The Gerard and Ruth Daniel Foundation concentrates relatively modest, targeted giving on Jewish religious life and community-support organizations, with a particular interest in Reform Judaism and religious pluralism in Israel. Grants are few but sizable and often directed to organizations connected to the Daniel family or to intermediaries that redistribute funds. They also support Jewish communal social services in the Bay Area, suggesting both ideological (pluralism, Jewish education) and geographic (Bay Area, Israel) priorities.
Gerard and Ruth Daniel Foundation Inc. gives around Jewish religious life, with a clear pattern of support for Reform and progressive Jewish institutions and for religious pluralism in Israel. The largest recent grant listed is $55,000 to Friends of the Daniel Centers for work to build religious pluralism in Israel, a theme that appears again in other grants to related pluralism initiatives. The foundation also backs Jewish educational and communal organizations, including repeated annual-fund support for Hebrew Union College and operating support for Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, Marin. Alongside those Jewish priorities, the foundation has made grants to synagogue congregations, Jewish cultural institutions, and selected public-interest groups. Its recent record shows both direct grants and pass-through gifts routed through charitable vehicles, with the latter appearing as a recurring part of its giving pattern. The mix suggests a funder that supports institutional Jewish infrastructure, specific ideological commitments within Judaism, and a small set of community-service and civic causes through targeted awards rather than broad program portfolios.
A central theme is religious pluralism in Israel. In 2024, Gerard and Ruth Daniel Foundation Inc. gave $55,000 to Friends of the Daniel Centers to help build religious pluralism in Israel, and it also made a $7,113 grant to Friends of the IMPJ to support the campaign to open the possibilities for liberal Jewish practice in Israel. A second recurring area is Reform Jewish education and leadership. The foundation gave $25,000 in 2024 and another $25,000 in 2023 to Hebrew Union College for annual fund support at HUC-JIR. Community services also appear in the record: it provided $23,000 to JFCS of SF Marin to strengthen individuals, families and community across the Bay Area. Civic engagement and public-interest work show up as well, including a $5,000 grant to Act Blue Charitable for programs to encourage people to register to vote.
Recent grants cluster around small-to-mid-sized awards: the 25th percentile is $1,012, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. The foundation’s pattern includes both direct grants and pass-through giving through charitable intermediaries, with several entries described as passed to other charities. The record also shows repeat support across years for multiple recipients, including annual-fund and mission support grants that reappear in 2023 and 2024. That combination points to a steady but selective grantmaker rather than a high-volume foundation. It does not fund individuals and is not shown making program-related investments.
$363K
$2.5M
$162K
$400K
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 8% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, relatively small program of giving with a handful of mid‑sized grants; repeated support to a few affiliated or mission‑aligned organizations and use of passthrough vehicles to distribute funds.
Notable grantees: Ralph M Daniel Charitable (Schwab Charitable), Friends of the Daniel Centers, Hebrew Union College, JFCS of SF Marin
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States. Massachusetts is the top state by grant count, helped by grants to organizations in Boston, Somerville, Amherst, and New London. California also appears repeatedly, with grants to San Rafael, Beverly Hills, San Mateo, and the Bay Area more broadly. Other recipient locations include Washington, DC; New York, NY; Seattle, WA; and Incline Village, NV. Maryland appears in the record as well, including Chevy Chase recipients.
The recent record centers on Jewish religious life and community institutions. Grants go to Reform and progressive Jewish organizations, synagogue support, Jewish education through Hebrew Union College, pluralism work in Israel, and Jewish family and community services in the Bay Area.
The typical recent grant is small to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $1,012, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. Several grants sit at or near that $5,000 level, with a smaller number above it.
Yes. The recent record shows repeat support across 2023 and 2024 for Hebrew Union College, Friends of the Daniel Centers, Temple Sinai, Friends of the IMPJ, Rodef Sholom, World Union for Progressive Judaism, and others, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts.
Its giving is national within the United States. The recipient state pattern is concentrated in Massachusetts and California, with additional grants in Washington, DC; New York; Washington; Nevada; and Maryland. All listed recipient grants are to U.S. organizations.
Yes. The recent grants include support for Planned Parenthood for women’s health, NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation for women’s health, Act Blue Charitable for voter registration programs, and Connecticut College for unrestricted contribution.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notley Impact | Austin, TX | $65,000 | 2025 | Support the Freedom 2 Vote intiative |
| Focus for Democracy | Washington, DC | $65,000 | 2025 | Support the organization's mission to independently evaluate nonpartisan voter participation work |
| Accelerate Change | Los Angeles, CA | $65,000 | 2025 | Support the organization's mission to be a catalyst for empowering communities |
| Friends of the Daniel Centers | Chevy Chase, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | Help to build religious pluralism in Israel |
| Hebrew Union College | New York, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | Support of annual fund for HUC-JIR |
| JFCS of SF Marin | San Rafael, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Support the mission to strengthen individuals, families and community across the Bay Area |
| Temple Sinai | Washington, DC | $9,000 | 2025 | Support of the synagogue in DC |
| Ct College | New London, CT | $8,000 | 2025 | Unrestricted Contribution |
| J Street Education Fund | Washington, DC | $5,670 | 2025 | Support the organization's mission to help resolve conflicts between Israel and its Arabic neighbors |
| Ritter Center | San Rafael, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Support the organization's mission to prevent homelessness |
| Union for Reform Judaism | New York, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Support of reform Jewish synagogues in the US and Canada |
| Yiddish Book Center | Amherst, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | Support the organization's mission of working to recover, celebrate, and regenerate Yiddish and modern Jewish literature and culture. |
| Friends of the IMPJ | Bevery Hills, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Support the campaign to open the possibilities for liberal Jewish practice in Israel |
| Ceche - The National Food Museum | Washington, DC | $4,800 | 2025 | Support the organization's mission efforts toward promoting critical thinking about food's impact on health and the environment |
| Rodef Sholom | San Rafael, CA | $4,353 | 2025 | Support a synagogue in San Rafael CA |
| Crisis Intervention | Incline Village, NV | $4,000 | 2025 | Support the organizations' mission to connectandempowertheir community |
| Planned Parenthood | Washington, DC | $4,000 | 2025 | Support women's health |
| Center for Creative Change (Moment Magazine) | Washington, DC | $3,600 | 2025 | Support the mission to fund innovative education leading to positive cultural change |
| Capital Jewish Museum | Manhattan, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | Support the organization's mission efforts toward diversity, inclusivity, and ultimately equity. |
| American Friends of the Israel Democracy Institute Inc | ATLANTA, GA | $3,000 | 2025 | Support the organization's mission of strengthening Israel's democracy |
| Boys and Girls Club | Atlanta, GA | $3,000 | 2025 | support organizations mission to provide a safe environment where kids can learn, play, and grow |
| MCFNorth Tahoe | Auburn, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | Support the mission to generate resources to build a more caring, creative, and effective community |
| VNA Foundation | Vero Beach, FL | $2,000 | 2025 | Supporting charitable patient care, non-reimbursed services and program needs of the VNA of the Treasure Coast. |
| YMCA | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | Support critical programs and services for people who need them. |
| Temple Beth Am | Framingham, MA | $1,850 | 2025 | Support the synagogue in Framingham MA |
| World Union for Progressive Judaism | New York, NY | $1,800 | 2025 | Support the organization's mission in progressive Judaism |
| Jewish Federation of DC | North Bethesda, MD | $1,800 | 2025 | Support Judaism in greater Washington DC |
| American Jewish Joint Dist Committee | New York, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | Support organizations mission to provide aid to vulnerable Jews |
| TRWC (TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL)San Jose | Truckee, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | Support the missionto make the watershed more resilient, sustainable, and alive |
| Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women | Albuquerque, NM | $1,000 | 2025 | Support the mission is to stop violence against Native women and children by advocating for social change in tribal communities. |
| Nevada County Citizens for Choice | Grass Valley, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | Support women's health |
| Truckee Trails Foundation | Truckee, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | Support the missiont o improve the physical, social, and environmental health of the citizens in and around Truckee CA |
| Hand in Hand | Portland, OR | $1,000 | 2025 | Support the mission to build social cohesion in Israel |
| NARAL - Pro-Choice Amr Found | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | Support women's health |
| The Speedy Foundation | Boise, ID | $1,000 | 2025 | support the organization's mission to prevent suicide |
| AbortionFundsorg | Beaverton, OR | $1,000 | 2025 | Support the organization's mission to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access |
| Friends of the Daniel Centers | Chevy Chase, MD | $55,000 | 2024 | Help to build religious pluralism in Israel |
