Inmaat Foundation

The InMaat Foundation operates as an invitation-only private grantmaking foundation founded in 2012 by Chandra Jessee, a venture investor and prominent gender justice advocate who serves on the boards of Equality Now and RAINN's National Leadership Council. The foundation's name 'InMaat' references the ancient Egyptian concept of Ma'at—truth, justice, balance, and cosmic order—reflecting its commitment to systemic change rather than incremental reform. The foundation's grantmaking philosophy centers on trust-based philanthropy: providing unrestricted, streamlined support that allows partner organizations to focus on their mission rather than compliance reporting. As Jessee has stated, 'I care deeply about the rights and equality of women and girls but know I'm not the expert on how to achieve this. The people on the ground are, and I want to invest in their work in a meaningful and impactful way.' This approach manifests in multi-year general operating support grants rather than project-specific funding, positioning InMaat as a values-aligned funder that prioritizes organizational sustainability over programmatic control. With $45.2M in assets and approximately $2.6M in annual giving across 117 grants (2024), the foundation maintains a diversified portfolio spanning direct service organizations, advocacy groups, and documentary filmmakers working at the intersection of gender justice and human rights.

InMaat Foundation's grantmaking has grown steadily since its founding, expanding from 58 grants in 2020 to 117 grants in 2024, reflecting an increasingly diversified portfolio. Total annual giving has ranged from approximately $2.3M to $3.5M, with a typical grant range of $3,000 to $600,000 and a median grant of $15,000. The foundation makes both large anchor grants to established organizations (Equality Now at $350K, Polaris Project at $200K across two grants) and numerous smaller grants to emerging organizations and documentary film projects. The grant portfolio clusters into several distinct categories: (1) gender justice and women's rights organizations (Equality Now, Vital Voices, Frontline Women's Fund); (2) anti-trafficking and survivor support (Polaris Project); (3) documentary filmmaking for social change (Cinema Tropical, International Documentary Association, individual film projects like 'Queendom,' 'Roll Red Roll,' and 'The Eternal Memory'); (4) human rights documentation (WITNESS); and (5) international development with a gender lens (Room to Read, Skateistan, Safari Doctors). Revenue comes primarily from investment returns ($2.5M from asset sales, $973K in dividends in 2024) plus modest contributions ($427K), indicating a self-sustaining endowment model. The foundation pays one staff member—Executive Director Rebecca Lichtenfeld ($175K)—while President Jessee and Secretary Eric Dorsch serve without compensation.

InMaat occupies a distinctive niche among gender justice funders by combining invitation-only grantmaking with a uniquely strong emphasis on documentary filmmaking and media as tools for social change. While larger peers like NoVo Foundation and Global Fund for Women operate at significantly greater scale, InMaat's trust-based approach and unrestricted funding model makes it particularly valued by grantees who receive flexible support without burdensome reporting requirements. Its documentary film portfolio—supporting projects that have screened at Sundance, SXSW, and other major festivals—differentiates it from peers who focus primarily on direct service or advocacy organizations. The foundation's 12% new applicant funding rate, while modest, suggests it does expand its portfolio beyond existing relationships when organizations demonstrate strong mission alignment.

In fiscal year 2024, InMaat Foundation distributed $3.5M across 117 grants, its most active year to date and a significant expansion from 58 grants in 2020. The foundation's largest 2024 grants included $350,000 to Equality Now for general operating support toward 'making equality a reality,' dual grants totaling $200,000 to Polaris Project (general operating support plus a dedicated Survivor's Resilience Fund), $175,000 to Cinema Tropical across two grants (one for the Micromundo project and one for the documentary 'The Eternal Memory'), and $140,000 to WITNESS across two grants for general operating support. The foundation also continued its commitment to documentary filmmaking with $100,000 to the International Documentary Association for 'A Very Long Winter.' President Chandra Jessee remains active in the broader gender justice ecosystem, serving on the global board of Equality Now and RAINN's National Leadership Council. The foundation filed its most recent Form 990-PF in November 2025, reporting $45.2M in assets and zero liabilities. Revenue in 2024 was $3.9M, driven largely by $2.5M in asset sales and $973K in dividends, indicating healthy endowment performance despite market volatility.

The InMaat Foundation operates on a strictly invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited proposals, letters of inquiry, or cold applications. However, organizations seeking to be noticed by the foundation should pursue several strategic approaches. First, build visibility within the gender justice and human rights ecosystem—InMaat's grantees are concentrated among well-known organizations in this space, and peer recommendations from existing grantees (Equality Now, Vital Voices, WITNESS, Polaris Project) likely influence selection. Second, organizations working at the intersection of media/documentary filmmaking and social justice should ensure their work is visible at major festivals (Sundance, SXSW, TIFF) and through organizations like Cinema Tropical and the International Documentary Association, both significant InMaat partners. Third, engage with networks where President Chandra Jessee is active—she serves on the boards of Equality Now and RAINN's National Leadership Council and is visible on social media (@ChandraJessee on X/Twitter). Fourth, maintain a strong social media presence and engage with InMaat's accounts (@inmaatfoundation on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook). Fifth, demonstrate commitment to trust-based philanthropy principles—InMaat values organizations that can articulate how unrestricted funding enables their mission, rather than those seeking project-specific support. The foundation's address is 225 West 35th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10001, and its phone number is (212) 736-0055, though unsolicited contact is unlikely to yield direct results.