Williams Family Private Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately $1.8 million (2023)
• Total Assets: $20.2 million (2023)
• Grant Range: Varies significantly (from smaller grants to $1 million)
• Number of Grants: 7 grants awarded (most recent year)
• Founded: 2012
• Geographic Focus: National (with grants to organizations across the United States)
• Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Address: 2625 Middlefield Road, Suite 403, Palo Alto, CA 94306-2516

Phone: (925) 997-9301 or (415) 398-5900

EIN: 27-2203213

Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation

Note: No email address or website is publicly available for this foundation.

Overview

The Williams Family Private Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2012 and based in Palo Alto, California. With total assets of approximately $20.2 million as of 2023, the foundation distributed approximately $1.8 million in grants during its most recent fiscal year. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and files Form 990-PF annually with the IRS. While the foundation has not published a formal mission statement, its grantmaking activities indicate support for youth development, education, nutrition, and higher education institutions. As a private family foundation, it operates through trustee discretion rather than maintaining a public application process. The foundation made seven grants in its most recent reporting year, with grant amounts ranging significantly based on the foundation's priorities and relationships with recipient organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Williams Family Private Foundation does not maintain formal grant programs with published guidelines. The foundation makes grants on a discretionary basis determined by its trustees.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation has supported:

• Youth Development and Nutrition: Significant support for organizations working with children and young people, including nutrition education
• Higher Education: Support for university alumni associations and educational institutions
• College Access and Success: Support for organizations helping underrepresented students access and succeed in college

Recent Grant Recipients

Recent grants have included:

• FoodCorps: $1,000,000 - Supporting the organization's mission to connect children to healthy food in schools
• North Carolina State University Alumni Association: $500,000
• College Track: $150,000 - Supporting college access and success for underrepresented students

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation without published guidelines, the foundation has not publicly disclosed specific exclusions. However, their grantmaking pattern suggests focus on education, youth development, and nutrition rather than other charitable sectors.

Governance and Leadership

The Williams Family Private Foundation is classified as a family foundation, indicating governance by family members. However, specific information about trustees, officers, and leadership is not publicly available through standard nonprofit databases. This information would be listed on the foundation's Form 990-PF filings, which can be obtained through:

• GuideStar (requires account)
• Candid Foundation Directory (requires Professional subscription for full details)
• Direct request to the foundation
• IRS public disclosure

The foundation operates with no full-time employees, typical of small to mid-sized private family foundations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, the Williams Family Private Foundation makes grants at the discretion of its trustees. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or maintain an open application process.

Grants appear to be made to organizations that have been identified and selected by the foundation's trustees, likely through personal connections, previous relationships, or trustee-initiated research.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable, as there is no public application process with set review cycles or deadlines.

Success Rates

Not applicable for external applicants, as the foundation operates on an invitation-only/trustee discretion model.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given that this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that might come to the foundation's attention would likely share these characteristics:

• Alignment with Foundation Interests: Organizations working in education, youth development, college access, and nutrition appear to align with the foundation's demonstrated priorities
• Established Track Record: Recent grants to well-established organizations like FoodCorps and College Track suggest the foundation supports proven organizations with strong reputations
• Significant Impact Potential: The large grant sizes ($150,000 to $1 million) suggest the foundation seeks to make meaningful impact through substantial investments
• General/Unrestricted Funding Model: The foundation primarily provides "general and unrestricted" grants, indicating trust in grantee organizations to deploy funds where most needed

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and makes grants at trustee discretion
• Significant Grant Sizes: When the foundation does make grants, they can be substantial ($150,000 to $1 million), suggesting capacity for major gifts
• Limited Number of Grants: With only seven grants made in the most recent year, the foundation is highly selective
• Focus on Education and Youth: Recent grantmaking shows clear interest in educational access, youth nutrition, and college success
• Unrestricted Support: The foundation's preference for general operating support indicates trust in grantee organizations
• Not a Viable Prospect for Most Organizations: Unless your organization has personal connections to the foundation's trustees or is specifically invited to apply, this foundation should not be included in your prospect list
• Form 990-PF Research: For organizations with connections who might be invited to discuss potential support, reviewing the foundation's annual 990-PF filings would provide the most current information about grantmaking patterns and governance

References

1. Cause IQ - Williams Family Private Foundation Profile. EIN 27-2203213. Retrieved from https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/williams-family-private-foundation,272203213/ (Accessed February 2026)

2. GuideStar Profile - Williams Family Private Foundation. EIN 27-2203213. Retrieved from https://www.guidestar.org/profile/27-2203213 (Accessed February 2026)

3. Candid Foundation Directory - Williams Family Private Foundation. Foundation Key: WILL696. Retrieved from https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=WILL696 (Accessed February 2026)

4. Financial data based on 2022-2023 Form 990-PF filings as reported by nonprofit databases (2023 fiscal year: Total Assets $20,252,079; Total Expenses $3,327,432; Total Revenues $1,077,221)

5. Grant recipient information obtained from nonprofit database reports of the foundation's recent Form 990-PF filings