The Twanda Foundation concentrates its giving on Bay Area community institutions, with a pronounced emphasis on supporting Catholic secondary education and local civic/cultural capital projects. The foundation’s funding is heavily concentrated in one flagship education partner (multiple, sizable gifts to Salesian College Prep), with smaller, targeted gifts to local arts infrastructure and a one-time health/cancer center contribution. Overall, the foundation behaves like a locally-focused funder that prioritizes sustained investment in an education institution it deeply values while making occasional philanthropic investments in community landmarks and healthcare needs.
Twanda Foundation’s largest repeated commitment is a pair of $500,000 grants to Salesian College Prep HS in Richmond in 2023 and 2024, followed by another $50,000 grant in 2025. That pattern makes Catholic college-preparatory high school support the clearest signature in its recent giving. The foundation also pairs education with targeted local investments in community infrastructure and health. In 2025 it gave $60,000 to Park Theater Trust Capital Fund for rebuilding Park Theater in Lafayette, and $50,000 to John Muir Hespital Foundation for the New Cancer Center in Walnut Creek. Those gifts sit alongside smaller awards to hospice, disability services, and arts organizations in the East Bay. The grant list shows a local, place-based funder working through a small set of recurring priorities rather than a broad portfolio. Its support reaches schools, cultural venues, and health-related institutions, with the strongest concentration around Bay Area communities in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Across the recent grants, the foundation appears to favor direct institutional support and capital-oriented commitments, especially when the beneficiary is a long-term community fixture.
Education is one of the foundation’s main lanes, and its recent grants show that clearly. Twanda Foundation gave $21,456 in 2025 to Salesian College Prep HS in Richmond for its college-prep high school mission, and it also supported Presentation HS in San Jose with $5,250 in 2023, $5,230 in 2024, and $5,241 in 2025. Beyond secondary education, it funded communities serving people with disabilities. In 2025, Las Trampas Inc received $20,000 for adult disability support, after a $15,000 gift in 2024 to Las Trampas Inc - Angel Campaign for the same purpose. The foundation also backed local health-related services: Hospice of the East Bay received $10,010 in 2025 and $10,000 in 2024 for support to families of dying relatives in Contra Costa County. Arts and culture appear as well, including a $12,000 grant in 2023 to Diablo Regional Arts Assoc - Women's Artistic Alliance for regional arts support.
Recent grants cluster around a few size bands, with a typical check of $1,033 at the 25th percentile, a median of $2,060, and $5,000 at the 75th percentile. The distribution is wide because the foundation also makes large institutional gifts, including a repeated $500,000 commitment. Recipients recur across years: Salesian College Prep HS, Hospice of the East Bay, Meals on Wheels, Presentation HS, Las Trampas Inc, and Urgent Action Fund all appear more than once in the recent list. Twanda Foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF and does not fund individuals or PRIs. Its active grant programs indicate it accepts unsolicited applications through several general and issue-specific programs.
$390K
$799K
$333K
$489K
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Highly concentrated: the majority of dollars are committed to a single repeat grantee (three grants to Salesian College Prep), with a few smaller, one-off capital gifts to local cultural and medical institutions.
Notable grantees: Salesian College Prep HS, Park Theater Trust Capital Fund, John Muir Hospital Foundation
The foundation’s giving is local and heavily concentrated in California, with 84% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The recent grants land almost entirely in the Bay Area, especially Richmond, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Oakland, and San Jose. Richmond stands out through repeated education grants, while Lafayette and Walnut Creek appear in both arts, health, and disability support. Recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 157 grants in the United States and no non-U.S. countries in the recent data.
Its active programs and recent grants point to women’s empowerment and economic development, education, and services for people with disabilities. The recent list also includes arts, hospice, and cancer-care support, showing a local portfolio built around institutions serving Bay Area communities.
The typical grant size is small to mid-sized: $1,033 at the 25th percentile, a median of $2,060, and $5,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes occasional much larger gifts, including a repeated $500,000 award.
Yes. Multiple active programs are marked as accepting unsolicited applications, including the General Grantmaking program, TWANDA Foundation General Grants, Disabled Services Grants, Education Grants, and the General Grants Program.
It gives most often in California, especially the San Francisco Bay Area and Contra Costa and Alameda counties. In the recent grants list, recipient cities include Richmond, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Oakland, and San Jose.
