The Pew Charitable Trusts is an independent, non-partisan nonprofit foundation headquartered in Philadelphia, founded in 1948 by the heirs of Sun Oil Company founder Joseph N. Pew. It operates as a grantmaking institution supporting policy solutions through rigorous research, analysis, and advocacy across diverse areas including government, philanthropy, civic life, environmental protection, health and human services, economic mobility, and government reform. With an endowment derived from the Pew family's oil fortune, the organization funds independent research centers and projects—such as the Pew Research Center, which conducts nonpartisan public opinion polling and demographic research—aimed at informing policymakers and the public on complex issues. Emphasizing evidence-based approaches to foster informed decision-making and societal improvement, Pew maintains a commitment to transparency and accountability while avoiding direct political endorsements to preserve its nonpartisan status. Over decades, it has been influential in shaping policies on topics ranging from campaign finance reform and ocean conservation to biomedical research and fiscal sustainability, with annual grants exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars and a global reach through international programs.