Give Forward Foundation is a San Francisco-based funder that concentrates almost exclusively on Bay Area K–12 public education, making large, multi-grant investments in local education foundations. Their giving targets organizations that support public school improvement and student opportunity in communities such as East Palo Alto and the broader Bay Area. The foundation appears focused on in-region, institutional support rather than broad national philanthropy.
Give Forward Foundation concentrates almost exclusively on Bay Area K-12 public education, and its recent funding shows a pattern of large, repeated operating support to local education intermediaries. Bay Education Fund received the largest listed grant at $1,500,000 in 2025, followed by another $1,108,696 grant the same year. Ravenswood Education Foundation also appears repeatedly, including a $1,000,000 grant in 2025 and several other seven-figure or half-million awards across prior years. That mix points to a funder that backs organizations positioned to influence district and school improvement at scale rather than isolated projects. The foundation’s recent grants also extend beyond a single institution or city. Give Forward Foundation has supported Bay Area organizations in San Francisco, Menlo Park, Oakland, Redwood City, and Santa Cruz, while also making selected grants to national teacher-development and school-improvement groups. Most awards in the recent list are general operating support, and several recipients recur across multiple years, which suggests sustained relationships rather than one-time transactions. The foundation’s stated grantmaking programs emphasize systems-level change, teacher and leader development, instructional quality, policy and narrative work, and family stability supports for students in under-resourced Bay Area communities.
A central thread in the foundation’s giving is district and systems change. Bay Education Fund received $652,174 in 2024 for general operating support, while New Schools Fund in Oakland received $250,000 in 2024. These grants fit a strategy of supporting organizations that can influence school systems, not just individual classrooms. Talent and instructional excellence is another clear area. Teach for America Inc received $250,000 in 2024 for general operating support, and New Teacher Center received $250,000 in 2023. The foundation also backed leading educator-development organizations outside California, including Leading Educators Inc in New Orleans and Dallas, and Instruction Partners in Nashville, both with $250,000 grants. The portfolio also includes support for community-facing student services. Tipping Point Community received $346,750 in 2025 and $271,000 in 2024, reflecting funding tied to Bay Area basic-needs support that can affect student stability and readiness to learn.
$10.1M
$113.3M
$122.8M
$12.2M
Most grants fall between $15K and $200K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$200K
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Highly concentrated: very few grants, large-dollar gifts, and repeat giving to a small set of local education foundations rather than many small or national grantees.
Notable grantees: Bay Education Fund, Ravenswood Education Foundation
Give Forward Foundation’s recent grants cluster around a median of $100,000, with the 25th percentile at $15,000 and the 75th percentile at $200,000. The most common awards in the recent list are much larger than that upper quartile, often at $250,000 or more, and several grants reach seven figures. The pattern is consistent with strategic, multi-year support rather than small project grants. Recent recipient names recur across multiple years, including Bay Education Fund, Ravenswood Education Foundation, and Tipping Point Community, indicating ongoing relationships. The foundation is a regular funder and makes invitation-only grants; it does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grantmaking is strongly centered in California: 65% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and California is also the top state by grant count. Within the Bay Area, recent grants landed in San Francisco, Menlo Park, Oakland, Redwood City, Santa Cruz, San Rafael, and City of Industry. Outside California, the foundation also funded organizations in New Orleans, New York, Dallas, Nashville, and Boston. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 208 grants to U.S. recipients.
It uses invitation-only grantmaking. The foundation’s active programs all indicate unsolicited applications are not accepted, and the recent grant list shows repeated multi-year awards rather than open-call funding. The structure is strategic and relationship-based, with support often delivered as general operating support.
The typical grant size data show a 25th percentile of $15,000, a median of $100,000, and a 75th percentile of $200,000. In the recent grants list, many awards are at $250,000 or higher, including several large operating grants and a smaller number of seven-figure commitments.
The foundation supports Bay Area K-12 public education organizations, including local education funds, teacher-development groups, and community organizations tied to student stability. Its grant descriptions emphasize district systems change, teacher and leader recruitment and retention, instructional quality, and family basic needs supports.
Yes, but the portfolio is still California-centered. California receives 65% of grants, and most named Bay Area recipients are in the state. The recent list also includes grants to organizations in New Orleans, New York, Dallas, Nashville, and Boston, all within the U.S.
