Funding Sources

Public Knowledge receives financial support for its mission from a wide array of sources, to ensure that its funding remains diversified and its mission independent. Funding sources include some supporters who may disagree with our positions on various policies, as well as charitable foundation grants and general support contributions from generous individuals and companies.

However, there are some values that are core to Public Knowledge’s work but not mentioned in our mission, such as equity for traditionally marginalized individuals and groups, and the importance of democratic institutions that preserve free expression and equal justice. Public Knowledge factors these values into its decisions on accepting support.

Foundation support accounts for around two-thirds of Public Knowledge’s budget, and grantors include the Ford Foundation, the Omidyar Network, the Open Society Foundations, the Democracy Fund, the Kahle-Austin Foundation, the Knight Foundation, Voqal, Economic Security Project, the Ballmer Group, and the Reis Foundation. 

The remainder of support comes from companies and individuals through donations and sponsorship of the IP3 Awards. Public Knowledge recognizes individual donors and companies if they wish through the IP3 Awards event materials. Public Knowledge limits contributions from any single corporation to 10 percent of its annual budget to ensure that no funders can attempt to assert undue influence on Public Knowledge.

2020/2021 Annual Giving From Major Supporters & Sponsors*

$50,000+
AT&T
Dish
DuckDuckGo
Google
Microsoft
Netflix
TikTok
T-Mobile

$25,000+
Airbnb
Amazon
Ligado
News Corp
Sirius XM

$10,000+
AARP
American Cable
Bloomberg
Broadcom
Crown Castle
ISOC
Oracle
Perry Bayliss
Sonos
Twitter
Verizon
Windstream
Writers Guild of America, West

*Additionally, we were supported by hundreds of individual donors during this period of time.
*This list does not include donors who requested to remain anonymous.