The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation concentrates its giving on Catholic education and related faith-based social services in the San Francisco Bay Area, funding K–12 Catholic schools, Catholic-affiliated colleges, scholarship endowments, and capital projects. Grants also support Catholic social service providers (senior services, immigrant services, basic needs) and a few health/clinical programs. Many grants are large, often one-time or labeled as "sunset" gifts, aimed at facility projects and endowed scholarships.
The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation’s recent grantmaking is defined by a pattern of large, often one-time or “sunset” awards tied to Catholic education and faith-based services in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2023, the foundation gave $4.75 million to Mercy High School Burlingame for an athletic and student life center and an endowed scholarship, and $4.25 million to the University of San Francisco for undergraduate need-based scholarships and the Gellert Family Business Center. Those gifts sit alongside support for school facilities, scholarship funds, and capital projects at Catholic high schools, colleges, and elementary schools. The foundation also funds Catholic-affiliated service providers that serve seniors, immigrants, people needing shelter, and low-income families. Recent examples include Saint Anthony Foundation for St. Clare’s Care & Companionship model, Catholic Charities CYO for senior services and camp and retreat programs, and the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center for immigrant services programming. Health-related grants appear as well, including clinic expansion and simulation-learning facilities. Across the portfolio, the grant sizes are substantial, and the purposes often combine program support with buildings, endowments, or tuition assistance.
Catholic education is the clearest throughline in the foundation’s giving. It supported Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory with $3 million for an atrium renovation and endowed scholarship fund, and Saint Ignatius College Preparatory with $1.8 million for a new learning commons. At smaller schools, the same pattern appears in grants for arts, student life, summer programming, and tuition assistance. Need-based access also shows up in higher education. The University of San Francisco received $4.25 million for undergraduate need-based scholarships and the Gellert Family Business Center, while Saint Mary’s College of California received a $2.7 million sunset grant. Beyond schools, the foundation backs Catholic social services. Saint Anthony Foundation received $1.8 million for St. Clare’s Care & Companionship model, and Catholic Charities CYO received $1.8 million for senior services programs and its camp and retreat center. The Irish Immigration Pastoral Center also received support for immigrant services programming.
$363K
$0
-$35K
$527K
Most grants fall between $100K and $750K, with a median of $275K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$275K
75th Percentile
$750K
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Concentrated, large grants with many multi-hundred-thousand to multi-million dollar awards; frequent repeat or flagship recipients in the Bay Area Catholic education ecosystem and several one-time "sunset" gifts indicating winding-down, capital, or endowment-focused funding rather than many small operating grants.
Notable grantees: Mercy High School, Burlingame, University of San Francisco, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, Saint Mary's College of California, Saint Anthony Foundation
The foundation’s typical grant size is large: the 25th percentile is $100,000, the median is $275,000, and the 75th percentile is $750,000. That distribution fits a portfolio built around sizable project, scholarship, and endowment grants rather than small operating awards. Recent grants also show repeated use of “sunset” language, suggesting many awards are time-limited or intended to conclude a funding relationship. The foundation is not a program-related investor, and it funds individuals. Its recent giving is entirely in California, with all recorded grants to recipients in the state.
Grantmaking is concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area and is fully in-state: 100% of grants go to recipients in California. San Francisco appears most often, with grants also going to Burlingame, Moraga, Mountain View, San Mateo, Oakland, Redwood City, Daly City, Alameda, and Sonoma. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. This is a local giving pattern centered on Catholic schools and social-service organizations across the Peninsula, East Bay, and San Francisco.
It primarily funds Catholic schools, Catholic-affiliated colleges and universities, and faith-based social service organizations. Recent grants include support for student life and scholarship funds at schools, plus programs for seniors, immigrants, basic needs, and health-related services.
The distribution is substantial: the 25th percentile is $100,000, the median is $275,000, and the 75th percentile is $750,000. Recent awards also reach into the multi-million-dollar range for school facilities, scholarship endowments, and capital projects.
Its recent grantmaking is entirely California-based. The top state by grant count is California, and 100% of grants in the data go to recipients in the HQ state.
Yes. Scholarship support is a recurring theme, including endowed scholarships at Mercy High School Burlingame and Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, undergraduate need-based scholarships at the University of San Francisco, and scholarship-related support at other Catholic schools.
The foundation supports Catholic social service providers serving seniors, immigrants, and people needing basic needs or shelter. Recent examples include senior services programs, immigrant services programming, food/day services, and an emergency domestic violence shelter.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Current and upcoming funding from Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Community-based nonprofits and Catholic schools serving the Bay Area. Applicants should review the Foundation's guidelines and FAQs prior to applying.
Deadline: Annual grant cycle (applicants advised to consult current Guidelines/How to Apply pages for specific cycle deadlines).
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST PHILIP'S SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | ST. PHILIP'S SCHOOL CENTER FOR THE ARTS PROJECT |
| SAINT GABRIEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISO, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | SUNSET GRANT AWARD - INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE |
| SAINT CHARLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN CARLOS, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPROVEMENT FOR THE FUTURE |
| SAINT STEPHEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISO, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | STRONGER TOGETHER"""" IN COUGAR COUNTRY |
| OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | DALY CITY, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | SUNSET GRANT |
| SAINT CECILIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | ST. CECILIA SCHOOL: SCIENCE LAB SPACE IMPLEMENTATION |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES CYO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $13,067 | 2024 | CATHOLIC CHARITIES SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAMS AND CCCYO CAMP & RETREAT CENTER |
| MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME | BURLINGAME, CA | $4,750,000 | 2023 | ATHLETIC AND STUDENT LIFE CENTER AND THE CARL AND CELIA BERTA GELLERT ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP |
| UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $4,250,000 | 2023 | UNDERGRADUATE NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS/THE GELLERT FAMILY BUSINESS CENTER |
| SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL PREPARATORY - SF | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,000,000 | 2023 | THE GELLERT FOUNDATION ATRIUM RENOVATION / THE GELLERT FOUNDATION ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA | MORAGA, CA | $2,700,000 | 2023 | THE CARL GELLERT AND CELIA BERTA GELLERT FOUNDATION SUNSET GRANT |
| ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,250,000 | 2023 | THE CARL GELLERT AND CELIA BERTA GELLERT FOUNDATION SUNSET GRANT FOR ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES CYO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,800,000 | 2023 | CATHOLIC CHARITIES SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAMS AND CCCYO CAMP & RETREAT CENTER |
| SAINT IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREPARATORY | SAN FRANCISO, CA | $1,800,000 | 2023 | NEW LEARNING COMMONS AT SI |
| SAINT ANTHONY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,800,000 | 2023 | ST. CLARE'S CARE & COMPANIONSHIP MODEL |
| IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,750,000 | 2023 | ICA CRISTO REY MAJOR PROGRAM INVESTMENTS |
| SAINT FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL | MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA | $1,000,000 | 2023 | HOLY CROSS ACHIEVERS PROGRAM |
| MERCY RETIREMENT AND CARE CENTER | OALAND, CA | $900,000 | 2023 | MERCY PROJECT - SUNSET GRANT |
| JUNIPERO SERRA HIGH SCHOOL | SAN MATEO, CA | $900,000 | 2023 | CENTER FOR LEARNING & INNOVATION |
| DE MARILLAC ACADEMY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $750,000 | 2023 | DE MARILLAC ACADEMY SUMMER PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BASIC FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $700,000 | 2023 | 2022 SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| SONOMA OVERNIGHT SUPPORT INC | SONOMA, CA | $450,000 | 2023 | FOOD/DAY SERVICES PROGRAM |
| IRISH IMMIGRATION PASTORAL CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $400,000 | 2023 | IMMIGRANT SERVICES PROGRAMMING |
| SEQUOIA HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $400,000 | 2023 | THE CARL GELLERT AND CELIA BERTA GELLERT SIMULATION LEARNING CENTER |
| CATHERINE'S CENTER | SAN MATEO, CA | $400,000 | 2023 | ST. VINCENT DE PAUL OF SAN MATEO COUNTY CATHERINE CENTER |
| ORDER OF MALTA CLINIC OF NORTHERN CALIFOR | OAKLAND, CA | $400,000 | 2023 | HELP US HELP MORE: THE CLINIC EXPANSION CAMPAIGN |
| CRISTO REY DE LA SALLE EAST BAY HIGH SCHO | OAKLAND, CA | $350,000 | 2023 | CRISTO REY DE LA SALLE SUNSET GRANT |
| SAINT JAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISO, CA | $325,000 | 2023 | ST. JAMES & SUNSET GRANT |
| SAINT ANTHONY IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $325,000 | 2023 | GELLERT SUNSET GRANT 2022 |
| SAINT PETER'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISO, CA | $325,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN TO BENEFIT FROM A ST. PETER'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDUCA... |
| ST PHILIP'S SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $275,000 | 2023 | ST. PHILIP'S SCHOOL CENTER FOR THE ARTS PROJECT |
| OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP ELEMENTARY SCH | DALY CITY, CA | $275,000 | 2023 | SUNSET GRANT |
| SALESIAN BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | SAN FRANCISO, CA | $250,000 | 2023 | SECURING SALESIAN SUNSET GRANT |
| SAINT JOSEPH NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL | ALAMEDA, CA | $250,000 | 2023 | SAINT JOSEPH NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL SUNSET GRANT NARRATIVE |
| MISSION DOLORES ACADEMY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $225,000 | 2023 | MULTI-YEAR TUITION ASSISTANCE AND THE GELLERT LIBRARY |
| SAINT FINN BARR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $225,000 | 2023 | SUNSET GRANT AWARD: ST. FINN BARR CATHOLIC SCHOOL PROPOSAL |
| LA CASA DE LAS MADRES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $225,000 | 2023 | EMERGENCY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER |
| SAINT ELIZABETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OAKLAND | OAKLAND, CA | $225,000 | 2023 | MOTHER PIA LEARNING SERVICES PROGRAM |
| DOMINICAN SISTERS OF MISSION SAN JOSE - | FREEMONT, CA | $200,000 | 2023 | DOMINICAN SISTERS OF MISSION SAN JOSE - LAS CASAS PROGRAM |
| SAINT CHARLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN CARLOS, CA | $125,000 | 2023 | SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPROVEMENT FOR THE FUTURE |
| SAINT STEPHEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISO, CA | $125,000 | 2023 | STRONGER TOGETHER"" IN COUGAR COUNTRY |
| SAINT CECILIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $125,000 | 2023 | ST. CECILIA SCHOOL: SCIENCE LAB SPACE IMPLEMENTATION |
| SAINT GABRIEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISO, CA | $125,000 | 2023 | SUNSET GRANT AWARD - INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE |
| SAINT FRANCIS CENTER OF REDWOOD CITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION THE BEST KEY TO UNLOCK POVERTY |
| SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY OF SAN MATEO COUNTY | SAN MATEO, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | ST. VINCENT DE PAUL OF SAN MATEO COUNTY PENINSULA FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, ST. CHARLES CONFERENCE |
| ST FRANCIS CENTER OF REDWOOD CITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $12,500 | 2023 | GIFT IN MEMORY OF ANDY CRESCI |
| SEQUOIA HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $12,500 | 2023 | GIFT IN MEMORY OF ANDY CRESCI |
| SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL PREPARATORY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $12,500 | 2023 | GIFT IN MEMORY OF ANDY CRESCI |
| SAN MATEO CITY PARK AND RECREATION FDTN | SAN MATEO, CA | $12,500 | 2023 | GIFT IN MEMORY OF ANDY CRESCI |
ST PHILIP'S SCHOOL
$100,000ST. PHILIP'S SCHOOL CENTER FOR THE ARTS PROJECT
SAINT GABRIEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$50,000SUNSET GRANT AWARD - INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE
SAINT CHARLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$50,000SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPROVEMENT FOR THE FUTURE
