Rosenberg Foundation
The Rosenberg Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in 1935 at the bequest of California business leader Max L. Rosenberg, it supports advocates and organizations working to advance justice and address systemic barriers, particularly for communities of color in California.
Rosenberg Foundation at a glance
In short: Rosenberg Foundation gave $1.1M across 52 grants in 2024 (avg $20K), mostly in California. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,055,333
- -48.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 52
- -16.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $20,295
- -38.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $59,335,667
- +3.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (15 of 48, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (97% 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 Rosenberg Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. The website says it accepts unsolicited inquiries, while noting that most grantee partners are identified and contacted by staff and that limited grant funds allow it to fund only a few unsolicited inquiries. The website invites eligible organizations to submit a letter of inquiry of no more than two pages describing the organization and objectives, project if applicable, legal name and EIN, fiscal sponsor if applicable, organizational and project budgets, and request amount. The filing describes a one- to two-page letter of inquiry with the project and objectives, sponsoring organization, request and project amounts, and agency budget; applicants selected to proceed are given instructions for a full proposal. The website excludes direct services, event fundraising or sponsorship, individuals, for-profit entities, scholarships, projects focused outside California, endowment campaigns, capital projects, and certain research, publication, film, and institutional operating expenses. Eligibility includes qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations that are not private foundations, or public agencies, based in or managing significant activities in California. The filing also identifies 501(c)(4) grants restricted to c3 activities as eligible.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states there are no deadlines; the website says letters of inquiry are accepted on an ongoing basis.
- Deadline
- The filing states there are no deadlines; the website says letters of inquiry are accepted on an ongoing basis.
- Contact
Application contact: Business And Grant Manager
Mailing address: 131 Steuart Street Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 644-9777
Website: https://rosenbergfound.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Rosenberg Foundation
Who Rosenberg Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Alliance for Safety and Justice ($220K). Together the top 10 received $713K.
Grant Size Distribution
300 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 222 grants of 300 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes organizations based in or managing significant activities in California. In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in California; the remaining reported shares were 1% each in Texas, Oregon, and New York, and less than 1% in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Rosenberg Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 48 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 73% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 74% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $1.1M (2024) to $3.9M (2021). In 2024 it made 52 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance for Safety and Justice Oakland, CA | Support for Californians for Safety and Justice | $220,000 |
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation Mountain View, CA | California black freedom fund support for helping others pursue excellence (HOPE) in fresno | $105,000 |
| Grace Pasadena, CA | Support for forum, baby bonds in action: from California to the nation's capital | $90,833 |
| Tides Center San Francisco, CA | Move the Valley | $60,000 |
| Liberty Hill Foundation Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $40,000 |
| North Bay Jobs with Justice Santa Rosa, CA | General Support | $40,000 |
| Tides Foundation San Francisco, CA | Smart Justice California Education Fund | $40,000 |
| Alliance San Diego San Diego, CA | Support for Southern Borders Communities Coalition | $35,000 |
| Tides Advocacy San Francisco, CA | Ahri for Justice Project | $35,000 |
| Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative Fresno, CA | Support for It Consulting | $31,750 |
Ready to take the next step with Rosenberg Foundation?
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 | $59,335,667 | $4,268,717 | $5,656,031 | $1,055,333 | 52 | $2,096,214 | $2,718,807 | $2,838,494 |
| 2023 | $57,410,284 | $2,819,011 | $3,619,690 | $2,037,082 | 62 | $3,123,850 | $2,597,766 | $2,691,723 |
| 2022 | $54,246,615 | $3,178,092 | $3,662,508 | $2,734,000 | 52 | $3,797,280 | $1,833,724 | $2,827,500 |
| 2021 | $67,842,836 | $5,021,176 | $5,760,263 | $3,852,250 | 62 | $5,464,325 | $4,252,329 | $3,282,153 |
| 2020 | $65,423,807 | $3,158,699 | $3,173,850 | $2,417,350 | 72 | — | $2,863,010 | $2,782,846 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rosenberg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it works to dismantle systemic barriers and advance justice for Californians, particularly communities of color. Its website identifies the Leading Edge Fund, Justice and Public Safety, Immigrant Rights and Workers’ Rights, and Civil Rights and Civic Engagement as grantmaking priorities. It also describes work on mass incarceration, immigration policies, low-wage and immigrant workers’ rights, child poverty, and civil rights advocacy.
The foundation prioritizes California-based organizations, or organizations managing significant activities in California, that pursue policy reform and align with its grantmaking priorities. Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. For example, Alliance for Safety and Justice describes its mission as educating the public about communities most affected by crime, violence, and incarceration and promoting safety solutions through community-building, leadership development, grassroots mobilization, and advocacy. North Bay Jobs with Justice describes itself as a grassroots coalition building power and winning economic and racial justice for workers. Tides Center says it provides fiscal sponsorship and capacity-building support to community-led organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 52 grants totaling $1,055,333. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $220,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest grants included $220,000 to Alliance for Safety and Justice for support for Californians for Safety and Justice; $105,000 to Silicon Valley Community Foundation for California Black Freedom Fund support for Helping Others Pursue Excellence (HOPE) in Fresno; and $90,833 to GRACE for support for the forum “Baby Bonds in Action: From California to the Nation’s Capital.” Other notable grants included $60,000 to Tides Center for Move the Valley and $40,000 each to Liberty Hill Foundation for general support, North Bay Jobs with Justice for general support, and Tides Foundation for the Smart Justice California Education Fund.
The foundation’s website says its Leading Edge Fund provides emerging movement leaders with unrestricted funding and leadership development; its described fellowship support is $270,000 over three years.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Timothy Silard as president; Lateefah Simon as chair; Phyllis Cook as vice chair and secretary; and Robert Friedman as second vice chair and treasurer. Directors listed were Benjamin Todd Jealous, Clara Shin, Marco Hellman, Jamey Spencer, Raj Jayadev, and Daniel Grossman.
Rosenberg Foundation is led by Timothy Silard, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 15 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Timothy Silard
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$308K (2020) → $546K (2024)
Lateefah Simon
Chair
Director → Vice Chair & Secretary, 2022
Vice Chair & Secretary → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Albert Moreno
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Todd Jealous
Director
Director → Chair, 2022
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Lann Lee
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clara Shin
Director
Board Member → Chair, 2021
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Grossman
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hugo Morales
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shauna Marshall
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamey Spencer
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marco Hellman
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula Pretlow
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Raj Jayadev
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phyllis Cook
Vice Chair & Secretary
Director → Second Vice Chair, 2022
Second Vice Chair → Vice Chair & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Friedman
Second Vice Chair & Treasurer
Treasurer → Second Vice Chair & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Mick Hellman (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Raj Jayayadev (2023) — Director
- Former: Sarah Stein (2020–2022) — Vice Chair & Secretary
- Former: Kate Kendell (2020–2021) — Director
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 $546K, to Timothy Silard (President).
Frequently asked questions about Rosenberg Foundation
How much does Rosenberg Foundation give each year?
Rosenberg Foundation gave $1.1M across 52 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 62 grants.
What is Rosenberg Foundation's typical grant size?
Rosenberg Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $20,295, across 52 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rosenberg Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Rosenberg Foundation give grants?
Rosenberg Foundation gives mostly in California: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (11 grants), San Francisco, CA (9 grants), Los Angeles, CA (8 grants) and New York, NY (4 grants).
Does Rosenberg Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 37% of Rosenberg Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 52) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Rosenberg Foundation's largest grantees?
Rosenberg Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Alliance for Safety and Justice ($220,000), Silicon Valley Community Foundation ($105,000) and Grace ($90,833), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Rosenberg Foundation?
Rosenberg Foundation reported $59.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Rosenberg Foundation fund?
The foundation says it works to dismantle systemic barriers and advance justice for Californians, particularly communities of color. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rosenberg Foundation?
The 2024 filing says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Rosenberg Foundation's EIN?
Rosenberg Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-1186182. 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 October 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 Rosenberg Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rosenberg Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rosenberg-foundation-morg_4bcd20814210434f8ff345c072948f27
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_941186182_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rosenberg Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rosenberg-foundation-morg_4bcd20814210434f8ff345c072948f27},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Rosenberg Foundation'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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