Pisces Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 20-7415160 · since 2007piscesfoundation.org·San Francisco, United States·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$16.7M

Annual giving, 2023 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Pisces Foundation, based in San Francisco, CA, is likely to be a good fit for organisations working on climate super pollutants or clean water across the United States, or on neighbourhood vitality and cultural innovation within San Francisco, with a stated priority on the United States and San Francisco.
For the San Francisco Open Funding Opportunity, a realistic request sits between $80,000 and $150,000, and the foundation particularly values collaborations whose benefits extend beyond the organisations directly involved, through shared infrastructure, tools or lessons for the wider field.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the San Francisco route starts with a Concept Note, with only selected applicants then invited to submit a full proposal, so approach this as a staged, competitive process rather than a simple one-off pitch.
With $16,696,100 paid out and $19,632,769 committed in the year reported, the foundation has meaningful capacity, but grant writers should frame proposals around collaboration and shared learning rather than single-organisation benefit alone.

Overview

Pisces Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Francisco, CA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Pisces Foundation supports organisations working together to improve the environment, stabilise the climate and help San Francisco thrive. Its Environment + Climate work strengthens the people and organisations advancing reductions in climate super pollutants and clean, healthy water, including through shared learning, leadership, science, data and collaboration. Its clean-water work seeks affordable access to clean, drinkable, swimmable and fishable water throughout the United States. In San Francisco, it funds community organisations, institutions and their partners to build neighbourhood vitality and cultural innovation, strengthening coordination, shared priorities, data tools, creative spaces and cultural infrastructure. Its approach backs collaborative capacity and shared tools so leaders can move from ideas to action and sustain progress.

Themes

Climate super pollutants
Clean water
Neighborhood vitality
Cultural innovation

Geographic Focus

Priority: United States; San Francisco.

How to apply

For the San Francisco Open Funding Opportunity, collaborations submit a Concept Note; selected applicants are then invited to submit a full proposal.

Application success factors

What the foundation says:

For the San Francisco opportunity, the Foundation particularly values collaborations that benefit organisations beyond those directly involved, including through networks, shared infrastructure and tools, new approaches, or lessons for the wider field.

Officers and directors

Carol Ting — Chief Operating Officer
David S Beckman — President
Elizabeth S Fisher — Trustee
Robert J Fisher — Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

2 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$18,707,347	$17,957,250	$25,780,765	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$25,848,921	$16,696,100	$54,509,748	Filing for 2023 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.