The Zellerbach Family Foundation
The Zellerbach Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1956 by Jennie B. Zellerbach with an initial contribution of $54,600, the foundation transformed in 1968 into a general-purpose private foundation focused on Bay Area community needs. For over 65 years, ZFF has served as a catalyst for constructive social change by initiating and investing in work that strengthens families and communities in the Bay Area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$163.6M
+2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.0M
-1.6% YoY
Grant Count
224
-6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
+5.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Zellerbach Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation envisions a vibrant Bay Area region rich with diverse expressions and experiences, where people feel safe and connected; live with a sense of belonging, shared humanity, and dignity; and have equitable opportunities to thrive.
ZFF organizes its grantmaking around four building blocks of change:
- Build Power: People have information and tools to shape the decisions that impact them and agency to shape the conditions of their families and communities.
- Diversify Art and Cultural Expression: Arts and culture live at the center of thriving communities so all voices are valued and supported and people have access to art that reflects their personal and community experiences.
- Promote Shared Experiences, Allyship, and Collective Healing: Individuals and communities with different life experiences find common purpose, build trust, and have culturally relevant opportunities to heal.
- Transform Public Systems: People feel safe and connected with their communities, their voices inform systems change, and investments prioritize community-based opportunities including more arts experiences.
Primary funding areas include:
- Community Arts
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Strengthening communities
- Improving the management, practice and accountability of public systems with a focus on child welfare, mental health and education
- Improving the quality of life for refugees and immigrants and supporting their participation in society
- Youth development through the arts
- Major community institutions
Grantmaking
The Community Arts program seeks to ensure the availability of a wide variety of cultural experiences in the San Francisco Bay Area through community art. The focus is on improving the capacity to perform, developing new audiences, encouraging new artists and expanding multicultural experiences.
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
Average Grant
amount: Not specified in sources
Review Cycle
s for Community Arts
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Zellerbach Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in the San Francisco Bay Area, specifically in:
- Alameda County
- Contra Costa County
- San Francisco County
The foundation also supports initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including California, Colorado, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., with projects in cities such as Oakland, Los Angeles, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $160,104,640 to $163,560,678
- Total revenue: $9,202,747
- Total expenses: $8,781,654
- Net income: $421,093
- Total liabilities: $3,460,000
- Annual giving: $5,995,000
Tax Status:
- Tax-exempt since April 1958
- EIN: 94-6069482
- Required to file IRS Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $163,560,678 | $160,251,196 | $155,442,664 |
| Revenue | $9,202,747 | $9,285,205 | $3,510,468 |
| Expenses | $8,781,654 | $9,877,662 | $8,029,068 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,292,199 | $8,389,162 | $8,445,110 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,888,792 | $9,674,090 | $10,040,732 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,044,794 | $7,871,012 | $8,134,436 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Zellerbach Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cipc ($100,000), Centro Legal De La Raza Inc ($80,000), Ccij ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCION LATINA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ACCION LATINA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AFRICAN ADVOCACY NETWORK SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR GIRLS OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC WASHINGTON, DC | YOUTH POWER FUND | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE PHILADELPHIA, PA | 67 SUENOS | $50,000 |
| ANNE BLUETHENTHAL AND DANCERS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ANNE BLUETHENTHAL AND DANCERS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | WINTER SOLSTICE VIGIL | $10,000 |
| API CULTURAL CENTER INC OAKLAND, CA | LUNAR NEW YEAR AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION | $5,000 |
| ARTIST MAGNET JUSTICE ALLIANCE OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Chairman: Thomas H. Zellerbach
- President and Executive Director: Allison Magee
- Chief Financial Officer: Susan Au
- Staff: 7 employees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEXANDRA AQUINO-FIKE | DIRECTOR (FROM JUNE 2024) | 1 | — |
| EMILY BOSCHWITZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES W HEAD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RAVI KARRA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KARIN KISSANE | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| HILARY REEK | VICE CHAIR & SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN SHAPIRO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THOMAS H ZELLERBACH | CHAIRMAN | 8 | — |
| ALLISON MAGEE | PRESIDENT & EXEC DIRECTOR | 40 | $349,313 |
| SUSAN AU | CFO | 40 | $228,516 |
Contact Information
Address: 455 Market Street, Suite 2200, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 421-2629
Website: https://zff.org
Email: grantsmanager@zff.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Zellerbach Family Foundation fund?
The foundation envisions a vibrant Bay Area region rich with diverse expressions and experiences, where people feel safe and connected; live with a sense of belonging, shared humanity, and dignity; and have equitable opportunities to thrive. ZFF organizes its grantmaking around four building blocks of change: • **Build Power**: People have information and tools to shape the decisions that impact them and agency to shape the conditions of their families and communities. • **Diversify Art and Cul…
How do I apply for a grant from The Zellerbach Family Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Typical grant range: $5,000 to $175,000 • Average grant amount: Not specified in sources • Median grant amount: Not specified in sources • Total giving: $5,995,000 (2024) • Grants awarded: 214 grants in 2023 **Community Arts Program:** The Community Arts program seeks to ensure the availability of a wide variety of cultural experiences in the San Francisco Bay Area through community art. The focus is on improving the capacity to perform, developing new audiences,…
Where does The Zellerbach Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in the San Francisco Bay Area, specifically in: • Alameda County • Contra Costa County • San Francisco County The foundation also supports initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including California, Colorado, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., with projects in cities such as Oakland, Los Angeles, and New York.
What size grants does The Zellerbach Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Zellerbach Family Foundation awarded 224 grants totaling $6.0M — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Zellerbach Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Zellerbach Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Zellerbach Family Foundation's EIN?
The Zellerbach Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6069482. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Zellerbach 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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