About Koshland Foundation
The Koshland Foundation concentrates its giving on strengthening K–12 education and youth opportunity programs in Oakland, CA — funding program launches, teacher development, leadership networks, and entrepreneurship pathways that serve local students and families. Grants are sizable and strategic, aimed at scaling new models, supporting educator capacity, and building community-facing organizations rather than one-off events or national research. The foundation prefers direct program support and implementation in Oakland, often funding the same organizations more than once to deepen impact.
Focus Areas
K–12 instructional innovation and classroom model launches in OaklandTeacher professional development and educator support programs for Oakland schoolsSchool leadership networks and principal/leadership development (partnerships with districts)Youth entrepreneurship education and workforce-readiness programs in OaklandCommunity-based family and student support programs (wraparound services in Oakland)
Who They Fund
Oakland K–12 students (with emphasis on highest-need students)Oakland teachers and instructional leaders
About Koshland Foundation
Koshland Foundation’s grantmaking is built around Oakland public education, with repeated large awards to organizations working inside Oakland Unified School District and alongside city education leaders. The pattern is not one-off project philanthropy: the foundation returns to the same partners over multiple years to support implementation, expansion, and coordination across schools, families, and district systems. Recent grants show that approach clearly. New Leaders received $500,000 in 2025 for its Network Superintendents Program and coaching and strategic support program, following a $500,000 grant in 2023 for its Leadership Network Program with Oakland USD. Oakland Promise has also been funded in multiple years for its Kindergarten to College work within Oakland USD, while Oakland Public Education Fund has received support tied to the Mayor’s education team and other district-facing initiatives. The foundation also backs organizations that build educator capacity and student pathways. Modern Classrooms Project received support for launch and implementation in Oakland, and Teaching Well Inc was funded for program expansion for Oakland teachers and educators. Across the recent grants list, the same local orientation appears again and again: school leadership, teacher development, family engagement, and student supports in Oakland.
What Koshland Foundation Funds
Teacher development is a steady theme. Koshland Foundation gave $332,375 in 2024 to Teaching Well Inc for program and expansion for Oakland teachers and educators, and it also supported New Teacher Center with $300,000 in 2023 for deepening and expanding its work in Oakland USD and another $300,000 in 2025 for the Oakland Unified School District partnership. Family and student engagement is another clear lane. Families in Action for Quality Education received $400,000 in 2025 for the A-G family communication campaign within Oakland Unified School District and $300,000 in 2024 for family-led AG policy change within Oakland USD. Oakland Reach received $333,333 in 2024 for its program for students and families and $200,000 in 2023 for the Virtual Family Hub Program. The foundation also funds pathways beyond core academics. Businesses United in Investing Lending & Development (build) received $330,000 in 2023 and $235,000 in 2024 for entrepreneurship education for Oakland youth, while Philanthropic Ventures Foundation received $250,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for the Abdo collaboration with the Maker Education Initiative.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$10.6M
Total Assets
$7.3M
Total Revenue
$1.9M
Total Expenses
$3.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $100K and $250K, with a median of $200K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$200K
75th Percentile
$250K
Geographic Reach
Regional6 states funded
About 76% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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