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Foundation president, Harvey Fineberg, and chairman emeritus and co-founder, Gordon Moore, discuss the Statement of Founders’ Intent with staff.

 
 
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A new era for the foundation

Dear Friends,

In 2001, Gordon and Betty Moore established the foundation “to tackle large, important issues at a scale where it can achieve significant and measurable impacts.” Over the years, their vision and guidance remained steadfast.

Last year marked a turning point for the foundation. In March 2023, Gordon passed away and Betty followed in December. We miss their guiding presence and remember them with gratitude. They established the foundation to function in perpetuity, and their values and vision can be felt in everything we do.

In this time of transition, important work by our grantees and staff continued to advance Gordon and Betty’s vision. Below, you will find four stories that highlight the impact of their work, along with select highlights from 2023 and our audited financial reports for the year.

These stories exemplify how we strive to honor Gordon and Betty Moore’s legacy and character by making a significant and positive impact in the world.


Harvey V. Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D. 
President

2023 Highlights

New Wildfire Resilience Initiative launched

Ecosystems and communities in Western North America now face an escalating threat from extreme wildfires. This is a result of climate change – which leads to hotter, drier seasons – as well as ecosystem fragmentation and other human factors. In 2023, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation invested $110 million in a new initiative to improve wildfire resilience. The Wildfire Resilience Initiative aims to support a transformation in the role that fire plays in Western North America, from a destructive threat to a vitalizing element in our landscapes.  

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Center for Diagnostic Excellence at UCSF established

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Patient Care Program concluded on December 31, 2023. The program spanned a decade of work, which included the Diagnostic Excellence Initiative, which sought to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce errors in health care. To create durability for this work, the foundation awarded UCSF $15 million to establish the Coordinating Center for Diagnostic Excellence, which aims to enhance diagnostic research and practice with a focus on innovation and technology.

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Our Programs

Environmental Conservation Environmental Conservation

Protecting the Great Bear Sea: Indigenous leadership for healthy ecosystems and communities

British Columbia has long been an important geography due to its bounty of resources from the land and the sea. It is also home to the Great Bear Rainforest, one of the largest intact temperate coastal rainforests in the world. Together, the Great Bear Sea and Rainforest complete a globally significant and integrated ecosystem. The Indigenous First Nations in British Columbia continue to be responsible for the stewardship of this ecosystem, and they work with focus to ensure its health. As evidenced by their leadership, strong governance and engaged communities are an integral part of preserving ecosystems and achieving transformational change.

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Explore Environmental Conservation
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Grants Awarded in 2023

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Median Grant Amount (Thousands)

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Average Grant Term (Months)

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Amount Awarded in 2023 (Millions)
Environmental Conservation Program annual totals through December 31, 2023. Grants awarded are paid over the course of each grant’s term, which often extends over more than one year. Amounts paid for all grants in any calendar year are reflected in the Financials and Grantmaking charts below. 

Science Science

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Building a community for aquatic symbiosis: Tools, collaboration and discovery

Symbiosis, and particularly aquatic symbiosis, is important and underfunded. Though not a singular scientific field, scientists across a wide range of disciplines study symbiosis. Creating innovative methods and enabling discovery requires bringing researchers together in new ways so they can discuss cross-cutting topics in aquatic symbiosis and share methods and resources. By creating visibility into the research underway, we expect additional scientists will take interest. By facilitating connections and removing barriers to collaboration, the foundation’s Symbiosis in Aquatic Systems Initiative hopes to spark new discoveries, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of aquatic symbiosis. 

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Explore Science

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Grants Awarded in 2023

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Median Grant Amount (Thousands)

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Average Grant Term (Months)

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Amount Awarded in 2023 (Millions)
Science Program annual totals through December 31, 2023. Grants awarded are paid over the course of each grant’s term, which often extends over more than one year. Amounts paid for all grants in any calendar year are reflected in the Financials and Grantmaking charts below. 

