The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on sustaining high-profile arts and cultural institutions—especially classical music and performing arts—in the San Francisco Bay Area, while also funding select scientific research and Catholic/Jesuit educational institutions. A small number of very large grants (and repeated multi-year support) to flagship organizations distinguish its portfolio; gifts often underwrite capital, program support, and institutional strengthening.
The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation for the Arts shows a clear pattern of very large, project-specific grants to a small set of San Francisco cultural and academic institutions. In 2024, the foundation made multiple grants of $28.4 million, $20 million, and $14 million to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Inc, alongside $12 million to the San Francisco Symphony and $10.5 million to the San Francisco Opera Association. Its portfolio also reaches beyond performance institutions into Bay Area research and education, including $14.5 million to the Berkeley Geochronology Center and $15 million to the University of San Francisco. The grant descriptions consistently refer to carrying out specific charitable, educational, and cultural projects, which points to restricted support rather than open-ended operating aid. Repeated awards to the same institutions suggest sustained backing over time, especially for the conservatory, which appears several times across the recent-grants list. The foundation’s recent giving also includes Catholic and Jesuit education through Saint Ignatius High School, and research support through organizations connected to geochronology and human origins.
In classical music and conservatory support, the foundation gave $28.4 million to San Francisco Conservatory of Music Inc to carry out specific charitable, educational, and cultural projects. It also awarded the same institution $20 million, $14 million, $6.6 million, $6 million, $5 million, $1 million, $600,000, $480,000, $250,000, $200,000, $150,000, and $110,000 across the recent grants list. For major performing arts presenting organizations, it granted $12 million to the San Francisco Symphony and $10.5 million to the San Francisco Opera Association for the same type of project-specific support, with additional awards of $3 million and $1.5 million to those organizations. Beyond the arts, the foundation supported scientific research with $14.5 million to the Berkeley Geochronology Center and also funded Catholic/Jesuit education through a $4 million grant to Ignatian Corporation Saint Ignatius High School.
Grant size is highly concentrated at the top end: p25 is $495,000, median grant size is $1.5 million, and p75 is $7.575 million. The recent-grants list shows repeated support to the same institutions across multiple awards, especially the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Inc and the Berkeley Geochronology Center, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its grants are described as support to carry out specific charitable, educational, and cultural projects, indicating restricted project-based giving.
$110K
$30K
$19K
$120K
Most grants fall between $495K and $7.6M, with a median of $1.5M.
25th Percentile
$495K
Median
$1.5M
75th Percentile
$7.6M
About 100% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Highly concentrated giving: a few very large multi-million dollar grants dominate total giving, with repeated support to core Bay Area cultural institutions (notably 13 grants to the SF Conservatory). Portfolio mixes large institutional endowments/capital and program support with occasional targeted research and education grants.
Notable grantees: San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera Association, Berkeley Geochronology Center, University of San Francisco
All recent grants in the provided list went to U.S. recipients, and 100% were made to organizations in California, matching the foundation’s local geographic scope. San Francisco is the main recipient city, with grants going to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Inc, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera Association, the University of San Francisco, and Ignatian Corporation Saint Ignatius High School. Berkeley also appears through the Berkeley Geochronology Center, while Walnut Creek and Portola Valley each received grants through single organizations.
The foundation supports arts and cultural institutions, especially classical music and performing arts groups, along with select scientific research and Catholic/Jesuit educational institutions. Recent grants also show support for conservatory training and arts education through project-specific funding.
Typical grants are large: the 25th percentile is $495,000, the median is $1.5 million, and the 75th percentile is $7.575 million. The recent-grants list also includes several awards in the multi-million-dollar range.
Yes. The recent-grants list shows repeated awards to the same organizations, especially the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Inc and the Berkeley Geochronology Center. That pattern indicates sustained relationships rather than one-off gifts.
Its recent grants are entirely in California, with 100% of the listed grants going to recipients in the state. San Francisco is the most frequent recipient city, followed by Berkeley, with additional grants in Walnut Creek and Portola Valley.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $110,000 | 2025 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $28,400,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $15,000,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| BERKELEY GEOCHRONOLOGY CENTER | BERKELEY, CA | $14,500,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $14,000,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $12,000,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ASSOCIATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,500,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $6,600,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $6,000,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| L S B LEAKEY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $4,000,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| IGNATIAN CORPORATION SAINT IGNATIUS HIGH SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $4,000,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,000,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| FOUNDATION FOR GLOBAL ARTS | WALNUT CREEK, CA | $1,500,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ASSOCIATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,500,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| GRUTER INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH | PORTOLA VALLEY, CA | $1,350,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| BERKELEY GEOCHRONOLOGY CENTER | BERKELEY, CA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $600,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| BERKELEY GEOCHRONOLOGY CENTER | BERKELEY, CA | $500,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| BERKELEY GEOCHRONOLOGY CENTER | BERKELEY, CA | $500,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $480,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $250,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $200,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| GRUTER INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH | PORTOLA VALLEY, CA | $150,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $150,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
| GRUTER INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH | PORTOLA VALLEY, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS |
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$110,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$28,400,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$20,000,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
$15,000,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
BERKELEY GEOCHRONOLOGY CENTER
$14,500,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
$12,000,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ASSOCIATION
$10,500,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$6,600,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$6,000,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$5,000,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
L S B LEAKEY FOUNDATION
$4,000,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
IGNATIAN CORPORATION SAINT IGNATIUS HIGH SCHOOL
$4,000,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
$3,000,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
FOUNDATION FOR GLOBAL ARTS
$1,500,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ASSOCIATION
$1,500,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
GRUTER INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH
$1,350,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$1,000,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
BERKELEY GEOCHRONOLOGY CENTER
$1,000,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$600,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
BERKELEY GEOCHRONOLOGY CENTER
$500,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
BERKELEY GEOCHRONOLOGY CENTER
$500,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$480,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$250,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$200,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
GRUTER INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH
$150,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC INC
$150,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS
GRUTER INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH
$100,000TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS