Project Redwood
Project Redwood is a Stanford GSB alumni-led 501(c)(3) venture philanthropy fund that awards $10K-$50K grants and volunteer support to early-stage nonprofits addressing global poverty through education, job training, job creation, and entrepreneurship.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Project Redwood does
Project Redwood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit venture philanthropy fund founded in 2005-2006 by Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni (originally the MBA Class of 1980 at their 25th Reunion) and incorporated as an independent public charity in July 2023 after operating under Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and then Tides Foundation. The organization pools capital, expertise, and professional networks from a community of more than 400 Stanford GSB alumni spanning 40+ class years to support small, early-stage nonprofit organizations addressing global poverty through education, job training, job creation, and entrepreneurship.
Project Redwood's core products are two grant programs: Project Grants, which fund specific initiatives at typical award sizes of $10,000-$50,000 (in 2025: $40,000 to US organizations and up to $30,000 to international organizations), and Impact Building Grants, piloted in 2024 as unrestricted funding for past grantees to strengthen organizational capacity. The organization supplements grantmaking with volunteer programs (grant review, communications, finance, development), a Nonprofit Sponsorship Program in which GSB alumni guide applicant nonprofits, and a multi-channel Donation Platform accepting credit card, bank transfer, stock, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, and Donor Advised Fund contributions. There is no proprietary technology platform; operational technology consists of standard website, email newsletter, LinkedIn/Facebook, and Zoom-based engagement tooling.
The revenue model is entirely charitable donations from Stanford GSB alumni and supporters, channeled through a Global Fund (unrestricted geographically) and a US Only Fund. Donors of $250 or more participate in a voting process that informs grant preferences, creating a membership-driven governance overlay on top of Board approval. As of 2024-2026, Project Redwood has cumulatively awarded more than $7.5 million in grants and in-kind support to nearly 100 organizations across 36 countries, reaching its 20th anniversary milestone with annual grantmaking of approximately $1.1 million in 2024 and an active portfolio of 22+ grantee organizations.
Project Redwood firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Project Redwood
- Legal name
- Project Redwood
- Website
- https://projectredwood.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Project Redwood is a Stanford GSB alumni-led 501(c)(3) venture philanthropy fund that awards $10K-$50K grants and volunteer support to early-stage nonprofits addressing global poverty through education, job training, job creation, and entrepreneurship.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Project Redwood industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Philanthropy & Nonprofit Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
Keywords
Where Project Redwood is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Project Redwood business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations: Project Redwood raises funds through charitable donations from Stanford GSB alumni and supporters. Donors can contribute to the Global Fund (supporting projects worldwide) or the US Only Fund (restricted to US organizations). Donors of $250 or more can vote on granting preferences.
- Global Fund: Supports nonprofit organizations both in the United States and around the world engaged in poverty alleviation
- US Only Fund: Restricted fund supporting nonprofit projects within the United States
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Project Redwood product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Project Redwood is a volunteer-driven venture philanthropy fund that pools Stanford GSB alumni financial capital, expertise, and networks to provide grants and hands-on support to early-stage, high-impact nonprofit organizations addressing global poverty through education, job training, job creation, and entrepreneurship. It operates two core grant programs — Project Grants ($10,000–$50,000 per project) and Impact Building Grants (unrestricted funding for past grantees) — supplemented by volunteer engagement, nonprofit sponsorship, and a multi-channel donation platform.
Product overview
Project Redwood is a Stanford GSB alumni nonprofit that operates as a volunteer-driven venture philanthropy fund rather than a technology product company. The organization offers two core grant programs: Project Grants for specific initiatives with measurable impact (awarding $40,000 to US organizations and up to $30,000 to international organizations in 2025), and Impact Building Grants (launched in 2024) providing unrestricted funding to past grantees. Beyond direct grantmaking, Project Redwood offers Volunteer Programs connecting alumni with opportunities in grant review, communications, and development, and a Nonprofit Sponsorship Program where GSB graduates guide organizations through the application process. A Donation Platform enables contributions via multiple channels including credit card, bank transfer, stock, and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Project Grants Standard grant funding awarded to specific projects with measurable impact, typically ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, for nonprofit organizations focused on education, job training, job creation, and entrepreneurship. In 2025, six US organizations received $40,000 each and 16 international organizations received up to $30,000 each.
