The Betsy Gordon Foundation concentrates its support on a small set of mission-driven organizations in cultural preservation, alternative/higher education, and emerging mental-health research. Grants are often sizeable and directed to organizational general operations, indicating trust-based, flexible funding for institutional capacity. The portfolio mixes culturally specific groups (notably Tibetan community programming) with experimental academic programs (integral studies and psychedelic research) and selective humanitarian support.
Concentrated, relatively large grants to a small number of repeat and core grantees; emphasis on general operations/flexible support rather than project-restricted funding.
A defining feature of the Betsy Gordon Foundation C/o Elizabeth Gordon is its repeated support for a small set of mission-driven organizations rather than a broad, one-time portfolio. The largest listed grant went to Ciis in San Francisco for general operations, and the same institutional pattern appears across cultural preservation, integral education, and mental-health research. California Institute of Integral Studies also received multiple general-operations grants, including awards in both 2025 and 2026, showing continuity rather than a single-cycle relationship. The foundation’s recent giving also includes sustained backing for Tibetan community organizations, especially Tibetan Association of No California in Richmond, which appears several times in the recent grants list. Alongside those core areas, the funder has made selective grants to research and humanitarian groups such as the UCLA Psychodelic Studies Initiative, World Central Kitchen, and Beckley Foundation. Most awards are described as general operations, indicating a preference for flexible support that can strengthen organizations’ day-to-day capacity. The result is a portfolio centered on institutional resilience in a few closely related fields rather than a wide scatter of isolated projects.
Cultural preservation is a consistent theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. Tibetan Association of No California in Richmond received repeated general-operations grants, including $60,000 awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and another $60,000 grant in 2026. In higher education, California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco received general-operations support of $86,602 in 2025 and $63,000 in 2026, extending the foundation’s ties to integral and alternative education. The foundation also funded experimental mental-health work through a $50,000 general-operations grant to UCLA Psychodelic Studies Initiative in Los Angeles. Humanitarian response appears as a smaller but recurring thread: World Central Kitchen in Washington, DC received general-operations grants in 2023, 2024, and 2026. These named grants show a mix of cultural, academic, research, and emergency-relief interests.
Typical grants cluster in the low-to-mid five figures, with a p25 of $1,000, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $10,012. At the same time, the recent-grants list includes much larger institutional awards, which suggests a portfolio that combines small support with targeted, higher-dollar operating grants. Recurrence is a notable feature: several recipients appear in multiple years, including 2023 through 2026. The foundation is a regular funder, and the listed grants are directed to organizations rather than individuals. The repeated use of general-operations funding indicates a preference for flexible, unrestricted support over project-only awards.
$227K
$16K
$202K
$238K
Most grants fall between $1K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 1% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Top 4 recipient countries by grant volume for Betsy Gordon Foundation C/O Elizabeth Gordon.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 89 | $1.2M | 96.7% |
| 2 | India |
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Notable grantees: Tibetan Association of Northern California, GRIP–Training Institute, California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), Purdue Project, World Central Kitchen
The foundation gives nationally, but California receives the most grants by count. Recent recipients are concentrated in San Francisco, Richmond, Fremont, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Mill Valley, with additional grants going to Washington, DC; West Lafayette, Indiana; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Wailuku, Hawaii; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Highland Park, New Jersey. Outside the United States, the recent list includes one recipient in India, one in the UK, and one in the Netherlands. Arizona, the headquarters state, accounts for 2% of grants.
Its recent grants go to nonprofit organizations working in cultural preservation, alternative and higher education, psychedelic and mental-health research, nonprofit leadership, and emergency food relief. The grant list also shows repeated general-operations support, suggesting attention to organizational capacity as well as program areas.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years. Tibetan Association of No California received grants in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, while World Central Kitchen appears in 2023, 2024, and 2026. California Institute of Integral Studies also received more than one grant.
The typical grant size falls in the low-to-mid five figures: p25 is $1,000, median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,012. The recent-grants list also includes larger operating grants above $50,000, showing that the foundation sometimes makes substantially larger awards.
