The Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation concentrates giving on Jewish community life and Israel-related causes while simultaneously supporting civil rights, LGBTQ and reproductive-rights organizations, and democratic/governance and gun-violence-prevention work. Grants range from local synagogue and Jewish social-service support in the Bay Area to national and international humanitarian and rights groups, indicating a blend of personal/local commitments and broader policy-focused philanthropy.
A single grant to the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc stands out in the recent record: $571,609 for general support in 2024. That scale sits alongside a broader pattern of funding Jewish community life, Israel-related work, civil rights, reproductive rights, and democracy-focused advocacy. The Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation gives through both the Foundation itself and a donor-advised fund held at Jewish Federation Bay Area, which helps explain the mix of local Bay Area synagogue and Jewish communal support with larger national grants. Recent awards show support for Jewish infrastructure and community response, including the Jewish Community Federation for the Israel Emergency Fund 2023 and American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc for unrestricted 2024 support. The foundation also backs legal and policy work through groups such as the ACLU Foundation Inc, Center for Reproductive Rights, Protect Democracy Project, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and Anti-Defamation League. In addition to grantmaking to large national organizations, the record includes capital-campaign support for Bay Area congregations and schools, reflecting a portfolio that combines community investment with issue-based philanthropy.
In Jewish communal giving, the foundation supported Jewish Community Federation with $360,000 for the Israel Emergency Fund 2023 and also made $100,000 general-support grants to the same organization. It also gave $250,000 to Congregation Emanu-el for the Emanu-el Next capital campaign and $250,000 to Temple Isaiah of Contra Costa County toward an upcoming capital campaign. On Israel-related work, the foundation gave $175,389 to PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc for the Israel Religious Action Center - IRAC, and $100,000 to American Israel Education Foundation Inc for general support. For humanitarian response, it provided $200,000 to Jewish Community Federation for the Ukraine Emergency Fund and $225,000 to American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc for services in Europe, the FSU, and Latin America. Its civil-rights and reproductive-rights grantmaking includes $300,000 to ACLU Foundation Inc for the LGBTQ & HIV Project work, $250,000 to ACLU Foundation Inc for LGBTQ litigation, and $150,000 to Center for Reproductive Rights for general support.
$9.7M
$6.5M
$4.5M
$5.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 42% of grants go to recipients in CA.
JENNIFER CHAIKEN
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.
Concentrated, mission-driven portfolio with repeated support to a core set of grantees (multiple multi-year or multi-grant relationships), combining mid- to large-sized gifts for national advocacy and international relief with targeted local capital and operating support in the Bay Area.
Notable grantees: Jewish Community Federation, PEF Israel Endowment Funds (supporting Israeli civil-rights groups), Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Planned Parenthood (national and Northern California), Protect Democracy Project
Typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, showing a middle range of modest grants with some much larger awards. The recent record includes repeated support to several recipients across multiple years, including ACLU Foundation Inc, Center for Reproductive Rights, Protect Democracy Project, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc, and Jewish Community Federation. The foundation is a regular funder, not a private foundation making program-related investments, and it also operates a donor-advised fund at Jewish Federation Bay Area. The active programs show both unsolicited grant support in some channels and program-specific, invitation-only awards in others.
Grants are national, but they cluster in California and New York. California is the top state by grant count, with 42% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recipient cities in the Bay Area include San Francisco, Lafayette, and San Rafael, alongside major national grantees in New York, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles. Outside the US, the recent-grants file shows no recipient countries beyond the United States.
The record shows support for Jewish community institutions, Israel-related organizations, LGBTQ civil-rights groups, reproductive-rights advocacy, democracy and anti-hate work, gun-violence prevention, and emergency relief. Recent grantees include Jewish Community Federation, ACLU Foundation Inc, Center for Reproductive Rights, Protect Democracy Project, and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants record also includes much larger awards, such as $571,609 to Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc and $360,000 to Jewish Community Federation.
Yes. Bay Area recipients in the recent record include Jewish Community Federation in San Francisco, Congregation Emanu-el in San Francisco, Temple Isaiah of Contra Costa County in Lafayette, Marin Academy in San Rafael, and Park Theater Trust in Lafayette.
Yes. Several organizations appear across multiple years, including ACLU Foundation Inc, Center for Reproductive Rights, Protect Democracy Project, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc, and Jewish Community Federation. That pattern suggests repeat support rather than only one-time gifts.
The Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation is listed as a donor-advised fund held at Jewish Federation Bay Area. The fund can recommend grants to eligible nonprofits, while the Federation provides the giving vehicle, philanthropy advising, and an online fund portal.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $571,609 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $360,000 | 2024 | FOR THE ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND 2023 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | IN SUPPORT OF THE LGBTQ & HIV PROJECT WORK |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE INC (JDC) | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FOR 2024 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | IN SUPPORT OF LGBTQ LITIGATION |
| TEMPLE ISAIAH OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY | LAFAYETTE, CA | $250,000 | 2024 | TOWARDS THE UPCOMING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE INC (JDC) | NEW YORK, NY | $225,000 | 2024 | FOR SERVICES IN EUROPE, THE FSU, AND LATIN AMERICA |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $175,389 | 2024 | ISRAEL RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER - IRAC |
| PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRADY CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CALIFORNIA HOMEBUILDING FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $106,785 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TOWARDS THE BITA PROGRAM |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | CONCORD, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PARK THEATER TRUST | LAFAYETTE, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | A SPECIAL ONE-TIME GIFT TO THE CAMPAIGN |
| HIAS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NARAL PRO-CHOICE AMERICA FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NARAL PRO-CHOICE AMERICA FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES EAST BAY | BERKELEY, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HIAS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE EAST BAY | BERKELEY, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS AND STAFFING UP FOR NEW CAMPAIGN |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FILM COLLABORATIVE INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE FILM TITLED ""TIME WARP"" |
| BRADY CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $90,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | CONCORD, CA | $80,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LAST CHANCE AT LIFE ALL BREED RESCUE AND ADOPTIONS | OCEANSIDE, CA | $80,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE AKA ADL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | THE CENTRAL PACIFIC REGION |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE AKA ADL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | CENTRAL PACIFIC REGION GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES EAST BAY | BERKELEY, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SANDY HOOK PROMISE FOUNDATION | NEWTOWN, CT | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AUBURN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2024 | FOR THE SABBATH QUEEN FILM |
| J STREET EDUCATION FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | FOR DOMESTIC WORK |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | ASSOCIATION FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN ISRAEL |
| WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | FOR THE 24/7 PROGRAM |
| ISRAEL POLICY FORUM INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | 24/7 PROGRAM |
LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND INC
$571,609GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION
$360,000FOR THE ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND 2023
ACLU FOUNDATION INC
$300,000IN SUPPORT OF THE LGBTQ & HIV PROJECT WORK
AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE INC (JDC)
$300,000UNRESTRICTED FOR 2024
ACLU FOUNDATION INC
$250,000IN SUPPORT OF LGBTQ LITIGATION
TEMPLE ISAIAH OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
$250,000TOWARDS THE UPCOMING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE INC (JDC)
$225,000FOR SERVICES IN EUROPE, THE FSU, AND LATIN AMERICA
PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC
$175,389ISRAEL RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER - IRAC
PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BRADY CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CALIFORNIA HOMEBUILDING FOUNDATION
$106,785UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TOWARDS THE BITA PROGRAM
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PARK THEATER TRUST
$100,000A SPECIAL ONE-TIME GIFT TO THE CAMPAIGN
HIAS INC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NARAL PRO-CHOICE AMERICA FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NARAL PRO-CHOICE AMERICA FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES EAST BAY
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HIAS INC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE EAST BAY
$100,000GENERAL OPERATIONS AND STAFFING UP FOR NEW CAMPAIGN
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FILM COLLABORATIVE INC
$100,000FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE FILM TITLED ""TIME WARP""
BRADY CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE
$90,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
$80,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LAST CHANCE AT LIFE ALL BREED RESCUE AND ADOPTIONS
$80,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE AKA ADL
$75,000THE CENTRAL PACIFIC REGION
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE AKA ADL
$75,000CENTRAL PACIFIC REGION GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES EAST BAY
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SANDY HOOK PROMISE FOUNDATION
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AUBURN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$60,000FOR THE SABBATH QUEEN FILM
J STREET EDUCATION FUND INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION
$50,000FOR DOMESTIC WORK
PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC
$50,000ASSOCIATION FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN ISRAEL
WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER
$50,000FOR THE 24/7 PROGRAM
ISRAEL POLICY FORUM INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER
$50,00024/7 PROGRAM
Current and upcoming funding from Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Jewish organizations seeking federal or state nonprofit security grant funding and needing support with assessments and application preparation.
Deadline: Federal NSGP historically runs February to April each year; California State NSGP historically runs August to October each year.
Who can apply: Not explicitly listed on the scraped pages. Typical DAF practice: grants are made to IRS-qualified public charities; eligibility and any restrictions governed by Jewish Federation Bay Area grant policies and the fund agreement.
Deadline: Rolling (no specific application deadlines found in scraped content)
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
