Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund
Established in 1992 by Lisa and Douglas Goldman, the Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. It supports charitable organizations working in areas that include democracy and civil liberties, civic education, the environment, the Jewish community, and reproductive health and rights.
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund at a glance
In short: Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund gave $14.4M across 301 grants in 2024 (avg $48K), mostly in California. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $14,398,960
- +5.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 301
- -3.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,837
- +9.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $277,401,064
- +2.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (35 of 194, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (58% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund
- Invitation Only
-
The Fund’s website directs organizations to review its priorities and eligibility requirements, then submit a Letter of Inquiry through its application portal. Applicants whose inquiries advance are invited by email to submit a proposal and supporting materials. Requests must specify the amount sought; the Fund rarely supports 100% of a project budget. Requests for health and recreation, San Francisco Bay Area institutions and projects, and special projects and initiatives are by invitation only.
- Review Cycle
- Requests are accepted on an ongoing basis; there are no submission deadlines. The Board considers requests four times a year, typically once each quarter.
- Deadline
- Requests are accepted on an ongoing basis; there are no submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Douglas E Goldman
Mailing address: 1 Montgomery Street 3440, San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 771-1717
Website: https://ldgfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund
Goldman Fund: Democracy & Civil Liberties Grant
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Goldman Fund: Education & Literacy Grant
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Goldman Fund: Environment Grant
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Congregation Emanu-El ($2.2M across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,488 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 966 grants of 1,488 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund’s geographic focus varies by program area. The 2024 filing shows that 58% of grant dollars went to California recipients, 19% to Washington, DC, 10% to New York, and 2% each to Illinois and Massachusetts. For democracy and civil liberties and civic education, the website specifies projects implemented nationally, regionally, or in multiple states, and says those areas do not currently accept projects implemented in a single city or state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 301 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 35 of 194 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $65K; repeat grants $76K. How we count
Medians: $60K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $12.4M (2021) to $14.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 301 grants totaling $14.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Congregation Emanu-El San Francisco, CA | Second Installment Emanu-El Next | $2,000,000 |
| San Francisco Parks Alliance - Tennis Coalition of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | Golden Gate Park Teknis Center Phase II | $1,000,000 |
| University of California Berkeley Fdn Berkeley, CA | GSPP | $500,000 |
| Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums San Francisco, CA | Exhibition Support | $250,000 |
| Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums San Francisco, CA | Legion 100 gifts of art campaign for the acquisition of portrait of bianca degli utili maselli and her children by lavinia fontana | $250,000 |
| Jewish Community Relations Council San Francisco, CA | Responding to Twin Crises and Elevating Jewish Identity | $250,000 |
| The Barack Obama Foundation Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc New York, NY | PEF Ldan Fund #129 | $205,000 |
| Brigid Alliance Inc New York, NY | General Operating Support | $175,000 |
| Red Tent Fund Arlington, VA | Start-up Support | $175,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $277,401,064 | $16,531,464 | $15,160,712 | $14,398,960 | 301 | $16,292,334 | $14,831,541 | $13,745,349 |
| 2023 | $270,254,108 | $10,114,057 | $25,416,959 | $13,623,450 | 312 | $15,447,828 | $8,575,532 | $13,047,830 |
| 2022 | $256,281,073 | $6,841,301 | $16,799,187 | $13,435,800 | 281 | $15,171,756 | $5,439,702 | $13,548,024 |
| 2021 | $314,443,125 | $25,968,602 | $18,208,913 | $12,435,650 | 285 | $14,053,198 | $24,796,212 | $14,906,573 |
| 2020 | $292,548,912 | $8,018,107 | $14,071,235 | $12,855,750 | 309 | — | $6,920,250 | $13,043,996 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund reported a distributable amount of $13.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund’s mission is to provide support for charitable organizations that enhance society. Its stated grantmaking areas include democracy and civil liberties, civic education, the environment, the Jewish community, and reproductive health and rights. It also considers requests by invitation only in health and recreation, San Francisco Bay Area institutions and projects, and special projects and initiatives.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supported. The Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums, which received two $250,000 grants, says it operates the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor and raises and maintains funds for their support. PEF Israel Endowment Funds, which received $205,000, describes work that includes supporting health, education, and religious institutions in Israel. The National Council of Jewish Women, which received $150,000, describes itself as a grassroots, nonpartisan organization advocating for social justice for women, children, and families.
To be considered, an organization must be a public charity with IRS 501(c)(3) status or apply through a fiscal sponsor with that status. The Fund does not consider requests for deficit budgets, individuals, academic research, events, conferences, podcasts, or documentaries and films. An organization may submit only one request per year.
Grantmaking
The 2024 filing lists 301 grants totaling $14,398,960. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $2 million, with a median grant of $15,000. The Fund’s website separately reported $14.4 million in grants to 194 nonprofit organizations in 2025.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $2 million to Congregation Emanu-El for the second installment of Emanu-El Next; $1 million to San Francisco Parks Alliance – Tennis Coalition of San Francisco for Golden Gate Park Tennis Center Phase II; and $500,000 to the University of California Berkeley Foundation for GSPP. Other grants included $250,000 to the Jewish Community Relations Council for responding to twin crises and elevating Jewish identity, and $150,000 to Hillel at UC Berkeley for Israel and antisemitism education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nancy Kami as executive director; Douglas E. Goldman as president; Lisa M. Goldman as secretary; Jennifer R. Goldman as treasurer; and Jason E. Goldman and Matthew W. Goldman as board members.
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund is led by Nancy Kami, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nancy Kami
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$373K (2020) → $450K (2024)
Douglas E. Goldman
President
On filings since 2020
1.6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason E. Goldman
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer R. Goldman
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa M. Goldman
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew W. Goldman
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $450K, to Nancy Kami (Exec Director).
Frequently asked questions about Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund
How much does Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund give each year?
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund gave $14.4M across 301 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $13.6M across 312 grants.
What is Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund's typical grant size?
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $47,837, across 301 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund that year got $65K on average.
Where does Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund give grants?
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund gives mostly in California: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (19%) and New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (111 grants), Washington, DC (41 grants), Berkeley, CA (31 grants) and New York, NY (28 grants).
Does Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 42% of Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (126 of 301) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "GSPP" (5 grants), "Bay Resilience Project" (4 grants) and "The Annual Giving Program" (4 grants).
Who are Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund's largest grantees?
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Congregation Emanu-El ($2,152,500 across 6 grants), San Francisco Parks Alliance - Tennis Coalition of San Francisco ($1,000,000) and University of California Berkeley Fdn ($678,000 across 15 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund?
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund reported $277.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $13.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund fund?
The Fund’s mission is to provide support for charitable organizations that enhance society. Its stated grantmaking areas include democracy and civil liberties, civic education, the environment, the Jewish community, and reproductive health and rights. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund?
The Fund’s website directs organizations to review its priorities and eligibility requirements, then submit a Letter of Inquiry through its application portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund's EIN?
Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3167546. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lisa-and-douglas-goldman-fund-morg_53ef1bd4db024f58a5d4e049a456020d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943167546_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lisa \& Douglas Goldman Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lisa-and-douglas-goldman-fund-morg_53ef1bd4db024f58a5d4e049a456020d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund'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.
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