Rows of old wooden school desks in an empty classroom

Cause EducationState California3,270 funders

Foundations that fund education in California

3,270 private foundations based in California with a return in the last two years gave $1.9 billion to education organizations in 11,400 grants. The median grant was $15,000, and 560 of these foundations accept applications.

Foundations with a return in the last two years, each by its latest return (tax years 2023 to 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

Ranked by giving to education

Top 50

Grants in each foundation’s latest return to organizations whose IRS category is education.

  1. Sergey Brin Family FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 27 grants Preselected only $125,511,517 to education
  2. Gerson Bakar FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Preselected only $114,381,000 to education
  3. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 17 grants Preselected only $54,143,664 to education
  4. The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic InnovationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 54 grants Preselected only $53,528,182 to education
  5. The Thomas and Stacey Siebel FoundationRedwood City, CA · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $50,320,000 to education
  6. The William & Flora Hewlett FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 214 grants Accepts applications $46,952,075 to education
  7. Tosa FoundationPortola Valley, CA · tax year 2024 7 grants Preselected only $41,840,000 to education
  8. Gordon E and Betty I Moore FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 158 grants Preselected only $39,338,007 to education
  9. Crankstart FoundationSan Jose, CA · tax year 2024 74 grants Preselected only $36,803,333 to education
  10. Resnick FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 22 grants Preselected only $34,453,250 to education
  11. Wayne and Gladys Valley FoundationOakland, CA · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $33,786,675 to education
  12. Xie FoundationSunnyvale, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $31,858,248 to education
  13. Wm Keck FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 51 grants Accepts applications $30,508,513 to education
  14. Good Ventures FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 54 grants Preselected only $28,890,534 to education
  15. Priem Family FoundationBurlingame, CA · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $27,647,000 to education
  16. The Heising-Simons FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 107 grants Preselected only $26,954,179 to education
  17. The Benificus FoundationSan Carlos, CA · tax year 2024 9 grants Preselected only $26,952,272 to education
  18. Wellcome Leap IncSan Diego, CA · tax year 2024 33 grants Preselected only $25,897,676 to education
  19. Valhalla FoundationWoodside, CA · tax year 2024 14 grants Preselected only $25,014,400 to education
  20. The Helen Diller FoundationSan Mateo, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $25,000,000 to education
  21. Conrad N Hilton FoundationWestlake Village, CA · tax year 2024 134 grants Accepts applications $22,145,245 to education
  22. Anderson Stewart Family FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $20,420,000 to education
  23. Samueli FoundationCorona Del Mar, CA · tax year 2024 52 grants Preselected only $20,169,160 to education
  24. The David and Lucile Packard FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 90 grants Accepts applications $20,086,811 to education
  25. Michelson Medical Research Foundation IncLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $20,000,000 to education
  26. The Ahmanson FoundationBeverly Hills, CA · tax year 2024 131 grants Accepts applications $19,918,600 to education
  27. The David Geffen FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $18,388,683 to education
  28. Salesforce FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 11 grants Preselected only $15,500,000 to education
  29. Simpson PSB FundOrinda, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Accepts applications $15,126,845 to education
  30. The California EndowmentLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 62 grants Preselected only $14,261,312 to education
  31. The Eli and Edythe Broad FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 35 grants Preselected only $13,265,405 to education
  32. Skyline FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 47 grants Preselected only $12,775,000 to education
  33. Hobsonlucas Family FoundationSan Rafael, CA · tax year 2024 28 grants Accepts applications $11,794,734 to education
  34. The Schmidt Family FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 56 grants Accepts applications $10,959,439 to education
  35. John H and Regina K Scully FoundationSan Rafael, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $10,933,267 to education
  36. Charles and Helen Schwab FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 28 grants Preselected only $10,908,779 to education
  37. Stupski FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 35 grants Preselected only $10,765,500 to education
  38. Jeff and Marieke Rothschild FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $10,400,000 to education
  39. CABIN ROAD FOUNDATION dated April 4 2011Redwood City, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $10,000,000 to education
  40. The James Irvine FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 84 grants Preselected only $9,742,934 to education
  41. The Karsh Family FoundationBeverly Hills, CA · tax year 2025 10 grants Preselected only $9,615,000 to education
  42. The Valley Rock FoundationYountville, CA · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $9,294,772 to education
  43. The Patrick F Cadigan Family FoundationNewport Beach, CA · tax year 2024 2 grants Accepts applications $9,000,000 to education
  44. William K Bowes Jr FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 12 grants Preselected only $8,825,000 to education
  45. Oberndorf Family FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2025 10 grants Preselected only $8,683,000 to education
  46. Koret FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2025 52 grants Accepts applications $8,601,300 to education
  47. The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation DBA Jim Joseph FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2024 30 grants Preselected only $8,572,802 to education
  48. Windsong TrustManhattan Beach, CA · tax year 2024 18 grants Preselected only $8,541,240 to education
  49. Helen and Will Webster FoundationArcadia, CA · tax year 2024 12 grants Preselected only $8,082,946 to education
  50. Bradford M Freeman FoundationSherman Oaks, CA · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $7,940,444 to education