Several recipients recur across multiple years, including Salesian College Prep HS, Hospice of the East Bay, Meals on Wheels, Presentation HS, Las Trampas Inc, and Urgent Action Fund. That pattern suggests the foundation often revisits organizations over time rather than limiting itself to one-off gifts.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Twanda Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area with projects aligned to the education priority area.
Who can apply: Qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area with projects aligned to the women's empowerment and economic development priority area.
Who can apply: Qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, with emphasis on nonprofits in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Applicants should have an innovative approach in one or more priority areas. The foundation does not fund discriminatory organizations, lobbying or political activities, commercial business purposes, litigation, direct grants to individuals, and typically does not fund capital campaigns.
Deadline: No fixed deadline stated; applications are reviewed as received and the foundation is funded on an as-needed basis.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Kelsey | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Provide housing for disabled adults |
| Las Trampas Inc | Lafayette, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Supports Adults with Disabilities |
| John Muir Health Foundation | Walnut Creek, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | Directed to New Cancer Center |
| Presentation HS | San Jose, CA | $26,000 | 2026 | Catholic HS Fund Raiser |
| Urgent Action Fund via Network for Good | Calameda, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Womens Human Rights Urgently |
| UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital Foundation | Oakland, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | Support childrens hospital |
| Salesian College Prep HS | Richmond, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | Non Profit College Prep HS |
| Planned Parenthood Northern California | Concord, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Provide family planning, education services |
| Salesian College Prep HS | Richmond, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Non Profit College Prep HS |
| East Bay Times Share the Spirit | Dublin, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Feed Clothe Needy Families in CCC |
| Meals on Wheels | Walnut Creek, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Provides meals for shut-in elderlies |
| Diablo Regional Arts Assoc - Women's Artistic Alliance | Walnut Creek, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Regional Arts Support |
| Hospice of the East Bay | Pleasant Hill, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Helps families of dying relatives in CC County |
| CCC Crisis Center | Walnut Creek, CA | $7,500 | 2026 | Provides mental health services for refugees and immigrants |
| Lindsay Wildlife Experience | Walnut Creek, CA | $6,000 | 2026 | Wildlife Rehabilitation/Kids Summer Camp |
| Round Valley Library | Covelo, CA | $6,000 | 2026 | Fund Plumbing Project |
| Choice in Aging | Pleasant Hill, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | Provide adult day care |
| Seva Foundation | Berkeley, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | Supports 3rd World families with eye care |
| Shakespeare Lake Tahoe | Incline Village, NV | $5,000 | 2026 | Lake Tahoe Theater Group |
| Aim High | San Francisco, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | Summer learning program for Tahoe/Truckee |
| KQED Public Radio | San Francisco, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | Public Radio |
| Heifer Intl - Women Impowerment | Little Rock, AR | $3,000 | 2026 | Provides domestic and work animals for 3rd World needy families |
| Hospice of Hawaii - Navian | Honolulu, HI | $2,500 | 2026 | Helps families of dying relatives in Hawaii |
| Alzheimer's Assoc | Washington, DC | $2,500 | 2026 | Finding a cure for Alzheimers |
| Sierra Comm House | Truckee, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | Support community of Kings Beach |
| Special Olympics of Northern Calif | Pleasant Hill, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | Supports Disabled Youth Sport Competition |
| Hawaii Public Radio - NPR | Honolulu, HI | $2,000 | 2026 | Public Radio |
| Truckee Tahoe Comm Foundation - Senior Services | Truckee, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | Arts, Educ, and Environment issues in Truckee |
| White Pony Express | Pleasant Hill, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | Provide food and clothing for the needy in Contra Costa County |
| Catholic Charities | Oakland, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | Helping families in the East Bay |