California is the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities in California include San Francisco, Richmond, Fremont, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Mill Valley. The foundation also gives nationally, with grants reaching Washington, DC; West Lafayette, Indiana; and locations outside the United States.
The recent-grants list is dominated by general operations. That pattern appears across cultural, research, education, and humanitarian grants, including awards to California Institute of Integral Studies, Tibetan Association of No California, and World Central Kitchen.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 1 |
| $22K |
1.1% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 1 | $10K | 1.1% |
| 4 | Netherlands | 1 | $1K | 1.1% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF INTEGRAL STUDIES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $63,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TIBETAN ASSOCIATION OF NO CALIFORNIA | RICHMOND, CA | $60,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GRIP-TRAINING INSTITUTE | FREMONT, CA | $54,951 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND HEALING | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INTERNATIONAL INST FOR HUMANISTIC STUDIES | PETALUMA, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE SRAMANI INSTITUTE | RANDALLSTOWN, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THRESHHOLD FOUNDATION | BREWSTER, NY | $2,495 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LIVINGDYING PROJECT | FAIRFAX, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHARITIES | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GLIDE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CNTR FNDN DBA UCSF BENIOFF CHILDREN'S HOSPIT | OAKLAND, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MARIN SENIOR COORDINATING COUNCIL - VIVALON | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NARADA M WALDEN FOUNDATION | NOVATO, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| UCSF FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CANAL ALLIANCE | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DESTINY ARTS CENTER | OAKLAND, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BREAST CANCER PREVENTION PARTNERS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HEIFER INTERNATIONAL | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MARIN HEALTH FOUNDATION | GREENBRAE, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC - DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MORAVIAN ACADEMY | BETHLEHEM, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SPIRIT ROCK INSIGHT MEDITATION CENTER | WOODACRE, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MOUNTAIN PLAY ASSOCIATION | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF INTEGRAL STUDIES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $86,602 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TIBETAN ASSOCIATION OF NO CALIFORNIA | RICHMOND, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GRIP-TRAINING INSTITUTE | FREMONT, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LIMINA FOUNDATION | SANTE FE, NM | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BECKLEY FOUNDATION | WOODRIDGE, IL | $20,025 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BREAST CANCER PREVENTION PARTNERS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHAPTER 510 INK | OAKLAND, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DARAJA ACADEMY | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $9,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN FOUNDATION | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $3,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MARIN HEALTH FOUNDATION | GREENBRAE, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BERKELEY ATLANTIS FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHARITIES | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| VIVALON | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DESTINY ARTS CENTER | OAKLAND, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC - DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MORAVIAN ACADEMY | BETHLEHEM, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ARICA FOUNDATION | AM | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PROJECT OPEN HAND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CANAL ALLIANCE | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| UCSF FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HEIFER INTERNATIONAL | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PSEADS INSTITUTE | SAN ANSELMO, CA | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LIVINGDYING PROJECT | FAIRFAX, CA | $200 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
TIBETAN ASSOCIATION OF NO CALIFORNIA
$60,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
INTERNATIONAL INST FOR HUMANISTIC STUDIES
GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE SRAMANI INSTITUTE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
THRESHHOLD FOUNDATION
$2,495GENERAL OPERATIONS
LIVINGDYING PROJECT
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GENERAL OPERATIONS
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
NARADA M WALDEN FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
UCSF FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
SPIRIT ROCK INSIGHT MEDITATION CENTER
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
MOUNTAIN PLAY ASSOCIATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
TIBETAN ASSOCIATION OF NO CALIFORNIA
$60,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
LIMINA FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
BECKLEY FOUNDATION
$20,025GENERAL OPERATIONS
DARAJA ACADEMY
$9,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN FOUNDATION
$3,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
BERKELEY ATLANTIS FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ARICA FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION
$500GENERAL OPERATIONS
UCSF FOUNDATION
$500GENERAL OPERATIONS
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
$500GENERAL OPERATIONS
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$500GENERAL OPERATIONS
PSEADS INSTITUTE
$250GENERAL OPERATIONS
LIVINGDYING PROJECT
$200GENERAL OPERATIONS