General Service Foundation
General Service Foundation (GSF) is a private grant-making family foundation headquartered in Berkeley, California, with offices in San Ramon, CA. Founded in 1946 and endowed by Clifton and Margaret Musser, the foundation dedicates all of its resources to bringing about a more just and sustainable world. GSF operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since April 1947.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.8M
+1.7% YoY
Grant Count
58
-9.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$84K
+12.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
GSF's mission centers on building a more just and sustainable world. The foundation believes everyone should have a chance to enjoy life with dignity, and every family should have the opportunity to thrive.
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Building Voice and Power: Supporting organizations that contribute to a holistic movement for racial and gender justice through work that builds the power of communities most impacted by injustice to win change
- Healing Justice: Exploring ways to resource well-being and resilience within social justice movements, addressing the toll that movement work takes on leaders and organizations
- Lani Shaw Movement Award: An annual award supporting campaigns and exceptional leadership that resonate with intersecting social justice passions
GSF's historical focus has evolved over seven decades, with early investment in industrial and race relations (1940s-50s), reproductive health (early 1960s), and environment and peace initiatives. The foundation operates from a philosophy of trust-based philanthropy, offering support in a spirit of partnership and humility, recognizing that grantee partners are the experts in their fields.
Grantmaking
Notable grants included:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
GSF funds primarily in California, New York, and the District of Columbia, with a particular emphasis on grassroots communities and organizations embedded in and networked with larger movements for social justice.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024
- Total assets: $65,459,462
- Total revenue: $227,272
- Total expenses: $6,485,817
- Total liabilities: $2,770,000
As of December 2023
- Total assets: $67,949,321
- Total revenues: $1,867,588
- Total expenses: $7,932,124
Revenue Composition (2023)
- Investment income and dividends: $930,401
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $904,354
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Groundswell Fund ($310,000), Neighborhood Funders Group ($210,000), New Venture Fund ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTION CENTER ON RACE AND THE CHICAGO, IL | ECONOMY'S PROJECT | $55,000 |
| ASIAN AMERICAN-PACIFIC ISLANDERS OAKLAND, CA | MEMBERSHIP DUES | $2,000 |
| BLACK FEMINIST FUTURE ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| BOLD FUTURE NEW MEXICO ALBUQUERQUE, NM | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| BOREALIS PHILANTHROPY MINNEAPOLIS, MN | BLACK-LED MOVEMENT FUND | $160,000 |
| BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE INC ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $66,000 |
| CARING ACROSS GENERATIONS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| CENTER FOR CULTURAL POWER OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $70,000 |
| CENTRO DE LOS DERECHOS BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $80,000 |
| COLOR OF CHANGE ORG ED FUND OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $85,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors
- Robin Snidow, Chair (15 hours/week)
- Griff Foxley, Vice Chair (3 hours/week)
- Marcie J Musser, Secretary (4 hours/week)
- Peter Halby, Treasurer (3 hours/week)
- Annabel Snidow, Trustee
- Eliot Estrin, Trustee
- Jesse Estrin, Trustee
- Gabrielle Zhuang-Estrin, Trustee
- Zoe Foxley, Trustee
- Will Halby, Trustee
- Robert Musser, Trustee
Staff
- Desiree Flores, Executive Director ($286,000)
- William M Repplinger, CFO ($273,000)
- Elaine Mui, Grants & Operations ($193,000)
The foundation employs 6 people total.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBIN SNIDOW | CHAIR | 15 | — |
| GRIFF FOXLEY | VICE CHAIR | 3 | — |
| MARCIE J MUSSER | SECRETARY | 4 | — |
| PETER HALBY | TREASURER | 3 | — |
| ANNABEL SNIDOW | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ELIOT ESTRIN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| JESSE ESTRIN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| GABRELLE ZHUANG-ESTRIN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ZOE FOXLEY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| WILL HALBY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ROBERT MUSSER | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| DESIREE FLORES | ED | 40 | $286,380 |
| WILLIAM M REPPLINGER | CFO | 40 | $272,780 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does General Service Foundation fund?
GSF's mission centers on building a more just and sustainable world. The foundation believes everyone should have a chance to enjoy life with dignity, and every family should have the opportunity to thrive. The foundation's primary funding areas include: • **Building Voice and Power**: Supporting organizations that contribute to a holistic movement for racial and gender justice through work that builds the power of communities most impacted by injustice to win change • **Healing Justice**: Expl…
How do I apply for a grant from General Service Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024)** • Total giving: $4,844,015 • Number of grants: 58 • Median grant amount: $70,000 • Maximum grant amount: $310,000 • Typical award range: $1,015–$310,000 **Grant Activity (2023)** • Total grants made: 78 grants totaling approximately $4,203,000 **Recent Grantees (2023)** Notable grants included: • Mijente Support Committee: $220,000 (General Support) • Neighborhood Funders Group (NFG): $210,000 (Amplify Fund) • New Venture Fund: $200,000 (The Partnership Fund) **Approac…
Where does General Service Foundation make grants?
GSF funds primarily in California, New York, and the District of Columbia, with a particular emphasis on grassroots communities and organizations embedded in and networked with larger movements for social justice.
What size grants does General Service Foundation award?
In 2024, General Service Foundation awarded 58 grants totaling $4.8M — an average of about $84K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is General Service Foundation's EIN?
General Service Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6018535. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in General Service 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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