Sidney and Bernice Clyman
Sidney and Bernice Clyman is a private foundation based in San Rafael, California. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including a university foundation, arts and cultural organizations, a food bank, and health and humanitarian organizations.
Sidney and Bernice Clyman at a glance
In short: Sidney and Bernice Clyman gave $77K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in California. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $77,200
- -11.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +4.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,088
- -14.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,806,135
- +2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (5 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (84% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sidney and Bernice Clyman
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Ronald Clyman 411 Margarita Dr, San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: (415) 459-6719
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sidney and Bernice Clyman funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of California San Francisco Foundation ($40K). Together the top 10 received $67K.
Grant Size Distribution
111 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 108 grants of 111 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went primarily to organizations in California (84%). The reported shares for other recipient states and jurisdictions were New York (10%), Maryland (3%), the District of Columbia (3%), and Georgia (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sidney and Bernice Clyman open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 25 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $460; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 70% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $77K (2025) to $2.4M (2021). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $77K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of California San Francisco Foundation San Francisco, CA | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $40,000 |
| Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $7,500 |
| San Francisco-Marin Foodbank San Rafael, CA | In furtherance of the stated objectives of the foundation | $4,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $2,500 |
| Kqed Member Services San Francisco, CA | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $2,500 |
| Shotgun Players Berkeley, CA | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $2,500 |
| California Film Institute San Rafael, CA | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $2,200 |
| Kalw Studios San Francisco, CA | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $2,000 |
| Marin Theater CO Mill Valley, CA | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $2,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc Washington, DC | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Sidney and Bernice Clyman?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,806,135 | $135,221 | $92,052 | $77,200 | 25 | $77,200 | $121,869 | $109,970 |
| 2024 | $1,762,966 | $108,095 | $99,904 | $86,860 | 24 | $86,860 | $96,082 | $105,023 |
| 2023 | $1,754,775 | $116,621 | $112,347 | $99,500 | 19 | $99,500 | $105,274 | $95,248 |
| 2022 | $1,750,501 | $78,904 | $93,686 | $78,500 | 21 | $78,500 | $66,425 | $96,197 |
| 2021 | $1,769,113 | $298,605 | $2,448,147 | $2,428,336 | 22 | $2,428,336 | $280,650 | $165,357 |
| 2020 | $3,277,285 | $50,835 | $129,067 | $109,950 | 45 | — | $36,389 | $181,494 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sidney and Bernice Clyman reported a distributable amount of $110K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants support organizations working in a range of areas. For example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art says it collects, studies, conserves, and presents art across times and cultures; Shotgun Players describes its work as creating bold, relevant, affordable theatre; and the California Film Institute says it celebrates film and video as art and education. Other 2025 recipients include the San Francisco-Marin Foodbank, Doctors Without Borders, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 25 grants totaling $77,200. Awards ranged from $100 to $40,000, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest award was $40,000 to the University of California San Francisco Foundation. Other notable 2025 grants included $7,500 to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, $4,000 to the San Francisco-Marin Foodbank, and $2,500 each to Doctors Without Borders, KQED Member Services, and Shotgun Players.
The foundation made 24 grants totaling $86,860 in 2024 and 19 grants totaling $99,500 in 2023.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ronald Clyman and Robert Clyman as trustees.
Sidney and Bernice Clyman's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert Clyman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ronald Clyman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Sidney and Bernice Clyman
How much does Sidney and Bernice Clyman give each year?
Sidney and Bernice Clyman gave $77K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $87K across 24 grants.
What is Sidney and Bernice Clyman's typical grant size?
Sidney and Bernice Clyman's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $3,088, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sidney and Bernice Clyman that year got $460 on average.
Where does Sidney and Bernice Clyman give grants?
Sidney and Bernice Clyman gives mostly in California: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (8 grants), San Rafael, CA (4 grants), Berkeley, CA (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Sidney and Bernice Clyman give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Sidney and Bernice Clyman's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation" (21 grants) and "In Furtherance of the Stated Objectives of the Foundation" (4 grants).
Who are Sidney and Bernice Clyman's largest grantees?
Sidney and Bernice Clyman's largest 2025 grantees include University of California San Francisco Foundation ($40,000), Metropolitan Museum of Art ($7,500) and San Francisco-Marin Foodbank ($4,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sidney and Bernice Clyman?
Sidney and Bernice Clyman reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $77K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $110K (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 Sidney and Bernice Clyman fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants support organizations working in a range of areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sidney and Bernice Clyman?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sidney and Bernice Clyman's EIN?
Sidney and Bernice Clyman's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4005141. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Sidney and Bernice Clyman accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sidney and Bernice Clyman's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma
San Francisco, CA
The Federation funds Jewish life and identity, antisemitism response, crisis relief, human services, and justice and inclusion, with work in the Bay Area, Israel, and beyond. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,050 to $2,405,915, with a median of $22,750. It frequently issues requests for proposals and welcomes inquiries about new Bay Area programs; no current organization grant opportunities were listed.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
1,032
Total Given
$94.5M
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.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sidney and Bernice Clyman funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sidney-and-bernice-clyman-morg_d78150face9744b788a33731ebf1baf6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_454005141_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sidney and Bernice Clyman funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sidney-and-bernice-clyman-morg_d78150face9744b788a33731ebf1baf6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Sidney and Bernice Clyman'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.
Sidney and Bernice Clyman down — hundreds of funders to go?