Largest 50 Foundations in California Respond to the Economic Crisis
Many foundations have publicly announced their plans for how they will respond to the economic crisis. Here we've compiled an overview of these announcements and related news. We will continue to update this chart, so please check back for the latest information.
Updated 4/26/2010
| Grantmaker Name |
Total Assets |
Total Giving |
Fiscal Year |
Summary |
Original Source |
| Top 50 Foundations, by Total Assets |
| J. Paul Getty Trust |
$10,837,340,620 |
$18,759,273 |
6/30/2008 |
Announced a 24 percent budget reduction, reflecting reduced endowment income. The budget includes lower operating costs in order to preserve its work in Los Angeles and around the world. |
Statement from Getty Trust President and CEO James Wood Regarding Getty's FY 2010 Budget |
| The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation |
$6,289,035,000 |
$376,979,000 |
12/31/2008 |
Will honor grant commitments made in 2008 and previous years, though the dollar amount of its overall grantmaking is likely to be down. |
A Note on the Economy |
| The David and Lucile Packard Foundation |
$4,650,858,492 |
$301,979,479 |
12/31/2008 |
Will honor current grant commitments and increase payout rate from its endowment, though the dollar amount of grantmaking will be down. |
Foundation Enewsletter |
| Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation |
$4,509,705,996 |
$261,740,279 |
12/31/2008 |
Significantly reduce grantmaking in 2009, and anticipates lower levels of funding in 2010 and 2011. While the absolute number of funding dollars will be less than 2008, the payout rate will be higher at 6%. |
Letter from Steve McCormick |
| The California Endowment |
$3,083,096,943 |
$140,467,401 |
2/28/2009 |
All current grant commitments and current-year grantmaking levels will be honored and upheld. Grantmaking levels for the coming fiscal year will not be reduced from the existing multiyear spending plan. |
On Tough Times: A Message from Our Leadership |
| Annenberg Foundation |
$1,602,260,949 |
$152,835,474 |
6/30/2009 |
While grantmaking is by invitation only, the foundation announced the creation of Alchemy, a program designed to strengthen and aid in the sustainability of Los Angeles-based nonprofits through capacity building and leadership development. |
About Alchemy |
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation |
$1,494,039,827 |
$291,096,834 |
12/31/2008 |
Has matched over $1 million in donations for food and shelter programs as part of its "Strengthen the Safety Net" campaign. |
We did it! |
| While assets have decreased, the foundation will be able to maintain grantmaking of $8 million from its endowment in 2009. |
Community Foundation Reduces Workforce |
| Eli & Edythe Broad Foundation |
$1,348,976,378 |
$116,505,375 |
12/31/2008 |
Eli Broad personally gave $18 million more to his foundation this year than in 2007. |
Feeling Pinched, Some U.S. Philanthropists Give More |
| The James Irvine Foundation |
$1,306,590,965 |
$69,315,228 |
12/31/2008 |
Launched Fund for Financial Restructuring to support current grantees that have already initiated planning to determine how best to adapt to the economic downturn. |
Fund for Financial Restructuring |
| Will commit about the same amount to advocacy work and other efforts as in 2008. |
Many Foundations Have Lost Almost One-Third of Their Assets, Chronicle Study Finds |
| California Community Foundation |
$1,066,262,000 |
$191,222,000 |
6/30/2009 |
Creating grants and technical assistance for grantees to help impacted nonprofits. |
California Community Foundation Awards $1.7 Million to Help Local Nonprofits Weather Impact of Economic Crisis |
| The Norton Simon Foundation |
$980,117,031 |
$5,000,000 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| Marin Community Foundation |
$933,084,933 |
$58,710,149 |
6/30/2009 |
In 2008 gave $1 million in two rounds of grants supporting safety-net programs. |
MCF Grants Additional $750,000 for Safety-Net Programs |
| The San Francisco Foundation |
$904,494,000 |
$80,088,000 |
6/30/2009 |
Establishing an Emergency Fund to support three key areas of need: Safety Net Services, Emergency Loans for Nonprofit Organizations, and Support for Organizations in Transition; and remains committed to fulfilling existing grant obligations. |
Listening and Responding to Our Community
