Open Foundations · California

Simpson Foundation

Orinda, California · EIN 680168017. Its Form 990-PF says giving is not restricted to organizations picked in advance, which is how a private foundation files that it accepts unsolicited requests. It paid $17.4M across 34 grants in 2024, a median of $22K each.

All California foundations · All states

$17.4M
paid in 2024
34
grants paid
$22K
median grant
0%
to first-time recipients
$128.4M
assets on file

How to apply, as filed

Straight off Part XV of the return. Where the foundation left a line blank, this says so rather than guessing.

Send requests to
GRANT ADMINISTRATION
Address
21 ORINDA WAY SUITE C 358, ORINDA, CA, 94563
Phone
9253308690
Email
Not stated in the filing
Form the request should take
WRITTEN SUBMISSION DETAILING THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT REQUEST, AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE ARTS OR EDUCATION.
Submission deadline
NONE.
Restrictions on awards
GRANTS ARE GENERALLY GRANTED TO ORGANIZATIONS AND INITIATIVES THAT FURTHER AND IMPROVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE ARTS OR EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.

As filed on the Form 990-PF for tax year 2024, IRS filing object id 202503209349100855. Printed word for word, including the entries that only say to see a website or an attachment.

What it funds, in its own words

The words that come up most often across the purposes it wrote on its 2024 grants. These are the foundation's own words, not a category we assigned.

organization'seducationartstudentscommunityfurtherunderservedother

Biggest grants in 2024

The 15 largest of the 34 grants paid in 2024, with the purpose the foundation wrote for each.

#RecipientStateAmountPurpose as filed
1University of California Berkeley FoundationCA$10,020,372TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONS AND OPERATIONS OF THE BERKELEY ART MUSEUM AND PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE, THE LIBRARY FUND, AND THE BOTANTICAL GARDEN.
2Ucsf FoundationCA$4,970,473TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO ADVANCE HEALTH WORLDWIDE BY SUPPORTING RESEARCH FOR BREAST CANCER TREATMENT OPTIONS AND INITIATIVES FOR PROVIDING PATIENTS WITH ACCESS TO COMPASSIONATE AND EQUITABLE CARE.
3Girls Inc of Alameda CountyCA$790,000TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP GIRLS FROM UNDERSERVED BAY AREA COMMUNITIES RISE TO BE STRONG, SMART AND BOLD.
4Oakland Museum of CaliforniaCA$525,000TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION.
5Uc Theatre Berkeley Music GroupCA$200,000TO PROVIDE FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF THE CREATION OF A CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER POSITION AT THE UC THEATRE.
6New Literary ProjectCA$160,000TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT THAT INVESTS IN STUDENTS, TEACHERS, READERS, AUTHORS AND WRITERS BY OFFERING FREE WORKSHOPS FOR UNDERSERVED YOUNGER WRITERS; A NATIONAL AWARD TO A MID-CAREER AUTHOR; AND OTHER EVENTS TO CELEBRATE STORYTELLING AND CREATIVE WRITING.
7Oakland LeafCA$110,000TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS NEEDING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL RESOURCES AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, THAT INCLUDE THE LOVE CULTIVATING SCHOOLYARDS PROGRAM, THEATER ARTS, POETRY AND OTHER DYNAMIC YOUTH ACTIVITIES.
8California College of the ArtsCA$100,000TO SUPPORT THE MAKER/MEET/FUTURE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE CCA SAN FRANCISCO CAMPUS, AND TO BENEFIT THE CCA SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR TALENTED AND DESERVING ART AND DESIGN STUDENTS.
9California SymphonyCA$87,500TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT FOR CALIFORNIA SYMPHONY'S MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED TO MUSICIANS, AT-RISK BAY AREA STUDENTS, CLASSICALLY-CURIOUS ADULTS AND RISING COMPOSERS.
10Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay AreaCA$85,000TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW STATE OF THE ART CANCER SUPPORT CENTER IN LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA THAT WILL ALLOW ALL PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CANCER TO RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE AND EQUITABLE CANCER CARE.
11Ruth Bancroft GardenCA$51,000TO PRESERVE THE GARDEN AND RARE COLLECTION OF WATER-CONSERVING PLANTS, AND TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, INCLUDING FREE ENTRY TO FAMILIES WITH MODEST MEANS, TO PRESCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN, AND TO THE COMMUNITY DURING SPECIAL EVENTS.
12University of California RegentsCA$50,000TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY.
13Big Wave ProjectCA$40,000TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OF PROVIDING HOUSING, A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, AND AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO THRIVE, FOR ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
14California Shakespeare TheaterCA$40,000TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT FOR CAL SHAKES TO DELIVER THEATER PERFORMANCES, YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ARTISTIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR ITS AUDIENCES AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
15Diablo Regional Arts AssociationCA$30,000TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL ARTS PROGRAMMING THROUGH LIVE THEATRE, VISUAL ARTS AND YOUTH EDUCATION, AND VARIOUS AVENUES OF ACCESSIILITY FOR ALL TO ENJOY THE ARTS.

Giving by year, and who received it

Grants paid by year

Every year of this foundation's grants that Civly holds
Tax yearGrantsPaid
202056$7.4M
202142$3.0M
202245$3.8M
202336$13.6M
202434$17.4M

Where the money went

Share of 2024 grant dollars by recipient state
California94%
New Hampshire3%
Maryland3%

Who decides

Officers, directors and trustees as filed, with the year of the return they appeared on.

K LipTREASURER AND SECRETARY · 2024
S SimpsonPRESIDENT/CHAIR OF THE BOARD · 2024

Every figure on this page is that foundation's own latest filed year, which is 2022 or later. This foundation is listed because its Form 990-PF says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and it paid at least 5 grants totaling $100K or more that year. Latest-year grants and terms per foundation from IRS 990-PF e-file returns; the newest tax year is partial until the IRS finishes releasing it. Grants are de-duplicated on funder, year, recipient and amount, so identical repeat grants collapse into one and totals can run low. Full method.

Source: IRS Form 990-PF e-file releases (public domain). Analysis: Civly.

Get matched against every grant these foundations actually paid

One foundation is a start. Civly Grant Matching reads your own filings, matches your programs against millions of paid grants by purpose, geography and grant size, and hands back every funder like this one with the deadline, the restrictions and the named trustees attached.

See Grant Matching