The Zaffaron i Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on local youth development, providing sustained, program-level support to a single Peninsula youth services organization while occasionally funding targeted higher-education research. Its giving is focused, locally oriented, and oriented toward direct program support rather than broad national giving. The foundation values repeated commitments to a trusted partner and makes occasional strategic gifts to university research in renewable energy.
Three-year support for the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula stands out in The Zaffaroni Foundation’s recent giving. The foundation has backed the Menlo Park youth organization repeatedly, including a $250,000 grant in 2023 and $150,000 grants in both 2024 and 2025, all described as continued support for the Club’s programs. That pattern points to a funder that favors sustained commitments over one-time awards, especially for youth services on the San Francisco Peninsula. Beyond that core relationship, the foundation has made selective gifts in other areas. It supported the UC Berkeley Foundation for Prof. Daniel M. Kammen’s work in the Renewable & Appropriate Energy Lab, showing an interest in university-based energy research. It also has smaller grants tied to local community and program needs, including support for age-friendly care, open space, arts education, parks, and forestry trail projects. The overall profile is concentrated, with most grants going to California recipients and a smaller set directed to Oregon organizations.
Youth development is the clearest theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025 it gave $130,000 to Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula for continued support of the Club’s programs, following prior commitments to the same organization. The foundation also supports university research in energy. In 2023 it granted $50,000 to the UC Berkeley Foundation for Prof. Daniel M. Kammen’s work in the Renewable & Appropriate Energy Lab. A third cluster appears around community-based services and place stewardship. Examples include $25,000 to Asante Foundation for the Age-Friendly Care Initiative at Asante Ashland Hospital, $15,000 to Peninsula Open Space Trust for land conservation, and $5,000 to Ashland Parks Foundation for forestry trail and open space work.
The Zaffaroni Foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at both the 25th percentile and the median, with a $90,000 75th percentile, indicating a mix of modest awards and a smaller number of larger commitments. Its recent pattern includes repeated support to the same recipient across multiple years, especially the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula and Peninsula Open Space Trust. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The record also shows project and program support rather than unrestricted annual giving as the dominant mode.
$835K
$2.6M
$177K
$293K
Most grants fall between $10K and $90K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$90K
About 67% of grants go to recipients in OR.
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Highly concentrated: large, repeat grants to a single local youth organization (4 of 5 grants and ~93% of dollars), with infrequent, modest one-off gifts to academic research. Few total grants and heavy dollar concentration in core grantee.
Notable grantees: Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula, UC Berkeley Foundation / Renewable & Appropriate Energy Lab (Prof. Daniel M. Kammen)
Grantmaking is regional and heavily concentrated in California, which received 67% of grants in the recent record. Menlo Park and Palo Alto appear often on the recipient side, alongside Berkeley and San Francisco. Oregon is the other clear state in the grant list, with awards to Medford and Ashland as well as Ashland-area organizations. All recent grants in the data went to U.S. recipients.
The recent record centers on youth development and after-school programs, especially support for the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula. Other named areas include renewable and appropriate energy research at UC Berkeley, age-friendly care at Asante Ashland Hospital, land conservation through Peninsula Open Space Trust, and parks, trails, and open space projects in Ashland.
Yes. The Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula received $250,000 in 2023 and $150,000 in both 2024 and 2025, while Peninsula Open Space Trust received $15,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2023. The pattern suggests continued support for selected partners.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile and median, with a $90,000 75th percentile. The recent list also shows larger awards such as $250,000 and $150,000 alongside several $5,000 and $10,000 grants.
California receives most of the foundation’s grants, accounting for 67% of recipient locations in the recent data. Oregon is the other notable state in the list, with grants to Medford and Ashland organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE PENINSULA | MENLO PARK, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | Continued support of the Club's programs. First of 3-year pledge of $100,000 each. |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE PENINSULA | Menlo Park, CA | $130,000 | 2025 | Continued support of the Club's programs. |
| Ashland Parks Foundation | Ashland, OR | $5,000 | 2025 | Gift in support of Forestry trail and open space |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE PENINSULA | MENLO PARK, CA | $150,000 | 2024 | Continued support of the Club's programs. First of 3-year pledge of $100,000 each. |
| Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) | PALO ALTO, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | Donation to POST programs in land conservation |
| San Francisco Waldorf High School | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | Gift in support of Eurythmy Troupe trip to Switzerland |
| MARIN SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA | San Rafael, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | Donation in support of MYSO tour. |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE PENINSULA | MENLO PARK, CA | $250,000 | 2023 | Continued support of the Club's programs. First of 3-year pledge of $100,000 each. |
| UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | Gift in support of Prof. Daniel M. Kammen's work in the Renewable & Appropriate Energy Lab (RAEL) |
| Asante Foundation | MEDFORD, OR | $25,000 | 2023 | Gift in support of Age-Friendly Care Initiative at Asante Ashland Hospital, in memory of Donna Swanson. |
| Peace House | ASHLAND, OR | $10,000 | 2023 | Gift in support of services to needy in local community, in Memory of Donna Swanson |
| First Congregational United Church of Christ | ASHLAND, OR | $10,000 | 2023 | Gift in support of Music Fund, in memory of Donna Swanson |
| San Francisco Waldorf High School | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | Gift in support of Eurythmy Troupe trip to Switzerland |
| Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) | PALO ALTO, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | Donation to POST programs in land conservation |
| ASHLAND PARKS FOUNDATION | ASHLAND, OR | $5,000 | 2023 | Support of Ashland Parks and Recreation programs |
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE PENINSULA
$150,000Continued support of the Club's programs. First of 3-year pledge of $100,000 each.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE PENINSULA
$130,000Continued support of the Club's programs.
Ashland Parks Foundation
$5,000Gift in support of Forestry trail and open space
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE PENINSULA
$150,000Continued support of the Club's programs. First of 3-year pledge of $100,000 each.
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST)
$15,000Donation to POST programs in land conservation
San Francisco Waldorf High School
$10,000Gift in support of Eurythmy Troupe trip to Switzerland
MARIN SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
$5,000Donation in support of MYSO tour.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE PENINSULA
$250,000Continued support of the Club's programs. First of 3-year pledge of $100,000 each.
UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION
$50,000Gift in support of Prof. Daniel M. Kammen's work in the Renewable & Appropriate Energy Lab (RAEL)
Asante Foundation
$25,000Gift in support of Age-Friendly Care Initiative at Asante Ashland Hospital, in memory of Donna Swanson.
Peace House
$10,000Gift in support of services to needy in local community, in Memory of Donna Swanson
First Congregational United Church of Christ
$10,000Gift in support of Music Fund, in memory of Donna Swanson
San Francisco Waldorf High School
$10,000Gift in support of Eurythmy Troupe trip to Switzerland
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST)
$10,000Donation to POST programs in land conservation
ASHLAND PARKS FOUNDATION
$5,000Support of Ashland Parks and Recreation programs