Recurring support is a visible pattern. Bay Education Fund, Ravenswood Education Foundation, and Tipping Point Community each appear in multiple years, and several other recipients return across the 2023–2025 period. That points to ongoing relationships and multi-year support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Give Forward Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAY EDUCATION FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BAY EDUCATION FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,108,696 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RAVENSWOOD EDUCATION FOUNDATION | MENLO PARK, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TIPPING POINT COMMUNITY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $346,750 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OUR AMERICAN FUTURE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT OF FUTURE FORWARD EDUCATION FUND |
| LEADING EDUCATORS INC | DALLAS, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INSTRUCTION PARTNERS | NASHVILLE, TN | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR TEACH FOR AMERICA, BAY AREA |
| NEW SCHOOLS FUND | OAKLAND, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW LEADERS | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEACH PLUS INCORPORATED | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EDUCATORS FOR EXCELLENCE | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE PENINSULA | MENLO PARK, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SILICON SCHOOLS FUND | OAKLAND, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LIFEMOVES | SANTA CLARA, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FOR A NEW AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | TEMPE, AZ | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR NEXT EDUCATION WORKFORCE AT ASUS MARY LOU FULTON TEACHERS COLLEGE |
| ALDER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW TEACHER CENTER | CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PUBLIC IMPACT LLC | CARRBORO, NC | $236,000 | 2025 | FOR THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY CULTURE'S WORK IN CALIFORNIA |
| CIRCUIT EPA | EAST PALO ALTO, CA | $210,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | HALF FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND HALF TO SUPPORT THE CRISP COLLABORATIVE |
| SOBRATO EARLY ACADEMIC LANGUAGE PROGRAM | MILPITAS, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEACH FOR ALL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, CAN BE USED TOWARD MATCH OR CHALLENGE GRANT |
| IMMIGRATION INSTITUTE OF THE BAY AREA (IIBA) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EDUCATION RESOURCE STRATEGIES INC | WATERTOWN, MA | $175,000 | 2025 | COALITION TO REIMAGINE TEACHING |
| COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES IN EAST PALO ALTO | EAST PALO ALTO, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EDUCATION LEADERS OF COLOR | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | FOR THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF RECONSTRUCTION |
| EDUCATION PIONEERS INC | BOSTON, MA | $150,000 | 2025 | BAY AREA GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EDVOICE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $125,000 | 2025 | FOR THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION CASE DEVELOPMENT FUND (255-313799) |
| SOCIAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE | BERKELEY, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LATINOS FOR EDUCATION INC | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | BAY AREA EXPANSION |
| LA RAZA CENTRO LEGAL - SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INNOVATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS | SAN JOSE, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COASTSIDE HOPE | HALF MOON BAY, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INSTRUCTION PARTNERS | NASHVILLE, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH INITIATIVE |
| FRANKLIN EDUCATION FORUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMBITION ANGELS | PALO ALTO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BRAVEN INC | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR BAY AREA PROGRAMMING |
| LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SAN MATEO COUNTY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PANGEA LEGAL SERVICES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UCSF FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT NEUROSCAPE |
| SACRED HEART SCHOOLS ATHERTON | MENLO PARK, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | EDUCATING FOR A LIFETIME CAMPAIGN |
| CITY YEAR SAN JOSESILICON VALLEY | SAN JOSE, CA | $64,564 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WEST CHOP COMMUNITY FUND INC | VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW | OAKLAND, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| POLICY INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION NETWORK | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CAMBIAR EDUCATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR THE GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ADAPTIVE COMMONS |
| ALL FIVE | MENLO PARK, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PLAYWORKS EDUCATION ENERGIZED | OAKLAND, CA | $45,000 | 2025 | FOR THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF SUBSTANTIAL |
BAY EDUCATION FUND
$1,500,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BAY EDUCATION FUND
$1,108,696GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OUR AMERICAN FUTURE FOUNDATION
$250,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT OF FUTURE FORWARD EDUCATION FUND
LEADING EDUCATORS INC
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TEACH FOR AMERICA INC
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR TEACH FOR AMERICA, BAY AREA
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE PENINSULA
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR NEXT EDUCATION WORKFORCE AT ASUS MARY LOU FULTON TEACHERS COLLEGE
PUBLIC IMPACT LLC
$236,000FOR THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY CULTURE'S WORK IN CALIFORNIA
CIRCUIT EPA
$210,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER
$200,000HALF FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND HALF TO SUPPORT THE CRISP COLLABORATIVE
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, CAN BE USED TOWARD MATCH OR CHALLENGE GRANT
FOR THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION CASE DEVELOPMENT FUND (255-313799)
SOCIAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COASTSIDE HOPE
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SAN MATEO COUNTY
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
UCSF FOUNDATION
$75,000TO SUPPORT NEUROSCAPE
SACRED HEART SCHOOLS ATHERTON
$75,000EDUCATING FOR A LIFETIME CAMPAIGN
CITY YEAR SAN JOSESILICON VALLEY
$64,564GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT