The San Francisco Foundation
The San Francisco Foundation is one of the nation's largest community foundations, operating as a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to improving life in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded in 1948, the organization functions as a grantmaking public charity and serves as an incubator for community investment, original ideas, and passionate leadership in the region. The foundation operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
Key facts about The San Francisco Foundation
- EIN
- 01-0679337
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $189,116,769
- Grants made (2024)
- 1,623
- Average grant
- $116,523
- Median grant
- $30,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (465 of 1,623, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,736,547,510
- Primary geography
- California (72% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The San Francisco Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The San Francisco Foundation's 1,623 itemized 2024 grants were California (72%) and Ohio (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (388 grants), Oakland, CA (180 grants), Washington, DC (83 grants) and New York, NY (79 grants). 71% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "For the Re-Entry Scholarships Program." (21 grants), "For the Transfer Scholarship Program." (18 grants) and "To Participate in Rework the Bay's Equity at Work Council." (9 grants).
Is The San Francisco Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 465 of 1,623 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $62K; repeat grants $139K. How we count
Medians: $22K first-time, $33K repeat.
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The San Francisco Foundation
- How to evaluate The San Francisco Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7B
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$189.1M
+8.6% YoY
Grant Count
1,623
+5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$117K
+3.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The San Francisco Foundation's mission is to mobilize resources and act as a catalyst for change to build strong communities, foster civic leadership, and promote philanthropy in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Equity Agenda: Together with community leaders, nonprofits, and donors, the foundation is committed to advancing racial equity and economic inclusion to ensure that everyone in the Bay Area has a chance to get a good job, live in a safe and affordable home, and have a strong political voice.
Strategic Focus Areas: The foundation's grantmaking is structured under three interconnected strategies:
- Building power
- Creating financial well-being
- Preserving communities
Primary Funding Focus:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The San Francisco Foundation provides grant funding to approximately 3,000 nonprofit organizations each year through various mechanisms including grants, loans, leadership programs, and awards.
Grant Range
** Typical awards range from $5,095 to $34,659,201
Ready to take the next step with The San Francisco Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The San Francisco Foundation primarily funds in:
- California
- San Francisco Bay Area (primary focus)
- New York
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 1,623 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $1,736,547,510 (as of 2024)
Total Giving: $203,531,572 (2024)
Revenue: $200 million (2024)
Expenses: $236 million (2024)
Total Liabilities: $121 million (2024)
Staff: 122 employees (as of 2023)
Historical Investment: The foundation has invested $2.9 billion in grants since its founding to create a Bay Area where everyone can thrive.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,736,547,510 | $1,718,316,930 | $1,634,801,767 |
| Revenue | $200,001,839 | $159,316,562 | $297,436,709 |
| Expenses | $236,282,932 | $212,475,588 | $270,104,827 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $87,631,255 | $17,696,334 | $114,640,421 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
7,518 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from The San Francisco Foundation
Bay Area Community Impact Fund Grant
The San Francisco Foundation
Amount
US $250,000 - US $3,500,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
FAITHS Community Partners Grant Program
The San Francisco Foundation
Amount
Up to US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Koshland Young Leader Awards Grant
The San Francisco Foundation
Amount
US $14,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Uc Berkeley Foundation ($12,646,250), Fidelity Charitable ($12,500,000), Ucsf Foundation ($4,183,298).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION Berkeley, CA | FOR UC BERKELEY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM. TO SUPPORT THE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT PROGRAM. TO SUPPORT THE UC REGENTS, CAL PERFORMANCES SHENSON CONCERTS. TO SUPPORT THE DREAMERS (UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS PROGRAM). TO SUPPORT THE CENTER FOR NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP AT THE HAAS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE PURPOSES AND PROJECTS. THE BIG GIFT MATCH. GENERAL SUPPORT FOR BERKELEY ART MUSEUM AND FILM ARCHIVE (BAMPFA). FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHANCELLOR. FOR UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS. FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS PROGRAM. FOR THE UNDERGROUND SCHOLARS INITIATIVE. FOR THE TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. FOR THE RE-ENTRY SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM. FOR THE RAUSSER COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCE AT UC BERKELEY. FOR THE POLICY ADVOCACY CLINIC FUND AT UCB LAW SCHOOL. FOR THE OSCAR AND THEODORE GEBALLE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD. FOR THE MAGNES COLLECTION OF JEWISH ART AND LIFE. FOR THE LIGHT THE WAY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE HAAS SCHOLARS PROGRAM. FOR THE JEFF MACK | $12,646,250 |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE Cincinnati, OH | FOR THE LINDEN FUND. | $12,500,000 |
| UCSF FOUNDATION San Francisco, CA | TO SUPPORT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTER AT OAKLAND. FOR AN ENDOWED FUND TO PURCHASE MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT AT MOUNT ZION MEDICAL. TO SUPPORT THE UCSF CITYWIDE CASE MANAGEMENT'S USE OF TRAUMA TRANSFORMED IN ITS OPERATIONS. TO SUPPORT THE UCSF CITYWIDE CASE MANAGEMENT - CITYWIDE'S WANTS AND NEEDS PROGRAM. TO SUPPORT THE HELEN DILLER FAMILY CANCER CENTER PANCREATIC CANCER PROGRAM FUND, FOR RESEARCH CURRENTLY BEING UNDERTAKEN BY DR. MARGARET TEMPERO. TO SUPPORT STEM CELL RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN THE RUBY GHADIALLY LABORATORY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY. TO FUND THE WORK DONE BY DR. LINDY FOX IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY. IN SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANESTHESIA AND PERIOPERATIVE CARE, AND THE SEPSIS SUNDRY FUND. IN SUPPORT OF THE CHANCELLOR'S CIRCLE. IN SUPPORT OF THE CARDIOLOGY COUNCIL. IN SUPPORT OF THE ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAM, CURRENTLY BEING CONDUCTED BY DR. ERIC SMALL. FOR UCSF'S EATING DISORDERS PROGRAM. FOR UCSF OSHER CENTER FOR INTEG | $4,183,298 |
| TIDES CENTER Los Angeles, CA | TO SUPPORT THE PODER PROJECT. TO SUPPORT THE LEADERSPRING CENTER. TO SUPPORT THE GENERATION HOUSING PROJECT. TO SUPPORT THE BAY AREA REGIONAL HEALTH INEQUITIES COALITION. TO SUPPORT THE ARAB RESOURCE AND ORGANIZING CENTER. TO SUPPORT LIFT UP CONTRA COSTA. TO SUPPORT LIFT UP CONTRA COSTA ORGANIZATIONAL RESILIENCE. TO SUPPORT ALL HOME'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCACY. FOR THE GENERATION HOUSING PROJECT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE SHIFT THE BAY INITIATIVE. FOR THE END POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA (EPIC) PROJECT, TO PARTICIPATE IN A STATEWIDE HOUSING ADVOCACY COMMITTEE. FOR THE BAY AREA REGIONAL HEALTH INEQUITIES INITIATIVE, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SHIFT THE BAY INITIATIVE. FOR THE ARAB RESOURCE AND ORGANIZING CENTER'S DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT. TO SUPPORT THE VOICES FOR PROGRESS EDUCATION FUND. TO SUPPORT THE LAWYERING PROJECT. TO SUPPORT THE FIRST EXPOSURES PROJECT. TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERING INNOVATION IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT. TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE EXCHANGE, FOR THE APPALACHIAN LEGAL DE | $2,309,000 |
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST Jenkintown, PA | FOR THE BENEFIT OF WOLF FAMILY FUND II. FOR THE WOLF FAMILY FUND II | $2,050,000 |
| CATE SCHOOL Carpinteria, CA | FOR THE FINAL FOUR SPRINT FOR GENERAL OR CAPITAL USE. FOR THE CATE ANNUAL FUND. FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SPECIAL FUND. FOR GENERAL SUPPORT. | $2,033,300 |
| OAKLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Oakland, CA | TO SUPPORT OAKLAND GOES OUTDOORS ACTIVITIES. FOR GENERAL SUPPORT. | $1,653,359 |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY Berkeley, CA | TO SUPPORT THE UC BERKELEY LABOR CENTER. TO SUPPORT THE OTHERING AND BELONGING INSTITUTE. TO SUPPORT THE LATINX RESEARCH CENTER. TO SUPPORT THE BLACK STUDIES COLLABORATORY. TO SUPPORT AN EQUITY ASSESSMENT BY THE OTHERING AND BELONGING INSTITUTE. TO DISTRIBUTE THE CADOGAN AWARDS. FOR SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT, AS SPECIFIED. FOR SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024. FOR A SCHOLARSHIP FOR NCHEGEM NYENKE (3038940127) FOR THE 2023 - 2024 ACADEMIC YEAR. FOR A SCHOLARSHIP FOR ANYSA GRAY (3036323276) FOR THE 2023 - 2024 ACADEMIC YEAR. FOR A SCHOLARSHIP FOR ALEXIS MCCALL (3034762511) FOR THE 2023 - 2024 ACADEMIC YEAR. | $1,624,425 |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY Stanford, CA | TO DISTRIBUTE THE MURPHY AND CADOGAN AWARDS. TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION. TO SUPPORT THE MEDICAL CENTER'S RESEARCH AND STUDIES IN THE FIELDS OF NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY. TO SUPPORT MUSEUMS BY MOONLIGHT. TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE