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Griffith R Harsh IV and Margaret C Whitman Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$8.7M
Grant Range
$1K - $30.0M

Griffith R Harsh IV and Margaret C Whitman Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,700,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $156,100,000 (2023)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $30,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: National, with community focus on Menlo Park, CA and Telluride, CO
  • Application Process: No public application process (trustee discretion)

Contact Details

Griffith R Harsh IV and Margaret C Whitman Charitable Foundation

  • Address: P.O. Box 860, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-0860
  • Phone: 518-886-4207
  • EIN: 20-8033091
  • Administrator: Ayco Company, L.P. (a Goldman Sachs company)

Note: This foundation does not maintain a public website or email for grant applications.

Overview

The Griffith R. Harsh IV and Margaret C Whitman Charitable Foundation was established in December 2006 by Meg Whitman (former President and CEO of eBay) and her husband Dr. Griffith R. Harsh IV (neurosurgeon and former Chair of Neurosurgery at Stanford University, currently at University of New Mexico). The foundation was launched with a donation of 300,000 shares of eBay stock valued at approximately $9.4 million. As of 2023, the foundation holds assets of $156.1 million and distributes approximately $8.7 million annually in grants. The foundation focuses on education, environmental conservation, and health organizations, with particular emphasis on neurosurgery research reflecting Dr. Harsh's professional expertise. The foundation operates as a private grantmaking entity, making strategic investments in organizations aligned with the trustees' philanthropic priorities rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

This foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their philanthropic interests and strategic priorities.

Major Grants (historically $100,000+):

  • Education institutions and reform organizations
  • Environmental conservation projects
  • Health and medical research organizations

Community Grants ($1,000 - $25,000):

  • Organizations serving Menlo Park, CA and Telluride, CO communities where the trustees reside

Priority Areas

Education

  • Educational reform and access, particularly K-12 and higher education
  • Teacher training and support programs
  • Educational equity initiatives
  • Whitman serves on the national board of Teach For America and has been National Board Chair

Environment

  • Land conservation and habitat protection
  • Climate change initiatives
  • Rivers and delta ecosystems
  • Sustainable development projects

Health

  • Neurosurgery research and medical innovation
  • Disease-specific research and support organizations
  • Medical education foundations

Community Development

  • Local organizations in Menlo Park, CA and Telluride, CO
  • Focus on children and youth services
  • Support for economically disadvantaged populations

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's 2023 tax filing shows:

  • No contributions received from the public (fully self-funded)
  • Focus is on established organizations with track records
  • Limited to trustees' identified priority areas

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Dr. Griffith R. Harsh IV (Trustee)

  • Chair of Neurosurgery at University of New Mexico
  • Former Professor and Vice-Chair of Neurosurgery at Stanford University School of Medicine
  • Director of Surgical Neuro-oncology and Neurosurgery Residency Program at Stanford
  • Clinical research in skull base surgery, intraoperative imaging, radiosurgery, and gene therapy
  • No trustee compensation reported

Margaret C. Whitman (Meg Whitman) (Trustee through May 2022)

  • Former President and CEO of eBay (1998-2008)
  • Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard (2011-2015)
  • Former U.S. Ambassador to Kenya (2022-2024)
  • Princeton University alumna (Class of 1977)
  • National Board Chair of Teach For America
  • Board member of The Nature Conservancy
  • No trustee compensation reported

Silver Pheasant PTC LLC (Trustee, May 2022-present)

  • Corporate trustee structure implemented in 2022

The foundation is administered by Ayco Company, L.P., a Goldman Sachs company specializing in private foundation administration.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Griffith R. Harsh IV and Margaret C Whitman Charitable Foundation operates as a private family foundation where grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees. Grants are typically directed to:

  • Organizations where trustees have existing relationships or board involvement
  • Institutions with which the trustees have personal connections (e.g., Princeton University)
  • Strategic initiatives identified by the trustees
  • Community organizations in areas where the trustees reside (Menlo Park, CA and Telluride, CO)

The foundation does not maintain a website, accept Letters of Inquiry, or review unsolicited grant proposals.

Notable Grant Recipients

The foundation has supported numerous organizations, including:

Education:

  • Princeton University ($30 million to establish Whitman College residential college, 2002)
  • Teach For America ($10 million in 2011: $5 million for California programs, $5 million for national expansion)
  • Summit Public Schools
  • Rhodes Trust

Environment:

  • Environmental Defense Fund ($100,000 in 2007 to Center for California Rivers and Deltas)
  • Telluride land conservation campaign ($1.15 million to protect 572 acres near Telluride, Colorado from development in 2008)
  • Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy Coalition (2015)
  • The Nature Conservancy

Health:

  • MIND Research Institute
  • ALS Association
  • Pancreatic Action Network
  • Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made proactively by trustees rather than in response to applications.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, analysis of the foundation's giving patterns reveals:

Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: The foundation's largest grants have gone to organizations where the trustees have direct involvement. Meg Whitman's $30 million gift to Princeton University went to her alma mater. The $10 million Teach For America grant was announced after Whitman joined both the national board and Bay Area board of the organization.

Strategic Alignment with Trustee Expertise: Grants reflect the professional backgrounds and personal passions of the trustees. Dr. Harsh's neurosurgery expertise is evident in health grantmaking focusing on neurosurgery research. Whitman's technology background and board service influences education reform grants.

Geographic Connections: Community grants of $1,000-$25,000 consistently support organizations in Menlo Park, CA and Telluride, CO, where the Whitmans reside. This demonstrates the foundation's commitment to their local communities.

Environmental Conservation: The foundation has shown particular interest in land conservation projects, especially in Colorado. The $1.15 million grant to protect 572 acres near Telluride prevented luxury development, and the couple later purchased an additional 800 acres for conservation.

Capacity for Large-Scale Impact: The foundation makes both major institutional gifts (millions of dollars) and smaller community grants, suggesting trustees value both transformative investments and grassroots community support.

Quoted Priorities: Meg Whitman has stated she donated to "education and the environment and other areas" and would "continue to build our foundation," indicating ongoing commitment to these core focus areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - This foundation awards grants at trustee discretion and does not accept unsolicited proposals
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking - Major grants go to organizations where trustees serve on boards or have personal connections (Princeton, Teach For America, Environmental Defense Fund)
  • Three core focus areas - Education reform and access, environmental conservation, and health/neurosurgery research aligned with trustee expertise
  • Geographic preference - Strong commitment to Menlo Park, CA and Telluride, CO communities with annual local grants
  • Range of grant sizes - From $1,000 community grants to multi-million dollar institutional investments, showing flexibility in approach
  • Board service matters - Meg Whitman joined Teach For America's board before announcing a $10 million grant, suggesting cultivation through governance engagement
  • Strategic, not reactive - With zero public contributions and $156M in assets, the foundation operates independently based on trustee vision rather than external pressure

References

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