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Sakana Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.1M
Grant Range
$23K - $5.0M
Success Rate
12%

Sakana Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5.1 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: ~12% (for new applicants)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Average grant size $23,000; total distributions typically $5-7 million annually
  • Geographic Focus: San Francisco Bay Area, California
  • Total Assets: $133 million (2024)

Contact Details

  • Address: 220 Montgomery St. Ste. 433, San Francisco, CA 94104
  • Alternative Address: 1300 Evans Ave #880154, San Francisco, CA 94188-5547
  • Phone: (415) 288-0540
  • EIN: 27-6269382
  • Website: None publicly available
  • Application Contact: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests

Overview

The Sakana Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in February 2010, based in San Francisco, California. With total assets exceeding $133 million, the foundation distributes approximately $5-7 million annually in grants. The foundation is managed by trustees William S. Fisher and Sakurako D. Fisher, who both serve without compensation.

William S. Fisher is the son of Don and Doris Fisher, founders of Gap Inc. He is a graduate of Princeton University and earned an MBA from Stanford in 1984. He currently serves as a director at Gap Inc. and is founder and CEO of Manzanita Capital, a London-based private equity firm. Sakurako D. Fisher, born in Japan and raised in Portland, Oregon, holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Stanford University (Class of 1982/83). She previously worked for Cargill and Citibank before becoming deeply involved in philanthropy. She has been recognized as a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the government of France.

The foundation primarily funds initiatives within San Francisco and the state of California, with a strong emphasis on arts and culture, education, and nonprofit leadership development through their O2 Initiatives program.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grantmaking The foundation makes grants in several key areas, with funding levels varying significantly:

  • Recent annual distributions: $5.1 million (2024), $5.4 million (2023), $6.7 million (2022), $9.6 million (2021)
  • Average grant size: approximately $23,000
  • Total grants awarded in recent year: 235 grants

O2 Sabbatical Award (via O2 Initiatives) A flagship program operated through the Sakana Foundation in partnership with philanthropist Lynn Feintech:

  • Grant Amount: $50,000 for executive director sabbatical + $15,000 for staff professional development
  • Additional Support: 25 hours of organizational coaching, peer network access
  • Eligibility: Executive directors of nonprofits headquartered in San Francisco, Alameda, or Contra Costa Counties
  • Requirements: Minimum 4 years in current ED role, 10+ years in nonprofit sector
  • Application Period: Opens June 2025; deadline August 2025
  • Award Cycle: Approximately 6 awards per cycle

Priority Areas

Arts and Culture The Fishers are particularly supportive of Bay Area arts institutions. Known grantees include:

  • San Francisco Symphony
  • American Conservatory Theater
  • Asian Art Museum
  • Exploratorium
  • Alonzo King's LINES Ballet
  • Museum of the African Diaspora
  • Counterpulse
  • Centre Pompidou Foundation
  • League of American Orchestras
  • Creative Capital
  • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Education Focus on higher education, particularly:

  • Stanford University (The Sakurako and William Fisher Family Directorship of Stanford Global Studies Division; Fisher Family Honors Program at CDDRL; Summer Fellows Program)
  • Princeton University (exhibition support)
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • Alliance Française

Nonprofit Leadership Development Through O2 Initiatives, supporting:

  • Executive director sabbaticals
  • Nonprofit sector sustainability
  • Leadership wellness and renewal

Focus Areas: Arts and culture, education, youth development, environmental sustainability, health and human services

What They Don't Fund

  • The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds
  • Organizations outside their pre-selected network
  • Organizations primarily outside the San Francisco Bay Area

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • William S. Fisher (Trustee) - Director at Gap Inc., Founder and CEO of Manzanita Capital, Princeton University graduate (Class of 1979), Stanford MBA (1984)
  • Sakurako D. Fisher (Trustee) - Stanford University Board of Trustees member, former President of San Francisco Symphony Board of Governors (1992-2020), Chair of National Board of the Smithsonian Institution, Trustee of Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Key Board Service by Trustees

Sakurako Fisher's extensive board service demonstrates the foundation's interests:

  • Stanford University Board of Trustees (since 2015)
  • San Francisco Symphony Board of Governors (since 1992; President 2012-2020)
  • Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Trustee)
  • Smithsonian Institution (National Board Chair)
  • ODC/Dance Company (former Board Chair)
  • Exploratorium (former Vice-Chair)
  • Asian Art Museum Foundation (former board member)

Leadership Perspective

Sakurako Fisher has stated regarding their Summer Fellows Program support at Stanford: "The Summer Fellows Program is a natural way to invest in the international community."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process for general grants. The foundation has explicitly indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

The one exception is the O2 Sabbatical Award, which has an open application process for eligible nonprofit executive directors.

O2 Sabbatical Award Application Process:

  1. Applications open: June 11, 2025
  2. Submission deadline: August 13, 2025
  3. Status notification: By November 21, 2025
  4. Finalist site visits and interviews: January 2026
  5. Award announcements: February 2026
  6. Awardee orientation: March 2026
  7. Sabbatical must begin by: February 1, 2027

O2 Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be current executive director of a nonprofit (not schools or government agencies)
  • Organization headquartered in San Francisco, Alameda, or Contra Costa County
  • Must be full-time Bay Area resident
  • Minimum 4 years in current ED role
  • Minimum 10 years in nonprofit sector
  • Organization must have at least 5 full-time paid staff
  • Not actively contemplating job transitions
  • Contact for co-ED inquiries: program@O2initiatives.org

Getting on Their Radar

Documented Relationship-Building Pathways:

  1. Board and Committee Connections: The Fishers are deeply embedded in Bay Area arts, education, and nonprofit networks. Sakurako Fisher serves on multiple boards including San Francisco Symphony, Stanford, Kennedy Center, and Smithsonian. Organizations seeking support may benefit from having board members or leadership with connections to these networks.

  2. O2 Initiatives Alumni Network: Past O2 Sabbatical Award recipients form a peer network. Notable awardees include Emily Arnold-Fernández (Asylum Access), Saru Jayaraman (Restaurant Opportunities Centers United), José Quiñonez (Mission Asset Fund, MacArthur Fellow), Robyn Thomas (Giffords Law Center), and Regina Jackson (East Oakland Youth Development Center). Engagement with this network may provide pathways to the foundation's attention.

  3. Hirsch Philanthropy Partners: The Fishers work with Hirsch Philanthropy Partners, a philanthropic advisory firm. Organizations engaged with Hirsch or its client networks may have access to the Fishers.

  4. Stanford and Bay Area Higher Education Networks: Given the Fishers' deep ties to Stanford and UC Berkeley, organizations with strong connections to these institutions' alumni or faculty networks may be better positioned.

Decision Timeline

For general grants, the decision process is not publicly disclosed as the foundation does not accept applications.

For O2 Sabbatical Awards, the timeline from application to award is approximately 8 months (June to February).

Success Rates

  • New Applicants Funded: Approximately 12%
  • Total Grants Awarded (recent year): 235 grants

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for general grants as they do not accept unsolicited applications.

For O2 Sabbatical Awards, specific reapplication policies are not publicly documented.

Application Success Factors

Since the Sakana Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, success in receiving funding is largely dependent on being within the Fishers' philanthropic network. However, for the O2 Sabbatical Award, the following factors are documented:

For O2 Sabbatical Award:

  • Demonstrated exceptional leadership in nonprofit sector
  • Clear commitment to remaining in the nonprofit field (not contemplating retirement or transition)
  • Strong senior management team capable of managing during ED absence
  • Organization must have robust infrastructure (minimum 5 FT staff)
  • The sabbatical is for rest and renewal, not professional development
  • O2 Initiatives is committed to advancing race equity and strongly encourages applications from executive directors who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

Organizations the Foundation Has Supported: Based on documented grants, the foundation favors:

  • Established Bay Area cultural institutions with strong boards
  • Higher education institutions, particularly Stanford
  • Organizations focused on performing arts, museums, and cultural education
  • Nonprofits addressing issues the Fishers care about: homelessness, immigrant rights, racism, gun violence (via O2 recipients)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Closed to unsolicited applications: The Sakana Foundation explicitly states it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Do not submit cold applications.

  2. O2 Sabbatical Award is the exception: If you are an ED of a Bay Area nonprofit with 4+ years tenure and 10+ years sector experience, the O2 Sabbatical Award offers a legitimate application pathway.

  3. Network matters significantly: The Fishers are deeply connected to Stanford, San Francisco Symphony, and major Bay Area cultural institutions. Organizations seeking their attention should cultivate connections within these networks.

  4. Bay Area focus is paramount: The foundation prioritizes San Francisco and California initiatives almost exclusively. National or international organizations may find support primarily through specific institutional connections.

  5. Arts and education dominate: The strongest evidence of funding goes to performing arts organizations, museums, and higher education institutions.

  6. Long-term relationships valued: The foundation's approach suggests they prefer building sustained relationships with grantees rather than responding to one-time requests.

  7. Consider the Hirsch connection: Working with Hirsch Philanthropy Partners or being connected to their client network may provide indirect access to the Fishers' philanthropic interests.

References

Information compiled December 2025

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