We Only Fund Domestic US Organizations and 99% of the Funded Organizations Receive PRI's.

Guiding Principles

The Foundation recognizes the importance of utilizing its assets to make a meaningful and substantial impact in selected philanthropic activities. To this end, the Foundation is particularly interested in:

Clarity

Focusing on problems/issues, and related charitable activities, which offer a clear strategy and solution, to an equally clear social problem.

Simplicity

Favoring projects that offer straightforward, problem-solving approaches with an effective and near term outcome or impact.

Effectiveness

Requiring a direct and concrete connection between the expenditure of funds and their immediate or near term effect. Special attention is given to low administrative/overhead cost candidate organizations and institutions.

Accountability

Emphasizing the funding of organizations, institutions, individuals and families directly responsible and accountable for the effective use of resources.

Necessity

The need for funding must be clearly evident and the funding sought cannot readily be obtained from other sources.

Leverage

Seeking to provide "seed" or start-up resources in such a way as to result in substantially additional funding than that initially provided. This is accomplished by focusing on charitable organizations and institutions whose activities are self-sustaining, and themselves highly leveraged, by providing matching grants/funding, and other innovative approaches.

Primary Initiatives

The great majority of the foundation's philanthropic efforts are in making Program Related Investments, usually loans, to credit worthy US domestic 501(c)3s. The foundation does not extend credit to foreign based entities.

In the context of these broad guiding principles, the Foundation's philanthropic funding incorporates a variety of approaches including:

Program Related Investments

Equity investments in and/or loans to charitable organizations and institutions, where the activity engaged in/operations promise a substantial likelihood that the funding will be used effectively for charitable purposes, as well as initiate or expand a self-sustaining activity or operation.

Micro-Loans

Primarily to individuals, families or groups of individuals in developing countries, particularly in Central and South America, and Africa, to develop business and employment opportunities for low income individuals and families.

Grants and Loans to Individuals

Primarily in the fields of education, health and housing, to selected individuals and families who demonstrate a willingness and ability to improve themselves and the quality of their own lives.

Grants and Loans to Founder-Driven Charitable Enterprises

In specific fields, and at critical periods in their development, usually the start-up or earliest phase of a charitable organization's or institution's activities.
Distribution of Initiatives

Contributions

Representing a relatively small proportion of the Foundation's total annual budget, such expenditures allow for the funding of charitable activities outside of the established criteria set forth above.

Organizations Currently Supporting

Organizations Previously Supported

  • ACCION International – strengthening the capacity of local, private institutions in Latin America
  • Libraries for the Future – engaged in providing access to information through public libraries in NYC
  • Sonoma Land Trust – engaged in providing permanent protection of land in Sonoma County, CA
  • Opera West Foundation – engaged in bringing Gilbert & Sullivan musicals to San Francisco, CA elementary and middle schools
  • Santa Cruz Community Credit Union – providing capital to support child-care providers, nonprofits, microenterprises, and affordable housing in Santa Cruz, CA
  • Plymouth Housing Group – dedicated to eliminating homelessness and stabilizing homeless in Seattle, WA
  • Impact Capital – supporting affordable housing, community facilities and commercial real estate to anchor community revitalization projects in Seattle, WA
  • Housing Trust Fund of San Luis Obispo County – providing financial for affordable housing projects San Luis Obispo County, CA

Prior Funding History