Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation
The Robert & Ruth Halperin Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in August 1999 and based in San Francisco, California. The foundation was created by Robert Halperin, a Silicon Valley businessman and former president of Raychem, a materials science firm, and his wife Ruth, a patron of the arts. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation with a focus on distributing investment income and interest to public charities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$151.4M
-8.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.8M
+15.3% YoY
Grant Count
54
-5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$145K
+21.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to give interest and dividends to public charities and use investment income for qualifying distributions. Primary funding areas include:
- Education programs
- Civil rights advocacy
- Community organizing
- Social justice initiatives
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Grant Range
$50,000 to $1,745,000
Average Grant
amount: $330,000-$1,985,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on California, with some national grants. Additional geographic areas of interest include New York and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $151,374,008 (2024)
- $164,727,257 (2023)
Annual Giving:
- $7,810,042 (2024)
- $6,774,080-$8,552,787 (2023)
Total Revenues:
- $5,957,331 (2023)
Total Expenses:
- $8,552,787 (2023)
Staffing:
- 2 employees
Giving Rate:
- Approximately 4.1% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $151,374,008 | $164,727,257 | $138,997,994 |
| Revenue | $9,025,374 | $5,957,331 | $4,616,365 |
| Expenses | $9,345,575 | $8,552,787 | $9,633,585 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,557,999 | $7,425,716 | $8,822,466 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,257,404 | $4,894,396 | $4,263,642 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,549,559 | $7,066,561 | $7,564,872 |
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
242 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include California Education Partners ($1,745,000), Stanford University ($1,200,000), Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc ($575,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AIM HIGH FOR HIGH SCHOOL SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $50,000 |
| ALDER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION REDWOOD CITY, CA | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $100,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY ORGANIZING | $125,000 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE CIVIL RIGHTS | $75,000 |
| BEND THE ARC A JEWISH PARTNERSHIP FOR JUSTICE NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT FUNDERS COLLABORATIVE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING | $75,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS | $100,000 |
| BRANCH ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATOR DVERSITY AUSTIN, TX | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $100,000 |
| CALIFORNIA EDUCATION PARTNERS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $1,745,000 |
| CALIFORNIANS TOGETHER LONG BEACH, CA | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $100,000 |
| CHINESE FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Philip W. Halperin – President
- Mark Halperin – Board Member
- Peggy Halperin Dow – Board Member
- Priti Sanghani – Senior Program Officer
- Macy Parker – Program Director
- Kathleen So – Controller
- Jane Lanza – Executive Director
The foundation is currently directed by Robert and Ruth Halperin's three children as board members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHILIP W HALPERIN | PRESIDENT | 7 | $1,592 |
| PEGGY ANNE DOW | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| MAURINE S HALPERIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation committed $23 million to a Dallas bridge park project, representing a significant philanthropic gift to the Dallas Park System.
Halperin Foundation Philantropic Gift to the Dallas Park SystemSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to give interest and dividends to public charities and use investment income for qualifying distributions. Primary funding areas include: • Education programs • Civil rights advocacy • Community organizing • Social justice initiatives • Philanthropy and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 51-56 grants annually (based on recent filings) • Total annual giving: approximately $6.8-$8.6 million • Grant range: $50,000 to $1,745,000 • Median grant size: $50,000-$88,000 • Average grant amount: $330,000-$1,985,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant applications. **Recent Grants (2023):** • The California Education Partners: $1,695,000 (Education Programs) • Stanford University: $1,0…
Where does Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on California, with some national grants. Additional geographic areas of interest include New York and Massachusetts.
What size grants does Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation award?
In 2024, Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation awarded 54 grants totaling $7.8M — an average of about $145K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation's EIN?
Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3334424. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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