Open to applications

25 foundations

The return gives an application contact and does not check the preselected-only box.

  1. The William & Flora Hewlett FoundationMenlo Park, CA · tax year 2024 214 grants Accepts applications $46,952,075 to education
  2. Wayne and Gladys Valley FoundationOakland, CA · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $33,786,675 to education
  3. Wm Keck FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 51 grants Accepts applications $30,508,513 to education
  4. Conrad N Hilton FoundationWestlake Village, CA · tax year 2024 134 grants Accepts applications $22,145,245 to education
  5. The David and Lucile Packard FoundationLos Altos, CA · tax year 2024 90 grants Accepts applications $20,086,811 to education
  6. The Ahmanson FoundationBeverly Hills, CA · tax year 2024 131 grants Accepts applications $19,918,600 to education
  7. Simpson PSB FundOrinda, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Accepts applications $15,126,845 to education
  8. Hobsonlucas Family FoundationSan Rafael, CA · tax year 2024 28 grants Accepts applications $11,794,734 to education
  9. The Schmidt Family FoundationPalo Alto, CA · tax year 2024 56 grants Accepts applications $10,959,439 to education
  10. CABIN ROAD FOUNDATION dated April 4 2011Redwood City, CA · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $10,000,000 to education
  11. The Patrick F Cadigan Family FoundationNewport Beach, CA · tax year 2024 2 grants Accepts applications $9,000,000 to education
  12. Koret FoundationSan Francisco, CA · tax year 2025 52 grants Accepts applications $8,601,300 to education
  13. Arnold and Mabel Beckman FoundationIrvine, CA · tax year 2024 121 grants Accepts applications $7,587,756 to education
  14. The Sobrato Family FoundationMountain View, CA · tax year 2024 74 grants Accepts applications $7,274,235 to education
  15. Argyros Family FoundationCosta Mesa, CA · tax year 2024 14 grants Accepts applications $6,325,774 to education
  16. Thomas & Dorothy Leavey FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 84 grants Accepts applications $6,207,000 to education
  17. Fritz B Burns Foundation a Nevada nonprofit corporationWoodland Hills, CA · tax year 2024 5 grants Accepts applications $6,000,000 to education
  18. The Fletcher Jones FoundationPasadena, CA · tax year 2024 14 grants Accepts applications $5,054,500 to education
  19. Easton Sports Development Foundation IIVan Nuys, CA · tax year 2024 12 grants Accepts applications $3,974,325 to education
  20. Price Philanthropies FoundationLa Jolla, CA · tax year 2024 29 grants Accepts applications $3,380,933 to education
  21. The California Wellness FoundationLos Angeles, CA · tax year 2024 69 grants Accepts applications $3,046,489 to education
  22. Warren Family FoundationRancho Santa Fe, CA · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $3,005,518 to education
  23. John Stauffer Charitable TrustPasadena, CA · tax year 2025 6 grants Accepts applications $3,000,000 to education
  24. The Conrad Prebys FoundationSan Diego, CA · tax year 2024 23 grants Accepts applications $2,461,531 to education
  25. The Duffield Family Foundation DBA Maddie's FundPleasanton, CA · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $2,437,435 to education