The Oberndorf Family Foundation concentrates its giving in education and higher-education/medical research, with very large, targeted gifts to a handful of institutions. Major commitments fund an elite K–12 school and a named merit scholarship program, national school-choice/charter initiatives, and sizable endowed or departmental gifts to UCSF in neurology and psychiatry; a smaller environmental grant appears as a secondary interest. Their portfolio shows focused, high-dollar investments rather than many small grants.
The Oberndorf Family Foundation’s most distinctive pattern is its repeated use of seven-figure grants for a small set of education and research institutions. University School received $7.5 million in both 2024 and 2025, and the University of California San Francisco Foundation received multiple $2 million gifts for psychiatry and Dr. Edward Chang, along with a $1.6 million grant to its Department of Neurology in 2025. That concentration points to a funder that favors large, targeted commitments over broad dispersal. Education is the clearest through line: the foundation backs K–12 schooling, scholarship programs, and school-choice advocacy, while also supporting university-linked medical research and select public-interest work. In the recent grants list, Cathedral School for Boys received $500,000 in both 2023 and 2024, and Stanford University received $1 million in 2024. The portfolio also includes grants to Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, Save the Children, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and New California Coalition Foundation, which shows a narrower set of additional interests around environment, children, and civic policy.
Education is the foundation’s largest and clearest priority. It gave $5 million in 2023 to Dr Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy and $2.5 million in 2025 to the American Federation for Children Growth Fund, reflecting support for charter and school-choice advocacy as well as K–12 schooling. Scholarship support is also explicit: the University School Oberndorf Merit Scholarship received $5 million in 2023. Higher education appears alongside these gifts, including $1 million to Stanford University in 2024. A second cluster centers on medical research at UCSF. The foundation gave $2 million in both 2023 and 2024 to the University of California Sf Foundation - Department of Psychiatry, and the same amounts in those years to University of California Sf Foundation - Dr Edward Chang. In 2025, it added a $1.6 million grant to the University of California Sf Foundation (department of Neurology). Environmental work is present but smaller, with grants to the Environmental Defense Fund in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent grants show a strong upper tier with multiple awards in the millions. The pattern is recurring: several recipients appear in consecutive years, including University School, the University of California San Francisco Foundation units, American Federation for Children Growth Fund, the Environmental Defense Fund, Cathedral School for Boys, and Save the Children. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. One listed program, Jarvis Scholarships at University School, is a fully funded four-year scholarship program that accepts applications through a multi-round process.
$55.1M
$78.5M
$6.2M
$14.8M
Most grants fall between $5K and $50K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 64% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Oberndorf Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 187 | $55.1M | 98.4% |
| 2 | Egypt | 3 | $5K |
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Highly concentrated: a small number of very large grants, often repeat or multi-part gifts to the same institutions; emphasis on funding institution-building (endowments, scholarships, charter startup/support) over broad, distributed grantmaking.
Notable grantees: University School (including Oberndorf Merit Scholarship), University of California San Francisco Foundation (Departments of Neurology & Psychiatry; Dr. Edward Chang), American Federation for Children Growth Fund, Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy, Environmental Defense Fund
Most grants land in California, which accounts for 64% of grants and is also the top state by grant count. San Francisco appears repeatedly through UCSF, the Environmental Defense Fund, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, New California Coalition Foundation, and Cathedral School for Boys; Stanford and Shaker Heights also appear in the recent list. Beyond the U.S., the recipient country distribution includes 3 grants to Egypt, while the overwhelming majority of grants go to U.S.-based recipients.
Education is the strongest theme, especially K–12 schools, scholarships, and school-choice or charter-related work. The recent grants also show support for university-based medical research, plus smaller gifts to environmental, children’s, and civic-policy organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear in consecutive years, including University School in 2024 and 2025, UCSF psychiatry and Dr. Edward Chang in 2023 and 2024, American Federation for Children Growth Fund in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Save the Children in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The distribution centers on relatively small grants, with p25 at $5,000, a median of $10,000, and p75 at $50,000. The recent grants list also includes several much larger gifts in the six- and seven-figure range.
Yes. Jarvis Scholarships at University School is described as a fully funded, four-year scholarship program. Candidates move through three rounds of application, complete two test assessments, write essays, and interview with selection committee members.
California is the top state by grant count, with 64% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. San Francisco is a frequent recipient city, alongside other California locations such as Stanford.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY SCHOOL | SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH | $7,500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN GROWTH FUND | DALLAS, TX | $2,500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SF FOUNDATION (DEPARTMENT OF NEUROLOGY) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,600,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| ENVIROMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN (UKRAINE AND MIDDLE EAST) | FAIRFIELD, CT | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| ENVIROMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN | FAIRFIELD, CT | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| NEIGHBORS FOR A BETTER SAN FRANCISCO ( | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SALVATION ARMY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| UCSF | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| DR HOWARD FULLER COLLEGIATE ACADEMY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| DRAPER RICHARDS KAPLAN FOUNDATION | MENLO PARK, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| NATIVITY HIGH SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $72,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| CHRONICLE SEASON OF SHARING FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| MISSION DOLORES ACADEMY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY (HOOVER HOUSE CIRCLE) | STANFORD, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| WILLIAMS COLLEGE ALUMNI FUND (CLASS OF 1975) | WILLIAMSTOWN, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SAN FRANCISCO MARIN FOOD BANK | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SAN FRANCISCO EDUCATION FUND (BACK TO SCHOOL GALA) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS (SPRING BENEFIT APRIL 2024) | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS (SUPPORT OF EVA AND CAP) | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| BASIC FUND | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SPONSORS FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY (SEO) | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ASSOCIATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER (MSKCC) (MIKE'S TEAM) | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR ALL FOUNDATION (FORMALLY NARAL) | WASHINTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO (PATRON CIRLCLE GIFT BENEFACTOR) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION & ENDOWMENT (IN HONOR OF JOHN PRITZKER) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY (THE STANFORD FUND 2100280511) | STANFORD, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| ASPEN INSTITUTE (SOCIETY OF FELLOWS PRESIDENT'S SOCIETY) | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SALVATION ARMY (FLOWER POWER) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| MERIT SPREAD FOUNDATION INC (COMMUNITY O'NEXT GEN LEADERS) | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (SFMOMA)- (FOG DESIGN AND ART) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| BAY AREA DISCOVERY MUSEUM | SAUSALITO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF IDF WIDOWS AND ORPHANS ORGANIZATION | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| POSITIVE COACHING ALLIANCE | OAKLAND, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| SAN FRANCISCO FREE CLINIC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| EXPLORATORIUM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| WILLIAMS COLLEGE ALUMNI FUND (CLASS OF 2008) | WILLIAMSTOWN, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| UKIAH JUNIOR ACADEMY (DR GLENN MILLER TOURNAMENT) | UKIAH, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE (AJC) SAN FRANCISCO | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| HIDDEN WINGS | SOLVANG, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| BASIC FUND | OAKLAND, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| TEN STRANDS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN GROWTH FUND | COLUMBIA, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITY |
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
$7,500,000GENERAL CHARITY
AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN GROWTH FUND
$2,500,000GENERAL CHARITY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SF FOUNDATION (DEPARTMENT OF NEUROLOGY)
$1,600,000GENERAL CHARITY
ENVIROMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
$1,000,000GENERAL CHARITY
SAVE THE CHILDREN (UKRAINE AND MIDDLE EAST)
$250,000GENERAL CHARITY
ENVIROMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
$250,000GENERAL CHARITY
SAVE THE CHILDREN
$250,000GENERAL CHARITY
NEIGHBORS FOR A BETTER SAN FRANCISCO (
$200,000GENERAL CHARITY
SALVATION ARMY
$100,000GENERAL CHARITY
UCSF
$100,000GENERAL CHARITY
DR HOWARD FULLER COLLEGIATE ACADEMY
$100,000GENERAL CHARITY
DRAPER RICHARDS KAPLAN FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL CHARITY
NATIVITY HIGH SCHOOL
$72,000GENERAL CHARITY
CHRONICLE SEASON OF SHARING FUND
$50,000GENERAL CHARITY
MISSION DOLORES ACADEMY
$50,000GENERAL CHARITY
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS
$50,000GENERAL CHARITY
STANFORD UNIVERSITY (HOOVER HOUSE CIRCLE)
$50,000GENERAL CHARITY
WILLIAMS COLLEGE ALUMNI FUND (CLASS OF 1975)
$50,000GENERAL CHARITY
SAN FRANCISCO MARIN FOOD BANK
$50,000GENERAL CHARITY
UCLA FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL CHARITY
SAN FRANCISCO EDUCATION FUND (BACK TO SCHOOL GALA)
$25,000GENERAL CHARITY
SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS (SPRING BENEFIT APRIL 2024)
$25,000GENERAL CHARITY
SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS (SUPPORT OF EVA AND CAP)
$25,000GENERAL CHARITY
BASIC FUND
$25,000GENERAL CHARITY
SPONSORS FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY (SEO)
$25,000GENERAL CHARITY
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ASSOCIATION
$25,000GENERAL CHARITY
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS
$25,000GENERAL CHARITY
SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE)
$20,000GENERAL CHARITY
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER (MSKCC) (MIKE'S TEAM)
$10,000GENERAL CHARITY
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR ALL FOUNDATION (FORMALLY NARAL)
$10,000GENERAL CHARITY
FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO (PATRON CIRLCLE GIFT BENEFACTOR)
$10,000GENERAL CHARITY
JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION & ENDOWMENT (IN HONOR OF JOHN PRITZKER)
$10,000GENERAL CHARITY
STANFORD UNIVERSITY (THE STANFORD FUND 2100280511)
$10,000GENERAL CHARITY
ASPEN INSTITUTE (SOCIETY OF FELLOWS PRESIDENT'S SOCIETY)
$10,000GENERAL CHARITY
SALVATION ARMY (FLOWER POWER)
$10,000GENERAL CHARITY
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS
$10,000GENERAL CHARITY
MERIT SPREAD FOUNDATION INC (COMMUNITY O'NEXT GEN LEADERS)
$6,000GENERAL CHARITY
SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (SFMOMA)- (FOG DESIGN AND ART)
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
BAY AREA DISCOVERY MUSEUM
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF IDF WIDOWS AND ORPHANS ORGANIZATION
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
POSITIVE COACHING ALLIANCE
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
SAN FRANCISCO FREE CLINIC
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
EXPLORATORIUM
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
WILLIAMS COLLEGE ALUMNI FUND (CLASS OF 2008)
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
UKIAH JUNIOR ACADEMY (DR GLENN MILLER TOURNAMENT)
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE (AJC) SAN FRANCISCO
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
HIDDEN WINGS
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
BASIC FUND
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
TEN STRANDS
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY
AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN GROWTH FUND
$5,000GENERAL CHARITY