The Roddenberry Foundation
The Roddenberry Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that funds exploration-based learning initiatives, carrying forward the philosophy of Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek through grants and the Roddenberry Fellowship.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersBeverly Hills, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Roddenberry Foundation does
The Roddenberry Foundation is a private philanthropic institution founded in 2010 and headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. It operates as a small grantmaking foundation (11-50 employees) that invests in creative minds and bold ideas, channeling the philosophy and optimism of Gene Roddenberry and the Star Trek legacy into charitable programs. Its primary product is grant capital delivered through structured initiatives; the most recent major program, the +1 Global Fund (2020-2025), supported locally led organizations across the Global South, and the Foundation also operates the Roddenberry Fellowship under a Director of Coaching role.
The Foundation announced a strategic refocus in January 2026, concluding the +1 Global Fund on December 31, 2025, and reorienting its philanthropy toward exploration-based learning approaches that reframe "exploration" as an inward journey into consciousness, systems thinking, and the cultivation of intelligence in its many forms. Governance is led by Heidi Roddenberry as President and Board Chair, preserving direct family stewardship of the Roddenberry brand and ethos. There is no commercial revenue model: the Foundation is funded by an unstated endowment source, does not price products or services, and conducts outreach primarily through its website and a news/blog channel.
The Roddenberry Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Roddenberry Foundation
- Legal name
- Roddenberry Foundation
- Website
- https://roddenberryfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Roddenberry Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that funds exploration-based learning initiatives, carrying forward the philosophy of Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek through grants and the Roddenberry Fellowship.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Roddenberry Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropic Foundation / Grant-making
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
Keywords
Where The Roddenberry Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beverly Hills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
The Roddenberry Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Marketing channels2 records
The Roddenberry Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Roddenberry Foundation is a philanthropic institution that invests in creative minds and bold ideas by providing grant funding and fellowships. It runs grant programs such as the +1 Global Fund (supporting locally led organizations across the Global South) and the Roddenberry Fellowship, and has announced a strategic refocus in 2026 on emerging approaches to learning centered on exploration. The Foundation operates grant-making as its core activity rather than selling products or services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- +1 Global Fund A grant program from The Roddenberry Foundation that supported locally led organizations across the Global South; ran from 2020 through December 31, 2025, when it was concluded as part of a strategic refocusing.
- Roddenberry Fellowship A fellowship program of The Roddenberry Foundation providing cohort-based coaching and support for emerging social-impact leaders pursuing bold ideas aligned with the Roddenberry philosophy of exploration.
- Exploration-Based Learning Grants Grant funding from The Roddenberry Foundation directed to organizations developing emerging approaches to learning centered on exploration as a methodology; announced in January 2026 as the Foundation's strategic refocus for its philanthropic giving.
Companies that use The Roddenberry Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Roddenberry Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Roddenberry Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
The Roddenberry Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Omidyar Network: Pierre Omidyar's philanthropic investment firm funding bold, early-stage ideas across multiple sectors. Comparable as a founder-led, exploration-oriented philanthropic vehicle willing to take unconventional bets.
- Schmidt Futures: Philanthropic initiative of Eric and Wendy Schmidt funding early-stage, bold bets on talent and exploration-adjacent science/society work. Highly comparable as a high-profile family-backed foundation backing ambitious, exploratory projects at similar scale.
- Skoll Foundation: Foundation funding social entrepreneurs pursuing systemic change. Comparable as a privately-backed foundation channeling capital to bold leaders, with a similarly small staff and signature fellowship-style programs.
- Shuttleworth Foundation: South Africa-based foundation funding innovative social entrepreneurs through fellowship-style grants. Comparable operating model (small team, fellowship-driven, exploration of new ideas) and similar scale.
- Thiel Foundation: Peter Thiel's philanthropic vehicle supporting bold thinkers and unconventional ideas, including the Thiel Fellowship. Comparable focus on funding creative, contrarian individuals pursuing frontier-style work outside mainstream institutions.
Emerging players
- Ashoka: Global organization supporting leading social entrepreneurs through a fellowship network. Comparable fellowship-led grantmaking model and focus on systems-change leadership.
- Mozilla Foundation: Foundation supporting an open, healthy internet through grants, fellowships, and advocacy. Comparable as a private foundation funding exploration-style research and leadership programs in adjacent thematic territory.
- XPRIZE: Organization running large incentive prizes to drive radical breakthroughs. Comparable thematic positioning around exploration, optimism, and breakthrough innovation, though structured as prize-giving rather than grantmaking.
Broad incumbents
- Ford Foundation: Major US private foundation funding global inequality reduction and exploration of frontier social questions. Comparable broad grantmaking remit and family-origin legacy, though operating at vastly larger scale and remit.
- MacArthur Foundation: One of the largest US private foundations, supporting creative people, effective institutions, and bold ideas. Comparable brand-aligned emphasis on bold, creative work and exploration of new solutions, though at much greater scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Roddenberry Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Roddenberry Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Roddenberry Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Roddenberry Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Roddenberry Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments5 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Roddenberry Foundation
What does The Roddenberry Foundation do?
The Roddenberry Foundation is a philanthropic institution that invests in creative minds and bold ideas by providing grant funding and fellowships. It runs grant programs such as the +1 Global Fund (supporting locally led organizations across the Global South) and the Roddenberry Fellowship, and has announced a strategic refocus in 2026 on emerging approaches to learning centered on exploration. The Foundation operates grant-making as its core activity rather than selling products or services.
Is The Roddenberry Foundation a public or private company?
The Roddenberry Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Roddenberry Foundation founded?
The Roddenberry Foundation was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Roddenberry Foundation based?
The Roddenberry Foundation is headquartered in Beverly Hills, United States, in the North America region.
Who are The Roddenberry Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Omidyar Network, Schmidt Futures, Skoll Foundation, Shuttleworth Foundation and Thiel Foundation. Emerging players are Ashoka, Mozilla Foundation and XPRIZE. Broad incumbents are Ford Foundation and MacArthur Foundation.
Does The Roddenberry Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Roddenberry Foundation.
What industry is The Roddenberry Foundation in?
The Roddenberry Foundation's product category is Philanthropic Foundation / Grant-making. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAI, Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8200.