Bella Vista Foundation
Bella Vista Foundation is a private family foundation based in San Francisco, California, established in 1999. The foundation maintains a two-part grantmaking focus on early childhood development and ecosystem restoration, funding community-based nonprofit organizations working to address fundamental causes of societal problems.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$68.4M
+0.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.8M
-6.1% YoY
Grant Count
105
+1.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
-7.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bella Vista Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to build resilient families and healthy watershed ecosystems. The foundation supports community-based nonprofit organizations working in four primary program areas:
Pre-3 Support — Focuses on building resiliency among families facing adversity or trauma by helping parents and caregivers cope with toxic stress. Serves Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties.
GGS Early Literacy — Promotes literacy for children, including acquisition of reading, writing, and comprehension skills, and application of literacy skills to critical thinking and self-expression.
GGS Youth Mental Health — Supports youth mental health and substance use prevention and intervention programs that employ approaches that are culturally specific, trauma-informed, and led by people that represent the community served.
Watershed Restoration — Focuses on restoration and revitalization of key watershed ecosystems within specific geographic areas in California and Oregon, with priorities including sustainable management of forest and agricultural land, revitalizing streams, and restoring riparian areas.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 105 grants with a median grant size of $35,000, with grants ranging from $500 to $120,000.
Grant Range
s and Activity**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds programs in:
- Early Childhood Programs: Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties in California
- Watershed Restoration: Specific geographic areas in California and Oregon
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $68 million (as of fiscal year 2024)
Grant Activity: 105 grants distributed with a median grant size of $35,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $68,431,993 | $68,423,844 | $64,946,087 |
| Revenue | $2,330,253 | $-297,583 | $1,164,931 |
| Expenses | $4,974,603 | $4,444,297 | $5,621,439 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,412,485 | $4,643,986 | $4,764,650 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,176,242 | $180,354 | $1,563,073 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,360,414 | $3,222,422 | $3,583,817 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Bella Vista Foundation
GGS Early Literacy Grant Program
BELLA VISTA FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
GGS Healthy Living Grant Program
BELLA VISTA FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Pre-3 Support Grant Program
BELLA VISTA FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include California Trout ($100,000), Mid Klamath Watershed Council ($75,000), Family Connections Centers ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 18 REASONS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | NOURISHING PREGNANCY PROGRAM | $28,000 |
| 826 VALENCIA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | 826 VALENCIAS EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| 826 VALENCIA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| A HOME WITHIN OAKLAND, CA | TO SUPPORT SF IMPLEMENTATION OF BUILDING PRACTICE IN COMMUNITY PROGRAM | $40,000 |
| ACCESS INSTITUTE FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT IN-SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM | $40,000 |
| AMERICAN RIVERS INC WASHINGTON, DC | BUILDING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS FOR ENHANCED WATERSHED RESILIENCE | $50,000 |
| ASIAN HEALTH SERVICES OAKLAND, CA | FOR SUPPORT OF THE HEALTHY MOTHERS, HEALTHY BABIES PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| AT THE CROSSROADS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| AT THE CROSSROADS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| BAY AREA SCORES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF AMERICA SCORES BAY AREA | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members:
- Susan Koe, Chair
- Shannon Casey Welch, Vice Chair and Co-Treasurer
- Katherine Joiner, Co-Treasurer
- Jean Casey, Secretary
- Rob Millis, Director
- Michael Casey, Director
- Kimberly Casey, Director
- Spencer Kirkwood, Audit Chair
- Sara Koe, Director
- John Kirkwood, Director Emeritus
Staff:
- Melissa Morazán, Program Director (Pre-3 Support, Marin/San Francisco/Alameda)
- Jessi Misslin, Executive Director (Pre-3 Support, San Mateo/Santa Clara/Alameda)
- Tiffany Wood, Senior Program Officer (GGS Youth Mental Health & Early Literacy)
- Derek Aspacher, Senior Program Officer (Watershed Restoration)
- Araceli Ayala, Grants Manager
The foundation partners with Pacific Foundation Services for administrative support.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEAN CASEY | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| SUSAN KOE | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE JOINER | CO-TREASURER | 1 | — |
| SHANNON CASEY WELCH | VICE CHAIR AND CO-TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ROB MILLIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHEAL CASEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KIMBERLY CASEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SPENCER KIRKWOOD | AUDIT CHAIR | 1 | — |
| JOHN KIRKWOOD | DIRECTOR EMERITUS | 1 | — |
| SARA KOE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1660 Bush Street, Suite 300 San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: 415.561.6540
Website: www.bellavistafoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bella Vista Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to build resilient families and healthy watershed ecosystems. The foundation supports community-based nonprofit organizations working in four primary program areas: **Pre-3 Support** — Focuses on building resiliency among families facing adversity or trauma by helping parents and caregivers cope with toxic stress. Serves Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. **GGS Early Literacy** — Promotes literacy for children, including acquisition o…
How do I apply for a grant from Bella Vista Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity** The foundation made 105 grants with a median grant size of $35,000, with grants ranging from $500 to $120,000. **Application Process** Beginning in 2026, the foundation is transitioning to an invitation-only grantmaking process. The foundation is not currently accepting unsolicited proposals. Specific guidance and application materials will be shared individually with organizations when they are invited to submit a proposal. The first round of invitations was issued…
Where does Bella Vista Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds programs in: • **Early Childhood Programs**: Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties in California • **Watershed Restoration**: Specific geographic areas in California and Oregon
What size grants does Bella Vista Foundation award?
In 2024, Bella Vista Foundation awarded 105 grants totaling $3.8M — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bella Vista Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bella Vista Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bella Vista Foundation's EIN?
Bella Vista Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3345967. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bella Vista 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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