Cerity Partners Foundation concentrates its giving on climate and environmental systems-change initiatives and a mix of Bay Area civic, health and arts organizations. Large strategic grants support national and international environmental nonprofits and clean energy campaigns, while smaller, recurring gifts sustain local community services, cultural institutions, and education/academic programs. The foundation shows a clear dual focus: transformational investments in climate/energy policy and steady operating support for local Bay Area nonprofits that address health, human services, and the arts.
Cerity Partners Foundation’s largest recent commitments point to a two-track grantmaking strategy: multi-million-dollar support for climate systems work and steady six-figure gifts to Bay Area community institutions. The foundation backed World Resources Institute twice with $2,000,000 grants for the Systems Change Lab and the Cool Food Initiative, signaling a sustained interest in policy and research on environmental systems change. It also made repeated seven-figure grants to the Nature Conservancy for the Global Mangrove Alliance and to United States Energy Foundation for the Drive Electric US campaign. Alongside those larger awards, the foundation supports local organizations with operating, campaign, and program funds, including Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area, Oregon State University Foundation, and community-serving nonprofits in health, education, arts, and public services. Recent grants also show support for higher education, clean transportation, biodiversity conservation, and disaster recovery. Across those areas, the pattern is consistent: a mix of major thematic investments and ongoing grants to regional institutions that serve students, patients, park users, and local residents.
Climate and environmental systems change is the clearest thread in the foundation’s recent work. It gave $2,000,000 to World Resources Institute for the Systems Change Lab and the Cool Food Initiative, and another $1,000,000 to United States Energy Foundation for the Drive Electric US campaign. Conservation is another major area: Nature Conservancy Inc received $1,005,500 for the Global Mangrove Alliance, followed by a $1,003,250 grant for the same initiative in the prior year. The foundation also funds education and academic support, including $603,000 to University of California Berkeley Foundation for the Ned Spieker Undergraduate Program and $361,500 for the Four Year Business Undergraduate Fund. Community support appears in grants such as $220,000 to Sacramento District Council St Vincent De Paul Society for disaster recovery efforts and $150,485 to Interfaith Community Services for general operating support.
Cerity Partners Foundation’s typical grants are relatively modest compared with its largest awards: the stated distribution is p25 of $10,000, median of $12,000, and p75 of $30,000. The recent list shows both one-time and repeated support. World Resources Institute, Nature Conservancy Inc, United States Energy Foundation, Oregon State University Foundation, and Alder Graduate School of Education each appear across multiple years, including repeated funding for the same programs or general operating support. The foundation is structured as a grantmaker rather than an individual-giving vehicle, and it does not make program-related investments. Its grants include operating support, campaign support, scholarship support, and capital campaign funding.
$3.7M
$35.6M
$4.7M
$4.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $30K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$30K
RHEA SUH
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
A mix of a few very large, multi-grant strategic investments in national/global environmental and clean-energy organizations alongside many smaller, repeated general operating grants to Bay Area nonprofits. Funding is moderately concentrated at the top (several seven- and six-figure gifts) while the remainder is distributed across numerous local service, arts, faith-based, and educational organizations, often as recurring support.
Notable grantees: World Resources Institute, The Nature Conservancy, United States Energy Foundation, University of California Berkeley Foundation, Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area
Grantmaking is regional, with 62% of grants going to recipients in California. The strongest concentration appears in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Sausalito, Walnut Creek, Redwood City, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, and Marin County/Novato. Texas is the top state by grant count overall, even though the headquarters is in Novato, California. Outside California, recent grants also reached Washington, DC; Bethesda, Maryland; Corvallis, Oregon; Omaha, Nebraska; Tucson, Arizona; and Orlando, Florida. All recorded grants in the dataset went to US recipients.
Recent grants center on climate and environmental systems change, clean transportation, conservation, Bay Area health and social services, arts and cultural institutions, and higher education support. Examples include funding for the Systems Change Lab, the Drive Electric US campaign, the Global Mangrove Alliance, and local operating support for community organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including World Resources Institute, Nature Conservancy Inc, United States Energy Foundation, Oregon State University Foundation, and Alder Graduate School of Education. In some cases, the support continues the same program area; in others, it shifts between program funding and general operating support.
The stated grant-size distribution is p25 of $10,000, median of $12,000, and p75 of $30,000. That sits alongside a smaller number of much larger strategic grants, including seven-figure awards for climate and conservation work.
California receives 62% of grants, with a strong concentration in Bay Area cities such as San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Sausalito, Walnut Creek, Redwood City, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, and Novato. Texas is the top state by grant count overall.
