The Charles & Barbara Goodman Foundation concentrates its giving locally in Marin County, CA, supporting education, health care, and services for older adults. Grants skew toward institutional operating and program support — notably investments in vocational/CTE education, nursing training, and regional health systems — indicating a focus on workforce development in health and direct community health services. The foundation tends to fund established local nonprofits and public education agencies rather than small grassroots projects.
Concentrated, relatively small-number portfolio: few large, local grants rather than many small awards; repeats support to the same public education entity; primarily unrestricted or general operating funding to established institutions.
A recurring local pattern stands out in Charles & Barbara Goodman Foundation grantmaking: the foundation repeatedly backs Marin County education and health institutions, with multi-year support for Marin County Board of Education CTE work, Vivalon, and Dominican University of California’s nursing program. Those grants point to a funder that prioritizes workforce pathways, community health, and services for older adults rather than broad national philanthropy. The foundation’s recent awards also show a willingness to sustain the same organizations over several years, especially in school-based career preparation and regional health infrastructure. The foundation’s recent giving includes operating and general support alongside restricted grants, suggesting a mix of flexible and purpose-specific funding. Its portfolio includes public education agencies, universities, hospital-related organizations, and senior-service nonprofits. The largest recent award in the file went to Vivalon, while Dominican University of California received support for its nursing program and Marin Health Foundation received general funding. Together, those grants show a funder that concentrates on practical local institutions with direct community reach.
Education and workforce development are central to the foundation’s giving. It gave $50,000 to Marin County Board of Education (cte) in 2024 and another $50,000 in 2023, both as restricted funding, reflecting repeated support for career and technical education in Marin County public schools. In higher education, Dominican University of California received $50,000 in 2025 for its nursing program and $15,000 in 2024 for its library fund. Health care also appears in the recent record. Marin Health Foundation received $50,000 in 2023 for general support, and the foundation supported Myotonic Dystrophy with $10,000 in 2024. Older-adult services are another clear thread. Vivalon received $55,000 in 2025 for general fund support, plus $25,000 in 2024 and $20,000 in 2023, showing repeated backing for a Marin-based senior service provider.
Typical grants cluster at a moderate local scale: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $21,000. Recent awards show repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, including Marin County Board of Education (cte), Vivalon, Schools Rule Marin, Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning, and the MSA Foundation’s Novato HS Arts Program. The foundation does not fund individuals and makes no program-related investments. Its recent grants mix general fund, restricted fund, and capital campaign support, indicating both flexible and designated giving.
$340K
$7.1M
$1M
$398K
Most grants fall between $5K and $21K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$21K
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Notable grantees: Marin County Board of Education (CTE), Vivalon, Dominican University of California — Nursing Program, Marin Health Foundation
Giving is overwhelmingly California-focused: 83% of grants go to recipients in CA, and the top state by grant count is also CA. Within that footprint, awards land in San Rafael, Novato, Greenbrae, and San Francisco, with Marin County institutions appearing often. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 60 grants in the United States and no non-U.S. recipient countries in the recent file.
Recent grants show sustained support for career and technical education in Marin County, nursing and allied health training, local health systems, and services for older adults. The foundation also funds some arts, education, and research-related work, including support for school programs and health-focused nonprofits.
Typical awards are relatively modest and local in scale: the p25 is $5,000, the median grant is $10,000, and the p75 is $21,000. Recent grants also include several larger $50,000 and $55,000 awards.
Repeat recipients are common. Marin County Board of Education (cte), Vivalon, Schools Rule Marin, Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning, and the MSA Foundation’s Novato HS Arts Program each appear in multiple years, showing a pattern of ongoing support rather than one-off gifts.
The recent record includes general fund support, restricted fund grants, and capital campaign funding. Examples include restricted support for Marin County Board of Education (cte), general support for Vivalon and Marin Health Foundation, and capital campaign support for ACD Museum/Acd Automobile Museum.