Patient Care Patient Care

Maintaining adaptability in changing times: Betty Irene Moore Fellows for Nurse Leaders and Innovators

The Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators aims to develop the next generation of nurse leaders. The foundation’s nursing work was inspired by Betty Irene Moore’s experiences and this program, in partnership with UC Davis, provides resources, mentorship and professional development to early- and mid-career nurses. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program successfully adapted to an online format, supporting five cohorts to date. The fellowship fosters a collaborative network and enhances the role of nurse scientists and leaders, with the hope of building a more nurse robust workforce and the development of more nurse-led projects in healthcare. 

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Explore Patient Care
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Grants Awarded in 2023

$0

Median Grant Amount (Thousands)

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Average Grant Term (Months)

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Amount Awarded in 2023 (Millions)
Patient Care Program annual totals through December 31, 2023. Grants awarded are paid over the course of each grant’s term, which often extends over more than one year. Amounts paid for all grants in any calendar year are reflected in the Financials and Grantmaking charts below.

San Francisco Bay Area San Francisco Bay Area

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Walt Ranch: A conservation triumph in Napa County

In an important step for California conservation, the Land Trust of Napa County successfully acquired the 2,300-acre Walt Ranch in eastern Napa County with support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and other funders after years of controversy. Initially intended for vineyard development, which would have included removing over 14,000 oak trees and had a devasting impact on the local ecosystem, the ranch is now protected to preserve its biodiversity and wildlife corridors and connects the ranch to 7,700 acres of contiguous protected lands. The Land Trust of Napa County plans to continue to manage the property, ensuring long-term stewardship and community enjoyment.

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Explore San Francisco Bay Area

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Grants Awarded in 2023

$0

Median Grant Amount (Thousands)

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Average Grant Term (Months)

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Amount Awarded in 2023 (Millions)
San Francisco Bay Area Program annual totals through December 31, 2023. Grants awarded are paid over the course of each grant’s term, which often extends over more than one year. Amounts paid for all grants in any calendar year are reflected in the Financials and Grantmaking charts below.

Financials and Grantmaking

Endowment Value and Spending

  • Year-End Value
  • Annual Spending

Cumulative Grants Approved

Grand Total

$5,567,457,767

Grants Paid by Program (All years only)

Grants Paid by Program (Year-by-Year)

Endowment Value and Spending

  • Year-End Value
  • Annual Spending

Cumulative Grants Approved

Grand Total

$5,567,457,767

Grants Paid by Program (All years only)

Grants Paid by Program (Year-by-Year)

Endowment Value and Spending

  • Year-End Value
  • Annual Spending

Cumulative Grants Approved

Grand Total

$5,567,457,767

Grants Paid by Program (All years only)

Grants Paid by Program (Year-by-Year)

Endowment Value and Spending

  • Year-End Value
  • Annual Spending

Cumulative Grants Approved

Grand Total

$5,567,457,767

Grants Paid by Program (All years only)

Grants Paid by Program (Year-by-Year)

  • Environment
  • Science
  • Patient Care
  • Bay Area
  • Other
Totals through December 31, 2023
View Financial Reports
View Grants List

An eye on the future

Gordon and Betty challenged us to create positive outcomes for future generations.

In the coming years, we will continue the work that began with them, and, in time, we will embrace new opportunities for impact. We are fortunate to have the enduring benefit of the Statement of Founders’ Intent to serve as a touchstone.

Long into the future, our trustees and staff will be able to rely on this document as a clear expression of the founders’ aspirations and expectations, enabling us to honor their values and vision.

We reflect on Gordon and Betty’s lives as a couple and as individuals with a smile and full hearts. Their love, loyalty, humility, honesty, generosity, consistency, complementarity, and humor remain an inspiration to all who knew them.

As we embark on this new era for the foundation, we are grateful for the opportunity to create, as our founders envisioned, lasting change for the good.

Harvey V. Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D.

President

 

IMAGE: Staff photo of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (November 2023)

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