The Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation concentrates giving on Jewish community life and Israel-related causes while simultaneously supporting civil rights, LGBTQ and reproductive-rights organizations, and democratic/governance and gun-violence-prevention work. Grants range from local synagogue and Jewish social-service support in the Bay Area to national and international humanitarian and rights groups, indicating a blend of personal/local commitments and broader policy-focused philanthropy.
A single grant to the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc stands out in the recent record: $571,609 for general support in 2024. That scale sits alongside a broader pattern of funding Jewish community life, Israel-related work, civil rights, reproductive rights, and democracy-focused advocacy. The Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation gives through both the Foundation itself and a donor-advised fund held at Jewish Federation Bay Area, which helps explain the mix of local Bay Area synagogue and Jewish communal support with larger national grants. Recent awards show support for Jewish infrastructure and community response, including the Jewish Community Federation for the Israel Emergency Fund 2023 and American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc for unrestricted 2024 support. The foundation also backs legal and policy work through groups such as the ACLU Foundation Inc, Center for Reproductive Rights, Protect Democracy Project, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and Anti-Defamation League. In addition to grantmaking to large national organizations, the record includes capital-campaign support for Bay Area congregations and schools, reflecting a portfolio that combines community investment with issue-based philanthropy.
In Jewish communal giving, the foundation supported Jewish Community Federation with $360,000 for the Israel Emergency Fund 2023 and also made $100,000 general-support grants to the same organization. It also gave $250,000 to Congregation Emanu-el for the Emanu-el Next capital campaign and $250,000 to Temple Isaiah of Contra Costa County toward an upcoming capital campaign. On Israel-related work, the foundation gave $175,389 to PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc for the Israel Religious Action Center - IRAC, and $100,000 to American Israel Education Foundation Inc for general support. For humanitarian response, it provided $200,000 to Jewish Community Federation for the Ukraine Emergency Fund and $225,000 to American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc for services in Europe, the FSU, and Latin America. Its civil-rights and reproductive-rights grantmaking includes $300,000 to ACLU Foundation Inc for the LGBTQ & HIV Project work, $250,000 to ACLU Foundation Inc for LGBTQ litigation, and $150,000 to Center for Reproductive Rights for general support.
$5.1M
$133K
$178K
$5.2M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
JENNIFER CHAIKEN
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Concentrated, mission-driven portfolio with repeated support to a core set of grantees (multiple multi-year or multi-grant relationships), combining mid- to large-sized gifts for national advocacy and international relief with targeted local capital and operating support in the Bay Area.
Notable grantees: Jewish Community Federation, PEF Israel Endowment Funds (supporting Israeli civil-rights groups), Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Planned Parenthood (national and Northern California), Protect Democracy Project
Typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, showing a middle range of modest grants with some much larger awards. The recent record includes repeated support to several recipients across multiple years, including ACLU Foundation Inc, Center for Reproductive Rights, Protect Democracy Project, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc, and Jewish Community Federation. The foundation is a regular funder, not a private foundation making program-related investments, and it also operates a donor-advised fund at Jewish Federation Bay Area. The active programs show both unsolicited grant support in some channels and program-specific, invitation-only awards in others.
Grants are national, but they cluster in California and New York. California is the top state by grant count, with 42% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recipient cities in the Bay Area include San Francisco, Lafayette, and San Rafael, alongside major national grantees in New York, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles. Outside the US, the recent-grants file shows no recipient countries beyond the United States.
The record shows support for Jewish community institutions, Israel-related organizations, LGBTQ civil-rights groups, reproductive-rights advocacy, democracy and anti-hate work, gun-violence prevention, and emergency relief. Recent grantees include Jewish Community Federation, ACLU Foundation Inc, Center for Reproductive Rights, Protect Democracy Project, and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants record also includes much larger awards, such as $571,609 to Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc and $360,000 to Jewish Community Federation.
Yes. Bay Area recipients in the recent record include Jewish Community Federation in San Francisco, Congregation Emanu-el in San Francisco, Temple Isaiah of Contra Costa County in Lafayette, Marin Academy in San Rafael, and Park Theater Trust in Lafayette.
Yes. Several organizations appear across multiple years, including ACLU Foundation Inc, Center for Reproductive Rights, Protect Democracy Project, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc, and Jewish Community Federation. That pattern suggests repeat support rather than only one-time gifts.
The Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation is listed as a donor-advised fund held at Jewish Federation Bay Area. The fund can recommend grants to eligible nonprofits, while the Federation provides the giving vehicle, philanthropy advising, and an online fund portal.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Not explicitly listed on the scraped pages. Typical DAF practice: grants are made to IRS-qualified public charities; eligibility and any restrictions governed by Jewish Federation Bay Area grant policies and the fund agreement.
Deadline: Rolling (no specific application deadlines found in scraped content)
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE EAST BAY | BERKELEY, CA | $2,500,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $409,288 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE EAST BAY | BERKELEY, CA | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $190,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | CONCORD, CA | $140,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $134,611 | 2026 | ISRAEL RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER (IRAC) |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CALIFORNIA HOMEBUILDING FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $108,874 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TOWARDS THE BITA PROGRAM |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $106,400 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NARAL PRO-CHOICE AMERICA FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | WILDFIRE CRISIS RELIEF FOR LA FIRE EMERGENCY RELIEF EFFORTS |
| EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | 24/7 PROGRAM |
| FILM COLLABORATIVE INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $90,000 | 2026 | TIME WARP PROJECT MADE ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF JENNIFER CHAIKEN |
| NEVADA HUMANE SOCIETY | RENO, NV | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEAD WITH HORSES | RENO, NV | $65,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MYRIAD USA | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | CEJI - A JEWISH CONTRIBUTION TO AN INCLUSIVE EUROPE |
| CHINATI FOUNDATION | MARFA, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FEMINIST MAJORITY FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $35,000 | 2026 | FEMINIST MAJORITY FOUNDATION |
| BNAI BRITH HILLEL FOUNDATION AT UCB | BERKELEY, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | ANSIHR (ADVANCING NEW STANDARDS IN REPRODUCTIVE |
| THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA | ASHEVILLE, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | TOWARDS THE ASHEVILLE AND SURROUNDING AREAS DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS |
| TIDES CENTER - SHALOM BAYIT | BERKELEY, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA FOUNDATION | ONTARIO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONGREGATION KOL SHOFAR | TIBURON, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | IN LIEU OF DUES |
| JEWISH FUNDERS NETWORK | NEW YORK, NY | $18,000 | 2026 | CANVAS |
| HEADLANDS CENTER FOR THE ARTS AKA HEADLANDS | SAUSALITO, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | A GRANT TO SUPPORT THE HEADLANDS CENTER FOR THE ARTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF DENVER | DENVER, CO | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND | ORLANDO, FL | $10,250 | 2026 | PROPEL JEWISH WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE |
| HILLEL OF COLORADO | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUNDANCE INSTITUTE | PARK CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | PATIENT EXPERIENCES FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING FOUNDATION | LARAMIE, WY | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR ROLL-CHAIKEN FAMILY GOLF SCHOLARSHIP |
| REBOOT INC | LONGMEADOW, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ISRAEL POLICY FORUM INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $6,400 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ASSOCIATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $571,609 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $360,000 | 2024 | FOR THE ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND 2023 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | IN SUPPORT OF THE LGBTQ & HIV PROJECT WORK |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE INC (JDC) | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FOR 2024 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | IN SUPPORT OF LGBTQ LITIGATION |
| TEMPLE ISAIAH OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY | LAFAYETTE, CA | $250,000 | 2024 | TOWARDS THE UPCOMING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE INC (JDC) | NEW YORK, NY | $225,000 | 2024 | FOR SERVICES IN EUROPE, THE FSU, AND LATIN AMERICA |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $175,389 | 2024 | ISRAEL RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER - IRAC |
| PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
GENERAL SUPPORT
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TOWARDS THE BITA PROGRAM
WILDFIRE CRISIS RELIEF FOR LA FIRE EMERGENCY RELIEF EFFORTS
TIME WARP PROJECT MADE ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF JENNIFER CHAIKEN
NEVADA HUMANE SOCIETY
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSES
LEAD WITH HORSES
$65,000GENERAL PURPOSES
ANSIHR (ADVANCING NEW STANDARDS IN REPRODUCTIVE
TOWARDS THE ASHEVILLE AND SURROUNDING AREAS DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PGA FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CONGREGATION KOL SHOFAR
$20,000IN LIEU OF DUES
A GRANT TO SUPPORT THE HEADLANDS CENTER FOR THE ARTS
PATIENT EXPERIENCES FUND
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ASSOCIATION
$6,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TEMPLE ISAIAH OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
$250,000TOWARDS THE UPCOMING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
FOR SERVICES IN EUROPE, THE FSU, AND LATIN AMERICA
