The foundation concentrates its giving on educational opportunity, with large, unrestricted scholarship grants that support college access and K–12 preparation for underserved youth. Grants are targeted to a mix of direct service nonprofits (college-access and literacy programs) and established educational institutions, suggesting a preference for proven organizations that place funds into flexible scholarship and program support.
A $2.8 million unrestricted scholarship grant to Summer Search stands out in the recent record and captures the foundation’s central pattern: large awards used to widen educational opportunity for students with financial need. Robert and Dana Emery Family Foundation Rockefeller Trust Company gives across K–12 preparation, college access, and youth enrichment, with repeated support for organizations that can move funds directly into scholarships or program delivery. The grant list shows a preference for established education providers and direct-service nonprofits rather than one-off projects. Recent grants also include seven-figure support for Stanford University and Imagine Worldwide, alongside substantial awards to St. Ignatius College Prep, Mission Dolores Academy, and Bay Scholars. Those gifts point to a portfolio built around both higher education access and earlier-stage academic supports, including literacy, numeracy, and college-preparatory programming. The foundation’s use of unrestricted language appears frequently, suggesting flexibility in how recipients apply funds within their educational missions. Across the recent awards, the emphasis remains on students and children, especially those from underserved or low-income backgrounds.
In higher education access, the foundation gave $1 million to Stanford University for unrestricted scholarship support and $100,000 to Bay Scholars to support higher education scholarships for students of need. It also backed Summer Search with $480,000 in 2025 for scholarships, reinforcing a college-access orientation. For K–12 and early learning, the foundation awarded $1 million to Imagine Worldwide to support the literacy and numeracy skills of children, and $100,000 to Mission Dolores Academy for educational activities. It also gave $50,000 to Today's Youth Matter for youth academics and enrichment. Youth enrichment and school-based support appear in gifts such as $100,000 to Breakthrough Collaborative for scholarships and $50,000 to Oakland Lacrosse Club for athletics. The foundation also supported Salesian College Preparatory with $50,000 for college preparatory skills to youth.
$7.2M
$185.5M
$24.1M
$7.4M
Most grants fall between $25K and $35K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$35K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Very concentrated giving: a small number of large, unrestricted grants with repetition to select core grantees (Summer Search received multiple awards). Preferences include flexible funding for scholarships and capacity rather than many small, program-restricted gifts.
Notable grantees: Summer Search, Stanford University, St. Ignatius College Prep, Imagine Worldwide
Typical grants cluster tightly around $25,000 to $35,000, with a p25 of $25,000, a median of $25,000, and a p75 of $35,000. That said, the recent record also includes several much larger awards, including seven-figure grants, which indicates a structure that combines standard-size awards with occasional major commitments. The same recipients appear across multiple years: Summer Search, Stanford University, Imagine Worldwide, St. Ignatius College Prep, Mission Dolores Academy, One Love Foundation, Deer Hill Foundation, Today's Youth Matter, Salesian College Preparatory, and Oakland Lacrosse Club all recur. The foundation is a bank DAF program and funds individuals, while making no program-related investments.
Grantmaking is national, and every recent recipient is in the United States. California appears most often, with repeated grants to recipients in San Francisco, Mill Valley, Palo Alto, Richmond, Oakland, Milpitas, Huntington Beach, and Stanford. Outside California, the recent record includes Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; New York, New York; and Mancos, Colorado. The foundation gives 0% of grants to recipients in Delaware, despite being headquartered in Wilmington.
Its recent grants center on education: scholarships, college access, K–12 preparation, literacy and numeracy, and youth enrichment. The recipient list includes schools, universities, college-access nonprofits, and direct-service youth organizations, with many awards labeled unrestricted or tied to scholarships.
The typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $35,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also shows larger exceptions, including million-dollar awards.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Summer Search, Stanford University, Imagine Worldwide, St. Ignatius College Prep, Mission Dolores Academy, One Love Foundation, Today's Youth Matter, Salesian College Preparatory, Oakland Lacrosse Club, and Deer Hill Foundation.
