San Jose Public Library Foundation

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Mountain View, CA

Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.

The Sobrato Family Foundation

Mountain View, CA

The Sobrato Family Foundation’s 2024 grants supported a range of charitable giving and impact investments, including housing, home ownership, and bilingual education projects. Grants ranged from $100 to $5 million, with a median of $75,000; 81% of grant dollars went to California recipients. The available information does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

The Applied Materials Foundation

Santa Clara, CA

Ross Stores Foundation

Dublin, CA

The Ross Stores Foundation funds youth literacy, STEM, mentoring, leadership, and college- and career-readiness programs, especially for socioeconomically disadvantaged young people ages 3–24, in communities where Ross operates. Its Regional Giving Program invites one-year requests of $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000; organizations may submit a Letter of Inquiry through its online portal, and selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

Los Altos, CA

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation funds charitable organizations working on just societies, healthy families and communities, and a healthy natural world, including climate solutions, ocean conservation, and science. Its 2024 grants had a median of $150,000, and half of grant dollars went to California recipients. It accepts unsolicited requests, but less than 1% of its grants come from them.

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc

New York, NY

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors supports a broad range of charitable work, including environment, food and agriculture, education, youth, human services, and arts and culture, through donor-directed funds and sponsored projects. In 2024, its median grant was $100,000, with awards ranging from $625 to $9.2 million; grants went mainly to organizations in New York, Washington, DC, and California, as well as elsewhere in the U.S. and overseas. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals

Oakland, CA

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals supports community health, health-care access, and efforts addressing health inequities, including mental and behavioral health, housing, and employment. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, with most grant dollars going to California; Southern California grants focus on its 14 service areas. For Southern California regional grants, unsolicited letters of inquiry and proposals are not accepted; other application routes described include invited inquiries and open event sponsorship applications.

Tides Foundation

San Francisco, CA

Tides Foundation funds community-led organizations advancing equity and justice, including work on health, climate, gender equity, democracy, and immigrant communities. Its 2024 grants had a median of $50,000, though amounts varied widely, and it funds eligible organizations in the U.S. and abroad, with the most grant dollars going to California, New York, and Washington, D.C. Some programs are open or invitation-only; the Advancing Girls Fund is listed as open, but the profile does not state a general policy on unsolicited grant requests.

Leo M Shortino Family Foundation

San Jose, CA

The Leo M Shortino Family Foundation funds education and youth programs, literacy, scholarships, arts and culture, and community services, with a preference for direct services and capital projects. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $190,000, with a median of $35,000; it primarily supports organizations serving Santa Clara County, and all reported grant dollars went to California recipients. It accepts requests through an online letter of intent and may invite a full proposal; applicants may also submit a written proposal to the executive director.

California Community Foundation

Los Angeles, CA

The California Community Foundation funds work in education, health, housing, immigration, and other community needs, primarily in Los Angeles County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, though amounts varied widely; it does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

Menlo Park, CA

The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, gender equity, governance, democracy, and philanthropy, with work in the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, nationally, and internationally. Its 2024 grants had a median of $150,000, though awards ranged from $50 to more than $11 million; it often provides long-term general operating support. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, except through invited open processes.

Marin Community Foundation

Novato, CA

Marin Community Foundation funds equity-focused work, including affordable housing, homelessness, community resilience and power, and arts; its Buck Family Fund supports organizations serving Marin County, including those based elsewhere. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000 and ranged from $5,050 to $10 million; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.