SPECIFIC EFFORTS. IN SUPPORT OF ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS. FOR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION AND THE BUCK/CARDINAL CLUB. FOR THE STANFORD LAW SCHOOL PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWSHIPS. FOR THE STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, CLASS OF 2016. FOR THE STANFORD FUND SCHOLARSHIP. FOR THE STANFORD FUND FOR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION. FOR THE STANFORD FUND FOR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION (2100481121). FOR THE STANFORD FUND ANNUAL GIFT. FOR THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION. FOR THE MOOD DISORDERS CENTER GIFT FUND - DR. ALAN SCHATZBERG. FOR THE LAW CLINIC AT STANFORD LAW SCHOOL. FOR THE JOHN GARDNER PUBLIC SERVICE FELLOWSHIP AT THE HAAS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE. FOR THE HOOVER INSTITUTION. FOR THE HOOVER INSTITUTE - INSTITUTES IN PUBLIC LAW AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT. FOR THE HAAS CENTER | $1,539,116 |
| EDUCATION REIMAGINED Washington, DC | FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY. | $1,500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
CEO: Fred Blackwell
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Friedman | Chair | 8 | — |
| David Ibnale | Vice-Chair | 4 | — |
| Kimberly Wicoff | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Abdi Soltani | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Sergio Garcia | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Yvette Radford | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Molly Ford | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Justina Lai | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Justin Steele | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Robert Uyeki | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Miguel Bustos | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Holly Kernan | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Lateefah Simon | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Fred Blackwell | CEO | 37.5 | $496,241 |
| Sonja Velez | CFO | 37.5 | $335,566 |
| Galen Maness | COO | 37.5 | $316,473 |
| Judith Bell | CIO | 37.5 | $310,417 |
| Rehana Abbas | Cpo | 37.5 | $284,087 |
| Valerie Goode | Chief Marketing Officer | 37.5 | $271,168 |
| Khanh Russo | VP of Policy & Innovation | 37.5 | $227,823 |
| Raquiba Labrie | VP, Programs | 37.5 | $220,680 |
| Michael Bankert | Controller | 37.5 | $204,440 |
| Mark Doherty | Senior Director of Investments | 37.5 | $189,631 |
| Pamela Doherty | Senior Director of Planned Giving | 37.5 | $189,461 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation stepped up support for local arts groups following federal funding cuts
KACF-SF (Korean American Community Foundation-San Francisco), a fund of the San Francisco Foundation, awarded $400,000 in community grants in support of the Korean American community
KACF-SF Awards $400,000 in Community Grants in Support of the Korean AmericanThe San Francisco Foundation awarded $75,000 in equity grants to organizations including The Unity Council
KACF-SF Awards $400,000 in Community Grants in Support of the Korean AmericanThe foundation supported temporary public art initiatives in the Bay Area
Foundation Awards $834,000 For Temporary Public Art - Kenneth Rainin FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The San Francisco Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The San Francisco Foundation's mission is to mobilize resources and act as a catalyst for change to build strong communities, foster civic leadership, and promote philanthropy in the San Francisco Bay Area. **Equity Agenda:** Together with community leaders, nonprofits, and donors, the foundation is committed to advancing racial equity and economic inclusion to ensure that everyone in the Bay Area has a chance to get a good job, live in a safe and affordable home, and hav…
How do I apply for a grant from The San Francisco Foundation?
The San Francisco Foundation provides grant funding to approximately 3,000 nonprofit organizations each year through various mechanisms including grants, loans, leadership programs, and awards. **Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $5,095 to $34,659,201 **Active Grant Opportunities Include:** • SFF: Murphy Award and Cadogan Scholarships • Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building • Multicultural Fellowship Program • Koshland Young Leader Awards • FAITHS Community Partners Grant Program • B…
Where does The San Francisco Foundation make grants?
The San Francisco Foundation primarily funds in: • California • San Francisco Bay Area (primary focus) • New York • District of Columbia
What size grants does The San Francisco Foundation award?
In 2024, The San Francisco Foundation awarded 1,623 grants totaling $189.1M — an average of about $117K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The San Francisco Foundation's EIN?
The San Francisco Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0679337. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The San Francisco Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.