The Willametta K Day Foundation concentrates almost all of its giving into a very small set of large, mostly capital-oriented gifts to educational institutions and related philanthropic vehicles tied to the Day family. Its grants fund campus building projects and institutional support at specific independent K–12 and higher-education institutions, and it also makes major transfers to a related family foundation. The foundation gives infrequently but at high dollar amounts to a narrow roster of repeat beneficiaries.
Highly concentrated, few large grants with multiple repeat payments to the same institutions; emphasis on capital and naming-worthy gifts and significant pass-through/support to a related family foundation.
Willametta K Day Foundation’s most distinctive pattern is its heavy, repeated support for a small cluster of Day-family-linked institutions, especially Robert Day Foundation and school capital projects. The largest recent grant in the data is $5,000,000 to Robert Day Foundation in 2023, followed by two $2,500,000 grants in 2024 and 2025. That same concentrated approach appears in education giving: Robert Louis Stevenson School received multiple unrestricted awards, including large gifts tied to its science building, and Claremont McKenna College received repeated support for the Robert Day Sciences Center. The foundation’s recent grants show a preference for unrestricted funding even when the destination is a specific building, endowment, or scholarship effort. It also supports a narrow set of independent schools and colleges, with smaller gifts to Westridge School for Girls, Linfield University, Southern California Institute of Architecture, and Yale University’s School of Architecture. Alongside those education grants, the foundation makes related transfers to family and philanthropic entities, indicating a grantmaking pattern organized around a limited roster of recurring beneficiaries rather than a broad open call portfolio.
Education is the core of the foundation’s recent giving, especially capital projects at independent schools and colleges. Robert Louis Stevenson School received $2,000,000 in 2024 and again in 2025 for its science building, after a $2,004,804 unrestricted grant in 2023. Claremont McKenna College also received repeated support for the Robert Day Sciences Center, including $1,500,000 in both 2024 and 2025. The foundation also supports endowment and scholarship efforts. Westridge School for Girls received $250,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for the Willametta Keck Day Endowment Fund, and the University of Nevada Reno Foundation received $180,000 in 2025 for the Hooker Creek Ranch endowed scholarship. Smaller grants to the Southern California Institute of Architecture and Yale University’s School of Architecture show an ongoing interest in architecture and design education.
Typical grants are modest compared with the foundation’s largest awards: the p25 grant size is $3,000, the median is $7,500, and the p75 is $15,000. The recent grants list also shows a repeat-recipient pattern, with the same organizations appearing across multiple years, especially family-linked entities and schools. The foundation’s grants are overwhelmingly unrestricted, including awards to capital projects and endowments. Its overall profile is that of a family foundation making concentrated, relationship-driven gifts rather than broad, open-program support.
$7.1M
$76.2M
$10M
$7.8M
Most grants fall between $3K and $15K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$15K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Notable grantees: Robert Day Foundation, Robert Louis Stevenson School, Claremont McKenna College
Grantmaking is concentrated in California, which accounts for 49% of grants and is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include Los Angeles, Pebble Beach, Claremont, Pasadena, and San Francisco in California, plus Reno and Yerington in Nevada. Outside the West, the foundation has also given to New Haven, Atlanta, and Bend, but the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent grants show a narrow focus on educational institutions and related family philanthropy. Large awards go to Robert Day Foundation, Robert Louis Stevenson School, and Claremont McKenna College, with additional support to Westridge School for Girls, Linfield University, and architecture programs at the Southern California Institute of Architecture and Yale University.