| Hebrew Union College | New York, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | Support of annual fund for HUC-JIR |
| Ralph M Daniel Charitable (Schwab Charitable) | Orlando, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | Passed to other charities |
| JFCS of SF Marin | San Rafael, CA | $23,000 | 2024 | Support the mission to strengthen individuals, families and community across the Bay Area |
| Temple Sinai | Washington, DC | $9,000 | 2024 | Support of the synagogue in DC |
| Friends of the IMPJ | Bevery Hills, CA | $7,113 | 2024 | Support the campaign to open the possibilities for liberal Jewish practice in Israel |
| Yiddish Book Center | Amherst, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | Support the organization's mission of working to recover, celebrate, and regenerate Yiddish and modern Jewish literature and culture. |
| Planned Parenthood | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | Support women's health |
| Union for Reform Judaism | New York, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | Support of reform Jewish synagogues in the US and Canada |
| NARAL - Pro-Choice Amr Found | Washington, DC | $4,500 | 2024 | Support women's health |
| Rodef Sholom | San Rafael, CA | $4,000 | 2024 | Support a synagogue in San Rafael CA |
| World Union for Progressive Judaism | New York, NY | $3,600 | 2024 | Support the organization's mission in progressive Judaism |
| Crisis Intervention | Incline Village, NV | $3,000 | 2024 | Support the organizations' mission to connectandempowertheir community |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | $3,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted Contribution |
Support the organization's mission to independently evaluate nonpartisan voter participation work
Accelerate Change
$65,000Support the organization's mission to be a catalyst for empowering communities
Friends of the Daniel Centers
$30,000Help to build religious pluralism in Israel
Hebrew Union College
$25,000Support of annual fund for HUC-JIR
JFCS of SF Marin
Support the mission to strengthen individuals, families and community across the Bay Area
Temple Sinai
$9,000Support of the synagogue in DC
Ct College
$8,000Unrestricted Contribution
Support the organization's mission to help resolve conflicts between Israel and its Arabic neighbors
Union for Reform Judaism
$5,000Support of reform Jewish synagogues in the US and Canada
Support the organization's mission of working to recover, celebrate, and regenerate Yiddish and modern Jewish literature and culture.
Friends of the IMPJ
$5,000Support the campaign to open the possibilities for liberal Jewish practice in Israel
Ceche - The National Food Museum
$4,800Support the organization's mission efforts toward promoting critical thinking about food's impact on health and the environment
Rodef Sholom
$4,353Support a synagogue in San Rafael CA
Support the organizations' mission to connectandempowertheir community
Planned Parenthood
$4,000Support women's health
Center for Creative Change (Moment Magazine)
$3,600Support the mission to fund innovative education leading to positive cultural change
Capital Jewish Museum
$3,000Support the organization's mission efforts toward diversity, inclusivity, and ultimately equity.
American Friends of the Israel Democracy Institute Inc
$3,000Support the organization's mission of strengthening Israel's democracy
support organizations mission to provide a safe environment where kids can learn, play, and grow
MCFNorth Tahoe
$2,000Support the mission to generate resources to build a more caring, creative, and effective community
VNA Foundation
$2,000Supporting charitable patient care, non-reimbursed services and program needs of the VNA of the Treasure Coast.
Temple Beth Am
$1,850Support the synagogue in Framingham MA
World Union for Progressive Judaism
$1,800Support the organization's mission in progressive Judaism
Support organizations mission to provide aid to vulnerable Jews
TRWC (TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL)San Jose
$1,000Support the missionto make the watershed more resilient, sustainable, and alive
Support the mission is to stop violence against Native women and children by advocating for social change in tribal communities.
Nevada County Citizens for Choice
$1,000Support women's health
Truckee Trails Foundation
$1,000Support the missiont o improve the physical, social, and environmental health of the citizens in and around Truckee CA
NARAL - Pro-Choice Amr Found
$1,000Support women's health
The Speedy Foundation
$1,000support the organization's mission to prevent suicide
AbortionFundsorg
$1,000Support the organization's mission to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access
Friends of the Daniel Centers
$55,000Help to build religious pluralism in Israel
Hebrew Union College
$25,000Support of annual fund for HUC-JIR
Ralph M Daniel Charitable (Schwab Charitable)
$25,000Passed to other charities
JFCS of SF Marin
$23,000Support the mission to strengthen individuals, families and community across the Bay Area
Temple Sinai
$9,000Support of the synagogue in DC
Friends of the IMPJ
$7,113Support the campaign to open the possibilities for liberal Jewish practice in Israel
Support the organization's mission of working to recover, celebrate, and regenerate Yiddish and modern Jewish literature and culture.
Planned Parenthood
$5,000Support women's health
Union for Reform Judaism
$5,000Support of reform Jewish synagogues in the US and Canada
NARAL - Pro-Choice Amr Found
$4,500Support women's health
Rodef Sholom
$4,000Support a synagogue in San Rafael CA
World Union for Progressive Judaism
$3,600Support the organization's mission in progressive Judaism
Support the organizations' mission to connectandempowertheir community