The Five Arts Foundation is a Bay Area-focused arts funder that concentrates on supporting major performing-arts institutions, especially classical music and opera organizations. Their grants are directed toward a small portfolio of regional cultural anchors and a regional community foundation, indicating a preference for sustaining established institutions and local philanthropic infrastructure. Funding is primarily unrestricted or program support for performances and music education rather than small community arts projects.
A repeated commitment to San Francisco Opera stands out in Five Arts Foundation’s recent giving: the funder awarded the company $100,000 in 2023, $110,000 in 2024, and $100,000 in 2025. That pattern sits alongside a broader portfolio centered on Bay Area performing arts, with support for opera, classical music, and other cultural institutions. The foundation’s largest recent grants also extend to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, UC Berkeley Cal Performances, and the Napa Valley Community Foundation, showing a mix of direct arts support and local philanthropic infrastructure. Five Arts Foundation gives at a meaningful scale for regional arts patronage, with multiple six-figure and five-figure awards in the recent grant list. Its named recipients include major institutions in San Francisco and Berkeley as well as a small number of additional California cultural organizations. The grant purposes are generally framed as support for the recipient organizations themselves, which suggests an emphasis on sustaining established institutions rather than one-off project funding alone. A few grants also reach beyond California, but the center of gravity remains the Bay Area arts ecosystem.
Opera is one of the clearest themes in Five Arts Foundation’s portfolio. The foundation gave $25,000 to Houston Grand Opera in 2024 and $17,500 to The Metropolitan Opera in 2025, alongside multiple Bay Area opera-related grants such as Merola Opera Program and West Edge Opera. Classical music is another major lane. In 2024, they awarded $70,000 to The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), and in 2025 they followed with another $20,000 to the same institution. Their support also reached SF Symphony, which received $5,000 in both 2024 and 2025. The foundation also backs presenting and public arts infrastructure. UC Berkeley Cal Performances received $50,000 in 2025 and $25,000 in 2024, while The San Francisco Foundation received $25,000 in 2025 and $25,000 in 2024.
Five Arts Foundation’s typical grant size is modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $2,010, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. The distribution shows a small number of larger institutional awards and many grants clustered around lower five-figure or low four-figure support. Recurrence is visible in the recent list: several recipients appear across multiple years, including San Francisco Opera, Napa Valley Community Foundation, and The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM). The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF or program-related investor, and the listed grant descriptions are generally support for the recipient organization.
$352K
$147K
$382K
$364K
Most grants fall between $2K and $25K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Concentrated, high-dollar gifts to a small number of repeat grantees in the San Francisco/Napa region; mix of multi-grant support to flagship arts organizations and gifts routed through a regional community foundation.
Notable grantees: San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, UCB Cal Performances, Napa Valley Community Foundation
Giving is highly concentrated in California: 80% of grants go to recipients in the headquarters state, and California is also the top state by grant count. Within the Bay Area, San Francisco appears repeatedly, including recipients in San Francisco and Berkeley. A smaller number of grants reach outside California, such as Houston, Texas and New York, New York. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 51 grants in the United States.
The recent grant list centers on performing arts and cultural institutions: opera companies, conservatories, symphony groups, presenting organizations, and a regional community foundation. Named recipients include San Francisco Opera, The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), UC Berkeley Cal Performances, and Napa Valley Community Foundation.
Typical grants are in the low thousands to mid-five figures. The grant-size distribution is p25 $2,010, median $5,000, and p75 $25,000, with some larger awards above that level for major institutions.
Yes. California is the top state by grant count, and 80% of grants go to recipients in the headquarters state. The recent list is heavily Bay Area-focused, with many grants to organizations in San Francisco and Berkeley.
Several recipients appear in multiple years, indicating recurring support rather than purely one-off awards. Examples in the recent list include San Francisco Opera across 2023, 2024, and 2025; Napa Valley Community Foundation across 2023, 2024, and 2025; and The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
It is listed as a regular funder. The recent grants are described primarily as support for the recipient organizations themselves, which points to institutional support rather than individual awards or program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC. |
| SAN FRANCISCO OPERA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA. |
| SAN FRANCISCO OPERA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO OPERA. |
| NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | NAPA, CA | $40,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. |
| CAL PERFORMANCES | BERKELEY, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF CAL PERFORMANCES. |
| SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISOC, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION. |
| SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC. |
| CAL PERFORMANCES | BERKELEY, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF CAL PERFORMANCES. |
| THE METROPOLITAN OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA. |
| SAN FRANCISCO BAYKEEPER | OAKLAND, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO BAYKEEPER. |
| SF SYMPHONY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF SF SYMPHONY. |
| THE METROPOLITAN OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA. |
| SAN FRANCISCO PERFORMANCES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO PERFORMANCES. |
| OPERA PARALLELE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF OPERA PARALLELLE. |
| SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE | BRONXVILLE, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE. |
| WEST EDGE OPERA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF WEST EDGE OPERA. |
| SAN FRANCISCO BALLET | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO BALLET. |
| WEST EDGE OPERA | BERKELEY, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF WEST EDGE OPERA. |
| FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCSICO. |
| OPERAPARALLELE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF OPERAPARALLELE. |
| GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS. |
| MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM. |
| MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM. |
| OPERA AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF OPERA AMERICA. |
| OPERAPARALLELE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,200 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF OPERAPARALLELE. |
| SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISOC, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCSICO FOUNDATION. |
| SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISOC, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCSISCO FOUNDATION. |
| OPERA AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF OPERA AMERICA. |
| OPERA SAN JOSE | SAN JOSE, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF OPERA SAN FRANCISCO. |
| PACIFIC SINGERS & ACTORS WORKSHOP | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF PACIFIC SIGNERS & ACTORS WORKSHOP. |
| KQED | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF KQED. |
| ACLU | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ACLU. |
| CARNEGIE HALL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $400 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF CARNEGIE HALL FOUNDATION. |
| THE METROPOLITAN OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $323 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA. |
| OPERA SAN JOSE | SAN JOSE, CA | $300 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF OPERA SAN JOSE. |
| POCKET OPERA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $300 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF POCKET OPERA. |
| POCKET OPERA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $300 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF POCKET OPERA. |
| WEST EDGE OPERA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $290 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF WEST EDGE OPERA. |
| THE FRICK COLLECTION | NEW YORK, NY | $150 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF THE FRICK COLLECTION. |
| POCKET OPERA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $85 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF POCKET OPERA. |
| San Francisco Opera | San Francisco, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF San Francisco Opera |
| UCB CAL Performances | Berkeley, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | In SUPPORT OF UCB CAL Performances |
| NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | NAPA, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION |
| The San Francisco Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF The San Francisco Foundation |
| The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) | San Francisco, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) |
| THE METROPOLITAN OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $17,500 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA |
| SAN FRANCISCO PERFORMANCES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO PERFORMANCES. |
| SF SYMPHONY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF SF SYMPHONY |
| Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy | San Francisco, CA | $4,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy |
| NATIONAL RESOURCE DEFENSE COUNCIL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL RESOURCE DEFENSE COUNCIL |
IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC.
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
$50,000IN SUPPORT OF THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA.
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
$50,000IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO OPERA.
NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$40,000IN SUPPORT OF NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
CAL PERFORMANCES
$25,000IN SUPPORT OF CAL PERFORMANCES.
IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION.
IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC.
CAL PERFORMANCES
$15,000IN SUPPORT OF CAL PERFORMANCES.
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
$15,000IN SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA.
SAN FRANCISCO BAYKEEPER
$15,000IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO BAYKEEPER.
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
$5,000IN SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA.
SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE
$2,500IN SUPPORT OF SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE.
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET
$2,500IN SUPPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO BALLET.
FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO
$2,500IN SUPPORT OF FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCSICO.
GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS
$2,500IN SUPPORT OF GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS.
PACIFIC SINGERS & ACTORS WORKSHOP
$1,000IN SUPPORT OF PACIFIC SIGNERS & ACTORS WORKSHOP.
CARNEGIE HALL FOUNDATION
$400IN SUPPORT OF CARNEGIE HALL FOUNDATION.
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
$323IN SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA.
POCKET OPERA
$300IN SUPPORT OF POCKET OPERA.
POCKET OPERA
$300IN SUPPORT OF POCKET OPERA.
THE FRICK COLLECTION
$150IN SUPPORT OF THE FRICK COLLECTION.
POCKET OPERA
$85IN SUPPORT OF POCKET OPERA.
San Francisco Opera
$100,000IN SUPPORT OF San Francisco Opera
UCB CAL Performances
$50,000In SUPPORT OF UCB CAL Performances
NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$40,000IN SUPPORT OF NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
IN SUPPORT OF The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM)
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
$17,500IN SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
SF SYMPHONY
$5,000IN SUPPORT OF SF SYMPHONY
IN SUPPORT OF Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
NATIONAL RESOURCE DEFENSE COUNCIL
$3,000IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL RESOURCE DEFENSE COUNCIL