The Carl and Yurie Pascarella Foundation concentrates its support on major visual and performing arts institutions and a smaller set of higher-education/medical research beneficiaries. Grants are large, often unrestricted (“general charitable purposes”), and directed to established cultural anchors (notably ballet companies and fine arts museums) with a handful of gifts to university-affiliated philanthropic entities. The foundation appears to favor a small portfolio of prominent organizations and repeats support to flagship arts grantees.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a few established institutions; multiple repeat grants to flagship arts organizations; primarily unrestricted/"general charitable purposes" funding rather than project-specific gifts.
The Carl and Yurie Pascarella Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by a repeated commitment to San Francisco Ballet, including grants of $355,459 in 2023, $120,000 in 2023, $25,000 in 2024, and $200,000 in 2025. That pattern points to a funder that stays with a small set of established institutions rather than spreading support widely. Across its recent grants, the foundation backs major visual and performing arts organizations, along with a narrower set of university-linked and community beneficiaries. Arts institutions dominate the portfolio. The foundation has supported the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums in San Francisco and Fine Arts Museums Foundation, while also funding Houston Ballet Foundation Operating Fund and American Friends of the Paris Opera and Ballet. On the research and higher-education side, it has given to UCSF Foundation Investment Company and University of California San Francisco Foundation. The grants are often labeled for general charitable purposes, suggesting flexible support for recipient organizations. The overall picture is of a regional funder with concentrated relationships, especially among large cultural nonprofits and a few affiliated philanthropy vehicles.
Visual and performing arts account for the clearest share of the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $285,000 to Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums for general charitable purposes, and in 2025 it gave $100,000 to Houston Ballet Foundation Operating Fund for the same purpose. Earlier support also reached Fine Arts Museums Foundation with $75,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024. Dance appears as a recurring theme rather than a one-off interest. The foundation supported American Friends of the Paris Opera and Ballet with $10,000 in 2023, $5,000 in 2024, and $10,000 in 2025. It also made multiple gifts to San Francisco Ballet over several years. Beyond the arts, the foundation has funded health and research infrastructure through UCSF Foundation Investment Company and University of California San Francisco Foundation, both listed for general charitable purposes. It has also made community-oriented gifts such as $110,000 to GSW Community Foundation.
Typical grants fall in a wide band, with a p25 of $15,000, a median of $25,000, and a p75 of $115,000. The recent record shows both smaller gifts and several six-figure awards, including multiple gifts at or above $100,000. The foundation’s portfolio also shows repeat recipients across years, especially among arts organizations and affiliated philanthropy vehicles. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. It is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Most listed awards are for general charitable purposes, indicating flexible use by recipients rather than tightly restricted project grants.
$1.9M
$586K
$548K
$898K
Most grants fall between $15K and $115K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$115K
About 18% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Notable grantees: San Francisco Ballet, Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums / Fine Arts Museums Foundation, University of California San Francisco Foundation / UCSF Foundation Investment Company, Houston Ballet Foundation, GSW Community Foundation
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in California, where the top recipient city is San Francisco. That city appears repeatedly across the recent grants list, alongside Oakland and Danville. Outside California, the foundation has also funded organizations in Houston, Texas; Bethesda, Maryland; Washington, DC; Pleasanton, California; and New York, New York. All recent grants in the provided sample went to US recipients. The data show a regional footprint rather than national or international distribution, with the strongest clustering in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Its recent grants go mainly to major visual and performing arts organizations, including ballet companies and fine arts museums. The foundation also gives to university-affiliated philanthropy connected to medical research and to a smaller set of community foundations and other general-purpose nonprofit entities.
The foundation’s grant sizes cluster around a median of $25,000, with a p25 of $15,000 and a p75 of $115,000. Recent awards range from smaller $5,000 gifts to six-figure grants such as $285,000 and $250,000.
Yes. The recent grant list shows multiple-year support to several organizations, including San Francisco Ballet, American Friends of the Paris Opera and Ballet, and Fine Arts Museums-related entities. That pattern indicates ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
California is the top state by grant count, and San Francisco is the most common recipient city in the recent grants list. Other recipient locations include Oakland and Danville in California, plus Houston, Bethesda, Washington, DC, Pleasanton, and New York City.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums | San Francisco, CA | $285,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| University of California San Francisco Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $225,000 | 2025 | General Charitable Purposes |
| San Francisco Ballet | San Francisco, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Houston Ballet Foundation Operating Fund | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | General Charitable Purposes |
| Christian McCaffrey Foundation | Bethesda, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | General Charitable Purposes |
| GPII Foundation | Danville, CA | $18,000 | 2025 | General Charitable Purposes |
| American Friends Of The Paris Opera and Ballet | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | General Charitable Purposes |
| Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | General Charitable Purposes |
| Pathlight International Inc | Pleasanton, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | General Charitable Purposes |
| Ucsf Foundation Investment Company | San Francisco, CA | $250,000 | 2024 | General Charitable Purposes |
| GSW Community Foundation | Oakland, CA | $110,000 | 2024 | General Charitable Purposes |
| San Francisco Ballet | San Francisco, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Golden State Warriors Community Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Fine Arts Museums Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | General Charitable Purposes |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE PARIS OPERA AND BALLET | New York, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | General Charitable Purposes |
| San Francisco Ballet | San Francisco, CA | $355,459 | 2023 | General Charitable Purposes |
| San Francisco Ballet | San Francisco, CA | $120,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| Fine Arts Museums Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $75,000 | 2023 | General Charitable Purposes |
| Golden State Warriors Community Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE PARIS OPERA AND BALLET | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | General Charitable Purposes |
Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums
$285,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
University of California San Francisco Foundation
$225,000General Charitable Purposes
San Francisco Ballet
$200,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
Houston Ballet Foundation Operating Fund
$100,000General Charitable Purposes
Christian McCaffrey Foundation
$25,000General Charitable Purposes
GPII Foundation
$18,000General Charitable Purposes
American Friends Of The Paris Opera and Ballet
$10,000General Charitable Purposes
Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence
$10,000General Charitable Purposes
Pathlight International Inc
$5,000General Charitable Purposes
Ucsf Foundation Investment Company
$250,000General Charitable Purposes
GSW Community Foundation
$110,000General Charitable Purposes
San Francisco Ballet
$25,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
Golden State Warriors Community Foundation
$20,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
Fine Arts Museums Foundation
$10,000General Charitable Purposes
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE PARIS OPERA AND BALLET
$5,000General Charitable Purposes
San Francisco Ballet
$355,459General Charitable Purposes
San Francisco Ballet
$120,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
Fine Arts Museums Foundation
$75,000General Charitable Purposes
Golden State Warriors Community Foundation
$20,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE PARIS OPERA AND BALLET
$10,000General Charitable Purposes