Oberndorf Family Foundation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA EIN: 68-0299542

The Oberndorf Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1993 and based in San Francisco, California. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and functions as a family philanthropic vehicle focused on strategic charitable giving across multiple sectors.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$78.5M

-11.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$14.7M

-21.9% YoY

Grant Count

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$246K

-21.9% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Oberndorf Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation focuses on:

Education — Elementary, secondary, and higher education
Health — Diseases and conditions, with particular emphasis on mental health and psychiatry
Human Services
Environment
Artificial Intelligence — Clinical and research applications

Grantmaking

The foundation does not appear to have a formal published application process or request for proposals based on available information.

Grant Range

$10,000

How to Apply

or request for proposals based on available information.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports organizations across the United States, with particular activity in:

California
Colorado
Connecticut
Washington, D.C.
Florida
Georgia
Massachusetts
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Rhode Island
Texas
Wisconsin

Major metropolitan areas including New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. receive support, along with smaller communities.

Grant Distribution by State

California $40.3M (50%)

Ohio $20.0M (25%)

Texas $7.6M (9%)

Wisconsin $5.1M (6%)

District of Columbia $4.1M (5%)

Connecticut $2.1M (3%)

Massachusetts $510K (1%)

New York $208K (0%)

+8 more states

States

California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Georgia Massachusetts Maryland New York Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Texas Virginia Wisconsin

Cities

AlexandriaAspenAtlantaBendBerkeleyBostonBryn MawrBurlingameClevelandColumbiaDallasDavisFairfieldFountain ValleyGates MillsGreenwood VillageLagrangeLos AngelesMadisonMenlo Park

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Fiscal Year 2024:

Total Assets: $78.5 million to $92 million (figures vary by source)
Revenue: $6.22 million
Expenses: $14.8 million
Net Income: -$8.59 million
Total Liabilities: $118,000

Historical Context: The foundation has maintained substantial assets and consistent annual distributions over multiple years, with expenses regularly exceeding revenue, indicating a spending-down strategy or significant asset utilization.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$78,524,518	$88,194,200	$101,836,281
Revenue	$6,220,240	$5,349,179	$-36,495,020
Expenses	$14,807,509	$18,941,974	$21,523,862
Qualifying Distributions	$14,766,959	$18,898,523	$21,484,932
Net Investment Income	$6,179,688	$5,305,727	$522,337
Distributable Amount	$4,576,257	$4,907,213	$6,184,340

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 University School ($7,500,000), American Federation for Children Growth Fund ($2,500,000), University of California Sf Foundation (department of Neurology) ($1,600,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN GROWTH FUND DALLAS, TX	GENERAL CHARITY	$2,500,000
DRAPER RICHARDS KAPLAN FOUNDATION MENLO PARK, CA	GENERAL CHARITY	$100,000
ENVIROMENTAL DEFENSE FUND SAN FRANCISCO, CA	GENERAL CHARITY	$250,000
ENVIROMENTAL DEFENSE FUND SAN FRANCISCO, CA	GENERAL CHARITY	$1,000,000
UCLA FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA	GENERAL CHARITY	$50,000
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SF FOUNDATION (DEPARTMENT OF NEUROLOGY) SAN FRANCISCO, CA	GENERAL CHARITY	$1,600,000
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH	GENERAL CHARITY	$7,500,000
AMERICAN-ISRAEL DEMOCRACY COALITION (BROTHERS & SISTERS FOR ISRAEL) BRYN MAWR, PA	GENERAL CHARITY	$5,000
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC	GENERAL CHARITY	$2,500
AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN GROWTH FUND COLUMBIA, MD	GENERAL CHARITY	$3,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Susan C. Oberndorf — President (10 hours per week, no compensation)

William E. Oberndorf — Secretary (2 hours per week, no compensation)

William E. Oberndorf serves as Chairman of the Board of the American Federation for Children and is a life trustee of the University of California San Francisco, where he chairs the Neuroscience Academy. Susan Oberndorf serves on the board of the Environmental Defense Fund and on various committees at Stanford University.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
SUSAN C OBERNDORF	PRESIDENT	10	—
WILLIAM E OBERNDORF	SECRETARY	2	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2024

**2024:** Oberndorf AI Catalyst Grant Endowment Fund update announced at University of Florida College of Medicine

Oberndorf AI Catalyst Grant Endowment Fund Update \xBB Office of Research\

**Recent:** Establishment of the Oberndorf Clinical Artificial Intelligence Scholars Award, reflecting expanded focus on artificial intelligence applications in clinical settings

Lou Oberndorf establishes the Oberndorf Clinical Artificial Intelligence

**Ongoing:** Continued support for psychiatry and translational research initiatives, particularly at UCSF

$25M gift from Susan and Bill Oberndorf supports psychiatry, translational

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Oberndorf Family Foundation fund?

The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation focuses on: • **Education** — Elementary, secondary, and higher education • **Health** — Diseases and conditions, with particular emphasis on mental health and psychiatry • **Human Services** • **Environment** • **Artificial Intelligence** — Clinical and research applications

How do I apply for a grant from Oberndorf Family Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Median grant size: $10,000 • Maximum grant size: $7,500,000 • Annual grant count: Approximately 60 grants per year (2024) • Total distributions: $15 million (2024) **Recent Notable Grants:** • $7,500,000 to University School (2024) • $25 million gift to UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for psychiatry and translational research • Support for the Oberndorf AI Catalyst Grant Endowment Fund at the University of Florida College of Medicine • Establishment o…

Where does Oberndorf Family Foundation make grants?

The foundation supports organizations across the United States, with particular activity in: • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Washington, D.C. • Florida • Georgia • Massachusetts • New York • Ohio • Oregon • Rhode Island • Texas • Wisconsin Major metropolitan areas including New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. receive support, along with smaller communities.

What size grants does Oberndorf Family Foundation award?

In 2024, Oberndorf Family Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $14.7M — an average of about $246K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Oberndorf Family Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Oberndorf Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.