The foundation gives a mix of general operating support, campaign support, scholarship and faculty support, capital campaign support, and disaster recovery funding. Recent examples include general operating support, support for the Systems Change Lab and Drive Electric US campaign, scholarship and fund support at Alder Graduate School of Education, and disaster recovery efforts at Sacramento District Council St Vincent De Paul Society.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CORVALLIS, OR | $1,001,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE FIELD SPORT BUILDING |
| NORTHERN NEW YORK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | WATERTOWN, NY | $260,000 | 2026 | UP HOME FUND SUPPORT |
| WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY | SPRINGFIELD, OH | $200,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ALDER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $150,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY INITIATIVES | OAKLAND, CA | $75,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE FUND FOR PEOPLE IN PARKS |
| FESTIVAL OPERA ASSOCIATION INC | WALNUT CREEK, CA | $75,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS |
| AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATRE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $67,050 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LAMORINDA VILLAGE INC | LAFAYETTE, CA | $65,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MENLO SCHOOL | ATHERTON, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FUND-A-FUTURE |
| THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY | SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE CLARK FAMILY FUND |
| MAKER NEXUS | SUNNYVALE, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SAN FRANCISCO PLAYHOUSE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $48,640 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE LAWRENCE HALL OF SCIENCE |
| LAFAYETTE ORINDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | LAFAYETTE, CA | $45,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ABOUT-FACE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL MEDIA DRIVERS LICENSE PROJECT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $37,500 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SQUASHDRIVE | EMERYVILLE, CA | $37,500 | 2026 | OPERATING AND PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $35,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE SUPPORT IN THE BAY AREA |
| ST MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA | MORAGA, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ARTNOW | ASHLAND, OR | $29,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MARIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | NOVATO, CA | $28,500 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $27,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE WILDLIFE RECOVERY FUND |
| NAMI MARIN INC | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $26,500 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF CONTRA COSTA INC | MARTINEZ, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HOSPICE OF THE EAST BAY | PLEASANT HILL, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE FINANCE LEADERS FELLOWSHIP |
| JAMES TOLAND VOCAL ARTS INC | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATUREBRIDGE | SAUSALITO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| URBAN ED ACADEMY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LONG NOW FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE CORAL REEF ALLIANCE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LIVE OAK A LEARNING CENTER FOR CHILDREN | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $22,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $21,250 | 2026 | SUPPORT GAZA AND UKRAINE WORK |
| ST JOHNS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH INC | LUBBOCK, TX | $20,800 | 2026 | SUPPORT REFUGEE PROGRAMS |
| CALIFORNIA FIRE FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | WILDFIRE & DISASTER RELIEF FUND |
| LAFAYETTE LIBRARY AND LEARNING CENTER FOUNDATION | LAFAYETTE, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $20,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE LSA SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF DIABLO VALLEY | WALNUT CREEK, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA | OAKLAND, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MONUMENT CRISIS CENTER | PLEASANT HILL, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SHELTER INC | CONCORD, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| 10000 DEGREES | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | RENEW SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING |
| SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ASSOCIATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $18,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE 2025 SPRING FUND-A-NEED |
| PARTNERS IN HEALTH A NONPROFIT CORPORATION | FREDERICK, MD | $16,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $15,500 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GETTING THE WORD OUT INC | SARANAC LAKE, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WORLD PEACE GAME FOUNDATION | EDGEWATER, FL | $15,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FAMILY HOUSE INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY
$200,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FESTIVAL OPERA ASSOCIATION INC
$75,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LAMORINDA VILLAGE INC
$65,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MENLO SCHOOL
$50,000SUPPORT FUND-A-FUTURE
SUPPORT THE CLARK FAMILY FUND
MAKER NEXUS
$50,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SUPPORT THE LAWRENCE HALL OF SCIENCE
LAFAYETTE ORINDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$45,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ABOUT-FACE
$40,000SOCIAL MEDIA DRIVERS LICENSE PROJECT
PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ST MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA
$30,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ARTNOW
$29,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NAMI MARIN INC
$26,500PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HOSPICE OF THE EAST BAY
$25,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JAMES TOLAND VOCAL ARTS INC
$25,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ST JOHNS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH INC
$20,800SUPPORT REFUGEE PROGRAMS
LAFAYETTE LIBRARY AND LEARNING CENTER FOUNDATION
$20,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$20,000PROVIDE LSA SCHOLARSHIPS
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF DIABLO VALLEY
$20,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
$20,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ASSOCIATION
$18,000SUPPORT THE 2025 SPRING FUND-A-NEED
WORLD PEACE GAME FOUNDATION
$15,000PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT