Simpson Psb Fund
The Simpson PSB Fund is a private foundation based in Orinda, California, established in 1988 by Barclay and Sharon Simpson. PSB stands for "Put Something Back." The foundation operates as a proactive grantmaker focused on supporting early education for low-income children and art institutions and art education, primarily in Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$128.4M
-6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$17.4M
+28.1% YoY
Grant Count
34
-5.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$512K
+35.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Simpson Psb Fund reported a distributable amount of $8.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation enables low-income children, particularly in Northern California, to reach their full potential through programs in early education. The foundation also supports art institutions and art education.
The Simpson PSB Fund team works proactively to identify the highest-performing or highest-potential organizations to be recipients of grants. Grants are structured to leverage the fund's investment and maximize overall impact for beneficiaries' organizations.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$1,000 to $5,070,075
Average Grant
$85,400
How to Apply
** The Simpson PSB Fund does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The foundation identifies and approaches potential grantees directly.
Ready to take the next step with Simpson Psb Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations primarily in California, with particular emphasis on Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area. Additional funding extends to Maryland, Oregon, and Washington. Notable cities receiving support include Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $128,385,654
- Total revenue: $2,120,295
- Total expenses: $19,693,905
- Net income: -$17,573,610
Historical Assets:
- 2023: $137,487,321 (with total revenue of $57,827,411 and expenses of $14,698,190)
The foundation maintains substantial financial resources with assets exceeding $128 million as of the most recent filing.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $128,385,654 | $137,487,321 | $93,600,248 |
| Revenue | $2,120,295 | $57,827,411 | $-2,115,611 |
| Expenses | $19,693,905 | $14,698,190 | $4,914,763 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $17,458,180 | $13,062,413 | $3,898,111 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,273,060 | $44,410,474 | $992,101 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,839,098 | $5,669,604 | $5,549,374 |
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
207 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of California Berkeley Foundation ($10,020,372), Ucsf Foundation ($4,970,473), Girls Inc of Alameda County ($790,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS LOS ANGELES, CA | TO SUPPORT ACSO ORCHESTRA COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN, LEARN, NETWORK AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER. | $5,000 |
| BIG WAVE PROJECT EL GRANADA, CA | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OF PROVIDING HOUSING, A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, AND AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO THRIVE, FOR ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. | $40,000 |
| CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT THE MAKER/MEET/FUTURE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE CCA SAN FRANCISCO CAMPUS, AND TO BENEFIT THE CCA SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR TALENTED AND DESERVING ART AND DESIGN STUDENTS. | $100,000 |
| CALIFORNIA SHAKESPEARE THEATER ORINDA, CA | TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT FOR CAL SHAKES TO DELIVER THEATER PERFORMANCES, YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ARTISTIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR ITS AUDIENCES AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. | $40,000 |
| CALIFORNIA SYMPHONY WALNUT CREEK, CA | TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT FOR CALIFORNIA SYMPHONY'S MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED TO MUSICIANS, AT-RISK BAY AREA STUDENTS, CLASSICALLY-CURIOUS ADULTS AND RISING COMPOSERS. | $87,500 |
| CALPIRG EDUCATION FUND LOS ANGELES, CA | TO PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR INITIATIVES THAT IMPROVE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING OF ALL. | $25,000 |
| CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA WALNUT CREEK, CA | TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW STATE OF THE ART CANCER SUPPORT CENTER IN LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA THAT WILL ALLOW ALL PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CANCER TO RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE AND EQUITABLE CANCER CARE. | $85,000 |
| CHINESE CULTURE CENTER FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF CCC, WHICH IS DEDICATED TO ELEVATING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND GIVING VOICE TO EQUALITY THROUGH EDUCATION AND CONTEMPORARY ART. | $5,000 |
| COMPASSION & CHOICES ETNA, NH | TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT THAT FURTHERS THE MISSION AND VISION OF COMPASSION & CHOICES. | $5,000 |
| CREATIVE GROWTH ARTS CENTER OAKLAND, CA | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION, WHICH IS TO ADVANCE THE INCLUSION OF ARTISTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN CONTEMPORARY ART AND TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING A SUPPORTIVE STUDIO ENVIRONMENT AND GALLERY REPRESENTATION. | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Sharon Simpson – President and Chair of the Board (3 hours per week, volunteer)
- K. Lip – Treasurer and Secretary (0.5 hours per week, volunteer)
Both leaders serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| S SIMPSON | PRESIDENT/CHAIR OF THE BOARD | 3 | — |
| K LIP | TREASURER AND SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Simpson Psb Fund fund?
The foundation enables low-income children, particularly in Northern California, to reach their full potential through programs in early education. The foundation also supports art institutions and art education. The Simpson PSB Fund team works proactively to identify the highest-performing or highest-potential organizations to be recipients of grants. Grants are structured to leverage the fund's investment and maximize overall impact for beneficiaries' organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from Simpson Psb Fund?
**Application Process:** The Simpson PSB Fund does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The foundation identifies and approaches potential grantees directly. **Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2023): $13,062,413 • Number of grants awarded: 69 • Grant range: $1,000 to $5,070,075 • Median grant amount: $11,500 • Average grant size: $85,400 • Giving rate: 11.3% of assets **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • University of California Berkeley Foundation: $10,020,372 to support the Berkeley Art Mu…
Where does Simpson Psb Fund make grants?
The foundation supports organizations primarily in California, with particular emphasis on Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area. Additional funding extends to Maryland, Oregon, and Washington. Notable cities receiving support include Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland.
What size grants does Simpson Psb Fund award?
In 2024, Simpson Psb Fund awarded 34 grants totaling $17.4M — an average of about $512K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Simpson Psb Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Simpson Psb Fund reported a distributable amount of $8.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Simpson Psb Fund's EIN?
Simpson Psb Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0168017. 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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