The O'Brien Family Foundation concentrates almost exclusively on Bay Area education, directing substantial, targeted gifts to college access, tutoring and secondary/higher education institutions. They favor institutions that support student success through tutoring, scholarships and capital improvements for student life, often funding faith-affiliated schools and local college-prep programs. Grants are large and focused rather than broadly distributed, showing repeat support to a small set of regional partners.
The O'brien Family Foundation’s largest recent grant in the record is a $200,000 scholarship endowment to the University of San Francisco in 2023, and that pattern of large, targeted education gifts runs through its recent giving. The foundation supports Bay Area schools, college access programs, tutoring, and campus projects that shape student life. A 2025 grant of $125,000 to the University of San Francisco funded its university ministry tutoring program, while Mercy High School in Burlingame received $100,000 in 2025 for a capital campaign for an athletic and student life center. Bay Scholars in San Francisco has also been a recurring recipient, with grants tied to scholarship support and a Thanksgiving luncheon sponsorship. The overall profile points to a funder that favors institutions serving students directly, especially where scholarships, tutoring, and school facilities are part of the request. Its giving also extends to Catholic schools and related organizations, consistent with a regional focus on education-centered grants.
In higher education access, the foundation has supported the University of San Francisco with both scholarship endowment funding and tutoring support, including a $100,000 scholarship endowment in 2024. For college-prep and scholarship work, Bay Scholars received $100,000 in 2025 for sponsorship of its Thanksgiving luncheon and scholarships. Catholic secondary education is another clear theme: Flintridge Sacred Heart received $50,000 in 2025 for a capital campaign, and Justin Siena High School Leap received $21,500 in 2025 for the Lasallian Education Access program. The foundation also backs student support infrastructure beyond tuition, as shown by Mercy High School’s capital campaign for an athletic and student life center.
Typical grants cluster in the mid five figures, with p25 at $2,500, a median of $5,000, and p75 at $10,000, even though several education gifts are much larger. The recent record shows repeat support to the same organizations across multiple years, including the University of San Francisco, Bay Scholars, Catholic Charities, and California Homebuilding Foundation. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and also funds individuals. Its giving is local in scope, with California recipients accounting for 84% of grants.
$780K
$846K
$1.2M
$826K
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Concentrated funding: a small number of relatively large grants, repeated support to the same local grantees, geographically focused on San Mateo/Bay Area educational institutions.
Notable grantees: University of San Francisco, Bay Scholars, Mercy High School
Grants are concentrated in California, which receives 84% of awards. San Francisco is the most common recipient city, appearing through the University of San Francisco, Bay Scholars, Catholic Charities, and Tides Foundation. Other California recipient cities include Burlingame, Martinez, La Canada Flintridge, East Palo Alto, Sacramento, Castro Valley, Napa, Redwood City, and Menlo Park. Outside the state, the recent-grants list includes one grant to Project Destined in Washington, DC.
Its recent grants focus on education-centered organizations: the University of San Francisco, Bay Scholars, Mercy High School, Flintridge Sacred Heart, St Ignatius College Preparatory, and Justin Siena High School Leap. The purposes include scholarship endowments, tutoring programs, capital campaigns, and student life facilities.
The foundation’s reported grant-size distribution is p25 $2,500, median $5,000, and p75 $10,000. The recent record also includes larger awards such as $200,000 to the University of San Francisco and $125,000 for a tutoring program there.
Yes. The grantmaking is local in scope, and 84% of grants go to recipients in California. San Francisco appears frequently among recipient cities, alongside Burlingame, Martinez, La Canada Flintridge, East Palo Alto, Sacramento, Castro Valley, Napa, Redwood City, and Menlo Park.
Yes. The recent grant list shows repeat support to several recipients across multiple years, including the University of San Francisco, Bay Scholars, Catholic Charities, and California Homebuilding Foundation.
