Sand Hill Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1995 and located in Menlo Park, California. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to strengthening families and preserving the natural environment, with a primary focus on San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$92.9M
-4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.9M
+104.7% YoY
Grant Count
99
-2.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$110K
+108.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sand Hill Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is driven by optimism about the resilience and hopefulness of the human spirit. It funds organizations that envision a better future for low-income individuals and families by providing local residents with pathways to economic, physical, and environmental security.
Primary Focus Areas
Opportunity: Building Family Economic Stability
- Scholarships and fellowships
- College prep programs
- After-school enrichment programs
- Community healthcare services
- College access and success programs that prepare low-income and disadvantaged students to qualify for college and graduate with a degree
- Institutional college scholarship and financial aid programs
- After-school and academically focused summer college access programs including tutoring, mentoring, computer literacy, and supplemental math and science
Wellness: Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being
- Services that create safe, secure, and stable families
- Mental health services for youth
- Programs that help people with mental illness live in non-institutional environments and lead productive lives
- Support to programs that improve delivery of mental health services for young people transitioning from residential therapeutic care to independent living
- Community-based programs that empower people with mental illness to live independently and lead productive lives
Environment: Advocating for Nature and Sustainable Communities
- Environmental stewardship
- Environmental education
- Open space preservation
The foundation is also interested in proposals that integrate its focus areas, such as programs that assist mentally ill youth or young adults to attend or complete college, and programs that encourage low-income, first-generation, and underserved students to pursue education in mental health or social work fields.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation made 101 grants totaling approximately $6.7 million in distributions. Recent notable grants include:
Grant Types
How to Apply
The foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis. Specific application procedures and guidelines are available through the foundation's website.
Ready to take the next step with Sand Hill Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County, California. The foundation has distributed over $140 million to 446 nonprofits since its inception, with 74% of funding directed to Silicon Valley communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $97,220,976
- Total Revenue: $3,189,105
- Total Expenses: $6,169,491
- Total Liabilities: $6,190,000
Annual Giving: $12.1 million (2024)
The foundation was founded by Tom and Susan Ford and has approximately $93 million in assets. The foundation has made a strategic decision to accelerate its payout schedule and grant the majority of its assets by 2029, reflecting their commitment to making transformational change at pivotal inflection points for organizations and the communities they serve.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $92,857,846 | $97,220,976 | $93,351,006 |
| Revenue | $4,607,847 | $3,189,105 | $4,438,015 |
| Expenses | $11,281,589 | $6,169,491 | $11,562,274 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $12,070,692 | $6,675,758 | $6,550,683 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,036,743 | $2,789,914 | $3,979,885 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,843,350 | $4,595,170 | $4,961,554 |
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
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sand Hill Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University ($1,000,000), Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated ($600,000), Children's Health Council Inc ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABODE SERVICES FREMONT, CA | HALF MOON BAY FAMILIES | $40,000 |
| ADOLESCENT COUNSELING SERVICES REDWOOD CITY, CA | MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS FOR YOUTH INITIATIVE | $70,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | PART THE CLOUD | $10,000 |
| ANYTHING IS EVERYTHING SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY STANFORD, CA | SUSAN FORD DORSEY FAMILY DONOR ADVISED FUND | $1,000,000 |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY STANFORD, CA | STANFORD WOMEN'S CANCER CENTER | $25,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE COASTSIDE HALF MOON BAY, CA | COLLEGE ACCESS AND COMPLETION PILOT PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE PENINSULA MENLO PARK, CA | NORTH COUNTY EXPANSION | $100,000 |
| CALMATTERS SACRAMENTO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CANOPY PALO ALTO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Susan Ford Dorsey — President (compensation: $262,000)
Ash McNeely — Executive Director
Susan Lockwood — Vice President
Michael Dorsey — Treasurer
Evan Jones — Program Officer
Darlington Martor — Grants Manager
Jennifer Perez Brown — Grants Manager
Jessi Also Serves — Communications Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN FORD DORSEY | PRESIDENT | 40 | $262,000 |
| SUSAN LOCKWOOD | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL DORSEY | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: Sand Hill Foundation 3000 Sand Hill Road #4-130 Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: (650) 854-9310
Website: sandhillfoundation.org
Email: ash@sandhillfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sand Hill Foundation fund?
The foundation is driven by optimism about the resilience and hopefulness of the human spirit. It funds organizations that envision a better future for low-income individuals and families by providing local residents with pathways to economic, physical, and environmental security. **Opportunity: Building Family Economic Stability** • Scholarships and fellowships • College prep programs • After-school enrichment programs • Community healthcare services • College access and success programs that …
How do I apply for a grant from Sand Hill Foundation?
• **Capital Needs Grants**: Up to $35,000 (currently not accepting unsolicited applications) • **General Operating Grants**: Amount varies (invitation only) • **Grant Median**: $40,000 • **Grant Maximum**: $600,000 In 2023, the foundation made 101 grants totaling approximately $6.7 million in distributions. Recent notable grants include: • Environmental Defense Fund: $600,000 (General Support) • Children's Health Council: $300,000 (70th Anniversary Campaign - Programmatic Initiatives With A Par…
Where does Sand Hill Foundation make grants?
San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County, California. The foundation has distributed over $140 million to 446 nonprofits since its inception, with 74% of funding directed to Silicon Valley communities.
What size grants does Sand Hill Foundation award?
In 2024, Sand Hill Foundation awarded 99 grants totaling $10.9M — an average of about $110K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sand Hill Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sand Hill Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sand Hill Foundation's EIN?
Sand Hill Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3219107. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sand Hill 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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