The Lipman Family Foundation is a concentrated supporter of visual arts institutions and a smaller but meaningful funder of land conservation. The foundation makes large, often repeat gifts — including substantial donations of artwork in addition to cash — to a handful of American art museums and sculpture parks, and it also backs permanent forest preservation on the West Coast. Its giving suggests long-term institutional relationships rather than broad, one-off grantmaking.
The Lipman Family Foundation Inc. stands out for combining museum support with in-kind artwork gifts, including a $2,378,675 grant to San Jose Museum of Art that paired cash with a large art donation. That pattern appears across its recent giving: the foundation repeatedly backs a small set of art institutions rather than spreading grants widely. San Jose Museum of Art received several awards over 2023 through 2025, while Storm King Art Center and the Whitney Museum of American Art also appear as repeat recipients. The grants point to a foundation that supports both the exhibition side of contemporary art and the building of collections, with some awards explicitly labeled to promote arts and others tied to charitable contributions to public charities. Outside the arts, the foundation has a clear conservation thread. It has given repeated support to Sempervirens Fund for permanent redwood preservation, as well as gifts to John Muir Land Trust for protecting East Bay places. Its portfolio also reaches into geoscience through the Gsa Foundation, showing a mix of cultural institutions and land-focused work rather than a single-program strategy. The giving pattern suggests long-term relationships with institutions in California and New York.
A core part of the foundation’s arts support is institutional backing for museums and art centers. It gave $210,000 to Shrem Museum of Art at Uc Davis to support art, and $50,000 to Berkeley Art Museum to promote arts. For-site Foundation in San Francisco received $50,000 in 2024 and another $50,000 in 2025 for the creation, understanding, and presentation of art. The conservation side is narrower but consistent. Sempervirens Fund received $250,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025 to protect and permanently preserve redwood. John Muir Land Trust also received repeated support, including $100,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2025 to protect the places that make the East Bay special. The foundation also funds geoscience-related work. Gsa Foundation received $200,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025 to strengthen its mission supporting scientific discovery, communications, and application of geoscience knowledge.
Typical grants are modest relative to the largest awards: p25 is $2,500, median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. The recent list also shows a small number of much larger institutional awards, including repeated gifts over multiple years. That repeat pattern is visible with several recipients appearing in 2023, 2024, and 2025, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Some awards are cash only, while others combine cash with artwork donations, which is unusual within the recent grants list.
$2.5M
$54.3M
$8.5M
$3M
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 15% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, high-value grants to a small set of repeat grantees; mix of large cash awards and significant in-kind art donations; focused geographically and institutionally rather than broadly distributed.
Notable grantees: San Jose Museum of Art, Storm King Art Center, Whitney Museum of American Art, Sempervirens Fund, Montalvo Arts Center
Grantmaking is national, but the recent grants are concentrated in a few California and New York locations. San Jose, Los Altos, Saratoga, Martinez, Berkeley, and San Francisco appear repeatedly in California, while New York grants land in New York and New Windsor. The top state by grant count is California, and 15% of grants go to recipients in New York, the foundation’s headquarters state. All of the listed recent grants go to U.S. recipients.
The recent grants show a strong emphasis on visual arts institutions and a smaller but recurring conservation thread. Museums and art centers such as San Jose Museum of Art, Storm King Art Center, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and For-site Foundation receive support, alongside land preservation groups like Sempervirens Fund and John Muir Land Trust.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years in the recent grants list. San Jose Museum of Art, Storm King Art Center, Sempervirens Fund, Gsa Foundation, John Muir Land Trust, Montalvo, and For-site Foundation all received more than one grant, often in consecutive years.
The foundation’s typical grant size is relatively small compared with its largest awards: p25 is $2,500, median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. The recent grant list also includes larger institutional awards, showing that the foundation uses both smaller grants and major support.
California receives the most grants by count, with many recent recipients in San Jose, Los Altos, Saratoga, Martinez, Berkeley, and San Francisco. New York is also a visible area of support, with grants to New York and New Windsor. The foundation’s giving is national, but the U.S. is the only recipient country shown.
