| 1. | What does the Foundation do? |
| The Foundation operates in three specific areas of focus—environmental conservation, science, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Foundation is devoted to the inspirational vision articulated by our founders: “creating positive outcomes for future generations.” |
| 2. | When was the Foundation created? |
| The Foundation was established in September 2000. |
| 3. | How many people are employed at the Foundation? |
| The Foundation employs approximately 80 people. |
| 4. | What is the size of the Foundation's endowment? |
| The Foundation’s endowment is over $5 billion. |
| 5. | How many grants does the Foundation award each year? |
| The Foundation typically, although not exclusively, makes a relatively small number of large and longer-term grants and always emphasizes clearly identified outcomes for the work it supports. In 2008, the Foundation awarded 134 grants totaling $261 million. |
| 6. | What are the Foundation's main areas of focus? |
| The Foundation focuses on three areas: environmental conservation, science, and the San Francisco Bay Area. |
| 7. | What are the Foundation's initiatives? |
| The Foundation’s initiatives are focused areas of interest that fall within one of our three overall programs. Initiatives must be approved by the Foundation's Board. The Foundation has organized the majority of its grantmaking around these initiatives, and each initiative includes a portfolio of outcome-based grants. We encourage and support collaboration among the grantees involved in our initiatives to achieve the most significant and enduring outcomes possible. Currently, the Foundation supports five Board-approved initiatives: In addition to initiative-based grantmaking, the Foundation is providing significant funding to Conservation International, the California Institute of Technology, the Thirty Meter Telescope, and the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. Long-term funding commitments have been made to support these organizations on multiple projects that will lead to large-scale outcomes. |
| 8. | How does the Foundation classify an “initiative” versus its “standalone grants”? |
| Initiatives. Initiatives are built around well-developed strategies for concentrated investments, focused on the long-term and achieving significant impact. Initiatives are characterized by a portfolio approach to grantmaking, and other engagements of the Foundation, to pursue ambitious, large-scale outcomes. Initiatives constitute about 80% of the Foundation’s grantmaking. Standalones. The Foundation devotes about 20% of its grantmaking to experimentation, focused innovation, and agile response to time-sensitive, high-impact opportunities in its three areas of focus. |
| 9. | Does the Foundation plan to fund other initiatives related to health care or medical science? |
| The Foundation does not have any plans to fund initiatives related to heath care other than the Betty Irene Moore Nursing Initiative. We have made some limited investments in the area, including a program-related investment to the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and funding basic science research at Caltech, which may ultimately benefit health care. In general, the Foundation will not be funding the medical sciences. Medical science research is already well-funded by other organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, pharmaceutical companies, and the biotech industry. Therefore, there seems to be little need for additional funding from the Foundation at this time. |
| 10. | How do I submit a grant proposal? |
| The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Foundation staff research organizations as potential contributors to fill specific niches and achieve the outcomes within the Foundation’s program areas. Once potential projects and grantees have been identified, the Foundation may request a formal proposal. |
| 11. | When is a grant proposal solicited? |
| In developing and managing our initiatives and standalone grants, Foundation staff research organizations as potential contributors to fill specific niches and achieve the outcomes within our program areas. Once potential projects have been identified, the Foundation may request a formal proposal. |
| 12. | How does the Foundation decide which grants to fund? |
| The Foundation approaches grantmaking with well-defined objectives. Foundation staff conduct research to identify nonprofit organizations and projects that fit within the goals and strategies of the Foundation’s initiatives. Once potential grantees are identified, grant teams may request a formal proposal. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. |
| 13. | How does the Foundation work with grantees after funding is provided? |
| The Foundation takes an active and involved approach in its relationship with grantees, and works as a partner to help shape, monitor and evaluate projects to achieve a common goal. The Foundation is invested in the outcomes of its grants and takes a long-term view of how each grant contributes to an initiative’s success. |
| 14. | Why does the Foundation focus on measuring outcomes? |
| The Foundation is dedicated to achieving certain articulated outcomes in the areas in which we work. We focus on measurement to evaluate our progress toward, and attainment of, those goals. The Foundation makes grants that individually have measurable outcomes and collectively, within a portfolio of grants, will lead to large-scale (initiative-level) outcomes. Grants are structured so that payments are based on milestones or outcomes met by the grantee. In the end, the Foundation holds itself accountable for the effectiveness of its grantmaking. |
| 15. | Does the Foundation make international grants? |
| The Foundation funds international organizations to the extent the work of those organizations falls within the goals and strategies of the Foundation’s initiatives and standalones. |
| 16. | Are there any job openings at the Foundation? |
| |
| 17. | How do I get to the Foundation’s offices? |
| If you have a meeting scheduled with someone at our office, please call 650-213-3000 for driving directions. |