| Girls Inc of West Contra Costa - Girl Scouts | Richmond, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | Inspiring and training girls in West Contra Costa |
| Bread and Roses - East Bay Outreach Pgm | Corte Madera, CA | $1,500 | 2026 | Helps feed needy families in East Bay Area, pediatric hospitals, special needs schools |
| Project Avery - Supporting Children of Incarcerated Parents | San Rafael, CA | $1,500 | 2026 | Supports children with parents in prison |
| CERI - Center for Empowering Rufugees and Imigrants | Oakland, CA | $1,500 | 2026 | Mental Health Services for refugees and imigrants |
| Save Mt Diablo | Walnut Creek, CA | $1,500 | 2026 | Support saving Mt Diable Park |
| Johnsville Historical Society | Graeagle, CA | $1,500 | 2026 | Church fund |
| How Women Lead | San Rafael, CA | $1,200 | 2026 | Helping women lead in business |
| San Francisco Symphony | San Francisco, CA | $1,200 | 2026 | Youth orchestra financial aid |
| KIVA Micro Loans | San Francisco, CA | $1,200 | 2026 | Womens Micro Loans - Intl |
| George Mark Children's House | San Leandro, CA | $1,200 | 2026 | Provide pediatric palliative care |
| SonRise Equestrian Foundation | Danville, CA | $1,200 | 2026 | Support disabled children with horses |
| Winter Nights Family Shelter of CCC | Pleasant Hill, CA | $1,200 | 2026 | Offering shelter, food training for the homeless |
| UC Berkeley CAL Band | Berkeley, CA | $1,200 | 2026 | New instruments for CAL marching bank |
| Covelo Round Valley Library | Covelo, CA | $1,039 | 2026 | Community library building fund |
| Commonwealth Club of Calif | San Francisco, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | Public Forum presentations |
| Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir | Oakland, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | Provide music throughout the Bay Area |
| Exhale Pro Voice | Oakland, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | After abortion talkline support |
| Girls Inc Alameda | Oakland, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | Inspiring and training girls in Oakland |
| Tenement Museum | New York, NY | $516 | 2026 | Support historic tenment museum |
| Honor Flight | Bakersfield, CA | $511 | 2026 | Offer flights to Vietnam Vets |
Las Trampas Inc
$50,000Supports Adults with Disabilities
John Muir Health Foundation
$50,000Directed to New Cancer Center
Presentation HS
$26,000Catholic HS Fund Raiser
Support childrens hospital
Salesian College Prep HS
$15,000Non Profit College Prep HS
Provide family planning, education services
Salesian College Prep HS
$10,000Non Profit College Prep HS
East Bay Times Share the Spirit
$10,000Feed Clothe Needy Families in CCC
Meals on Wheels
$10,000Provides meals for shut-in elderlies
Regional Arts Support
Hospice of the East Bay
$10,000Helps families of dying relatives in CC County
CCC Crisis Center
$7,500Provides mental health services for refugees and immigrants
Lindsay Wildlife Experience
$6,000Wildlife Rehabilitation/Kids Summer Camp
Round Valley Library
$6,000Fund Plumbing Project
Shakespeare Lake Tahoe
$5,000Lake Tahoe Theater Group
Aim High
$5,000Summer learning program for Tahoe/Truckee
Heifer Intl - Women Impowerment
$3,000Provides domestic and work animals for 3rd World needy families
Hospice of Hawaii - Navian
$2,500Helps families of dying relatives in Hawaii
Alzheimer's Assoc
$2,500Finding a cure for Alzheimers
Sierra Comm House
$2,500Support community of Kings Beach
Supports Disabled Youth Sport Competition
Hawaii Public Radio - NPR
$2,000Public Radio
Truckee Tahoe Comm Foundation - Senior Services
$2,000Arts, Educ, and Environment issues in Truckee
Provide food and clothing for the needy in Contra Costa County
Catholic Charities
$2,000Helping families in the East Bay
Girls Inc of West Contra Costa - Girl Scouts
$2,000Inspiring and training girls in West Contra Costa
Bread and Roses - East Bay Outreach Pgm
$1,500Helps feed needy families in East Bay Area, pediatric hospitals, special needs schools
Supports children with parents in prison
CERI - Center for Empowering Rufugees and Imigrants
$1,500Mental Health Services for refugees and imigrants
Johnsville Historical Society
$1,500Church fund
How Women Lead
$1,200Helping women lead in business
SonRise Equestrian Foundation
$1,200Support disabled children with horses
Winter Nights Family Shelter of CCC
$1,200Offering shelter, food training for the homeless
UC Berkeley CAL Band
$1,200New instruments for CAL marching bank
Covelo Round Valley Library
$1,039Community library building fund
Commonwealth Club of Calif
$1,000Public Forum presentations
Exhale Pro Voice
$1,000After abortion talkline support
Girls Inc Alameda
$1,000Inspiring and training girls in Oakland
Tenement Museum
$516Support historic tenment museum
Honor Flight
$511Offer flights to Vietnam Vets