No. The recent grants include awards described as combining cash and art donation. For example, San Jose Museum of Art received a grant labeled with $958,675 cash and $1,420,000 art donation, and Storm King Art Center received a grant described with $235,000 cash and $500,000 art donation.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART | SAN JOSE, CA | $525,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE ARTS ($958,675 CASH AND $1,420,000 ART DONATION) |
| STORM KING ART CENTER | NEW WINDSOR, NY | $335,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE ARTS ($235,000 CASH AND $500,000 ART DONATION) |
| MONTALVO | SARATOGA, CA | $294,648 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE ARTS |
| SEMPERVIRENS FUND | LOS ALTOS, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | TO PROTECT AND PERMANENTLY PRESERVE REDWOOD |
| SHREM MUSEUM OF ART AT UC DAVIS | DAVIS, CA | $210,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ART |
| GSA FOUNDATION | BOULDER, CO | $200,000 | 2025 | TO STRENGTHEN GSA'S MISSION TO BE THE PREMIER GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY SUPPORTING THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, COMMUNICATIONS, AND APPLICATION OF GEOSCIENCE KNOWLEDGE. |
| JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST | MARTINEZ, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO PROTECT THE PLACES THAT MAKE THE EAST BAY SPECIAL |
| FOR-SITE FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE THE CREATION, UNDERSTANDING, AND PRESENTATION OF ART |
| NM BUREAU GEOLOGY & MINERAL RESOURCES (GEOCHRON LAB) | SOCORRO, NM | $35,000 | 2025 | TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND INTERACT WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND INDUSTRY TO FACILITATE PRUDENT EXPLOITATION OF THE STATE'S GEOLOGICAL RESOURCES |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE ARTS |
| PENINSULA OPEN SPACE TRUST | PALO ALTO, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR OPEN SPACE, FARMS AND PARKLAND IN AND AROUND SILICON VALLEY |
| KQED | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SERVE AUDIENCES WITH TRUSTED, QUALITY PROGRAMMING, SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. |
| CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT CTF PROGRAMS |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN (UKRAINE) | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | TO OFFER ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL CULINARY TRAINING, AND IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE |
| NATURE CONSERVENCY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | TO CONSERVE THE LANDS AND WATERS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES' SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES THROUGH HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY. |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE (UKRAINE) | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | TO HELP PEOPLE SURVIVE, RECOVER AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES. |
| UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCIENTISTS |
| TRANSFORM | OAKLAND, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE WALKABLE COMMUNITIES WITH EXCELLENT TRANSPORTATION CHOICES TO CONNECT PEOPLE OF ALL INCOMES TO OPPORTUNITY, MAKE CALIFORNIA AFFORDABLE, AND HELP SOLVE OUR CLIMATE CRISIS. |
| INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN JOSE | SAN JOSE, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE WORKER OWNERSHIP SECTOR |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | TO MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT SAFER AND HEALTHIER FOR US ALL |
| ACLU FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | TO PROTECT ABORTION |
| SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS |
| NEVELSON ST PETERS RENOVATION | COLUMBUS, IN | $15,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE ARTS |
| UNHCR (UKRAINE) | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROTECT REFUGEES AND EMPOWERS THEM WITH HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY. |
| STANFORD SUSTAINABILITY FUND | STANFORD, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| EARTHJUSTICE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROTECT PEOPLES HEALTH, TO PRESERVE MAGNIFICENT PLACES AND WILDLIFE, TO ADVANCE CLEAN ENERGY, AND TOCOMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE |
| DOCTORS FOR GLOBAL HEALTH--TIM | DECATUR, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND FOSTER OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS |
| TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY | PORTOLA VALLEY, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SHADY TRAIL RECONSTRUCTION |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SAFEGUARD THE EARTHITS PEOPLE, ITS PLANTS AND ANIMALS, AND THE NATURAL SYSTEMS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE | BASALT, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | TO CREATE A CLEAN, PROSPEROUS, AND SECURE ENERGY FUTURE |
| SEVA FOUNDATION (TIM) | BERKELEY, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO RESTORE SIGHT AND PREVENT BLINDNESS |
| VERTILE FOUND--SERINA | BOULDER, CO | $5,113 | 2025 | TO EMPOWER EACH CHILD WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ENVISION AND REALIZE A HEALTHY FUTURE |
| CA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARK SYSTEM |
| GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY | PALO ALTO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO RESTORE NATURAL FUNCTIONS TO THE ECOSYSTEM |
| NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE AMERICA'S NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. |
| CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS |
| ECUMENICAL HUNGER PROGRAM | PALO ALTO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE EDUCATION |
| GREEN FOOTHILLS | PALO ALTO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROTECT OPEN SPACE, FARMLAND, AND NATURAL RESOURCES IN SAN MATEO AND SANTA CLARA COUNTIES |
| LAND TRUST OF SANTA CRUZ | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROTECT, CARE FOR, AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE EXTRAORDINARY LANDS THAT MAKE THIS AREA SPECIAL. |
| PALO ALTO ARTS CENTER | PALO ALTO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE ARTS |
| SEQUOIA HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO DEVELOP AND SECURE FUNDING FOR THE BENEFIT OF SEQUOIA HOSPITAL |
| MEDECINS SAN FRONTIERES | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE IMPARTIAL MEDICAL RELIEF TO THE VICTIMS OF WAR, DISEASE, AND NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTER, WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, RELIGION, OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION. |
| ACTERRA | PALO ALTO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO CREATE LOCAL SOLUTIONS FOR A HEALTHY PLANET |
| SF MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE ARTS |
| OAKLAND MUSEUM | OAKLAND, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO INSPIRE ALL CALIFORNIANS TO CREATE A MORE VIBRANT FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. |
| FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE ARTS |
| CANTOR ART CENTER (STANFORD) | STANFORD, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE ARTS |
| THE FOOD BANK | HONOLULU, HI | $5,000 | 2025 | TO HELP FIGHT HUNGER |
| USGS-STANFORD FELLOWSHIP | RESTON, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO CONDUCT PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH USING INNOVATIVE TOOLS |
SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART
$525,000TO PROMOTE ARTS ($958,675 CASH AND $1,420,000 ART DONATION)
TO PROMOTE ARTS ($235,000 CASH AND $500,000 ART DONATION)
SHREM MUSEUM OF ART AT UC DAVIS
$210,000TO SUPPORT ART
GSA FOUNDATION
TO STRENGTHEN GSA'S MISSION TO BE THE PREMIER GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY SUPPORTING THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, COMMUNICATIONS, AND APPLICATION OF GEOSCIENCE KNOWLEDGE.
