Bella Vista Foundation
Bella Vista Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Formed through the 2019 merger of the GGS Foundation and the Kirkwood Family Foundation, it supports community-based nonprofit organizations through programs focused on family resilience, early literacy, youth mental health, and watershed restoration.
Bella Vista Foundation at a glance
In short: Bella Vista Foundation gave $3.8M across 105 grants in 2024 (avg $36K), mostly in California. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,794,274
- -6.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 105
- +1.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $36,136
- -7.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Total assets
- $68,431,993
- +0.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (12 of 94, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bella Vista Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation’s website says it does not accept unsolicited requests and is moving to invitation-only grantmaking beginning in 2026. It says guidance and application materials will be shared individually with invited organizations; its first round of invitations was scheduled for January 2026, a past date. The website also says only one request from an organization will be funded in a 12-month period. Applicants are directed to review the guidelines for their program area; the foundation’s general guidelines state that it does not fund solely virtual programs, among other restrictions described above.
- Contact
Application contact: Stefani Willis Executive Director
Mailing address: 1660 Bush Street Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 561-6540
Website: https://bellavistafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Bella Vista Foundation
GGS Early Literacy Grant Program
Bella Vista Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
GGS Healthy Living Grant Program
Bella Vista Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Pre-3 Support Grant Program
Bella Vista Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Bella Vista Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Freshwater Trust ($120K). Together the top 10 received $793K.
Grant Size Distribution
492 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 314 grants of 492 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Watershed Restoration program funds work in California’s Klamath Watershed and, in the Sierra Nevada, the Truckee River watershed, Yuba/Bear/American rivers, and North Fork Feather River watershed. In Oregon, its stated focus includes the upper Deschutes Basin and upper John Day Basin.
The GGS Early Literacy program serves at-promise students from preschool through third grade in Marin and San Francisco counties. The website identifies Pre-3 Support staff coverage for Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in California (77%) and Oregon (16%), with 1% each in Washington, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 105 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bella Vista Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 94 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $42K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.6M (2020) to $4.3M (2021). In 2024 it made 105 grants totaling $3.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Freshwater Trust Portland, OR | Driving new conservation funding and coordinated investment to restoration | $120,000 |
| California Trout San Francisco, CA | Klamath Basin Salmon Recovery and Habitat Restoration | $100,000 |
| Mid Klamath Watershed Council Orleans, CA | Western Klamath Restoration Partnership, WKRP | $75,000 |
| Family Connections Centers San Francisco, CA | Building a foundation of early care and family support | $60,000 |
| Reading Partners Oakland, CA | General Support of Reading Partners San Francisco | $60,000 |
| South Yuba River Citizens League Nevada City, CA | General Support | $60,000 |
| Tandem Partners in Early Learning San Francisco, CA | San Francisco Programs and Operations | $60,000 |
| The Wild Salmon Center Portland, OR | Restoring Spring Chinook to the Mid-Klamath | $60,000 |
| Buckelew Programs Novato, CA | For support of services provide through la maternidad y esperanza | $55,000 |
| Sacred Heart Community Service San Jose, CA | Safe, Secure and Loved: Resilient Families | $55,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Bella Vista Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $68,431,993 | $2,330,253 | $4,974,603 | $3,794,274 | 105 | $4,412,485 | $4,176,242 | $3,360,414 |
| 2023 | $68,423,844 | $-297,583 | $4,444,297 | $4,040,372 | 104 | $4,643,986 | $180,354 | $3,222,422 |
| 2022 | $64,946,087 | $1,164,931 | $5,621,439 | $4,242,041 | 99 | $4,764,650 | $1,563,073 | $3,583,817 |
| 2021 | $86,434,044 | $2,919,660 | $6,658,256 | $4,334,252 | 100 | $4,836,005 | $5,928,698 | $4,012,338 |
| 2020 | $84,082,468 | $15,908,613 | $3,892,111 | $3,632,167 | 84 | — | $10,433,550 | $3,644,974 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support community-based nonprofit organizations through four program areas:
- Pre-3 Support builds resilience among families facing adversity or trauma by helping parents and caregivers cope with toxic stress.
- GGS Early Literacy promotes children’s reading, writing, and comprehension skills, as well as the use of literacy for critical thinking and self-expression.
- GGS Youth Mental Health supports youth mental health and substance use prevention and intervention, emphasizing culturally specific, trauma-informed approaches led by people who represent the communities served.
- Watershed Restoration supports restoration and revitalization of key watershed ecosystems in California and Oregon.
The foundation’s website says it awards grants to public charities with IRS 501(c)(3) status, fiscally sponsored projects of 501(c)(3) organizations, and federally recognized tribes. It does not award grants to individuals, public or private schools or their affiliated foundations, or sectarian programs. It also excludes endowments, events, concerts, annual appeals, videos or films, medical research, capital campaigns, and programs that are solely virtual.
Examples of grantees’ work include The Freshwater Trust, whose stated mission is to preserve and restore freshwater ecosystems, and California Trout, whose mission is to ensure healthy water and resilient wild fish for a better California. Mid Klamath Watershed Council describes its work as collaboratively planning and implementing ecosystem restoration, promoting community vitality, and involving people in land stewardship. Reading Partners says it provides personalized, evidence-based literacy support and individualized instruction to help students become confident, independent readers.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 105 grants totaling $3,794,274. Grants ranged from $500 to $120,000, with a median of $35,000. Notable awards included $120,000 to The Freshwater Trust for conservation funding and coordinated investment in restoration; $100,000 to California Trout for Klamath Basin salmon recovery and habitat restoration; and $75,000 to Mid Klamath Watershed Council for the Western Klamath Restoration Partnership. Other awards included $60,000 each to Family Connections Centers, Reading Partners, South Yuba River Citizens League, Tandem Partners in Early Learning, and the Wild Salmon Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Susan Koe as chair, Shannon Casey Welch as vice chair and co-treasurer, Katherine Joiner as co-treasurer, and Jean Casey as secretary. Other listed directors are Rob Millis, Micheal Casey, Kimberly Casey, and Sara Koe. Spencer Kirkwood is listed as audit chair, and John Kirkwood as director emeritus.
The website identifies Melissa Morazán as program director for Pre-3 Support in Marin, San Francisco, and Alameda; Jessi Misslin as executive director for Pre-3 Support in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda; Tiffany Wood as senior program officer for GGS Youth Mental Health and Early Literacy; and Araceli Ayala as grants manager.
Bella Vista Foundation is led by Spencer Kirkwood, Audit Chair since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 10 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Spencer Kirkwood
Audit Chair
Director → Audit Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Koe
Chair
Vice Chairman → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Casey
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Micheal Casey
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Millis
Director
Audit Chair → Co-Treasurer, 2023
Co-Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Koe
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean Casey
Secretary
Chair → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Kirkwood
Director Emeritus
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Joiner
Co-Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Casey Welch
Vice Chair & Co-Treasurer
Secretary → Vice Chair & Co-Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Corey Kirkwood (2020–2022) — Co-Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Bella Vista Foundation
How much does Bella Vista Foundation give each year?
Bella Vista Foundation gave $3.8M across 105 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.0M across 104 grants.
What is Bella Vista Foundation's typical grant size?
Bella Vista Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $36,136, across 105 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bella Vista Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does Bella Vista Foundation give grants?
Bella Vista Foundation gives mostly in California: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oregon (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (38 grants), Oakland, CA (8 grants), San Jose, CA (5 grants) and San Rafael, CA (5 grants).
Does Bella Vista Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 24% of Bella Vista Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 105) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bella Vista Foundation's largest grantees?
Bella Vista Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Freshwater Trust ($120,000), California Trout ($103,000 across 2 grants) and Family Connections Centers ($85,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bella Vista Foundation?
Bella Vista Foundation reported $68.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bella Vista Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support community-based nonprofit organizations through four program areas: See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bella Vista Foundation?
The foundation’s website says it does not accept unsolicited requests and is moving to invitation-only grantmaking beginning in 2026. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Bella Vista Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Bella Vista Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bella Vista Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma
San Francisco, CA
The Federation funds Jewish life and identity, antisemitism response, crisis relief, human services, and justice and inclusion, with work in the Bay Area, Israel, and beyond. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,050 to $2,405,915, with a median of $22,750. It frequently issues requests for proposals and welcomes inquiries about new Bay Area programs; no current organization grant opportunities were listed.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
1,032
Total Given
$94.5M
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals
Oakland, CA
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals funds health care access and services, community health, health education, and related work, with priorities including mental and behavioral health, housing, and income and employment. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely; most grant dollars went to California, with some going elsewhere. In Southern California, it says it does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals and awards grants through competitive processes to pre-identified organizations.
Assets
$87.4B
Grants
1,122
Total Given
$225.4M
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bella Vista Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bella-vista-foundation-morg_019aa596970645fc84d1280682bf360c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943345967_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bella Vista Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bella-vista-foundation-morg_019aa596970645fc84d1280682bf360c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Bella Vista Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Bella Vista Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?