Yes. The recent grants list marks the listed awards as unrestricted, including major grants such as $5,000,000 to Robert Day Foundation, $2,000,000 to Robert Louis Stevenson School for its science building, and $1,500,000 to Claremont McKenna College for the Robert Day Sciences Center.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is small relative to its biggest awards: p25 is $3,000, the median is $7,500, and p75 is $15,000. The recent-grants table also shows a handful of much larger, repeated capital and institutional gifts above that range.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Robert Day Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Robert Louis Stevenson School in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Claremont McKenna College in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Westridge School for Girls in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
California is the main state for grantmaking, with 49% of grants going to recipients there. Recent California recipients include Los Angeles, Pebble Beach, Claremont, Pasadena, and San Francisco. The broader recipient pool is entirely U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT DAY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,500,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON SCHOOL (SCIENCE BUILDING) | PEBBLE BEACH, CA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE (ROBERT DAY SCIENCES CENTER) | CLAREMONT, CA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WESTRIDGE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (THE WILLAMETTA KECK DAY ENDOWMENT FUND | PASADENA, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO FOUNDATION (HOOKER CREEK RANCH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHI | RENO, NV | $180,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LINFIELD UNIVERSITY | MCMINNVILLE, OR | $80,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON SCHOOL | PEBBLE BEACH, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| YALE UNIVERSITY (SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE) | NEW HAVEN, CT | $45,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE SEQUOYAH EDUCATIONAL CENTER | PASADENA, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO FOUNDATION (HOOKER CREEK RANCH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHI | RENO, NV | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PASADENA WALDORF SCHOOL | ALTADENA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GIVEDIRECTLY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ANYONE CORPORATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AURORA HUMANITARIAN INITIATIVE FOUNDATION INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DESIGN HISTORY FOUNDATION INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART INC | RENO, NV | $12,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE DIVIDED SKY FOUNDATION CORPORATION | ORLANDO, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF MASON VALLEY INC | YERINGTON, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COMMUNITY HEALTH ALLIANCE | RENO, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS SCHOOL | RENO, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART INC | RENO, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL | RENO, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NORTHERN NEVADA CHILDREN'S CANCER FOUNDATION INC | RENO, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LOS CABOS CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | EAGAN, MN | $8,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PARA LOS NINOS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ARMENIAN GENERAL BEVENOLENT UNION | PASADENA, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCILS INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $6,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SAMARA LEARNING CENTER | BEND, OR | $6,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE CO INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $6,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CORVALLIS, OR | $5,718 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-RENO FOUNDATION | RENO, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TAHOE FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC | INCLINE VILLAGE, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MOMS ON THE RUN | RENO, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF NORTHERN NEVADA | RENO, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF TRUCKEE MEADOWS | RENO, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE FOOD BANK OF NORTHERN NEVADA INC | SPARKS, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| RENO PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION INC | RENO, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CAMPCARE NEVADA FOUNDATION | RENO, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE FOOD BANK OF NORTHERN NEVADA INC | SPARKS, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS (AVENUE OF THE ARTS) | COSTA MESA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHILDREN'S CABINET INC A CHILD AND FAMILY RESOURCE | RENO, NV | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC | CHICAGO, IL | $4,750 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HOUSE OF HOPE - MER HOOYS INC | CALABASAS, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BEAR CREEK PTO | BEND, OR | $3,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MIRY'S LIST | CALABASAS, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BARD COLLEGE | ANNANDALE, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CENTER FOR LAND USE INTERPRETATION | CULVER CITY, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BLACK ROCK ELEMENTARY PTO INC | ERIE, CO | $3,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
ROBERT DAY FOUNDATION
$2,500,000UNRESTRICTED
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON SCHOOL (SCIENCE BUILDING)
$2,000,000UNRESTRICTED
CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE (ROBERT DAY SCIENCES CENTER)
$1,500,000UNRESTRICTED
UNRESTRICTED
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO FOUNDATION (HOOKER CREEK RANCH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHI
$180,000UNRESTRICTED
UNRESTRICTED
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON SCHOOL
$80,000UNRESTRICTED
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE
$75,000UNRESTRICTED
YALE UNIVERSITY (SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE)
$45,000UNRESTRICTED
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO FOUNDATION (HOOKER CREEK RANCH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHI
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
ANYONE CORPORATION
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
DESIGN HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS SCHOOL
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
ARMENIAN GENERAL BEVENOLENT UNION
$7,500UNRESTRICTED
SAMARA LEARNING CENTER
$6,000UNRESTRICTED
TAHOE FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
MOMS ON THE RUN
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF TRUCKEE MEADOWS
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
CAMPCARE NEVADA FOUNDATION
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS (AVENUE OF THE ARTS)
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
HOUSE OF HOPE - MER HOOYS INC
$3,000UNRESTRICTED
BEAR CREEK PTO
$3,000UNRESTRICTED
MIRY'S LIST
$3,000UNRESTRICTED
CENTER FOR LAND USE INTERPRETATION
$3,000UNRESTRICTED
BLACK ROCK ELEMENTARY PTO INC
$3,000UNRESTRICTED