- Impact Building Grants Unrestricted funding grants piloted in 2024 to help past Project Redwood grantees strengthen their organizations and expand their impact, providing flexibility for organizational development.
- Volunteer Programs Opportunities for Stanford GSB alumni to contribute expertise through grant review, communications, financial oversight, development, grantee sponsorship, and community engagement.
- Nonprofit Sponsorship Program Stanford GSB alumni sponsor nonprofit organizations through Project Redwood's grant application process, providing guidance, connections, and ongoing support throughout the grant lifecycle.
- Donation Platform Online and offline donation options including credit card, bank transfer, stock gifts, IRA qualified charitable distributions, and Donor Advised Fund contributions to support global or US-only poverty initiatives.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1 million lives improved through grantee programs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Project Redwood
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Project Redwood technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Project Redwood partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- RippleworkscoreSilicon Valley-based private foundation that partners with high-performing social ventures. Provides practical venture-led support through expert-driven projects, hands-on workshops via Leaders Studio, targeted Expert Office Hours, and a Capital Program providing unrestricted funding. Project Redwood nominates grantees for Rippleworks consulting support and funding opportunities.
- SEP Alumni Scholarship FoundationminorStanford Executive Program (SEP) Class of 2015 launched scholarship to expand access for outstanding nonprofit leaders worldwide. Covers full cost of the six-week SEP experience. Project Redwood nominates grantee leaders; three have completed the program. Project Redwood is also a donor to the fund.
- Echoing GreenminorIdentifies emerging social entrepreneurs and invests in their leadership through an 18-month Fellowship Program. Strong pipeline of potential Project Redwood applicants. 11 leaders from 9 current and former grantee organizations have become Echoing Green Fellows. Echoing Green Board Co-Chair made a keynote at PRW's 2024 Annual Meeting and matched member donations in 2025.
- Design for Extreme Affordability (Extreme)coreStanford course bringing together students to design innovative, community-driven solutions to global poverty. Project Redwood has provided $105,450 to support Extreme initiatives advancing to prototype development. Several Extreme projects evolved into Project Redwood-supported nonprofits including EarthEnable, Embrace, MiracleFeet, and Compatible Technology International.
- Opportunity CollaborationminorAnnual 'un-conference' bringing together nonprofit leaders, social entrepreneurs, funders, and investors focused on sustainable solutions to global poverty. Many Project Redwood grantees have benefited from insights and connections generated through participation.
- Graduate School of Business (GSB) Alumni RelationscoreStrong partnership with Stanford GSB Alumni Relations team sharing commitment to meaningful change. GSB provides space at information expos, presentation opportunities at reunions, event promotion, logistics support, and connections to Alumni Consulting Teams and Center for Social Innovation.
- Center for Social Innovation (CSI)coreStanford center advancing impactful leadership through education, research, and community engagement. Project Redwood grantees receive access to CSI's online curriculum including Strategy for Social Change module. Grantees may participate in MBA student matching program. CSI selected Project Redwood for 2026 Board Fellows Program.
- Alumni Consulting Teams (ACT)minorStanford GSB program connecting graduates with nonprofits seeking support on general management, growth strategies, finances, and brand development. Project Redwood helps grantees understand ACT services. Grantees Juma and Tomorrow's Leaders NYC have benefited from ACT consulting engagements.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Project Redwood competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Echoing Green: Echoing Green is a venture philanthropy organization that identifies and invests in emerging social entrepreneurs through its 18-month Fellowship. Project Redwood lists Echoing Green as a strategic partner with mutual grantee referrals (11 leaders from 9 PRW-related orgs have become Echoing Green Fellows), making it the closest direct peer in model and pipeline overlap.
- Rippleworks: Rippleworks is a Silicon Valley-based private foundation that pairs expert-driven consulting (Leaders Studio, Expert Office Hours) with a Capital Program of unrestricted grants for high-performing social ventures. It is a strategic partner of Project Redwood that supplies consulting capacity to PRW grantees, and shares the venture philanthropy, hands-on operating model.
- New Profit Inc. New Profit is a venture philanthropy fund that pools philanthropic capital to back social entrepreneurs with unrestricted funding and advisory support. Its model of combining philanthropic capital with strategic non-financial support closely parallels Project Redwood's alumni-driven approach to scaling early-stage social enterprises.
- Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation: DRK is a venture philanthropy fund that provides multi-year unrestricted funding and capacity-building support to early-stage social enterprises. Its model of combining capital with operational mentorship closely mirrors Project Redwood's approach of pairing grants with GSB alumni expertise for early-stage, high-impact nonprofits.
Broad incumbents
- Acumen: Acumen is a global venture philanthropy fund focused on poverty alleviation through patient capital and capacity building in early-stage social enterprises. Comparable in mission (alleviating poverty through entrepreneurship) and stage focus, but operates at materially larger scale with paid professional staff across multiple geographies.
- Skoll Foundation: Skoll is one of the largest dedicated funders of social entrepreneurship, awarding multi-year Skoll Awards to proven, scaling-stage organizations. It is a downstream peer/strategic partner: PRW's grantees (myAgro, EarthEnable) have gone on to win Skoll Awards, positioning Skoll as the institutional exit point for PRW's portfolio.
- Omidyar Network: Omidyar Network is a philanthropy firm founded by eBay's Pierre Omidyar that invests venture-style capital and grants in early-stage social enterprises. It operates at substantially greater scale than PRW but pursues a similar thesis of catalytic early-stage funding to unlock transformative impact.
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation: Silicon Valley Community Foundation is one of the largest community foundations in the U.S., managing donor-advised funds and grantmaking across the Bay Area. While much broader in scope than PRW, it operates in the same Palo Alto-based, Stanford-adjacent philanthropic ecosystem and serves as a comparable donor-advised and grantmaking vehicle.
Others
- Tides Foundation: Tides Foundation is a major fiscal sponsor and public charity platform. Project Redwood operated under Tides as fiscal sponsor before earning independent 501(c)(3) status in 2023, making Tides a former infrastructure provider and adjacent peer in the philanthropic intermediary ecosystem.
- Stanford Center for Social Innovation: The Stanford GSB Center for Social Innovation advances social impact through research, education, and community engagement. It is a strategic partner of PRW (Project Redwood sits within its alumni ecosystem) and an enabler that supplies curriculum, MBA student matching, and Board Fellows. Not a grantmaker itself, but a tightly connected ecosystem participant.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Project Redwood social profiles
Digital presenceProject Redwood financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Project Redwood leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Project Redwood funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Project Redwood M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Project Redwood
What does Project Redwood do?
Project Redwood is a volunteer-driven venture philanthropy fund that pools Stanford GSB alumni financial capital, expertise, and networks to provide grants and hands-on support to early-stage, high-impact nonprofit organizations addressing global poverty through education, job training, job creation, and entrepreneurship. It operates two core grant programs — Project Grants ($10,000–$50,000 per project) and Impact Building Grants (unrestricted funding for past grantees) — supplemented by volunteer engagement, nonprofit sponsorship, and a multi-channel donation platform.
Is Project Redwood a public or private company?
Project Redwood is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Project Redwood founded?
Project Redwood was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Project Redwood based?
Project Redwood is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
How does Project Redwood make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Charitable Donations are the primary driver. The others are global Fund and US Only Fund.
Who are Project Redwood's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Echoing Green, Rippleworks, New Profit Inc. and Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation. Broad incumbents are Acumen, Skoll Foundation, Omidyar Network and Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Others are Tides Foundation and Stanford Center for Social Innovation.
Does Project Redwood have an API?
No public API is recorded for Project Redwood.
What industry is Project Redwood in?
Project Redwood's product category is Venture Philanthropy & Nonprofit Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.