The Harvey and Leslie Wagner Foundation concentrates philanthropic support on university-based scientific research at UC Berkeley, providing sizable, unrestricted general budget gifts to individual faculty labs. Their giving is niche and research-focused, favoring repeat investments in specific principal investigators rather than broad-based or community-facing programs. The pattern suggests a preference for advancing lab-led biomedical/biophysical research through direct support to investigators.
Concentrated, large gifts to a very small set of repeat grantees (multiple payments to the same UC Berkeley labs), focused on unrestricted/general budget support rather than many small or geographically diverse grants.
The Harvey and Leslie Wagner Foundation’s clearest pattern is sustained support for university-based scientific research at UC Berkeley, where it has given general budget grants to individual faculty labs rather than to broad programs. In 2024, that included $125,000 gifts to the Dan Fletcher Lab, the Aaron Streets Lab, and the Derfogail Delcassian Lab, followed by a $50,000 grant to the Liana Lareau Lab. The same labs also appeared in 2023 with $100,000 general budget awards, showing repeat support for specific principal investigators over multiple years. That lab-centered approach sits alongside a smaller set of general budget gifts to health, education, and community organizations. The foundation’s recent grants include support for Cpmc Foundation, Incline Village Community Hospital Foundation, Planned Parenthood, and UCSF Foundation. It also funded organizations in the Tahoe region such as Village League to Save Incline Assets, Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, and Lake Tahoe School. Across the recent record, the foundation gives through unrestricted support, with awards that can range from modest five-figure gifts to six-figure lab funding.
A central theme is biomedical and biophysical research at UC Berkeley. The foundation gave $125,000 in 2024 to the Dan Fletcher Lab for general budget support, and matched that amount to the Aaron Streets Lab and the Derfogail Delcassian Lab. It also supports health organizations through unrestricted gifts. In 2024, it awarded $35,000 to Incline Village Community Hospital Foundation for general budget support, and gave $35,000 to Cpmc Foundation. Community-based education and youth organizations appear as well. Recent examples include $10,000 to Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, $10,000 to Lake Tahoe School, and $10,000 to Notre Dame High School, each listed as general budget support. The foundation has also backed public-facing and civic organizations, including $10,000 to Knpb Channel 5 Public Broadcasting and $10,000 to Nevada Museum of of Art.
Typical grants are clustered around a small-to-mid size profile: p25 is $1,000, median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. The recent record also includes much larger awards for UC Berkeley labs, so the distribution is mixed rather than uniform. The foundation’s grants are mostly repeat commitments: the Dan Fletcher Lab, Aaron Streets Lab, and Derfogail Delcassian Lab each received funding in both 2023 and 2024. Its giving is made through general budget support, including unrestricted support for organizational flexibility. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$890K
$8.8M
$2.7M
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $1K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 31% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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.
Notable grantees: UC Berkeley — Dan Fletcher Lab, UC Berkeley — Derfogail Delcassian Lab, UC Berkeley — Aaron Streets Lab
The foundation’s giving is regional, but the recent grants are concentrated in California and Nevada. Berkeley appears repeatedly through UC Berkeley lab support, while San Francisco, Reno, and Incline Village also show up often. Nevada recipients include Incline Village Community Hospital Foundation, Renown Health Foundation, KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, Nevada Museum of of Art, Village League to Save Incline Assets, and Lake Tahoe School. Outside the West, the recent list also includes Planned Parenthood in Lubbock, Texas, and the Muscular Dystrphy Association in Chicago, Illinois.
It gives general budget support to university research labs, health organizations, schools, public broadcasting, arts groups, and community organizations. Recent examples include UC Berkeley faculty labs, Incline Village Community Hospital Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, and KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting.
Yes. Several UC Berkeley labs received grants in both 2023 and 2024, including the Dan Fletcher Lab, Aaron Streets Lab, and Derfogail Delcassian Lab. Incline Village Community Hospital Foundation and Renown Health Foundation also appear in multiple years.
The grant-size distribution is p25 $1,000, median $5,000, and p75 $10,000. The recent record also includes larger awards, especially the $125,000 and $100,000 general budget grants to UC Berkeley labs.
The top state by grant count is New York, while 31% of grants go to recipients in Nevada, the foundation’s headquarters state. The recent grants list, however, is heavily centered in California and Nevada recipients.
