Cerity Partners Foundation
Cerity Partners Foundation is a public charity based in Novato, California. Its 2025 filing lists grants to charitable and educational organizations for purposes including general operating support, scholarships, and community projects.
Cerity Partners Foundation at a glance
In short: Cerity Partners Foundation gave $3.7M across 118 grants in 2025 (avg $32K), top state California. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,737,740
- -51.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 118
- +0.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $31,676
- -52.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,250
- Total assets
- $35,618,597
- +7.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (31 of 118, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (46% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cerity Partners Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 5 Hamilton Landing 200, Novato, CA 94949
Phone: (415) 464-2500
Website: https://ceritypartners.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cerity Partners Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Oregon State University Foundation ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($75,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
583 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 499 grants of 583 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In the 2025 itemized-grant data, grant dollars went to recipients in California (46%), Oregon (29%), New York (14%), Ohio (5%), and the District of Columbia (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 118 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Cerity Partners Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 31 of 118 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $12K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2019) to $7.8M (2023). In 2025 it made 118 grants totaling $3.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon State University Foundation Corvallis, OR | Support the Field Sport Building | $1,001,000 |
| Northern New York Community Foundation Inc Watertown, NY | Up Home Fund Support | $260,000 |
| Wittenberg University Springfield, OH | Provide General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Alder Graduate School of Education Redwood City, CA | Provide General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Community Initiatives Oakland, CA | Support the Fund for People in Parks | $75,500 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $75,000 |
| Festival Opera Association Inc Walnut Creek, CA | Provide General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| American Conservatory Theatre San Francisco, CA | Provide General Operating Support | $67,050 |
| Lamorinda Village Inc Lafayette, CA | Provide General Operating Support | $65,000 |
| Maker Nexus Sunnyvale, CA | Provide General Operating Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Cerity Partners Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,618,597 | $4,711,276 | $4,645,781 | $3,737,740 | 118 | $965,518 |
| 2024 | $33,174,294 | $4,277,751 | $8,637,260 | $7,719,632 | 117 | $1,577,813 |
| 2023 | $35,256,571 | $2,497,295 | $4,179,883 | $7,788,131 | 121 | $653,595 |
| 2022 | $39,316,307 | $16,614,199 | $12,368,636 | $7,025,426 | 121 | $1,882,723 |
| 2020 | $30,559,759 | $2,172,649 | $3,685,198 | $2,842,630 | 106 | $1,201,878 |
| 2019 | $33,314,562 | $2,847,301 | $3,183,368 | $2,498,300 | 80 | $1,519,535 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states its mission as “mobilizing the power of community and the resources of philanthropy to advance equity for people, places and the planet.”
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. Oregon State University Foundation received a grant to support a field sport building; it describes its role as engaging the community and stewarding resources to enhance Oregon State University’s excellence and impact. Alder Graduate School of Education received general operating support; it says it works to create opportunity for students by recruiting and educating teachers and leaders who reflect their school communities. Community Initiatives received support for the Fund for People in Parks; it describes providing administrative services to nonprofit projects and collaborations in service of positive social change. Other recipients included organizations whose stated missions involve education, services for older adults, and the performing arts.
Grantmaking
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, it awarded 610 grants totaling $4,355,722. Separately, itemized-grant data for filing year 2025 lists 118 grants totaling $3,737,740. Those itemized awards ranged from $5,500 to $1,001,000, with a median of $11,250.
Among the largest itemized grants in filing year 2025 were $1,001,000 to Oregon State University Foundation for a field sport building; $260,000 to Northern New York Community Foundation for UP Home Fund support; $200,000 to Wittenberg University for general operating support; and $150,000 to Alder Graduate School of Education for general operating support. Other listed awards included $75,500 to Community Initiatives for the Fund for People in Parks and $75,000 to Bank Street College of Education for scholarships.
The foundation says prospective grantees must meet its due-diligence requirements, including an independent investigation to establish eligibility. Grantees must have the capacity to fulfill grant terms and provide required evaluative reports. Depending on a grant’s size and source, a written report may be required. For grants originating from donor-advised funds, recipients are instructed in writing that funds must be used for charitable purposes only and may not provide personal benefit to anyone associated with the fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard Long as board chair and Rhea Suh as president and CEO. It also lists Vikki Garrod, Ted Mitchell, and Thomas Reicher as directors; Aaron Waxman as board chair through November 2024; Lauren McClelland as CFO; Roxanne Richards as secretary; Ashley Smith as secretary through March 2025; and Sa Hartman as former CFO through December 2023.
Cerity Partners Foundation is led by Rhea Suh, President & CEO on every filing since 2022; none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rhea Suh
President & CEO
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Waxman
Board Chair
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Long
Board Chair
New on the 2025 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ted Mitchell
Director
Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Reicher
Director
Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vikki Garrod
Director
Member → Chief of Staff & Director, 2023
Chief of Staff & Director → Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Smith
Secretary
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sa Hartman
Former CFO
CFO → Former CFO, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Lauren McClelland
CFO
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roxanne Richards
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Robert Sanderson (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Stafford Keegin (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Thomas Peters (2019–2022) — President & CEO
- Former: Kevin Dorwin (2019–2020) — Board Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Cerity Partners Foundation
How much does Cerity Partners Foundation give each year?
Cerity Partners Foundation gave $3.7M across 118 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7.7M across 117 grants.
What is Cerity Partners Foundation's typical grant size?
Cerity Partners Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $11,250, and its average grant was $31,676, across 118 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cerity Partners Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does Cerity Partners Foundation give grants?
Cerity Partners Foundation's top state is California, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Oregon (29%) and New York (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (22 grants), Berkeley, CA (7 grants), New York, NY (6 grants) and Oakland, CA (4 grants).
Does Cerity Partners Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 68% of Cerity Partners Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (80 of 118) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Cerity Partners Foundation's largest grantees?
Cerity Partners Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Oregon State University Foundation ($1,001,000), Northern New York Community Foundation Inc ($260,000) and Wittenberg University ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($75,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cerity Partners Foundation?
Cerity Partners Foundation reported $35.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.7M.
What does Cerity Partners Foundation fund?
The foundation states its mission as “mobilizing the power of community and the resources of philanthropy to advance equity for people, places and the planet.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cerity Partners Foundation?
Cerity Partners Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ceritypartners.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Cerity Partners Foundation's EIN?
Cerity Partners Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0515757. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 14, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cerity Partners Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cerity Partners Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cerity-partners-foundation-morg_9e3e896a0a284690840f1aaacce06f2b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510515757_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cerity Partners Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cerity-partners-foundation-morg_9e3e896a0a284690840f1aaacce06f2b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Cerity Partners 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.
Cerity Partners Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?