Hoefer Family Foundation
The Hoefer Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Burlingame, California, established in May 1958. The foundation operates as an independent trust with a focus on arts, education, and community development initiatives, primarily serving the Bay Area and select regions across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$362K
-2.3% YoY
Grant Count
40
-9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+7.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary program involves acquiring a collection of artwork by painters using the plein air approach who painted California scenes from approximately the post-gold rush era to 1940. When a sufficient collection has been assembled, the foundation intends to exhibit these paintings as a standalone collection in public art museums and libraries to educate the general public about this painting tradition.
Beyond its art acquisition program, the foundation supports educational institutions, arts and culture organizations, and community development groups. Past grantees indicate support for K-12 and higher education, as well as cultural institutions.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a public website and keeps a low public profile. It appears to support primarily pre-selected organizations, making it challenging for new applicants to gain consideration. The foundation does not provide clear public guidance on its grantmaking priorities or application procedures.
Grant Range
$100–$82,000
Average Grant
$8,200–$34,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with particular emphasis on the Bay Area. Grantmaking also extends to select organizations in Oregon and Texas. Past grantees include institutions in San Francisco, the greater Bay Area, and other California locations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $4,256,282–$4,401,982
- Total revenues: $244,100–$295,728
- Total expenses: $379,834–$391,095
- Number of employees: 0
The foundation maintains substantial financial capacity relative to its peer organizations, ranking in the top 4% of nonprofits nationally by assets.
| 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
217 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Filoli ($82,000), San Mateo County Health Foundation ($50,000), California State Railroad Museum Foundation ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AL J CONDIT PTO BELLAIRE, TX | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $250 |
| BURLINGAME LIBRARY FOUNDATION BURLINGAME, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM FOUNDATION SACRAMENTO, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| CALL PRIMROSE BURLINGAME, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| CASA OF SAN MATEO REDWOOD CITY, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,250 |
| CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,000 |
| COFAM (FINE ARTS MUSEUMS FOUNDATION) SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $20,000 |
| EDGEWOOD CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| FILOLI WOODSIDE, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $82,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Alan Hoefer — President & Director
- Craig Hoefer — Director
- Kurt Hoefer — Treasurer & Director
- Gladys Hoefer — Director
- Alan Hoefer Jr. — Director
- Melanie Hoefer — Director
All key personnel serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALAN HOEFER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CRAIG HOEFER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KURT HOEFER | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GLADYS HOEFER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALAN HOEFER JR | TREASURER & DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MELANIE HOEFER | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Hoefer Family Foundation sponsored a new Fine Arts Room at Burlingame Community College, demonstrating ongoing commitment to arts education in its local community.
Starved Rock County Community Foundation establishes \u2018HOF\u2019 Fund\Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hoefer Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary program involves acquiring a collection of artwork by painters using the plein air approach who painted California scenes from approximately the post-gold rush era to 1940. When a sufficient collection has been assembled, the foundation intends to exhibit these paintings as a standalone collection in public art museums and libraries to educate the general public about this painting tradition. Beyond its art acquisition program, the foundation supports educational instit…
How do I apply for a grant from Hoefer Family Foundation?
**Grant Amounts & Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $362,270–$376,800 • Typical grant range: $100–$82,000 • Median grant size: $5,000 • Average grant size: $8,200–$34,000 • Number of grants: 46 grants in recent fiscal year **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • Filoli: $82,000 (General Operations) • San Mateo County Health Foundation: $50,000 (General Operations) **Application Process:** The foundation does not maintain a public website and keeps a low public profile. It appears to support prima…
Where does Hoefer Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with particular emphasis on the Bay Area. Grantmaking also extends to select organizations in Oregon and Texas. Past grantees include institutions in San Francisco, the greater Bay Area, and other California locations.
What size grants does Hoefer Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Hoefer Family Foundation awarded 40 grants totaling $362K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Hoefer Family Foundation's EIN?
Hoefer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6065404. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hoefer Family 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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