|
| Established the Nonprofit Transitions Fund, which is designed to help organizations rethink and regroup in response to the downturn in the economy. |
Nonprofit Transitions Fund Launches to Support Intentional Change |
| W. M. Keck Foundation |
$869,957,000 |
$53,116,000 |
12/31/2008
|
– |
– |
| Shimon ben Joseph Foundation |
$814,768,736 |
$23,547,964 |
12/31/2008 |
Will honor current commitments. |
Foundation News
|
| The Ahmanson Foundation |
$774,169,095 |
$47,554,783 |
10/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| The Broad Art Foundation |
$765,397,716 |
$1,845,500 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| The California Wellness Foundation |
$697,964,109 |
$54,251,652 |
12/31/2008 |
"Will maintain the same level of grantmaking
in 2009 as 2008, despite a loss in the value of their endowment portfolio." |
Foundations Respond to the Needs of Families Even as Their Assets Have Declined |
| Weingart Foundation |
$604,207,193 |
$45,196,503 |
6/30/2009 |
Foundation will expand its current general operating support to include a new program called Core Support. |
Expansion of Core Support |
| The Packard Humanities Institute |
$566,177,630 |
$18,777,248 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation |
$557,135,535 |
$28,370,085 |
8/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| Wayne & Gladys Valley Foundation |
$535,380,846 |
$45,014,612 |
9/30/2008 |
– |
– |
| The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation |
$534,213,174 |
$853,032 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| The Skoll Foundation |
$533,427,295 |
$29,366,926 |
6/30/2008 |
– |
– |
| The Lincy Foundation |
$507,627,637 |
$170,728,247 |
9/30/2008 |
– |
– |
| Tosa Foundation |
$462,876,849 |
$71,732,009 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust |
$450,290,672 |
$6,166,879 |
12/31/2007 |
– |
– |
| H. N. & Frances C. Berger Foundation |
$448,996,051 |
$10,883,687 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund |
$430,229,650 |
$41,876,804 |
12/31/2008 |
Will be increasing total grant payments in 2009. However, the Fund is shifting from multi-year to one-year grants, deferring payments of some grants, and denying some returning grantseekers. |
From the President |
| The San Diego Foundation, |
$428,724,000 |
$60,680,000 |
6/30/2009 |
The foundation has partnered with the United Way of San Diego County to establish the Nonprofit Economic Recovery initiative, known as the Survive & Thrive Fund. |
The San Diego Foundation web site |
| Koret Foundation |
$332,344,565 |
$18,908,363 |
12/31/2008 |
$1 million initiative to support Bay Area families and individuals who are struggling due to temporary job loss or home foreclosure. |
$1 Million Koret Initiative to Help Bay Area Families Through Tough Economic Times |
| The East Bay Community Foundation |
$331,331,578 |
$50,665,013 |
6/30/2009 |
"In response to increased community need, the East Bay Community Foundation and its donors have made more than $9.1 million in grants since the beginning of the current crisis in mid-September 2008, including almost $600,000 to programs in Alameda and Contra Costa counties related to the Foundation’s new strategy of advancing economic opportunity for adults and families and ensuring young children are successful in the education system. The foundation expects to grant another $345,000 toward economic opportunity and the education that ultimately leads to it." |
$9.1 Million in Grants from East Bay Community Foundation |
| Santa Barbara Foundation |
$325,200,982 |
$31,044,105 |
12/31/2007 |
The Santa Barbara Foundation has created a new fund, the Community Economic Recovery Fund, which will be used exclusively for grants for food, shelter and/or medical care assistance to nonprofit groups that provide these basic services in Santa Barbara County. The Fund will award grants of up to $50,000 for emergency relief for established organizations with the capacity to assess needs and allocate resources. |
Community Economic Recovery Fund |
| Wells Fargo Foundation |
$315,310,349 |
$66,702,936 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| Stuart Foundation |
$314,073,221 |
$15,919,286 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund |
$304,026,259 |
$70,032,068 |
12/31/2008 |
Committed to paying out in excess of the five percent payout minimum required by law in 2009. However, because the total dollar amount of the endowment has decreased, our overall giving will also decrease from previous boom-time years. |
Letter from Richard Goldman |
| The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation |
$295,514,269 |
$19,130,447 |
12/31/2008 |
Will contribute about $14 million to charities in Southern California, a $5 million decrease from 2008. |
Many Foundations Have Lost Almost One-Third of Their Assets, Chronicle Study Finds |
| The McConnell Foundation |
$291,631,556 |
$6,900,032 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Foundation |
$289,159,011 |
$13,775,136 |
12/31/2007 |
– |
– |
| The Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation |
$288,555,818 |
$3,677,784 |
6/30/2008 |
– |
– |
| Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation |
$282,176,441 |
$15,675,500 |
12/31/2007 |
– |
– |
| The Priem Family Foundation |
$280,954,196 |
$14,586,542 |
6/30/2009 |
– |
– |
| UniHealth Foundation |
$272,496,685 |
$15,530,162 |
9/30/2008 |
Decreases in the endowment have constrained new grantmaking in the current fiscal year. Foundation will honor substantial multi-year commitments. |
Chairman's Message |
| William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation |
$247,915,486 |
$19,656,550 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| Omidyar Network Fund, Inc. |
$242,464,334 |
$50,452,358 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| The Milken Family Foundation |
$205,033,649 |
$13,076,807 |
11/30/2008 |
– |
– |
| Walter and Elise Haas Fund |
$188,900,000 |
$13,113,263 |
12/31/2008 |
Grants budget for 2009 essentially the same as 2008, although the Fund will not be making new multi-year commitments. |
From the Executive Director |
| Colburn Music Fund |
$169,739,356 |
$17,002,325 |
6/30/2008 |
– |
– |
| Sierra Health Foundation |
$169,688,848 |
$5,132,668 |
12/31/2007 |
Has committed $1 million for safety-net services through its Responsive Grants Program. |
Responsive Grants Program |
| Bernard Osher Foundation |
$166,066,198 |
$100,256,114 |
12/31/2008 |
– |
– |
| Other Grantmakers (not among 50 largest foundations, by total assets) |
| S. H. Cowell Foundation |
$122,790,418 |
$10,028,409 |
12/31/2008 |
Although the grants budget will be reduced in terms of dollars, the Foundation estimates that it will payout 10 percent of its corpus in grants in 2009. In addition, the foundation will curtail the awarding of multi-year grants and will focus on giving to prior grantees that are experiencing difficulty navigating this economic environment. |
President's Letter |
| Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation
|
$88,102,619
|
$3,939,407
|
12/31/2007
|
Will accept grant proposals only from those nonprofit organizations it is currently funding or has funded in the past.
|
Lesher Foundation web site |
| Blue Shield of California Foundation
|
$68,216,618 |
$29,831,775 |
12/31/2008 |
Will meet all existing grant commitments and will release new requests for proposals for core operating support and capacity building initiatives that fund community clinics and domestic violence service providers. |
From the President and CEO |
| Columbia Foundation |
$59,704,423
|
$3,247,482
|
5/31/2009
|
Will be reducing the 2009 budget for grants and operations by 13 percent.
|
Columbia Foundation web site |
| Napa Valley Community Foundation |
$23,148,587
|
$2,756,521
|
6/30/2008 |
Announced an emergency "safety net" grant program to help meet increased demand for basic needs.
|
Napa Valley Community Foundation distributes nearly $300,000 for food, shelter and emergency assistance |
| The W. L. S. Spencer Foundation
|
$8,857,209
|
$1,333,833
|
12/31/2008 |
The Foundation will only consider grant requests from previously funded organizations. |
Grantmaking Guidelines |
| San Marcos Community Foundation
|
$1,219,619
|
$57,709
|
6/30/2007
|
Suspending grantmaking activity until further notice as of November 2008.
|
San Marcos Community Foundation web site |
| The Samueli Foundation
|
$212,433
|
$5,051,767
|
12/31/2007
|
Foundation concentrating resources on its current grantees and partners; no longer accepting LOIs.
|
Beginning November 24, 2008, the Samueli Foundation will no longer be accepting Letters Of Inquiry (LOI) or unsolicited proposals. |
|
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