Private foundation · EIN 20-5691977 · San Francisco, California · Philanthropy & grantmaking

The Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation

Should you approach them?

Don't send a cold proposal. The foundation reports that it only gives to preselected organizations; an introduction through a current grantee or board member is the realistic route.

From the 2024 Form 990-PF: 42 grants paid, $4.8M total, median $40K. 81% of grants stayed in California.

Accepts applications
No
per 990-PF Part XV
Grants paid, 2024
42
$4.8M
Median grant
$40K
Stays in CA
81%
of grants
Deadline
—
Assets
$133M

Grants paid in 2024

Top 35 of 42 grants by amount · from Form 990-PF Part XV

RecipientPurposeAmount
UC Berkeley FoundationBerkeley, CAGeneral support$600K
Baptist Health FoundationCoral Gables, FLGeneral support$597K
UCSF FoundationSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$525K
Boys & Girls Club of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$500K
Holy Names High SchoolOakland, CATuition expense reimbursement$313K
Archbishop Riordan High SchoolSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$300K
Archbishop Riordan High SchoolSan Francisco, CATuition expense reimbursement$279K
Notre Dame High SchoolBelmont, CATuition expense reimbursement$276K
Mercy High SchoolSan Francisco, CATuition expense reimbursement$166K
Boston Plastic & Oral Surgery FoundationBoston, MAGeneral support$110K
Alzheimer's Drug Discovery FoundationNew York, NYGeneral support$100K
Hebrew Free Loan AssociationSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$100K
Holy Names High SchoolOakland, CAGeneral support$100K
Jewish Family & Children's ServicesSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$100K
San Francisco PlayhouseSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$100K
Champion CharitiesPalo Alto, CAGeneral support$75K
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital OaklandOakland, CAGeneral support$75K
Alameda County Community Food BankOakland, CAGeneral support$50K
Chronicle Season of SharingSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$50K
KqedSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$50K
San Francisco Museum of Modern ArtSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$50K
Compass Family ServicesSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$30K
Jewish Vocational ServicesSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$30K
San Francisco SymphonySan Francisco, CAGeneral support$30K
UC Berkeley Real Estate ForumBerkeley, CAGeneral support$25K
Center for Independent LivingBerkeley, CAGeneral support$20K
Computer Technologies ProgramBerkeley, CAGeneral support$20K
Interlochen Center for the ArtsInterlochen, MIGeneral support$15K
Brightright Israel FoundationSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$10K
Children's Wisconson FoundationMilwaukee, WIGeneral support$10K
National AIDS MemorialSan Francisco, CAGeneral support$10K
Peninsula Temple Beth ElSan Mateo, CAGeneral support$5,000
The Trustees of Stanford UniversityStanford, CAGeneral support$5,000
Together We Rise CorporationBrea, CAGeneral support$5,000
Galleriastudio 24San Francisco, CAGeneral support$1,000

By state: California 34 · Florida 1 · Massachusetts 1 · New York 1 · Michigan 2 · Wisconsin 2

About this foundation

The Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation in San Francisco, California, administered in care of Barbara Bass Baker, tax-exempt since 2006. Private foundations must pay out roughly 5% of their assets each year, mostly as grants to 501(c)(3) public charities.

All filings on ProPublica

Does The Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation accept grant applications?

No. On its 2024 Form 990-PF the foundation checked that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations. Look for an introduction through a current grantee.

How much does The Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation give each year?

In tax year 2024 it paid $4.8M across 42 grants, a median of $40K.

Where does The Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation give?

California (34 grants), Florida (1 grants), Massachusetts (1 grants) and elsewhere, per its latest filing.

More foundations near San Francisco that accept applications

All in California
FoundationBased inGrants paidMedian grantAccepts applicationsAssets
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James Irvine Foundationsince 1939 San Francisco, CA $154M654 grants · 2024 $10KPreselected only $3.3B
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Hellman Foundationsince 2012 San Francisco, CA $43M1 grants · 2024 $43MPreselected only $636M
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Skoll Foundationsince 2003 San Francisco, CA $45M157 grants · 2024 $100KYes $807M
Shimon Ben Joseph Foundationsince 2005 San Francisco, CA $63M264 grants · 2024 $49KPreselected only $1.4B
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