Yes. The foundation’s profile indicates that it funds individuals, in addition to organizations and institutions.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $125,000 | 2026 | UNIVERSITY MINISTRY TUTORING PROGRAM |
| MERCY HIGH SCHOOL | BURLINGAME, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR ATHLETIC AND STUDENT LIFE CENTER |
| BAY SCHOLARS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP OF THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON AND SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART | LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREPARATORY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $27,600 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY | LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | FSHA EATON FIRE FUND |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| CALIFORNIA HOMEBUILDING FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | BITA PROGRAM |
| JUSTIN SIENA HIGH SCHOOL LEAP | NAPA, CA | $24,500 | 2026 | LASALLIAN EDUCATION ACCESS PROGAM |
| HANNA ACADEMY | SONOMA, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | IN HONOR OF JOHN HEILMAN |
| CATHOLIC WORKER HOUSE | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SACRED HEART SCHOOLS | ATHERTON, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | SOPHIE SCHOLARS |
| KAMUKAMA FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | MAJ FOR A MISSION |
| RAVENSWOOD EDUCATION FOUNDATION | MENLO PARK, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | LITERACY CHALLENGE |
| KAMUKAMA FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | MAJ FOR A MISSION |
| ST PETER'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILD & FAMILY INSTITUTE OF MENLO PARK | MENLO PARK, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WOMEN'S COACHING ALLIANCE | SAN CARLOS, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GROWTH CAMPAIGN |
| ST FRANCIS CENTER | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST MARY'S COLLEGE NURSING PROGRAM | MORAGA, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ALAMEDA BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC | ALAMEDA, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST PIUS SCHOOL | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | LIFEGUARD FUND - SCHOLARSHIPS |
| EASTSIDE PREP | EAST PALO ALTO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | IN HONOR OF LISLE PAYNE |
| HOMEAID OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | CONCORD, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST ANTHONY'S CHURCH | MENLO PARK, CA | $7,500 | 2026 | PADUA DINING ROOM |
| DOMINICAN SISTERS OF MISSION SAN JOSE | MISSION SAN JOSE, CA | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRIDGE HOUSING CORPORATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | ASSISTANCE PROGRAM |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | VINO AT VINCENZO |
| JUNIPERO SERRA HIGH SCHOOL | SAN MATEO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | MEMORY OF LARRY ALARY |
| POSITIVE COACHING ALLIANCE | PASADENA, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ARCHDIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL APPEAL |
| ST BALDRICK'S FOUNDATION | MONROVIA, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | IN HONOR OF CHARLOTTE MURDOFF |
| PANETTA INSTITUTE | SEASIDE, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARYKNOLL FATHERS AND BROTHERS | MARYKNOLL, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | MSAADA FOUNDATION PROJECT |
| COMMUNITY ACTION OF NAPA VALLEY (CANV) | NAPA, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT (FOOD BANK) |
| HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH | SAN JOSE, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GLORIA & DENNIS ONLINE PARISH |
| SISTERS OF MERCY | BURLINGAME, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST PIUS CHURCH | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| REBUILDING TOGETHER PENINSULA | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTH COAST OPPORTUNITIES INC | UKIAH, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | RURAL COMMUNITIES CHILD CARE PROGRAM |
| BRIDGE HOUSING CORPORATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | STEIN & COLWELL SCHOLARSHIP |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STANFORD HEALTH CARE | STANFORD, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE KOHANAIKI TEAM MEMBER FUND | KAILUAKONA, HI | $2,500 | 2026 | FUND SUPPORTING CLUB EMPLOYEES IN NEED |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS | PLEASANT HILL, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPINAL CORD SOCIETY | SCOTTS VALLEY, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SEQUOIA HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ICA (IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HANNA CENTER | SONOMA, CA | $1,700 | 2026 | GOLF CLASSIC |
| IRELAND FUNDS | LOS ALTOS, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
MERCY HIGH SCHOOL
$100,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR ATHLETIC AND STUDENT LIFE CENTER
ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREPARATORY
$27,600SCHOLARSHIP
FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY
FSHA EATON FIRE FUND
JUSTIN SIENA HIGH SCHOOL LEAP
$24,500LASALLIAN EDUCATION ACCESS PROGAM
HANNA ACADEMY
$20,000IN HONOR OF JOHN HEILMAN
CATHOLIC WORKER HOUSE
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SACRED HEART SCHOOLS
$10,000SOPHIE SCHOLARS
ST PETER'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CHILD & FAMILY INSTITUTE OF MENLO PARK
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WOMEN'S COACHING ALLIANCE
$10,000GROWTH CAMPAIGN
ST FRANCIS CENTER
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST MARY'S COLLEGE NURSING PROGRAM
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ALAMEDA BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST PIUS SCHOOL
$10,000LIFEGUARD FUND - SCHOLARSHIPS
HOMEAID OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST ANTHONY'S CHURCH
$7,500PADUA DINING ROOM
JUNIPERO SERRA HIGH SCHOOL
$5,000MEMORY OF LARRY ALARY
ARCHDIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL
$5,000ANNUAL APPEAL
MARYKNOLL FATHERS AND BROTHERS
$5,000MSAADA FOUNDATION PROJECT
HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH
$5,000GLORIA & DENNIS ONLINE PARISH
SISTERS OF MERCY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST PIUS CHURCH
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STANFORD HEALTH CARE
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
THE KOHANAIKI TEAM MEMBER FUND
$2,500FUND SUPPORTING CLUB EMPLOYEES IN NEED
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
SPINAL CORD SOCIETY
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ICA (IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY)
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HANNA CENTER
$1,700GOLF CLASSIC
IRELAND FUNDS
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT