The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Portola Valley, CA EIN: 77-0525013

The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Portola Valley, California. Its 2024 filing describes its direct charitable activity as grants to artists, schools, and other public charities with similar exempt purposes related to the arts.

The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation at a glance

In short: The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation gave $64K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$64,308
-33.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
22
-24.1% vs 2023
Average grant
$2,923
-11.9% vs 2023
Median grant
$763
Total assets
$521,300
-63.9% vs 2023
Primary geography
California (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

How to apply to The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation

How to Apply

The foundation’s 2024 filing says applicants use an application provided to them by the foundation. It states that qualified applicants are selected for participation every month. The filing describes stipends for promising artists, particularly those of high school and college age, and says projects outside the San Francisco Bay Area may be considered if they may benefit the local area in some way.

Contact

Application contact: J Kubicka Sectycoo The Ronald Whitt
Mailing address: 3130 Alpine Road Suite 288 Pmb 602, Portola Valley, CA 94028
Phone: (650) 948-8268

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

San Francisco Playhouse: $10KSan Francisco Playhouse$10KSan Jose Museum of Art: $5KSan Jose Museum of Art$5KPlaywright's Foundation: $3KPlaywright's Foundation$3KChildren's Organ Transplant Association: $3KChildren's Organ TransplantAssociation$3KAurora Theatre: $2KAurora Theatre$2KPalo Alto Art Center: $2KPalo Alto Art Center$2KArtadia: $2KArtadia$2KPlayground: $1KPlayground$1KNational Center for Family Philanthropy: $1KNational Center for FamilyPhilanthropy$1KUc Berkeley School of Journalism: $1KUc Berkeley School ofJournalism$1K

The largest 2024 recipient was San Francisco Playhouse ($10K). Together the top 10 received $28K.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($33,541), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

87 grants across all recorded years

85<$50K$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 85 grants of 87 (98%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation is based in Portola Valley, California. In 2024, 91% of its grant dollars went to recipients in California; other recipient states listed were Indiana (4%), New York (3%), Washington, DC (2%), and Michigan (1%). The filing says projects outside the San Francisco Bay Area may be supported if they may benefit the local area in some way.

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.

Cities

San FranciscoPortola ValleyNew YorkSan JoseBerkeleyIthacaPalo AltoWoodsideBrooklynEvanstonAlexandriaBloomingtonBristolCarmel By The SeaDaly CityEast LansingKetchumLos AltosLos Altos HillsMenlo Park

How The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation gives

  • 9% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 35% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 187% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). 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

$0$50K$100K$150K13 grants2020 21 grants2021 2 grants2022 29 grants2023 22 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $64K (2024) to $124K (2020). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $64K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
1 grant to individuals Recipients not named —$33,541
San Francisco Playhouse San Francisco, CASupport for charity with purpose related to that of this foundation$10,000
San Jose Museum of Art San Jose, CASupport for charity with purpose related to that of this foundation$5,000
Playwright's Foundation San Francisco, CASupport for Related Charity$2,650
Children's Organ Transplant Association Bloomington, INSupport for charity with purpose related to that of this foundation (former mission prior to change)$2,600
Aurora Theatre Berkeley, CASupport for charity with purpose related to that of this foundation$1,500
Palo Alto Art Center Palo Alto, CASupport for charity with purpose related to that of this foundation$1,500
Artadia Brooklyn, NYSupport for charity with purpose related to that of this foundation$1,500
Playground San Francisco, CASupport for charity with purpose related to that of this foundation$1,100
National Center for Family Philanthropy Washington, DCSupport Network for Charitable Family Foundations$1,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$521,300$9,782$164,571$64,30822$86,549$9,782$46,254
2023$1,442,226$19,370$141,604$96,24029$116,316$19,370$53,929
2022$946,615$38,111$176,928$121,4782$176,928$38,111$82,815
2021$1,748,005$36,188$135,080$98,32321$132,198$36,188—
2020$1,790,579$187,624$162,290$124,04113—$512,143—

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s filing identifies arts-related charitable activity, including grants to artists, schools, and other public charities with similar exempt purposes. Its 2024 grants included support for arts organizations, theatre and playwriting groups, museums, and a school of journalism.

Grantee missions illustrate the range of supported work. San Francisco Playhouse says its mission is to share stories that uplift spirits, deepen self-awareness, and nurture compassionate community. Playwrights Foundation describes its aim as centering playwrights as leaders who change the world through storytelling. Headlands Center for the Arts says it provides artist residencies and public programs that support creative work and build understanding of art’s role in society.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $64,308. Grant amounts ranged from $75 to $33,541, with a median grant of $762.

Among its largest 2024 grants were $33,541 to the Institute of Contemporary Art–an individual recipient, $10,000 to San Francisco Playhouse, $5,000 to the San Jose Museum of Art, and $2,650 to Playwrights Foundation. Other recipients included the Children’s Organ Transplant Association ($2,600), Aurora Theatre ($1,500), Palo Alto Art Center ($1,500), and Artadia ($1,500).

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Ronald J. Whittier as chairman, Jacqueline W. Kubicka as secretary/COO, and Jennifer L. Miller as vice president.

The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation is led by Ronald J. Whittier, Chairman on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Ronald J. Whittier

    Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jacqueline W. Kubicka

    Secretary & COO

    On filings since 2020

    15 hrs/week

    $12K (2020) → $22K (2024)

  • Jennifer L. Miller

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Jacqueline W Kubicka — Secty/COO: $22KJacqueline W KubickaSecty/COO$22K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $22K, to Jacqueline W Kubicka (Secty/COO).

Frequently asked questions about The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation

How much does The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation give each year?

The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation gave $64K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $96K across 29 grants.

What is The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation's typical grant size?

The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $763, and its average grant was $2,923, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation give grants?

The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (7 grants), San Jose, CA (2 grants), Berkeley, CA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).

Does The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation's largest grantees?

The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include San Francisco Playhouse ($10,000), San Jose Museum of Art ($5,000) and Playwright's Foundation ($2,650), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($33,541), which are not listed by name. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation?

The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation reported $521K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $87K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $46K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation fund?

The foundation’s filing identifies arts-related charitable activity, including grants to artists, schools, and other public charities with similar exempt purposes. Its 2024 grants included support for arts organizations, theatre and playwriting groups, museums, and a school of journalism. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation?

The foundation’s 2024 filing says applicants use an application provided to them by the foundation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation's EIN?

The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0525013. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ronald-whittier-family-foundation-morg_7aa4b4caa0724c99b5d325792745dabd

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_770525013_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ronald-whittier-family-foundation-morg_7aa4b4caa0724c99b5d325792745dabd},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation'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.

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