It uses general budget support, including unrestricted grants to principal investigator labs. The pattern favors direct support for specific UC Berkeley faculty-led research teams, alongside flexible operating support for other nonprofits.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC BERKELEY - AARON STREETS LAB | BERKELEY, CA | $175,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| UC BERKELEY - DAN FLETCHER LAB | BERKELEY, CA | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| UC BERKELEY - DERFOGAIL DELCASSIAN LAB | BERKELEY, CA | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| UC BERKELEY - GUTHRIE RESEARCH | BERKELEY, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| UC BERKELEY - LIANA LAREAU | BERKELEY, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| CPMC AMBASSADOR SERVICES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA | LUBBOCK, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| SF MOMA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| BERKELEY HIGH JAZZ BAND | BERKELEY, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| NOTRE DAME BELMONT FUND SCHOLARSHIP | BELMONT, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| STANFORD MEDICAL CENTER FUND | PALO ALTO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| FINE ARTS MUSEUMS (DEYOUNG LEIGION) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| SERRA HS SCHOLARSHIP FUND | SAN MATEO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| UCSF FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSON | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| 10000 DEGREES | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| SAGE RIDGE SCHOOL | RENO, NV | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| PENINSULA BRIDGE | PALO ALTO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| CLINTON FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| EASTSIDE COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL | EAST PALO ALTO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| BISHOP MANOGUE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | RENO, NV | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| ACLU | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| SF JAZZ | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| SMASH EDUCATION PROGRAM | OAKLAND, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| WGBH FOUNDATION - BOSTON PUBLIC TV | BOSTON, MA | $2,400 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BOARDERS | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| PANCAN | MANHATTAN BEACH, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| CA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| EXPLORATORIUM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| CASA OF SAN MATEO COUNTY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS SF | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| COMPASSION AND CHOICES | DENVER, CO | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| ALAMEDA FOOD BANK | ALAMEDA, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| SUTTER HEALTH HOSPICE | SAN MATEO, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| OBAMA FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| ST BALDRICKS FND - OSTEOSARCOMA | MONROVIA, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| CALL PRIMROSE FOOD BANK SM | BURLINGAME, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| HUMANE SOCIETY & SPCA | SAN MATEO, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| TAHOE FAMILY SOLUTIONS | INCLINE VILLAGE, NV | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| UC BERKELEY - AARON STREETS LAB | BERKELEY, CA | $130,000 | 2025 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| UC BERKELEY DERFOGAIL DELCASSIAN LAB | BERKELEY, CA | $130,000 | 2025 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| UC BERKELEY - DAN FLETCHER LAB | BERKELEY, CA | $130,000 | 2025 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| UC BERKELEY - GUTHRIE RESEARCH | BERKELEY, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| UC BERKELEY - LIANA LAREAU | BERKELEY, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| CPMC AMBASSADOR SERVICES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| INCLINE VILLAGE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | INCLINE VILLAGE, NV | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA | LUBBOCK, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL BUDGET |
| UCSF FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL BUDGET |
UC BERKELEY - AARON STREETS LAB
$175,000GENERAL BUDGET
UC BERKELEY - DAN FLETCHER LAB
$150,000GENERAL BUDGET
UC BERKELEY - DERFOGAIL DELCASSIAN LAB
$150,000GENERAL BUDGET
UC BERKELEY - GUTHRIE RESEARCH
$100,000GENERAL BUDGET
UC BERKELEY - LIANA LAREAU
$100,000GENERAL BUDGET
CPMC AMBASSADOR SERVICES
$40,000GENERAL BUDGET
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA
$20,000GENERAL BUDGET
SF MOMA
$12,000GENERAL BUDGET
BERKELEY HIGH JAZZ BAND
$10,000GENERAL BUDGET
NOTRE DAME BELMONT FUND SCHOLARSHIP
$10,000GENERAL BUDGET
STANFORD MEDICAL CENTER FUND
$10,000GENERAL BUDGET
FINE ARTS MUSEUMS (DEYOUNG LEIGION)
$10,000GENERAL BUDGET
SERRA HS SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$10,000GENERAL BUDGET
UCSF FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL BUDGET
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSON
$10,000GENERAL BUDGET
PENINSULA BRIDGE
$5,000GENERAL BUDGET
CLINTON FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL BUDGET
BISHOP MANOGUE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL BUDGET
SF JAZZ
$5,000GENERAL BUDGET
SMASH EDUCATION PROGRAM
$5,000GENERAL BUDGET
DOCTORS WITHOUT BOARDERS
$2,000GENERAL BUDGET
CA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
$1,000GENERAL BUDGET
EXPLORATORIUM
$1,000GENERAL BUDGET
CASA OF SAN MATEO COUNTY
$1,000GENERAL BUDGET
YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS SF
$1,000GENERAL BUDGET
ALAMEDA FOOD BANK
$1,000GENERAL BUDGET
SUTTER HEALTH HOSPICE
$1,000GENERAL BUDGET
ST BALDRICKS FND - OSTEOSARCOMA
$1,000GENERAL BUDGET
HUMANE SOCIETY & SPCA
$1,000GENERAL BUDGET
TAHOE FAMILY SOLUTIONS
$1,000GENERAL BUDGET
UC BERKELEY - AARON STREETS LAB
$130,000GENERAL BUDGET
UC BERKELEY DERFOGAIL DELCASSIAN LAB
$130,000GENERAL BUDGET
UC BERKELEY - DAN FLETCHER LAB
$130,000GENERAL BUDGET
UC BERKELEY - GUTHRIE RESEARCH
$60,000GENERAL BUDGET
UC BERKELEY - LIANA LAREAU
$60,000GENERAL BUDGET
CPMC AMBASSADOR SERVICES
$40,000GENERAL BUDGET
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA
$20,000GENERAL BUDGET
UCSF FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL BUDGET