and Company. ²⁰