Foundations that fund organizations in Novato, California
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Novato nonprofits
261 private foundations gave $53M to Novato organizations in their latest filings; 25 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
346 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Novato around $50K. 58 of these funders are based in California; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 261
- Accept applications
- 25
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Novato
- $53M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 346
- Typical median grant
- $50K
- Based in CA
- 58%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Novato organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aam Foundation | Novato, CA | 1 | $11M | $11M | Preselected only | Education |
| Matthew E G Kelly Residuary Trust C/O Ghirardo Cpa | Novato, CA | 1 | $6.6M | $6.6M | Preselected only | To support the programs of the charity. |
| Hevolution Foundation US | Boston, MA | 1 | $6.2M | $6.2M | Preselected only | Building novel geroscience initiatives and accelerating tra… |
| Waverley Street Foundation | Palo Alto, CA | 1 | $5.0M | $5.0M | Preselected only | General Operating Support |
| Stephen M Silberstein Foundation | Belvedere, CA | 1 | $4.0M | $4.0M | Preselected only | Umbrella organization for many local nonprofit orgs. |
| The Endurance Fund | Nicasio, CA | 1 | $3.3M | $3.3M | Yes | The Reliance Fund |
| Four Winds Foundation | Boxford, MA | 1 | $3.0M | $3.0M | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Mercator Charitable Trust | Jackson, WY | 1 | $1.4M | $1.4M | Preselected only | General operating support. |
| Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Inc | Edmond, OK | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | Medical research |
| Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation | Oakland, CA | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Yes | 2nd of 3 payments for valley fellows fund |
| Jon and Katherine Dart Charitable Foundation | San Jose, CA | 1 | $791K | $791K | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| One8 Foundation | Boston, MA | 1 | $612K | $612K | Preselected only | Education |
| The Larry L Hillblom Foundation Inc | Sonoma, CA | 1 | $545K | $545K | Preselected only | General support |
| John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation | Chicago, IL | 2 | $540K | $270K | Preselected only | In support of general operations; In support of the community foundation climate collaborative |
| The McKnight Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $500K | $500K | Yes | to build the capacity ofmember foundations in the Community… |
| Muirfield Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | 1 | $460K | $460K | Yes | Contribution to susan sherrerd daf |
| The William G Irwin Charity Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 4 | $430K | $100K | Yes | Facility relocation to provide education and job training; Homes for heroes: ending veteran homelessness in marin coun…; Bright futures capital project |
| Warsh-Mott Legacy | Petaluma, CA | 2 | $410K | $205K | Preselected only | Asian pacific islander political alliance general support; Donor advised fund |
| Kisco Cares Foundation C/O Kisco Senior Living | Carlsbad, CA | 1 | $334K | $334K | Preselected only | Donation |
| Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $325K | $325K | Yes | For general support |
| The William H Donner Foundation Inc | Tarrytown, NY | 10 | $280K | $15K | Preselected only | General support; Bees 2.0; Kitchen culinary program |
| Ramp Foundation | Woodside, CA | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | General support |
| The Sands Family Foundation Inc C/O Wildstar Partners LLC | Delray Beach, FL | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | Unrestricted program use |
| Michael Antonov Charitable Foundation Inc | Woodbury, NY | 1 | $200K | $200K | Preselected only | Donation |
| Foundation to Promote Open Society | New York, NY | 1 | $200K | $200K | Preselected only | To protect the human and civil rights of climate activists… |
| The Kresge Foundation | Troy, MI | 1 | $150K | $150K | Yes | Project support grant toward helping community foundations… |
| Crescent Porter Hale Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $150K | $150K | Yes | Middle school youth |
| Navigage Foundation | LA Canada, CA | 1 | $125K | $125K | Preselected only | Phd research in age related diseases |
| The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation | Menlo Park, CA | 2 | $115K | $58K | Yes | For an equity centered leadership development program; Matching gift of staff and board members |
| Rosenbluth Family Foundation | Mill Valley, CA | 3 | $114K | $13K | Yes | Support of organization's charitable purpose |
| Tomkat Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $112K | $112K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Rowling Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $110K | $110K | Preselected only | To empower local ministries to transform lives in isreal wi… |
| Rosenkranz Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 2 | $110K | $55K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| The White Cedar Fund Formerly Nolen Bradley Family Fund | Jackson, WY | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | For supporting philanthropic efforts in marin county and lo… |
| The Heising-Simons Foundation | Los Altos, CA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | To reframe the public narrative around clean energy |
| Leone Family Foundation | Summit, NJ | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| The Hearst Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | To support career pathway training program in Land Manageme… |
| Charles Stewart Mott Foundation | Flint, MI | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | To support the use of the Sustainable Development Goals fra… |
| Wells Fargo Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 2 | $100K | $50K | Preselected only | Financial Well-Being of the ECE Sector; Economic Springboard Project for Low-Income Marin County Ad… |
| Foster Foundation | San Diego, CA | 1 | $98K | $98K | Preselected only | General support |
| The Lindskog Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $90K | $90K | Yes | Operating support for behavioral and play therapy |
| Bella Vista Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 2 | $85K | $43K | Yes | For support of services provide through la maternidad y esp…; For strengthening youth mental health |
| George H Sandy Foundation Co US Bankna | Milwaukee, WI | 2 | $85K | $43K | Yes | To provide support for their mental health programs.; To provide shelter and services for low income individuals,… |
| Cs Fund | Petaluma, CA | 1 | $77K | $77K | Preselected only | Donor advised fund |
| Doelger Charitable Trust | Daly City, CA | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | Animal cruelty |
| Thelma Doelger Charitable Trust | Daly City, CA | 1 | $75K | $75K | Yes | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to imp… |
