Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is one of the world’s leading private, international philanthropic organizations, making grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. SNF funds organizations and projects worldwide that aim to achieve a broad, lasting, and positive impact for society at large, and exhibit strong leadership and sound management. The Foundation also supports projects that facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships as an effective means for serving public welfare.

Since 1996, the Foundation has committed more than $3.3 billion through over 5,100 grants to nonprofit organizations in more than 135 countries around the world.

Excluding support for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), SNF’s largest single grant to date, SNF funding is roughly equally divided between grants in and outside of Greece.

Mission

In 2021, SNF celebrated 25 years of grantmaking. Over the past quarter-century, SNF has formed thousands of partnerships with organizations around the world, seeking to help create lasting positive impact for society. In this work, SNF has been guided by commitment to an open process, accessible to anyone, anytime, and to equal opportunity. SNF’s work, in addition to making grants to nonprofit organizations around the globe, has expanded in recent years to include initiatives to help promote civil discourse, productive exchange of ideas, and civic engagement.

Every year, SNF organizes SNF Nostos, including the SNF Run and SNF Conference, at the SNFCC. In addition to this annual gathering, SNF is committed to fostering regular opportunities for discussion and dialogue and offers the monthly SNF Dialogues series in an effort to strengthen public discourse by presenting—live and online—individuals who inspire with their work and a forum for people to engage with them.

Geographic Focus

Greece, Europe, Africa, America, South Asia, Australia, International

Programme Areas

The foundation is active in the following areas:

• Arts and Culture
• Education
• Health and Sports
• Social Welfare

Arts and culture

Provides funds and grants to cultural and art organizations, institutions and museums for cultural or art programs and projects, performances, publications, exhibitions, events, related campaigns, renovations and conservation initiatives, infrastructure and equipment needs.

Education

Provides funds and grants to universities, schools, educational institutions and non-profit organizations for courses and lectures, educational and research programs, publications, expeditions, facilities and equipment, operating support and field staff costs.

Health and Sports

Provides funds and grants to medical centers, hospitals, foundations, associations and institutions for medical research, specialized healthcare and treatment programs, equipment and operating support.

Social welfare

Provides funds and grants to associations, community institutions, foundations and public benefit organizations for disaster relief efforts, water, hygiene and sanitation projects, infrastructure, equipment and vehicles, operating support; several of these projects address handicapped people, children and/or women in need.