What Osprey Foundation does

The Osprey Foundation is a private, founder-funded philanthropic foundation established in 2003 by Bill Clarke, a former finance executive who retired in 2007 to lead the foundation full-time. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, the foundation operates exclusively as a grantmaker and impact investor across four programmatic verticals: water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); cleaner cooking; ecumenical and interfaith community building; and social justice. Its geographic footprint spans roughly 18 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the United States, with Baltimore as the concentration within the US market. Operations are scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2029, following a January 2026 announcement that all active grants and investments will be honored through the wind-down.

The foundation's core operating mechanism is direct grants and impact investments to a vetted portfolio of approximately 50+ named nonprofit and academic partners, with a deliberate emphasis on general operating support, multi-year funding, and early-stage pilot financing rather than restricted project grants. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The WASH program — led by Managing Director Louis Boorstin, who previously built a $400M+ WASH portfolio at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a $250M+ impact-investment portfolio at the IFC — is organized into four sub-programs (Systems Strengthening, Innovative Funding and Finance, Innovative Models, and Advocacy and Learning) plus a cross-cutting Menstrual Health and Hygiene priority. Other verticals are pursued through dedicated grantee relationships (e.g., Interfaith America, Center for Urban Families, Clean Cooking Alliance, Water for People). Notable initiatives include the Cooking Industry Catalyst (launched 2020 with the Clean Cooking Alliance) and participation in the Clean Impact Bond (2023).

The foundation has 11-50 employees, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no institutional investors; founder Bill Clarke remains the principal underwriter. The foundation owns no proprietary technology platforms, sells no commercial products, and operates without traditional revenue mechanics — its capacity is determined by Clarke's endowed contributions rather than commercial revenue or contract pricing. There is no API, no SDK, no mobile application, and no AI/ML capability disclosed.

Name

Osprey Foundation

Legal name

Osprey Foundation

Website

https://ospreyfdn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Osprey Foundation is a private Baltimore-based non-profit foundation founded in 2003 that funds water/sanitation/hygiene, cleaner cooking, interfaith cooperation, and social justice initiatives globally through grants and impact investments; grantmaking operations are scheduled to cease by December 31, 2029.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation / Grantmaking and Impact Investing

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Impact investing
• Water sanitation hygiene
• Cleaner cooking solutions
• Social justice philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Towson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Grantmaking: The foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations working in water, sanitation, hygiene, cleaner cooking, ecumenical and interfaith community building, and social justice sectors. It provides general operating support and multi-year funding to enable partners to build capacity and expand project work.
2. Impact Investments: The foundation makes impact investments to discover areas where solutions do not yet exist and build structures capable of scaling those solutions. It seeks investments that can be sustained and scaled beyond initial funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Osprey Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that provides grants and impact investments to nonprofit organizations working in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); cleaner cooking; ecumenical and interfaith community building; and social justice. It supplies general operating support and multi-year funding to enable partners to build capacity, pilot innovations, and prove solutions, while also making impact investments to discover and scale approaches where no market-ready solutions exist.

Product overview

Osprey Foundation is a philanthropic grantmaking and impact investment organization, not a commercial product or technology company. It does not offer a unified platform product or modules. Its work is organized around four WASH program areas (Systems Strengthening, Innovative Funding and Finance, Innovative Models, and Advocacy and Learning with a cross-cutting Menstrual Health and Hygiene initiative), as well as dedicated focus areas in Cleaner Cooking, Social Justice, and Ecumenical/Interfaith work. These are grantmaking strategies and funding priorities, not commercial product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grants to Nonprofit Partners (Grantmaking)

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.3 million people helped access reliable water services since 2011 through Water for People partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