| Robinwood Foundation Inc | Paramus, NJ | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | General support |
| Chrysopolae Foundation | Bellevue, ID | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | General Support |
| Jonas Family Foundation Trust | Thornton, CO | 4 | $70K | $15K | Preselected only | General purposes |
| Carolyn and Peter Friedman Foundation | Tiburon, CA | 2 | $66K | $33K | Preselected only | Support programs |
| Blue Adobe Foundation | Gardnerville, NV | 1 | $65K | $65K | Preselected only | Carry out charitable purpose of fdn |
| The Sato Fdn Separate Fund | San Rafael, CA | 1 | $65K | $65K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation | Palo Alto, CA | 1 | $61K | $61K | Preselected only | To support a donor advised fund, requested by an employee o… |
| The Lakeview Foundation | Greenbrae, CA | 2 | $60K | $30K | Preselected only | General support |
| Dan and Stacey Case Family Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $52K | $52K | Preselected only | To further organization's charitable purposes |
| Karl R Pfleger Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 2 | $51K | $25K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; Charitable Event |
| Griffin Phoenix Foundation | Larkspur, CA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Support for poor and needy |
| Emerald Gate Charitable Trust | Jackson, WY | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Support to public charity |
| Rippleworks Inc | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General support |
| The William R Rich Foundation C/O Lynne Kaplan Trustee | Rosemont, IL | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Support |
| Simon Family Foundation | White Plains, NY | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General |
| Robert and Dana Emery Family Foundation Rockefeller Trust Company | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | Unrestricted grant related to educational activities |
| Bothin Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | Construct second classroom and community room |
| Sky Ranch Foundation Inc | Johns Creek, GA | 1 | $45K | $45K | Yes | General operations |
| Lk & Shirl Adamson Foundation | Lafayette, LA | 1 | $43K | $43K | Preselected only | Contribution to assist with exempt purpose |
| The 3 C's Foundation Inc | Coral Gables, FL | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | To help reveal the interconnected nature of reality through… |
| The Grayling Foundation | Orinda, CA | 1 | $35K | $35K | Preselected only | General contribution |
| The Joseph and Vera Long Foundation | Walnut Creek, CA | 1 | $35K | $35K | Preselected only | Maternidad y esperanza |
| Walker Family Charitable Trust | Hollywood, FL | 1 | $35K | $35K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Palm-Aire Charitable Trust | Hollywood, FL | 1 | $34K | $34K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Gunzenhauser Chapin Fund | Greensboro, NC | 2 | $31K | $15K | Preselected only | To assist organization in carrying out its exempt purpose. |
| The Feibusch Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | 2 | $30K | $15K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Hrh Foundation | Menlo Park, CA | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | General operating purposes |
| Hilltop Foundation | Tiburon, CA | 5 | $28K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General support |
| Sunshine Polka-Dot Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 2 | $26K | $13K | Preselected only | Promoting and supporting animal care and humane education; Promoting and supporting art education |
| The George and Lena Valente Foundation | El Macero, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Family support for cancer patients |
| Samantha and Darren Bechtel Family Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | For the sybil sugarman memorial fund, dedicated to making a… |
| Audrey & Sydney Irmas Charitable Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General support |
| The Bartlett Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Sustainable Futures Fund | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Support workforce development for young adults |
| The Morris Stulsaft Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | For the preschool program (3-year grant) |
| The Giant Steps Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Plant-based food, pen pals, wildlife officer training |
| The Kansha Foundation | Truckee, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General & unrestricted |
| Barn Road Foundation | Tiburon, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General Support |
| Aaron Family Foundation | Belvedere, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Support church mission |
| The Beverly J Jewell Memorial Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General support |
| Sutton Family Foundation | Encinitas, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Supports families affected by childhood cancer |
| Thoresen Foundation | Canton, GA | 1 | $24K | $24K | Preselected only | Operational Support |
| Founders Pledge Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $24K | $24K | Preselected only | Iodine global network, general support |
| The Chris and Melody Malachowsky Family Foundation | Campbell, CA | 1 | $23K | $23K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Charles & Barbara Goodman Foundation | San Rafael, CA | 2 | $22K | $11K | Preselected only | General fund |
| Egide Family Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 6 | $21K | $2,000 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; San Marin Swim Team |
| Miranda Lux Foundation | San Rafael, CA | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | to support the Career Pathways Program |
| Walter and Elise Haas Fund | San Francisco, CA | 2 | $20K | $10K | Yes | One year of general operating support; One year of project support to marin oaks high school, prov… |
| Bethlehem Foundation - Agy Main | Rescue, CA | 2 | $20K | $10K | Yes | General operating |
| Amini Foundation for the Study of Affects | Ross, CA | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | Education |
| Leestma Family Foundation | San Rafael, CA | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General Financial Support |
| Dutra Museum Foundation | San Rafael, CA | 1 | $18K | $18K | Preselected only | Charitable operations |
| Sciabica Family Foundation | Tucson, AZ | 1 | $16K | $16K | Preselected only | Donation |
| Sonoma County Vintners Foundation | Santa Rosa, CA | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | To provide rental, utility, food and basic needs assistance… |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Novato, California?
Aam Foundation, Matthew E G Kelly Residuary Trust C/O Ghirardo Cpa, Hevolution Foundation US, Waverley Street Foundation, Stephen M Silberstein Foundation and 95 others reported grants to Novato organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Novato. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.