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Leo Koguan Foundation is a private trust based in SOMERSET, NJ. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 2003. The principal officer is Shi. It holds total assets of $2.3M. Annual income is reported at $1.7M. Total assets have grown from $439K in 2011 to $2.3M in 2023. The foundation is governed by 2 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2016 to 2023. The foundation primarily funds organizations in CN, US and Global. According to available records, Leo Koguan Foundation has made 14 grants totaling $8.9M, with a median grant of $537K. Annual giving has decreased from $2.6M in 2021 to $1.8M in 2023. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2022 with $4.5M distributed across 4 grants. Individual grants have ranged from $35K to $1.7M, with an average award of $634K. The foundation has supported 8 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in Florida, California, New York, which account for 86% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 5 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
Leo KoGuan Foundation is a preselected, founder-directed private foundation. It does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All grants are personally directed by Professor Leo KoGuan (廖凯原, Liao Kaiyuan) to institutions aligned with his intellectual legacy in legal education, Chinese cultural heritage, and KQID philosophy.
The only viable path to funding is through an existing relationship with Professor KoGuan or one of his affiliated centers (KQID Engine and Creation Institute, KoGuan Centers at Tsinghua, Peking University, or SJTU). Institutions seeking engagement should focus on direct academic collaboration, conference participation, or research partnerships rather than grant applications.
For hiring/research collaborations, the foundation recruits Research Assistants and Science Writers through hr@leokoguanfoundation.org, targeting graduates with law, finance, science, or humanities backgrounds from top universities.
Financial Profile (2011-2023 from IRS Form 990-PF): - Total grants distributed since 2011: over $35 million - Peak assets: ~$13.9M (2015), now in active spend-down - Current assets (2023): $2,264,341 - 2023 grants paid: $1,769,598 to pre-selected organizations - 2022 grants paid: $2,259,326 - 2021 grants paid: $2,585,000 - Typical grant size: $424K-$1.9M (average $959K, median $591K, based on 3 tracked grants) - Revenue source: almost entirely investment income (dividends + capital gains on ~$2.1M equity portfolio) - Officer compensation: $0 — donor-directed, no independent staff - SPEND-DOWN STATUS: Annual disbursements have exceeded investment income every year. At current rates, assets will be exhausted within 1-2 years unless new capital contributions are made by the founder.
Focus areas by giving history: 1. Chinese university law school infrastructure (KoGuan Law Building at Tsinghua; KoGuan School of Law at SJTU) 2. Chinese cultural heritage and Yellow Emperor/XuanYuan philosophy conferences and centers 3. KQID Engine and Creation Institute — interdisciplinary quantum/philosophy/legal research 4. Scholar recruitment and academic programming at KoGuan-affiliated centers globally
| Foundation | State | Assets | Avg Grant | Median Grant | # Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zankel Fund | NY | $518K | $6,034,079 | $7,515,498 | 3 |
| Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Fdn | DC | $2.1M | $1,500,000 | $1,250,000 | 6 |
| Dick Scheffel Family Charitable Fdn | NV | $4.8M | $1,146,526 | $7,500 | 10 |
| Chamberlin Family Philanthropy | CA | $3.0M | $1,125,298 | $3,000 | 29 |
| Leo KoGuan Foundation | NJ | $2.3M | $959,057 | $590,970 | 3 |
| Francis X Bride Test Trust | LA | $1.7M | $759,402 | $455,641 | 4 |
Analysis: Leo KoGuan Foundation ranks in the top tier for average grant size among similarly-sized T22 peers (assets $0.5M-$6M). Unlike foundations such as Chamberlin (29 grantees at avg $1.1M but median $3K), KoGuan makes very few, very large grants — all at the institutional endowment level. This reflects a founder-as-patron model rather than competitive grantmaking.
Recent activity (2024-2026, from website RSS feed and news): - February 2026: Chinese New Year celebration post (Year of the Horse 4723XY) — both English and Chinese posts - December 2025: Christmas/New Year greeting post - October 2025: Mid-Autumn Festival celebration post - January 2025: Chinese New Year 4722XY celebration
The website primarily functions as a cultural communications platform for Professor KoGuan rather than a grant program portal. No new grant announcements, RFPs, or program updates were found in recent posts. Activity is dominated by Chinese cultural calendar events and philosophical content.
Most recent substantive grant-related activity found: 2017 signing ceremony for second-phase KoGuan donation at SJTU; KoGuan Law Building grand opening at Tsinghua. No public announcements of new institutional grants since 2020.
Grantseeking Tips for Leo KoGuan Foundation:
1. DO NOT APPLY COLD — This foundation accepts no unsolicited applications. Any outreach without a prior relationship will be ignored.
