Give Forward Foundation
Give Forward Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in 2018, the foundation supports meaningful, sustainable improvements in Bay Area K-12 district schools through strategic investments in public education systems serving under-resourced communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$113.3M
+369.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.5M
+28.8% YoY
Grant Count
75
+8.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$154K
+18.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Give Forward Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Give Forward Foundation is committed to improving public education for students living in under-resourced communities across the San Francisco/Bay Area. The foundation believes transformational change happens by strengthening the entire education system—from classroom instruction to district leadership to state policy—so that improvements are both meaningful and sustained over time.
Guiding Principles
The foundation's work is anchored in five core principles:
- Support for school leaders and educators: Investment in systems that support and empower principals and teachers, recognizing them as the most powerful levers for thriving schools
- Community voice matters: Listening to and elevating perspectives of those closest to the work, especially students, families, and teachers
- Equity at the center: Deep commitment to educational equity and improving outcomes for students in marginalized communities
- Humble learners: Active pursuit of diverse perspectives, valuing feedback, and adapting based on learning
- Impact that endures: Driving systems-level change to sustain improvement over time through long-term partnerships with grantees, community leaders, policymakers, and fellow funders
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an **invitation-only basis** and does not accept unsolicited grant inquiries. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
**: $1,000 to $1,100,000
Invitation Only
The foundation operates on an **invitation-only basis** and does not accept unsolicited grant inquiries. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Ready to take the next step with Give Forward Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, Massachusetts, and New York, with the majority of grants (88%) concentrated in California. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 12 states, with primary focus on the San Francisco/Bay Area region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue
- Total Assets: $113.3 million (2024)
- Total Assets: $24.1 million (2023)
- Annual Income: $206 million (2024)
- Total Revenue: $3.26 million (2023)
- Total Expenses: $10.9 million (2023)
- Total Liabilities: $9.04 million (2023)
Grant Distribution
- Total Giving: $11.5 million (2024)
- Average Grant Amount: $104,000
- Total Grants Made: 160 grants totaling $16.7 million (cumulative)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $113,310,996 | $24,137,914 | $29,689,052 |
| Revenue | $122,811,160 | $3,260,092 | $-4,468,249 |
| Expenses | $12,234,149 | $10,920,146 | $13,133,097 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $12,153,235 | $9,056,742 | $7,701,172 |
| Net Investment Income | $29,464,801 | $1,466,897 | $232,687 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,690,605 | $1,324,755 | $1,697,198 |
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
245 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bay Education Fund ($1,500,000), Bay Education Fund ($1,108,696), Alder Graduate School of Education ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALDER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION REDWOOD CITY, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| ALEXANDER TWILIGHT ACADEMY BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| ALL FIVE MENLO PARK, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AMBITION ANGELS PALO ALTO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FOR A NEW AMERICAN UNIVERSITY TEMPE, AZ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR NEXT EDUCATION WORKFORCE AT ASUS MARY LOU FULTON TEACHERS COLLEGE | $250,000 |
| BAY EDUCATION FUND SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,108,696 |
| BAY EDUCATION FUND SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,500,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE PENINSULA MENLO PARK, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| BRAVEN INC CHICAGO, IL | FOR BAY AREA PROGRAMMING | $100,000 |
| CAMBIAR EDUCATION SAN DIEGO, CA | FOR THE GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ADAPTIVE COMMONS | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michelle Boyers: Chief Executive Officer
- Barbara Sullivan: Treasurer/Secretary
- Julie Mikuta: Board Member and Audit Chair
- Cristine DeBarry: Board Member
- Aida Bekele: Board Member
The foundation is governed by 4 officers and trustees with limited paid staffing.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELLE BOYERS | CEO | 1 | — |
| BARBARA SULLIVAN | TREASURER/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JULIE MIKUTA | BOARD MEMBER AND AUDIT CHA | 1 | — |
| CRISTINE DEBERRY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| AIDA BEKELE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: https://giveforwardfoundation.org/
- Email: grants@giveforwardfoundation.org
- Phone: (415) 561-6540
- Address: 1660 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
- EIN: 82-3785197
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Give Forward Foundation fund?
The Give Forward Foundation is committed to improving public education for students living in under-resourced communities across the San Francisco/Bay Area. The foundation believes transformational change happens by strengthening the entire education system—from classroom instruction to district leadership to state policy—so that improvements are both meaningful and sustained over time. The foundation's work is anchored in five core principles: • **Support for school leaders and educators**: In…
How do I apply for a grant from Give Forward Foundation?
• **Grant Range**: $1,000 to $1,100,000 • **Median Grant Size**: $100,000 • **Annual Giving**: $9-12 million (2023-2024) • **Recent Grant Activity**: 68-69 grants awarded in 2023; 75 grants in 2024 The foundation operates on an **invitation-only basis** and does not accept unsolicited grant inquiries. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Notable grants include: • Bay Education Fund: $1,108,696 and $652,174 (2023) • Ravenswood Education Foundation (REF…
Where does Give Forward Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, Massachusetts, and New York, with the majority of grants (88%) concentrated in California. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 12 states, with primary focus on the San Francisco/Bay Area region.
What size grants does Give Forward Foundation award?
In 2024, Give Forward Foundation awarded 75 grants totaling $11.5M — an average of about $154K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Give Forward Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Give Forward Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Give Forward Foundation's EIN?
Give Forward Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3785197. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Give Forward Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
Tides Foundation
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Gates Foundation
SEATTLE, WA
Assets
$78.7B
Grants
4,974
Total Given
$6.3B
The San Francisco Foundation
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
1,623
Total Given
$189.1M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
MENLO PARK, CA
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
The Chicago Community Trust
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
Walton Family Foundation Inc
BENTONVILLE, AR
Assets
$6.1B
Grants
1,020
Total Given
$562.3M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Give Forward Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Give Forward Foundation to a real strategy.