56 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agenda for ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Agenda for Change is a collaboration among organizations working to achieve sustainable delivery of WASH services for all people by 2030 per UN's SDG 6. Members work closely with governments to strengthen WASH systems by addressing service delivery, financing, regulations, and monitoring. Osprey Foundation partners with this global collective focused on country-led approaches.
• Water for PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Water for People brings water, sanitation, and hygiene services to people worldwide through the 'Everyone Forever' model. Osprey Foundation is one of its strongest supporters. General operating support has enabled the organization to help 3.3 million people access reliable water services since 2011. With targeted funding from Osprey, in 2018 Water for People reached its first 'Forever' milestone in San Pedro, Bolivia, indicating sustainable systems.
• Clean Cooking AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Cooking Alliance works to strengthen the clean-cooking industry by scaling technologies and business models. Osprey Foundation supports CCA in catalyzing the scale of clean cooking ventures and adoption of market-based solutions. Together they launched the Cooking Industry Catalyst (CIC) in 2020 to build demand for clean cooking solutions.
• Interfaith AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith America partners with colleges and universities to prepare the next generation of leaders for interfaith cooperation. Osprey Foundation provides general operating support to implement its strategic plan, facilitating growth of model interfaith environments in higher education and nurturing development of interfaith leaders.
• Center for Urban FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter for Urban Families (CFUF) seeks to dismantle poverty and strengthen urban communities by equipping fathers and families with tools for economic and personal success. Osprey Foundation provides general operating support which enabled CFUF to formalize partnerships and strengthen leadership and operations in Baltimore.
• IMA World HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith support from Osprey Foundation, IMA World Health conducted an Animal-inclusive Community-led Total Sanitation (A-CLTS) project in Segou, Mali to pilot an innovative WASH intervention focusing on animal waste management in rural households.
• Cooking Industry CatalystcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched in 2020 with Osprey Foundation support, the Cooking Industry Catalyst (CIC) builds demand for clean cooking solutions, supports scalable business models, and demonstrates their viability. Has three components: Venture Catalyst, Demand Catalyst, and Market Catalyst.
• User Insights LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsprey Foundation supported the User Insights Lab (UIL) during its startup phase, providing capital for projects including designing consumer financing mechanisms, supporting private sector marketing campaigns, and increasing support for government subsidy programs.
• Clean Impact BondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsprey participated in the Clean Impact Bond (CIB), a trailblazing transaction expanding clean cookstove sales in Kenya through payments for health and gender benefits. Partners include International Finance Corporation (IFC), Cardano Development, BIX Capital, and Sistema.bio.
• Arabella AdvisorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsprey Foundation commissioned Arabella Advisors to produce the 'Giving Credit' report on the voluntary carbon credit market, providing an overview of opportunities and risks for philanthropic investors in carbon finance.
• IRC International Water and Sanitation CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsprey Foundation supports IRC, which works on systems strengthening in WASH. Louis Boorstin sits on the boards of IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and the RICE Institute.
• CAREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARE is a WASH partner listed under Systems Strengthening, working to strengthen local systems for delivering sustainable WASH services in developing countries.
• WaterAidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterAid is a WASH partner under Systems Strengthening, focusing on improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries.
• Catholic Relief ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Relief Services is a WASH partner under Systems Strengthening, working to strengthen WASH systems globally.
• SplashcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSplash is a WASH partner under Systems Strengthening, focusing on water, sanitation, and hygiene services for children in urban settings.
• Aquaya InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquaya Institute is an Innovative Models partner, conducting research and implementing sustainable WASH solutions in developing countries.
• Earth EnableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarth Enable is an Innovative Models partner providing affordable, sustainable earth-based products for cooking and heating in Rwanda and Kenya.
• SanergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanergy (Fresh Life) is an Innovative Models partner creating sustainable sanitation solutions in urban slums in Kenya.
• SOIL HaitiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOIL Haiti is an Innovative Models partner providing sustainable sanitation solutions in Haiti through container-based sanitation.
• Vessel CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVessel Collective released a national strategy to end the U.S. water access gap by 2040, with an estimated cost of $18.4 billion and projected economic return of nearly five dollars for every dollar invested.
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsprey Foundation collaborates with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health on projects such as the Diné Water Lifeways Project, supporting public health research through philanthropy.
• Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner focusing on Indigenous health issues including water access and sanitation.
• Aprovecho Research CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Cooking partner focused on research and development of improved cookstoves and biomass technologies.
• BioMasstersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Cooking partner working on biomass solutions for cleaner cooking in developing countries.
• Burn Design LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Cooking partner focused on designing improved cookstoves for developing countries.
• Durable Solutions CongominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Cooking partner working in the Democratic Republic of Congo to provide durable solutions.
• ConvergenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical & Interfaith partner focused on building bridges across religious and ideological divides.
• Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical & Interfaith partner (ICJS) working to foster understanding among Islamic, Christian, and Jewish communities.
• Interfaith Partners for the ChesapeakeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional ecumenical partner working in the Chesapeake Bay area to promote interfaith cooperation.
• Well for the JourneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical partner focused on spiritual wellness and interfaith community building.
• CASAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Justice and Empowerment partner working for immigrant and refugee rights and social justice.
• Church World ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Justice partner providing humanitarian services and advocacy for refugees and immigrants.
• Guatemalan Human Rights CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Justice partner focused on human rights in Guatemala, reflecting Osprey's historical work with Mayan communities.
• The 6th BranchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Justice partner in Baltimore working on community development and empowerment.
• Your Public Radio - WYPRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaltimore-based public radio partner supporting community engagement and information access.
• IRCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRC International Water and Sanitation Centre is a WASH Systems Strengthening partner working on sustainable WASH services at scale.
• WSUP (Water and Sanitation for Urban Populations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSUP is a WASH Systems Strengthening partner focusing on improving water and sanitation services for urban poor populations.
• Water for GoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater for Good is a WASH Systems Strengthening partner working to bring clean water to communities in developing countries.
• BlueCommonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative Models partner (formerly The Blue Bank) working on sustainable water solutions.
• FundiFixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative Models partner providing maintenance and repair solutions for WASH infrastructure in Africa.
• Container Based Sanitation AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBSA is an Innovative Models partner promoting container-based sanitation solutions globally.
• Safe Water NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative Models partner working on sustainable safe water solutions in developing countries.
• Saha GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative Models partner providing sustainable water and sanitation solutions in East Africa.
• UptimeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative Models partner working on monitoring and maintenance solutions for WASH infrastructure.
• Habitat for Humanity InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy and Learning partner addressing WASH needs in housing contexts, particularly in EMEA region.
• Scaling Community of PracticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy and Learning partner focused on scaling best practices in WASH sector.
• UNC Water and Health ConferenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with UNC's Water Institute for annual conferences on water and health research.
• UNICEF USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy and Learning partner supporting UNICEF's global WASH programs.
• World Health OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO is an Advocacy and Learning partner providing global health guidance and standards for WASH.
• Chesapeake Bay FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService Delivery partner focused on environmental protection including water quality in the Chesapeake Bay region.
• Columbia University GATE ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner focusing on menstrual hygiene management, particularly in emergency settings.
• Johns Hopkins University Water InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner at Johns Hopkins conducting water, sanitation, hygiene, and health research.
• Pro MujerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestee organization that disburses microloans to women in Latin America alongside financial and empowerment training.
• Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New JerseyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOther partner focused on wildlife conservation in New Jersey.
• Operation FistulaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner focused on eliminating obstetric fistula through surgery and support services.
• We Care SolarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing solar solutions for healthcare facilities to enable reliable electricity for medical equipment and lighting.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/osprey-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Osprey Foundation