The Rock Foundation focuses almost exclusively on K–12 education policy and advocacy, funding organizations that work on school improvement and education reform. Their grants favor intermediary and advocacy groups that influence policy and support education initiatives rather than direct school operations. The foundation appears to target strategic, high-impact players in the education reform ecosystem, with a particular interest in organizations active in policy advocacy and capacity building.
The Rock Foundation’s largest recent grant in the record is $1,009,225 to Basic Fund in Oakland for educational work, a signal that the foundation backs sizable, strategy-oriented support for K–12 education. Across the recent grants list, it appears to favor organizations that influence school improvement, education reform, and policy rather than direct school operations. The pattern includes repeat support for Basic Fund, with additional grants of $239,625 and $178,000 in earlier years, showing a continuing relationship rather than a one-time award. It also funds intermediaries and advocacy-oriented groups such as 50can in Washington, DC, which received $300,000 in 2024, and Edsource Inc in Oakland, which received $100,000 in both 2023 and 2024. The foundation’s portfolio suggests a preference for organizations that shape education systems, public understanding, and capacity within the reform ecosystem. Its recent record also reaches into aligned charitable work, including community and civic organizations, but education remains the clearest throughline in the grant list.
In K–12 education policy and reform, The Rock Foundation supported Basic Fund in Oakland with $1,009,225 in 2025 and $239,625 in 2023. It also gave $300,000 to 50can in Washington, DC in 2024, pointing to interest in organizations that work at the policy and advocacy level. For education journalism and public information, Edsource Inc in Oakland received $100,000 in 2023 and another $100,000 in 2024. The foundation also backed Commonlit Inc in Washington, DC with $100,000 in 2024, and Modern Classrooms Project Inc in Washington, DC with $100,000 in 2023, both consistent with support for education tools and initiatives that serve the broader learning ecosystem. These grants align with a funding pattern centered on intermediary organizations, capacity building, and education improvement efforts.
Typical grants cluster around a median of $5,000, with the 25th percentile at $2,000 and the 75th percentile at $25,000. The recent record also includes several six-figure awards, so the distribution is wide. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Repeat awards appear across multiple years for several recipients, indicating ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts. The grants shown are programmatic in nature, with a sector-specific focus concentrated on education and related advocacy.
$3.7M
$50.6M
$3.6M
$3.8M
Most grants fall between $2K and $25K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Highly concentrated giving: very few, large grants directed to education advocacy/intermediary organizations rather than many small or direct-service grants. Funding appears strategic and targeted to influential policy organizations.
Notable grantees: BASIC Fund, 50CAN
The Rock Foundation gives most often in California, which accounts for 73% of its grants. Oakland appears repeatedly in the recent record, alongside San Francisco and Berkeley. Outside California, grants in the list go to Washington, DC, and New York, NY, showing that the foundation’s reach extends beyond its main grantmaking state while remaining regionally focused. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the data provided.
Its grant list centers on K–12 education policy and advocacy, education reform intermediaries, capacity building for education advocacy organizations, and charter-friendly or choice-focused education initiatives. The recent grants also include some charitable awards tied to education-adjacent or community organizations.
The typical grant size is $5,000 at the median. The lower quartile is $2,000 and the upper quartile is $25,000, although the recent record also includes awards in the six- and seven-figure range.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Basic Fund in Oakland, Edsource Inc in Oakland, Center for Investigative Reporting, Immigrants Rising, Commonwealth Club of CA, and St Anthony Foundation. That pattern suggests recurring support rather than one-time giving.
California is the top state by grant count, with 73% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent California recipients include Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley, and Emeryville organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHRONICLE SEASON OF SHARING FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY | SYRACUSE, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $400,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| KQED | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $130,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $125,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH VOCATIONAL & CAREER COUNSELING | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| GO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | SACRAMENTO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| TNDC - (TENDERLOIN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| UNITED WAY BAY AREA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| ARCS FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP(ACHIEVEMENT REWARDS FOR COLLEGE SCIENTISTS) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $75,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| OAKLAND SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS | OAKLAND, CA | $75,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $75,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| THEATRE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CLINIC BY THE BAY (VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE - SAN FRANCISCO) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON LAW SCHOOL | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| GLIDE MEMORIAL (GLIDE FOUNDATION) | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE BAY AREA | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SAN FRANCISCO FREE CLINIC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| NFTE BAY AREA (NETWORK FOR TEACHING ENTREPRENEURSHIP) | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| LITQUAKE FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| REBUILDING TOGETHER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| STUDENTS RISING ABOVE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM | MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CALTECH (CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY) | PASADENA, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| UNICEF (UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF) | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| PROJECT OPEN HAND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| KDFC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| FINE ARTS MUSEUM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CHILDREN'S CREATIVITY MUSEUM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| COMPASSION & CHOICES | LITTLETON, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| J STREET EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ASIAN ART MUSEUM FOUNDATION OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| PLAYGROUND | BERKELEY, CA | $1,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| DEATH WITH DIGNITY NATIONAL CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| OKIZU FOUNDATION | NOVATO, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CHARITY WATCH (AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHILANTHROPY) | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| BASIC FUND | OAKLAND, CA | $1,009,225 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ST ANTHONY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR SCIENCE | BERKELEY, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CA
$125,000CHARITABLE
TNDC - (TENDERLOIN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION)
$100,000CHARITABLE
ARCS FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP(ACHIEVEMENT REWARDS FOR COLLEGE SCIENTISTS)
$75,000CHARITABLE
CLINIC BY THE BAY (VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE - SAN FRANCISCO)
$50,000CHARITABLE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON LAW SCHOOL
$50,000EDUCATION
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
$25,000CHARITABLE
GLIDE MEMORIAL (GLIDE FOUNDATION)
$25,000CHARITABLE
REBUILDING TOGETHER
$15,000CHARITABLE
CALTECH (CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY)
$10,000CHARITABLE
KDFC
$5,000CHARITABLE
FINE ARTS MUSEUM
$5,000CHARITABLE
ASIAN ART MUSEUM FOUNDATION OF SAN FRANCISCO
$5,000CHARITABLE
PLAYGROUND
$1,500CHARITABLE
DEATH WITH DIGNITY NATIONAL CENTER
$1,000CHARITABLE
CHARITY WATCH (AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHILANTHROPY)
$500CHARITABLE
ST ANTHONY FOUNDATION
$200,000CHARITABLE