FOR-SITE FOUNDATION
$50,000TO PROMOTE THE CREATION, UNDERSTANDING, AND PRESENTATION OF ART
NM BUREAU GEOLOGY & MINERAL RESOURCES (GEOCHRON LAB)
$35,000TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND INTERACT WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND INDUSTRY TO FACILITATE PRUDENT EXPLOITATION OF THE STATE'S GEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$30,000TO PROMOTE ARTS
TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR OPEN SPACE, FARMS AND PARKLAND IN AND AROUND SILICON VALLEY
TO SERVE AUDIENCES WITH TRUSTED, QUALITY PROGRAMMING, SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION FOUNDATION
$25,000TO SUPPORT CTF PROGRAMS
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN (UKRAINE)
$20,000TO OFFER ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL CULINARY TRAINING, AND IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE
NATURE CONSERVENCY
$20,000TO CONSERVE THE LANDS AND WATERS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS
TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES' SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES THROUGH HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY.
TO HELP PEOPLE SURVIVE, RECOVER AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
TRANSFORM
$20,000TO PROMOTE WALKABLE COMMUNITIES WITH EXCELLENT TRANSPORTATION CHOICES TO CONNECT PEOPLE OF ALL INCOMES TO OPPORTUNITY, MAKE CALIFORNIA AFFORDABLE, AND HELP SOLVE OUR CLIMATE CRISIS.
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN JOSE
$20,000TO SUPPORT THE WORKER OWNERSHIP SECTOR
TO MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT SAFER AND HEALTHIER FOR US ALL
ACLU FOUNDATION
$15,000TO PROTECT ABORTION
NEVELSON ST PETERS RENOVATION
$15,000TO PROMOTE ARTS
UNHCR (UKRAINE)
$10,000TO PROTECT REFUGEES AND EMPOWERS THEM WITH HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY.
STANFORD SUSTAINABILITY FUND
$10,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATION
TO PROTECT PEOPLES HEALTH, TO PRESERVE MAGNIFICENT PLACES AND WILDLIFE, TO ADVANCE CLEAN ENERGY, AND TOCOMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE
DOCTORS FOR GLOBAL HEALTH--TIM
$10,000TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND FOSTER OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS
TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY
$10,000TO SUPPORT SHADY TRAIL RECONSTRUCTION
TO SAFEGUARD THE EARTHITS PEOPLE, ITS PLANTS AND ANIMALS, AND THE NATURAL SYSTEMS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS
TO CREATE A CLEAN, PROSPEROUS, AND SECURE ENERGY FUTURE
VERTILE FOUND--SERINA
$5,113TO EMPOWER EACH CHILD WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ENVISION AND REALIZE A HEALTHY FUTURE
CA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION
$5,000TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARK SYSTEM
TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE AMERICA'S NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND
$5,000TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS
TO PROTECT OPEN SPACE, FARMLAND, AND NATURAL RESOURCES IN SAN MATEO AND SANTA CLARA COUNTIES
TO PROTECT, CARE FOR, AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE EXTRAORDINARY LANDS THAT MAKE THIS AREA SPECIAL.
PALO ALTO ARTS CENTER
$5,000TO PROMOTE ARTS
TO DEVELOP AND SECURE FUNDING FOR THE BENEFIT OF SEQUOIA HOSPITAL
TO PROVIDE IMPARTIAL MEDICAL RELIEF TO THE VICTIMS OF WAR, DISEASE, AND NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTER, WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, RELIGION, OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
OAKLAND MUSEUM
$5,000TO INSPIRE ALL CALIFORNIANS TO CREATE A MORE VIBRANT FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO
$5,000TO PROMOTE ARTS
CANTOR ART CENTER (STANFORD)
$5,000TO PROMOTE ARTS
THE FOOD BANK
$5,000TO HELP FIGHT HUNGER
USGS-STANFORD FELLOWSHIP
$5,000TO CONDUCT PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH USING INNOVATIVE TOOLS