How We Fund — IROH Foundation

Philosophy

Finding and funding successful emergent organizations

The IROH Foundation was conceived as an enterprise dedicated to finding and funding successful emergent organizations dedicated to bringing positive change to society.

While all organizations and projects have to begin somewhere, getting projects off the ground is not our chosen mission. Instead, we look for entities that have already taken that admirable step, have a defined business model, a measurable track record of success, and are looking to scale.

We believe the most leverage comes at the proof-of-scale moment — when an organization has demonstrated what works and simply needs sustained, unrestricted capital to grow.

$5,000 – $50,000

Per year · 3-Year Unrestricted Grant Cycle

Open to registered 501(c)3 organizations only
We do not fund non-501(c)3 organizations regardless of fiscal sponsor
Once due diligence is complete, we keep our footprint small
Restrictions are intentionally light — you run your mission
Multi-year commitment provides organizational planning stability

Selection Criteria

What we look for

We conduct thorough diligence before committing. Here is what matters to us.

Defined Business Model

The organization has a clear, repeatable approach to delivering its social impact — not an experimental idea still seeking its method.

Measurable Track Record

There is credible evidence — data, outcomes, external validation — demonstrating that the approach works at some initial scale.

Proof of Concept Established

The hard early question of “does this work?” has been answered. The organization is now asking “how do we grow this?”

Ready to Scale

The team has a credible vision and operational capacity to expand — and unrestricted capital is the lever that will unlock that growth.

501(c)3 Status

IROH provides grants exclusively to registered 501(c)3 organizations. We do not fund through fiscal sponsors, regardless of the merits of the underlying project.

Passionate Leadership

Behind every grant is a person or team of uncommon dedication — individuals whose commitment to the mission is evident and sustained.

Process

How our grants work

Discovery

We identify organizations through our networks, peer referrals, and proactive research. We do not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Diligence

We conduct thorough diligence — reviewing financials, impact data, leadership, and strategic plans before making any commitment.

Light Touch

Once funded, we step back. We know how hard it is for growing organizations to manage grantors — so we minimize our footprint and maximize your freedom.