Priem Family Foundation
The Priem Family Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Burlingame, California, established in 1999 by Curtis R. Priem, co-founder of NVIDIA Corporation and inventor holding nearly 200 patents. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is currently in a spending-down phase, with plans to fully dissolve by 2031.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$124.6M
-12.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$28.5M
-1.8% YoY
Grant Count
11
-21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.6M
+24.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Priem Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to "unleash possibilities in education and creativity for people, ensuring that students and adults have the opportunity to achieve bigger dreams for themselves and the world."
The foundation explicitly does not fund efforts to alleviate human-induced suffering, instead preferring to empower change through education, arts, science, and technology. The foundation operates across three primary program areas:
- Creativity: Supporting projects that ignite creativity and innovative thinking, including arts education and creative expression
- Education: Funding educational initiatives and learning opportunities that foster innovation and development
- People with Disabilities: Empowering individuals with disabilities through targeted support
Grantmaking
The Priem Family Foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and proactively identifies organizations it supports by invitation only.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in two regions:
- San Francisco Bay Area, California
- Troy, New York
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $142,268,350
- Total Annual Giving: $28,987,743
- Total Revenues: $7,557,820
- Total Expenses: $30,614,309
- Total Liabilities: $3,150,000
The foundation maintains significantly larger assets compared to other nonprofits in California and has consistently reported income above average for the state.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $124,585,338 | $142,268,350 | $165,898,406 |
| Revenue | $11,387,095 | $7,557,820 | $14,546,620 |
| Expenses | $30,195,392 | $30,614,309 | $16,452,496 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $28,769,574 | $29,215,065 | $14,955,627 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,179,442 | $6,581,909 | $12,554,304 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,614,891 | $7,621,729 | $8,835,689 |
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
45 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($27,539,059), Pretty Human Inc ($569,234), Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM FOUNDATION MONTEREY, CA | EDUCATIONAL | $100,000 |
| RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE TROY, NY | EDUCATIONAL FACILITY | $27,539,059 |
| THE ORION FUND PIEDMONT, CA | EDUCATIONAL | $25,000 |
| THE TAYLOR FAMILY FOUNDATION LIVERMORE, CA | EDUCATIONAL | $100,000 |
| LIVERMORE VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER LIVERMORE, CA | EDUCATIONAL | $27,500 |
| LIVERMORE VALLEY WINEGROWERS FOUNDATION LIVERMORE, CA | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT | $19,000 |
| PRETTY HUMAN INC DENVER, CO | EDUCATIONAL | $569,234 |
| THE LAW FIRM FOR NONPROFIT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, CA | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT | $10,000 |
| SONRISE EQUESTRIAN FOUNDATION CASTRO VALLEY, CA | EDUCATIONAL | $24,000 |
| SUNFLOWER HILL LIVERMORE, CA | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT | $24,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Curtis R. Priem: Director, President, CEO; founder and visionary
- Cindi Priem: Co-leader with Curtis
- Edward Miles: Director, Vice President
- Fred B Weil: Assistant Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CURTIS PRIEM | DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT, CEO | 10 | — |
| EDWARD MILES | DIRECTOR, VICE PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| FRED B WEIL | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 10 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Priem Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to "unleash possibilities in education and creativity for people, ensuring that students and adults have the opportunity to achieve bigger dreams for themselves and the world." The foundation explicitly does not fund efforts to alleviate human-induced suffering, instead preferring to empower change through education, arts, science, and technology. The foundation operates across three primary program areas: • **Creativity**: Supporting projects that ignite creativity …
How do I apply for a grant from Priem Family Foundation?
The Priem Family Foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and proactively identifies organizations it supports by invitation only. **Grant Activity (2023):** • Total grants awarded: $28,987,743 • Number of awards: 14 • Typical award range: $3,500–$17,528,500 **Notable Recent Grant:** • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: $17,528,500 (2023) for educational facility development Other 2023 grantee…
Where does Priem Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in two regions: • San Francisco Bay Area, California • Troy, New York
What size grants does Priem Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Priem Family Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $28.5M — an average of about $2.6M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Priem Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Priem Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Priem Family Foundation's EIN?
Priem Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3340371. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Priem 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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