California receives the most grants in the recent record, with recipients in cities including San Francisco, Mill Valley, Palo Alto, Richmond, Oakland, Milpitas, Huntington Beach, and Stanford. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Many are described as unrestricted, especially those for scholarships and educational activities. The wording also points to direct support for literacy and numeracy, youth academics and enrichment, college preparatory skills, and school-based scholarship aid.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUMMER SEARCH | JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | $1,300,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SCHOLARSHIPS |
| IMAGINE WORLDWIDE | MILL VALLEY, CA | $1,000,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT THE LITERACY & NUMERACY SKILLS OF CHILDREN |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $1,000,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREP | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $400,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UCSF FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $350,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO BREAST CANCER RESEARCH |
| DEER HILL FOUNDATION | MANCOS, CO | $300,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES |
| BOYS GIRLS CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANISCO, CA | $250,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS AND ENRICHMENT |
| MISSION DOLORES ACADEMY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES |
| BREAKTHROUGH COLLABORATIVE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BAY SCHOLARS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS OF NEED |
| ONE LOVE FOUNDATION | HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES |
| CHAMPION CHARITIES | PALO ALTO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT TO HELP FIGHT BRAIN CANCER AND BRAIN DISEASE |
| KIPP BAY AREA SCHOOLS | OAKLAND, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND SUPPORT UNDER SERVED YOUTH |
| ACE SCHOLARSHIPS | GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS AND ENRICHMENT |
| SALESIAN COLLEGE PREPARATORY | RICHMOND, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO PROMOTE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SKILLS TO YOUTH |
| TODAY'S YOUTH MATTER | MILPITAS, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS/ENRICHMENT |
| SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO CULTURAL ACTIVITIES |
| ROBERTS ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO HELPING EMPLOY AND SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS |
| MEALS ON WHEELS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SENIOR CARE |
| TIPPING POINT COMMUNITY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO IMPACT POVERTY IN THE SF BAY AREA |
| HARLEM LACROSSE LEADERSHIP | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS/ENRICHMENT |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS |
| TEN STRANDS | NOVATO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES |
| OAKLAND LACROSSE CLUB | OAKLAND, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO ATHLETICS |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $45,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATION ACTIVITIES |
| BAY AREA DISCOVERY MUSEUM | SAUSALITO, CA | $35,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS AND ENRICHMENT |
| AMHERST COLLEGE | AMHERST, MA | $35,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES |
| A BETTER CHANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES |
| LARKIN STREET YOUTH CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO POVERTY |
| HUCKLEBERRY YOUTH PROGRAM | SAN FRANCSICO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND SUPPORT UNDER SERVED YOUTH |
| ARCS FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT AMERICAN LEADERSHIP AND AID ADVANCEMENT IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY |
| COMMON SENSE MEDIA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOL | JACKSON, WY | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO IMPROVE LIVES THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP IN LOCAL COMMUNITY |
| CPMC FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO HEALTH CARE ISSUES |
| FIRST GRADUATE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS AND ENRICHMENT |
| LEGAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN |
| RIGHT TO PLAY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS AND ENRICHMENT |
| TOWN SCHOOL FOR BOYS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES |
| ENTERPRISE FOR YOUTH | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO TEACHING YOUTH JOB READINESS SKILLS AND TRAINING |
| PROJECT OPEN HAND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO ANTI-POVERTY AND NUTRITION/MEDICAL ACTIVITIES |
| EPISCOPAL COMMUNITY SERVICES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. |
| 10000 DEGREES | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS OF NEED |
| LA CASA DE LAS MADRES | SAN FRANISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE |
| CURIODYSSEY | SAN MATEO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO PROGRAMS THAT EXPERIMENT WITH SCIENTIFIC PHENOMENA |
| BRIDGE THE GAP | SAUSALITO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS |
| GOOD SAMARITAN FAMILY RESOURCE CENT | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR IMMIGRANTS |
| FOOD RUNNERS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO DELIVER EXCESS FOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD PROGRAMS |
| THE PAINTED TURTLE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES |
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT THE LITERACY & NUMERACY SKILLS OF CHILDREN
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SCHOLARSHIPS
ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREP
$400,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SCHOLARSHIPS
UCSF FOUNDATION
$350,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
BOYS GIRLS CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
$250,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS AND ENRICHMENT
MISSION DOLORES ACADEMY
$100,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
BREAKTHROUGH COLLABORATIVE
$100,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SCHOLARSHIPS
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS OF NEED
ONE LOVE FOUNDATION
$100,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT TO HELP FIGHT BRAIN CANCER AND BRAIN DISEASE
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND SUPPORT UNDER SERVED YOUTH
ACE SCHOLARSHIPS
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS AND ENRICHMENT
SALESIAN COLLEGE PREPARATORY
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO PROMOTE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SKILLS TO YOUTH
TODAY'S YOUTH MATTER
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS/ENRICHMENT
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO HELPING EMPLOY AND SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO IMPACT POVERTY IN THE SF BAY AREA
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS/ENRICHMENT
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$45,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS AND ENRICHMENT
AMHERST COLLEGE
$35,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
LARKIN STREET YOUTH CENTER
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO POVERTY
HUCKLEBERRY YOUTH PROGRAM
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND SUPPORT UNDER SERVED YOUTH
ARCS FOUNDATION
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT AMERICAN LEADERSHIP AND AID ADVANCEMENT IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
TEACH FOR AMERICA
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO IMPROVE LIVES THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP IN LOCAL COMMUNITY
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO YOUTH ACADEMICS AND ENRICHMENT
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO TEACHING YOUTH JOB READINESS SKILLS AND TRAINING
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO ANTI-POVERTY AND NUTRITION/MEDICAL ACTIVITIES
UNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS OF NEED
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO PROGRAMS THAT EXPERIMENT WITH SCIENTIFIC PHENOMENA
BRIDGE THE GAP
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SUPPORT PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS
UNRESTRICTED GRANT RELATED TO SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR IMMIGRANTS
FOOD RUNNERS
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO DELIVER EXCESS FOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD PROGRAMS