Enlight Foundation
Enlight Foundation is a Palo Alto private foundation (EIN 20-1063909) focused on youth empowerment, education equity, youth mental wellbeing, and youth-driven climate solutions. Founded in 2004 and led by Xin Liu, the foundation describes grantmaking priorities and partnership approaches and notes that unsolicited proposals are generally not accepted.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Established nonprofits working on youth empowerment, education equity, youth mental health, or youth-driven climate solutions with track records at regional or national scale and the ability to engage through networks or intermediaries.
Good Fit
- • Direct programmatic alignment with youth-focused education, mental wellbeing, or youth climate priorities.
- • Demonstrated ability to manage multi-hundred-thousand to multi-million dollar grants.
- • Existing relationship, referral, or partnership with returning grantees or program staff.
- • Presence or partnerships in states where the foundation has recently funded.
Geography
Observed giving in the latest year reached recipients in 10 states and 82% of dollars went to out-of-state recipients, indicating a multi-state/national footprint rather than strictly local support.
Recipient Variety
In the latest year the foundation made 29 grants to 29 distinct recipients, including 17 new recipients and 12 repeats across the two observed years, showing a broad and varied recipient set even though some dollars were highly concentrated.
New Applicants
The foundation explicitly states it does not accept unsolicited proposals and operates by invitation only, which limits direct entry; however, the portfolio included 17 new grantees in the latest year, so new organizations can be added but most access appears to come via referrals, intermediaries, or proactive identification rather than an open public application process.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