SAINT STEPHEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$50,000STRONGER TOGETHER"""" IN COUGAR COUNTRY
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$50,000SUNSET GRANT
SAINT CECILIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$50,000ST. CECILIA SCHOOL: SCIENCE LAB SPACE IMPLEMENTATION
CATHOLIC CHARITIES SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAMS AND CCCYO CAMP & RETREAT CENTER
MERCY HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGAME
$4,750,000ATHLETIC AND STUDENT LIFE CENTER AND THE CARL AND CELIA BERTA GELLERT ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
UNDERGRADUATE NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS/THE GELLERT FAMILY BUSINESS CENTER
SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL PREPARATORY - SF
$3,000,000THE GELLERT FOUNDATION ATRIUM RENOVATION / THE GELLERT FOUNDATION ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND
SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA
$2,700,000THE CARL GELLERT AND CELIA BERTA GELLERT FOUNDATION SUNSET GRANT
ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
$2,250,000THE CARL GELLERT AND CELIA BERTA GELLERT FOUNDATION SUNSET GRANT FOR ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
CATHOLIC CHARITIES SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAMS AND CCCYO CAMP & RETREAT CENTER
SAINT IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREPARATORY
$1,800,000NEW LEARNING COMMONS AT SI
SAINT ANTHONY FOUNDATION
$1,800,000ST. CLARE'S CARE & COMPANIONSHIP MODEL
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY
$1,750,000ICA CRISTO REY MAJOR PROGRAM INVESTMENTS
SAINT FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000,000HOLY CROSS ACHIEVERS PROGRAM
JUNIPERO SERRA HIGH SCHOOL
$900,000CENTER FOR LEARNING & INNOVATION
DE MARILLAC ACADEMY
$750,000DE MARILLAC ACADEMY SUMMER PROGRAM SUPPORT
IRISH IMMIGRATION PASTORAL CENTER
$400,000IMMIGRANT SERVICES PROGRAMMING
THE CARL GELLERT AND CELIA BERTA GELLERT SIMULATION LEARNING CENTER
CATHERINE'S CENTER
$400,000ST. VINCENT DE PAUL OF SAN MATEO COUNTY CATHERINE CENTER
HELP US HELP MORE: THE CLINIC EXPANSION CAMPAIGN
CRISTO REY DE LA SALLE EAST BAY HIGH SCHO
$350,000CRISTO REY DE LA SALLE SUNSET GRANT
SAINT JAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$325,000ST. JAMES & SUNSET GRANT
SAINT ANTHONY IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$325,000GELLERT SUNSET GRANT 2022
SAINT PETER'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$325,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN TO BENEFIT FROM A ST. PETER'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDUCA...
ST PHILIP'S SCHOOL
$275,000ST. PHILIP'S SCHOOL CENTER FOR THE ARTS PROJECT
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP ELEMENTARY SCH
$275,000SUNSET GRANT
SALESIAN BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
$250,000SECURING SALESIAN SUNSET GRANT
SAINT JOSEPH NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
$250,000SAINT JOSEPH NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL SUNSET GRANT NARRATIVE
MISSION DOLORES ACADEMY
$225,000MULTI-YEAR TUITION ASSISTANCE AND THE GELLERT LIBRARY
SAINT FINN BARR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$225,000SUNSET GRANT AWARD: ST. FINN BARR CATHOLIC SCHOOL PROPOSAL
SAINT ELIZABETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OAKLAND
$225,000MOTHER PIA LEARNING SERVICES PROGRAM
DOMINICAN SISTERS OF MISSION SAN JOSE - LAS CASAS PROGRAM
SAINT CHARLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$125,000SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPROVEMENT FOR THE FUTURE
SAINT STEPHEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$125,000STRONGER TOGETHER"" IN COUGAR COUNTRY
SAINT CECILIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$125,000ST. CECILIA SCHOOL: SCIENCE LAB SPACE IMPLEMENTATION
SAINT GABRIEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$125,000SUNSET GRANT AWARD - INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE
EDUCATION THE BEST KEY TO UNLOCK POVERTY
SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY OF SAN MATEO COUNTY
$100,000ST. VINCENT DE PAUL OF SAN MATEO COUNTY PENINSULA FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, ST. CHARLES CONFERENCE
SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL PREPARATORY
$12,500GIFT IN MEMORY OF ANDY CRESCI
SAN MATEO CITY PARK AND RECREATION FDTN
$12,500GIFT IN MEMORY OF ANDY CRESCI