Caldwell Fisher Family
Caldwell Fisher Family is a private foundation based in Menlo Park, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants for education, art, science, mental health, environment, and education/welfare purposes, as well as direct charitable activity involving educational film production.
Caldwell Fisher Family at a glance
In short: Caldwell Fisher Family gave $3.7M across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $535K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,745,000
- -29.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 7
- -69.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $535,000
- +130.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $24,020,753
- -9.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Caldwell Fisher Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its filing says to contact John Fisher and submit an application in writing, clearly stating the purpose of the funding. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- No deadline.
- Deadline
- No deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: John Fisher
Mailing address: 2882 Sand Hill Road Ste 150, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: (650) 233-9000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Caldwell Fisher Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Harvard's Climate Action Accelerator Fund ($3.5M). Together the top 7 received $3.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
154 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 154 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 3% to California, 3% to Washington, DC, and 1% to New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Caldwell Fisher Family gives
- Giving grew 37% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 295% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2021) to $13.7M (2022). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $3.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard's Climate Action Accelerator Fund Boston, MA | Education | $3,500,000 |
| National Redistricting Foundation Washington, DC | Education/Wellfare | $100,000 |
| SFMOMA San Francisco, CA | ART | $85,000 |
| Exploratorium San Francisco, CA | Science/Education | $25,000 |
| Mental Health Coalition Inc New York, NY | Mental Health | $25,000 |
| Jane Goodall Institute Washington, DC | Enviornment | $5,000 |
| Landpaths Santa Rosa, CA | Enviornment | $5,000 |
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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 | $24,020,753 | $1,026,435 | $90,429 | $3,745,000 | 7 | $3,824,761 | $987,759 | $1,297,146 |
| 2023 | $26,629,781 | $945,038 | $6,311,000 | $5,329,400 | 23 | $5,428,021 | $954,726 | $1,474,931 |
| 2022 | $30,860,747 | $10,605,445 | $25,576,553 | $13,673,600 | 31 | $13,780,119 | $9,453,009 | $1,843,623 |
| 2021 | $34,366,966 | $30,705,197 | $7,012,130 | $2,740,195 | 46 | $3,074,865 | $30,369,412 | $500,706 |
| 2020 | $7,549,810 | $9,993,689 | $3,388,482 | $3,236,622 | 47 | — | $9,898,664 | $375,477 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Caldwell Fisher Family reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its reported grant purposes and direct charitable activity include education, art, science, mental health, environmental work, and educational film production.
The organizations it supports have varied missions. The National Redistricting Foundation says it seeks to oppose racial and partisan gerrymandering through litigation and public education. Mental Health Coalition says its mission is to destigmatize mental health and empower access to resources and support. LandPaths says it fosters a love of the land in Sonoma County and helps people experience, understand, and care for local land.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 7 grants totaling $3,745,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $3,500,000, with a median of $25,000. Its largest reported grants were $3,500,000 to Harvard’s Climate Action Accelerator Fund for education; $100,000 to the National Redistricting Foundation for education/welfare; and $85,000 to SFMOMA for art.
The foundation reported 23 grants totaling $5,329,400 in 2023 and 31 grants totaling $13,673,600 in 2022.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jennifer Caldwell as President/Vice President and John Fisher as CEO/Secretary.
Caldwell Fisher Family is led by John Fisher, CEO & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John Fisher
CEO & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jennifer Caldwell
President & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Caldwell Fisher Family
How much does Caldwell Fisher Family give each year?
Caldwell Fisher Family gave $3.7M across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.3M across 23 grants.
What is Caldwell Fisher Family's typical grant size?
Caldwell Fisher Family's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $535,000, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Caldwell Fisher Family give grants?
Caldwell Fisher Family gives mostly in Massachusetts: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Caldwell Fisher Family give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Caldwell Fisher Family's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Caldwell Fisher Family's largest grantees?
Caldwell Fisher Family's largest 2024 grantees include Harvard's Climate Action Accelerator Fund ($3,500,000), National Redistricting Foundation ($100,000) and SFMOMA ($85,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Caldwell Fisher Family?
Caldwell Fisher Family reported $24.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Caldwell Fisher Family fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its reported grant purposes and direct charitable activity include education, art, science, mental health, environmental work, and educational film production. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Caldwell Fisher Family?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Caldwell Fisher Family's EIN?
Caldwell Fisher Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0527966. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Caldwell Fisher Family 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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