Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation
The Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2006 by real estate developer and philanthropist Gerson Bakar and his wife Barbara. Based in San Francisco, California, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and also operates under the name The Achieve Foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$133.2M
+4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.8M
+1.6% YoY
Grant Count
42
-4.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$114K
+6.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports health care, Jewish community organizations, and education, with a particular emphasis on arts and culture, performing arts, theater, and elementary and secondary education. The foundation is committed to enhancing cultural and educational opportunities in the communities it serves.
Grantmaking
The foundation's grant-making focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services, primarily in California, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Typical grant awards range from $101 to $3,250,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across various U.S. cities and states, with particular emphasis on the Bay Area. Geographic focus areas include California, Florida, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of the most recent filings:
- Total Assets: $128.0 million to $133.2 million
- Annual Revenue: $3.75 million (2023)
- Annual Expenses: $6.22 million (2023)
- Total Giving: $4.77 million (2024)
- Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $133,249,664 | $127,951,668 | $115,908,800 |
| Revenue | $9,930,967 | $3,748,547 | $5,415,518 |
| Expenses | $6,945,988 | $6,215,856 | $8,534,800 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,925,366 | $5,647,521 | $7,308,217 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,080,601 | $2,272,818 | $3,165,600 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,259,441 | $6,326,301 | $5,811,249 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
205 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Uc Berkeley Foundation ($600,000), Baptist Health Foundation ($597,000), Ucsf Foundation ($525,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ALEXANDER ROBINSON PORTLAND, OR | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP | $7,000 |
| ALONDRA PACAS HOLLAND, MI | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP | $6,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $300,000 |
| ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TUITION EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT | $279,423 |
| BAPTIST HEALTH FOUNDATION CORAL GABLES, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $597,000 |
| BOSTON PLASTIC & ORAL SURGERY FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $110,307 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| BRIGHTRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Barbara Bass Bakar - Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, President, and Executive Director
- Sharon Hasegawa - Secretary and Chief Financial Officer
- Michelle Kong - Registered Agent
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA BASS BAKAR | CHAIRMAN/PRES/EXEC DIRECTOR | 1 | $68,880 |
| SHARON HASEGAWA | SECRETARY / TREASURER | 1 | — |
| KATHLEEN MCCORMICK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NANCI BAKAR FREDKIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| REBECCA RENZAS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PHYLLIS COOK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation supports the Bakar Fellows Program, which announced 2024 Spark Award recipients and 2024 Bakar Prize Winners. The foundation has also been involved in supporting the Bakar Research and Academic Building at UCSF.
Meet the Bakar Fellows Program\u2019s 2024 Bakar Prize Winners - Bakar Fellows\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation fund?
The foundation supports health care, Jewish community organizations, and education, with a particular emphasis on arts and culture, performing arts, theater, and elementary and secondary education. The foundation is committed to enhancing cultural and educational opportunities in the communities it serves.
How do I apply for a grant from Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation?
The foundation's grant-making focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services, primarily in California, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Typical grant awards range from $101 to $3,250,000.
Where does Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects across various U.S. cities and states, with particular emphasis on the Bay Area. Geographic focus areas include California, Florida, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Washington, D.C.
What size grants does Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation award?
In 2024, Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $4.8M — an average of about $114K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation's EIN?
Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5691977. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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