The Fred Gellert Family Foundation
The Fred Gellert Family Foundation is a private foundation established in San Francisco in 1958 and currently based in Mill Valley, California. It operates as a family-run foundation with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple priority areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$195K
+39.4% YoY
Grant Count
45
+36.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+2.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fred Gellert Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $272K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to "encourage a sustainable quality of life for present and future generations."
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in four primary areas:
- Longterm Sustainability Planning
- Community Support + Social Services
- Advanced + Specialized Education
- Reproductive Health
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$4,000
Average Grant
$4,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024 (Most Recent Filing):
- Total Assets: $5,493,495 (down 2.3% year-over-year)
- Total Annual Giving: $195,000
- Total Revenues: $332,532
- Total Expenses: $434,055
- Qualifying Distributions: $298,386
- Net Investment Income: $196,863
- Distributable Amount: $271,784
Multi-Year Comparison:
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,493,495 | $5,622,810 | $5,784,134 |
| Revenue | $332,532 | $192,532 | -$165,354 |
| Expenses | $434,055 | $376,862 | $360,229 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $298,386 | $242,261 | $225,541 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,493,495 | $5,622,810 | $5,784,134 |
| Revenue | $332,532 | $192,532 | $-165,354 |
| Expenses | $434,055 | $376,862 | $360,229 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $298,386 | $242,261 | $225,541 |
| Net Investment Income | $196,863 | $93,109 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $271,784 | $278,874 | $292,567 |
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 Mountain Play Association ($20,000), Pseads ($20,000), Green Science Policy Institute ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MENLO COLLEGE ATHERTON, CA | EDUCATION | $1,000 |
| TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE MEDFORD, MA | EDUCATION | $1,000 |
| ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH MUSIC SAN RAFAEL, CA | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| GIANT STEPS THERAPEUTIC EQUESTRIAN CENTER PETALUMA, CA | EDUCATION | $2,000 |
| MOUNTAIN PLAY ASSOCIATION SAN RAFAEL, CA | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| PSEADS SAN ANSELMO, CA | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| TURNING GREEN SAUSALITO, CA | EDUCATION | $2,000 |
| 826 VALENCIA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | EDUCATION | $2,000 |
| ASPIRE EDUCATION OAKLAND, CA | EDUCATION | $2,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR REED SCHOOLS TIBURON, CA | EDUCATION | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Fred Gellert
- Annette Gellert
Staff:
- Julia Gellert, Grant Manager
The foundation operates with 3 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRED GELLERT | CO-DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ANNETTE GELLERT | CO-DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1038 Redwood Hwy Bld B Ste 2 Mill Valley, CA 94941
EIN: 94-6062859
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Fred Gellert Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to "encourage a sustainable quality of life for present and future generations." The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in four primary areas: • **Longterm Sustainability Planning** • **Community Support + Social Services** • **Advanced + Specialized Education** • **Reproductive Health**
How do I apply for a grant from The Fred Gellert Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500–$20,000 • Average grant size: $4,000 • Median grant amount data available in recent filings **Recent Activity (2024):** • Total grants distributed: $251,300 • Number of grants awarded: 45 (representing a 36.4% increase from prior year) • Annual giving increased 39.4% year-over-year **Sample Recent Grants (2024):** • Mountain Play Association: $20,000 (Education) • Pseads: $20,000 (Education) • Green Science Policy Institute: $15,000 (Enviro…
Where does The Fred Gellert Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Fred Gellert Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Fred Gellert Family Foundation awarded 45 grants totaling $195K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Fred Gellert Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Fred Gellert Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $272K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Fred Gellert Family Foundation's EIN?
The Fred Gellert Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6062859. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Fred Gellert Family 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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