California is the main recipient state, with 83% of grants going to CA-based recipients. The recent list also shows concentration in Marin County communities such as San Rafael, Novato, and Greenbrae, with additional grants in San Francisco.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (CTE) | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $110,000 | 2026 | RESTRICTED FUND |
| VIVALON | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUNDGENERAL FUNDGENERAL FUND |
| FROMM INSTITUTE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| SCHOOLS RULE MARIN | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $28,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (NURSING PROGRAM) | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| MSA FOUNDATION (NOVATO HS ARTS PROGRAM) | NOVATO, CA | $22,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| MARIN IJ GIVING MARIN | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| MELISSA PRANDI CHILDREN INSTITUTE (UGANDA) | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| SHIFTING GEARS USA | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| ACD AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM | AUBURN, IN | $10,000 | 2026 | RESTRICTED FUND |
| SONOMA EQUINE RESCUE REHAB & ADOPTION | PETALUMA, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| MISSION HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| ROSS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION | ROSS, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| MARIN ART & GARDEN CENTER | ROSS, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| NORTH BAY CHILDRENS CENTER | NOVATO, CA | $250 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| VIVALON | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUNDGENERAL FUNDGENERAL FUND |
| DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (NURSING PROGRAM) | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SCHOOLS RULE MARIN | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (CTE) | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | RESTRICTED FUND |
| MELISSA PRANDI CHILDREN INSTITUTE (UGANDA) | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MSA FOUNDATION (NOVATO HS ARTS PROGRAM) | NOVATO, CA | $24,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ABRAMS FAMILY FUND FOR MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY RESEARCH | ROCHESTER, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MARIN IJ GIVING MARIN | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FROMM INSTITUTE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SHIFTING GEARS USA | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $13,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ACD AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM | AUBURN, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | RESTRICTED FUND |
| SONOMA EQUINE RESCUE REHAB & ADOPTION | PETALUMA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SAN RAFAEL CITY SCHOOLSSAN PEDRO ELEMENTARY | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | RESTRICTED FUND |
| MISSION HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MARIN COUNCIL BSA | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MARIN ART & GARDEN CENTER | ROSS, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ROSS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION | ROSS, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (CTE) | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | RESTRICTED FUND |
| ACD MUSEUM | AUBURN, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| ABRAMS FAMILY FUND FOR MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY RESEARCH | ROCHESTER, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| VIVALON | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUNDGENERAL FUNDGENERAL FUND |
| SCHOOLS RULE MARIN | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| MSA FOUNDATION (NOVATO HS ARTS PROGRAM) | NOVATO, CA | $15,200 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (LIBRARY FUND) | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| MARIN COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION (VAN) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| FROMM INSTITUTE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| AUBURN CORD DUESENBERG MUSEUM GALLERY | AUBURN, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | RESTRICTED FUND |
| MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| BY THE BAY HEALTH | LARKSPUR, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| DESIRE TO INSPIRE STUDIOS FOUNDATION | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $6,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| NEW ISRAEL FUND (FAMILY OF PRISONERS OF GAZA) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| SONOMA EQUINE RESCUE REHAB & ADOPTION | PETALUMA, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| NORCAL GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE | MENLO PARK, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| KENTFIELD GREENBRAE HISTORICAL SOCIETY | KENTFIELD, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| MELISSA PRANDI CHILDREN INSTITUTE (UGANDA) | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (CTE)
$110,000RESTRICTED FUND
FROMM INSTITUTE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING
$40,000GENERAL FUND
SCHOOLS RULE MARIN
$28,000GENERAL FUND
GENERAL FUND
MARIN IJ GIVING MARIN
$20,000GENERAL FUND
MELISSA PRANDI CHILDREN INSTITUTE (UGANDA)
$15,000GENERAL FUND
SHIFTING GEARS USA
$11,000GENERAL FUND
ACD AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM
$10,000RESTRICTED FUND
SONOMA EQUINE RESCUE REHAB & ADOPTION
$5,000GENERAL FUND
MISSION HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$2,000GENERAL FUND
ROSS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
$1,000GENERAL FUND
SCHOOLS RULE MARIN
$25,000GENERAL FUND
MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (CTE)
$25,000RESTRICTED FUND
MELISSA PRANDI CHILDREN INSTITUTE (UGANDA)
$25,000GENERAL FUND
MSA FOUNDATION (NOVATO HS ARTS PROGRAM)
$24,000GENERAL FUND
ABRAMS FAMILY FUND FOR MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY RESEARCH
$20,000GENERAL FUND
MARIN IJ GIVING MARIN
$20,000GENERAL FUND
FROMM INSTITUTE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING
$15,000GENERAL FUND
SHIFTING GEARS USA
$13,500GENERAL FUND
ACD AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM
$10,000RESTRICTED FUND
SONOMA EQUINE RESCUE REHAB & ADOPTION
$5,000GENERAL FUND
SAN RAFAEL CITY SCHOOLSSAN PEDRO ELEMENTARY
$5,000RESTRICTED FUND
MISSION HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$2,000GENERAL FUND
MARIN COUNCIL BSA
$1,000GENERAL FUND
ROSS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
$1,000GENERAL FUND
MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (CTE)
$50,000RESTRICTED FUND
ACD MUSEUM
$25,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
ABRAMS FAMILY FUND FOR MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY RESEARCH
$25,000GENERAL FUND
SCHOOLS RULE MARIN
$25,000GENERAL FUND
MSA FOUNDATION (NOVATO HS ARTS PROGRAM)
$15,200GENERAL FUND
MARIN COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION (VAN)
$15,000GENERAL FUND
FROMM INSTITUTE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING
$15,000GENERAL FUND
AUBURN CORD DUESENBERG MUSEUM GALLERY
$10,000RESTRICTED FUND
DESIRE TO INSPIRE STUDIOS FOUNDATION
$6,000GENERAL FUND
NEW ISRAEL FUND (FAMILY OF PRISONERS OF GAZA)
$5,000GENERAL FUND
SONOMA EQUINE RESCUE REHAB & ADOPTION
$5,000GENERAL FUND
NORCAL GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE
$5,000GENERAL FUND
KENTFIELD GREENBRAE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$5,000GENERAL FUND
MELISSA PRANDI CHILDREN INSTITUTE (UGANDA)
$5,000GENERAL FUND