Crankstart Foundation is a San Francisco-based family foundation established in June 2002. The organization is classified as a private independent foundation and holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. With headquarters in San Jose, California, Crankstart operates as a philanthropic organization devoted to supporting causes that address systemic inequities and improve quality of life.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.4B
+12.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$201.3M
-1.1% YoY
Grant Count
435
+2.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$463K
-3.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Crankstart describes itself as "devoted to bolstering the foundations of a just society." The foundation supports the following areas:
- Economic Mobility & Jobs: Opportunities for advancement and employment with prospects for career growth
- Education: Wider access to better educational opportunities
- Housing Security: Support for housing stability and access
- Social Welfare: Programs addressing social safety nets and welfare
- Civil Rights: Protection and advancement of civil rights
- Arts & Culture: Support for artistic and cultural endeavors
- Basic Science: Funding for scientific research and innovation
- Climate Change: Efforts to mitigate environmental challenges
- Medical Science & Innovation: Support for medical research and innovation
Grantmaking
The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation or preselection only.
Grant Range
$250,000
Average Grant
$463,100
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Approximately 60% of grants support organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. The foundation also makes occasional commitments in Chicago and the United Kingdom.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $4.39 billion
- Total Revenue: $348,978,834
- Total Expenses: $268,031,579
- Total Liabilities: $133 million
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $3,909,004,192
- Annual Giving: $203,617,328
- Income: $402,233,635
The foundation ranks in the top 1% of U.S. foundations by assets and is ranked #39 among California foundations by assets.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,389,949,189 | $3,909,004,192 | $3,853,358,712 |
| Revenue | $348,978,834 | $213,498,538 | $55,104,252 |
| Expenses | $268,031,579 | $195,352,340 | $157,993,707 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $205,766,680 | $206,431,448 | $201,271,069 |
| Net Investment Income | $530,715,611 | $239,067,311 | $71,963,910 |
| Distributable Amount | $196,113,127 | $185,242,813 | $218,147,560 |
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
1 open opportunity from Crankstart Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Michael Moritz - Chief Executive Officer, President/CFO (founder)
- Harriet Heyman - Chief Financial Officer, Secretary (founder)
- Melissa Narula - CEO
- Jesse Hahnel - Senior Program Officer
- Gloria Bruce - Senior Program Officer
- Anthony Emerson - Senior Program Officer
- Yamai Taina Seka Knox - Deputy Director
- Margarita Marcela Florez Vasconcelo - Managing Director, Programs
- William Moritz - Director
- Jake Moritz - Director
- Gretchen Selfridge - Audit Chair
The foundation employs approximately 11 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL MORITZ | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 3 | — |
| MELISSA NARULA | CEO | 25 | — |
| HARRIET HEYMAN | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, SECRETARY | 3 | — |
| WILLIAM MORITZ | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JAKE MORITZ | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| GRETCHEN SELFRIDGE | AUDIT CHAIR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Crankstart awarded a $7 million grant to Freedom West Community Development Corporation
Crankstart Foundation - Grant Information & Application DetailsThe foundation partnered with San Francisco to provide $18 million in support for CalFresh (SNAP benefits) recipients during a federal shutdown
SNAP Benefits: San Francisco partners with Crankstart Foundation to offerCrankstart provided a grant to Texas State University to encourage former students to return to college and complete their degrees
Crankstart Foundation - Grant Information & Application DetailsContact Information
- Website: crankstart.org
- Email: info@crankstart.org
- Phone: (650) 845-8100
- Address: c/o Karen Valladao, Frank Rimerman & Co, Palo Alto, CA
- Location: San Jose, CA
- EIN: 94-3377099
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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