The Schnitzer-Novack Foundation is a small, highly focused arts funder that concentrates its giving on cultural institutions in Northern California. Its grants are large and targeted — supporting a college-level arts institution in San Francisco and a recurring commitment to a regional performing-arts festival in Napa. The foundation appears to prioritize direct support for artistic programming and cultural events rather than broad philanthropic diversification.
A single arts institution anchors the Schnitzer-Novack Foundation’s giving: California College of the Arts received $501,040 in 2024 for artistic and cultural activities. That scale is unusual relative to the foundation’s typical grant sizes and signals a pattern of concentrated support rather than broad dispersal. The foundation’s recent record also shows a repeated commitment to the Napa Valley Festival, which received $250,000 in 2024 and $109,100 in 2025 for artistic and cultural activities. Those awards, together with grants to other cultural organizations in San Francisco, Napa, and Sacramento, place arts and cultural programming at the center of the foundation’s identity. The Schnitzer-Novack Foundation also supports education-related institutions, including colleges, schools, and study-abroad providers, alongside a smaller set of grants tied to health, housing, women’s recovery, child safety, and community support. Most of its giving lands in California, with recipients spread across the Bay Area and other parts of the state. The pattern is place-based and program-oriented, with several grants framed as support for specific activities, core endeavors, or institutional programs rather than unrestricted broad giving.
Arts education and cultural programming appear throughout the foundation’s recent grants. California College of the Arts received $50,000 in 2025 for artistic and cultural activities, while the Corporation of Fine Arts in San Francisco received $10,000 in 2025 for the arts. Education is another recurring theme. The Caitlin Gabel School in Portland received $50,000 in 2025 for education and love of learning, and Fort Lewis College Foundation received $15,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for educational and cultural opportunities. The foundation also backed Breakthrough Silicon Valley with $10,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024 for education. Its portfolio reaches into community services as well. Back on My Feet received $5,000 in 2023 to help homeless people gain independence, build living skills, and connect with essential community resources, and Parisi House on the Hill received $8,000 in 2025 to support women recovering from substance use.
Typical grants cluster tightly around $10,000, with a p25 of $8,750, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $16,250. That points to a small-grant pattern even though a few awards are much larger. The foundation gives to the same recipients across multiple years, including Napa Valley Festival, California College of the Arts, Uc Berkeley Foundation, Fort Lewis College Foundation, Bridge Housing, Breakthrough Silicon Valley, and Desert Community Foundation. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Grants are mostly project- or activity-based, often described as support for artistic activities, education, or specific institutional purposes.
$1.3M
$9.7M
$1.3M
$486K
Most grants fall between $9K and $16K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$16K
About 70% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a very small set of arts organizations; repeat funding observed for a regional festival (Napa Valley Festival) and a single major beneficiary (California College of the Arts).
Notable grantees: California College of the Arts, Napa Valley Festival
California dominates the foundation’s grantmaking, accounting for 70% of grants in the home state and making it the top state by grant count. Within California, recipients include San Francisco, Napa, Berkeley, San Jose, Los Altos, Oakland, Sacramento, Palm Desert, St. Helena, and Rancho Mirage. Outside the state, the foundation has also given to organizations in Portland, Durango, Deer Harbor, Charlottesville, and Philadelphia. All recorded grants in the recent list went to U.S. recipients.
Its most visible focus is arts and cultural programming, especially in Northern California. Recent grants include support for California College of the Arts, Napa Valley Festival, the Crocker Art Museum, and the Corporation of Fine Arts. It also gives to education, health, housing, and community-service organizations.
Typical awards are modest: the p25 is $8,750, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $16,250. The foundation does make larger grants, including a $501,040 award to California College of the Arts and a $250,000 award to Napa Valley Festival.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Napa Valley Festival, California College of the Arts, Uc Berkeley Foundation, Fort Lewis College Foundation, Bridge Housing, Breakthrough Silicon Valley, and Desert Community Foundation. That suggests recurring support rather than one-time giving only.