2. RELATIONSHIP PATHWAY — The only viable route is through existing connections to Professor Leo KoGuan's academic network: KoGuan Centers at Tsinghua, Peking University, or SJTU; the KQID Engine and Creation Institute; or Chinese Yellow Emperor culture academic conferences.
3. SPEND-DOWN WARNING — With $2.27M in assets and $1.7M+ annual disbursements, the foundation may exhaust funds within 1-2 years. Do not count on multi-year funding even with a relationship.
4. HIRING CHANNEL — The foundation does recruit Research Assistants and Science Writers. If seeking career opportunities (not grants), contact hr@leokoguanfoundation.org. Target candidates: law, finance, science, or humanities graduates from top universities with interest in Chinese philosophy and KQID framework.
5. FOCUS ALIGNMENT — Any engagement must align with: (a) Chinese legal education at elite universities, (b) Chinese cultural heritage and XuanYuan/Yellow Emperor philosophy, or (c) the KQID interdisciplinary research framework. General nonprofits, US-focused causes, or social services are outside scope.
6. CONTACT — Phone: (732) 868-8822 | Email: hr@leokoguanfoundation.org | Address: 290 Davidson Ave, Somerset, NJ 08873 (c/o Shi)
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Smallest Grant
$424K
Median Grant
$591K
Average Grant
$959K
Largest Grant
$1.9M
Based on 3 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
Major donations to law schools including the KoGuan Law Building at Tsinghua University and KoGuan School of Law at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Supports legal education infrastructure, scholarships, and academic programming at elite Chinese and international universities.
Supports academic conferences, publications, and centers focused on Chinese civilization, Yellow Emperor cultural heritage, XuanYuan philosophy, and the promotion of Chinese consensus through KoGuan Dao intellectual framework. Includes the KQID Engine and Creation Institute.
Funds research assistants, science writers, and scholars advancing interdisciplinary work at the intersection of Chinese philosophy, law, science, and humanity. Partners with top universities worldwide.
Financial Profile (2011-2023 from IRS Form 990-PF): - Total grants distributed since 2011: over $35 million - Peak assets: ~$13.9M (2015), now in active spend-down - Current assets (2023): $2,264,341 - 2023 grants paid: $1,769,598 to pre-selected organizations - 2022 grants paid: $2,259,326 - 2021 grants paid: $2,585,000 - Typical grant size: $424K-$1.9M (average $959K, median $591K, based on 3 tracked grants) - Revenue source: almost entirely investment income (dividends + capital gains on ~$2.
Leo Koguan Foundation has distributed a total of $8.9M across 14 grants. The median grant size is $537K, with an average of $634K. Individual grants have ranged from $35K to $1.7M.
Leo KoGuan Foundation is a preselected, founder-directed private foundation. It does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All grants are personally directed by Professor Leo KoGuan (廖凯原, Liao Kaiyuan) to institutions aligned with his intellectual legacy in legal education, Chinese cultural heritage, and KQID philosophy. The only viable path to funding is through an existing relationship with Professor KoGuan or one of his affiliated centers (KQID Engine and Creation Institute, KoGuan Cent.
Leo Koguan Foundation is headquartered in SOMERSET, NJ. While based in NJ, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 5 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Ng | TREASURER | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Leo Koguan | TRUSTEE | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
$1.8M
Total Assets
$2.3M
Fair Market Value
$3.5M
Net Worth
$2.3M
Grants Paid
$1.8M
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
$634K
Distribution Amount
$181K
Total Grants
14
Total Giving
$8.9M
Average Grant
$634K
Median Grant
$537K
Unique Recipients
8
Most Common Grant
$50K
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia UniversityUNRESTRICTED USE BY DONEE | New York, NY | $100K | 2021 |
| Jiao Tung Univ Alumni Foundation Of America IncUNRESTRICTED USE BY DONEE | Lehigh Acres, FL | $1.2M | 2023 |
| Peking University Educational Foundation UsaUNRESTRICTED USE BY DONEE | Millbrae, CA | $539K | 2023 |
| Fudan University Education Development FoundationUNRESTRICTED USE BY DONEE | La Jolla, CA | $35K | 2023 |
| New York Law SchoolUNRESTRICTED USE BY DONEE | New York, NY | $50K | 2021 |
| Tsinghua Education FoundationUNRESTRICTED USE BY DONEE | Los Angeles, CA | $50K | 2021 |
| Stamford UniversityUNRESTRICTED USE BY DONEE | Stamford, CT | $50K | 2021 |
| Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyUNRESTRICTED USE BY DONEE | Cambridge, MA | $50K | 2021 |