California is the main geography in the recent data, with 70% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. California recipients include organizations in San Francisco, Napa, Berkeley, San Jose, Los Altos, Oakland, Sacramento, Palm Desert, St. Helena, and Rancho Mirage.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAPA VALLEY FESTIVAL | NAPA, CA | $109,100 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES |
| THE CAITLIN GABEL SCHOOL | PORTLAND, OR | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND LOVE OF LEARNING |
| CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES |
| UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT UC BERKELEY'S CORE ENDEAVORS |
| FORT LEWIS COLLEGE FOUNDATION | DURANGO, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES |
| ST HELENA PRESCHOOL FOR ALL INC | ST HELENA, CA | $14,400 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION |
| CORPORATION OF FINE ARTS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE ARTS |
| SPECIAL OPERATIONS - FINDING KIDS | LOS ALTOS, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT KEEPING KIDS SAFE FROM PREDATORS |
| WORLDSTRIDES | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT STUDENTS THROUGH TRAVEL AND STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS |
| PARISI HOUSE ON THE HILL | SAN JOSE, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT WOMEN IN RECOVERING FROM SUBSTANCE USE |
| DESERT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PALM DESERT, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE COACHELLA VALLEY COMMUNITY |
| B STREET THEATRE | SACRAMENTO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES THROUGH LIVE THEATRE AND ARTS EDUCATION |
| CALIFORNIA PACIFIC MEDICAL CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT COMPASSION AND EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH CARE SERVICES |
| CONGREGATION BETH SHOLOM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT JEWISH COMMUNITY IN SAN FRANCISCO |
| CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $501,040 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES |
| NAPA VALLEY FESTIVAL | NAPA, CA | $250,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES |
| EISENHOWER HEALTH FOUNDATION | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| CAITLIN GABEL SCHOOL | PORTLAND, OR | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT UC BERKELEY'S CORE ENDEAVORS |
| FORT LEWIS COLLEGE FOUNDATION | DURANGO, CO | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES |
| FOUR WINDS CAMP | DEER HARBOR, WA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY |
| BRIDGE HOUSING | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS |
| CROCKER ART MUSEUM | SACRAMENTO, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS |
| THE ABBY MEESKE FOUNDATION | LOS ALTOS, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IMPACTED BY LEUKEMIA |
| SPECIAL OPERATIONS - FINDING KIDS | LOS ALTOS, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT KEEPING KIDS SAFE FROM PREDATORS |
| GIRLS INC OF ALAMEDA COUNTY | OAKLAND, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT GIRL-IDENTIFIED YOUTH |
| LAKELAND TOURS | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT TRAVEL AND TOUR ACTIVITIES |
| BREAKTHROUGH SILICON VALLEY | SAN JOSE, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| BACK ON MY FEET | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS IN GAINING INDEPENDENCE AND LIVING SKILLS |
| DESERT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PALM DESERT, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE COACHELLA VALLEY COMMUNITY |
| BREAKTHROUGH SILICON VALLEY | SAN JOSE, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| NO TIME TO WASTE | SAN JOSE, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT IMPROVING DIETS, SERVICES AND PRACTICES FOR THE PREVENTION, EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT OF WASTING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD. |
| BACK ON MY FEET | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT HOMELESS GAIN INDEPENDENCE, LIVING SKILLS AND CONNECT THEM WITH ESSENTIAL CUMMUNITY RESOURCES. |
| INQUIRING SYSTEMS | SANTA ROSA, CA | $1,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES |
NAPA VALLEY FESTIVAL
$109,100TO SUPPORT ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
THE CAITLIN GABEL SCHOOL
$50,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND LOVE OF LEARNING
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
$50,000TO SUPPORT ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION
$20,000TO SUPPORT UC BERKELEY'S CORE ENDEAVORS
FORT LEWIS COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$15,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES
ST HELENA PRESCHOOL FOR ALL INC
$14,400TO SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
CORPORATION OF FINE ARTS
$10,000TO SUPPORT THE ARTS
SPECIAL OPERATIONS - FINDING KIDS
$10,000TO SUPPORT KEEPING KIDS SAFE FROM PREDATORS
WORLDSTRIDES
$10,000TO SUPPORT STUDENTS THROUGH TRAVEL AND STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
PARISI HOUSE ON THE HILL
$8,000TO SUPPORT WOMEN IN RECOVERING FROM SUBSTANCE USE
DESERT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$5,000TO SUPPORT THE COACHELLA VALLEY COMMUNITY
B STREET THEATRE
$5,000TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES THROUGH LIVE THEATRE AND ARTS EDUCATION
CALIFORNIA PACIFIC MEDICAL CENTER
$5,000TO SUPPORT COMPASSION AND EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH CARE SERVICES
CONGREGATION BETH SHOLOM
$3,000TO SUPPORT JEWISH COMMUNITY IN SAN FRANCISCO
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
$501,040TO SUPPORT ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
NAPA VALLEY FESTIVAL
$250,000TO SUPPORT ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
EISENHOWER HEALTH FOUNDATION
$25,000TO SUPPORT MEDICAL RESEARCH
CAITLIN GABEL SCHOOL
$25,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATION
UC BERKELEY FOUNDATION
$20,000TO SUPPORT UC BERKELEY'S CORE ENDEAVORS
FORT LEWIS COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$15,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES
FOUR WINDS CAMP
$10,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY
BRIDGE HOUSING
$10,000TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS
CROCKER ART MUSEUM
$10,000TO SUPPORT ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS
THE ABBY MEESKE FOUNDATION
$10,000TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IMPACTED BY LEUKEMIA
SPECIAL OPERATIONS - FINDING KIDS
$10,000TO SUPPORT KEEPING KIDS SAFE FROM PREDATORS
GIRLS INC OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
$10,000TO SUPPORT GIRL-IDENTIFIED YOUTH
LAKELAND TOURS
$10,000TO SUPPORT TRAVEL AND TOUR ACTIVITIES
BREAKTHROUGH SILICON VALLEY
$10,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATION
BACK ON MY FEET
$5,000TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS IN GAINING INDEPENDENCE AND LIVING SKILLS
DESERT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$5,000TO SUPPORT THE COACHELLA VALLEY COMMUNITY
BREAKTHROUGH SILICON VALLEY
$10,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATION
NO TIME TO WASTE
$5,000TO SUPPORT IMPROVING DIETS, SERVICES AND PRACTICES FOR THE PREVENTION, EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT OF WASTING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.
BACK ON MY FEET
$5,000TO SUPPORT HOMELESS GAIN INDEPENDENCE, LIVING SKILLS AND CONNECT THEM WITH ESSENTIAL CUMMUNITY RESOURCES.
INQUIRING SYSTEMS
$1,000TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES