John Pritzker Family Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $20,565,001 (2023)
• Average Grant Size: $50,000
• Typical Grant Range: Up to $500,000 (larger for ongoing relationships)
• Geographic Focus: San Francisco Bay Area, with support for organizations in the U.S. and Israel
• Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited proposals

Contact Details

Email: info@jpfamilyfund.org
Website: www.jpfamilyfund.org
Address: Redwood City, CA

Overview

The John Pritzker Family Fund (JPFF) was established in 2002 by philanthropist John Pritzker as the Lisa and John Pritzker Family Fund, taking its current name in 2018. The foundation invests across four main areas: Mental Health and Healthcare, Democracy and Civic Health, Jewish Life, and the Arts. In 2021, the foundation awarded or approved for later payment $42,185,392 in grants, with 110 awards distributed in 2023. The foundation describes itself as being "drawn to difficult challenges and to big ideas, particularly those being overlooked by others" and approaches its work with "empathy, humility, and determination." Mental health is the fund's largest giving area, deeply personal to John Pritzker following the 1972 suicide of his sister Nancy Friend Pritzker during a depressive episode at age 24.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through proactive grantmaking rather than defined grant programs, identifying organizations aligned with its four focus areas. Notable grants include:

• UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building: Nearly $60 million for the 150,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2022
• Protect Democracy Project: $500,000 for democracy and rule of law work
• Center for Election Innovation and Research: $300,000 for democratic participation initiatives
• Pritzker Center for Photography at SFMOMA: Major ongoing support for the largest space permanently dedicated to photography in any U.S. art museum

The foundation makes grants ranging from small awards to multi-million dollar commitments, with an average grant size of approximately $50,000. Most grants are awarded in amounts up to $500,000, though recipients with ongoing relationships tend to receive larger sums.

Priority Areas

Mental Health and Healthcare

• Reducing stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness
• Ensuring care is available to those who need it
• Evidence-based, peer-to-peer programs in schools and universities
• Psychiatric treatment and research facilities
• Youth wellness and mental health awareness programs

Recent grantees include: Bring Change to Mind (BC2M), UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, California Pacific Medical Foundation, San Francisco General Hospital, Oakland's Peer Health Exchange, Center for Youth Wellness, and the Commonwealth Club.

Democracy and Civic Health

• Defending core principles and institutions of democracy and the rule of law
• Fighting for the rights of vulnerable populations
• Expanding democratic participation and social cohesion
• Supporting projects that cut against conventional wisdom

The foundation participates in left-of-center grant maker networks including Policy Impact and the Democracy Funders Network, investing in organizations at local and national levels.

Jewish Life

• Jewish education and culture
• Social services
• Civic projects that illuminate the rich history of the Jewish people
• Supporting organizations in the U.S. and Israel

Recent U.S. grantees include: Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of San Francisco, Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, Birthright Israel, Jewish Home and Senior Living Foundation, and Congregation Emanu-El. In Israel: Ir David Foundation, American Israel Education Foundation, and American Friends of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The fund underwrites the JCRC's Israel Study Tour program bringing influential Bay Area civic leaders to Israel.

The Arts

• Visual arts organizations and projects that "elevate the human spirit and deepen human understanding and compassion"
• Photography and lens-based media conservation
• Film and contemporary art

Recent grantees include: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), San Francisco Film Society, Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City), and Yale University's Lens Media Lab.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not fund projects outside its four priority areas. Given its proactive approach and focus on the San Francisco Bay Area, organizations without a connection to this region or without alignment with the foundation's specific interests are unlikely to receive support.

Governance and Leadership

John Pritzker serves as Chairman of the foundation. A billionaire investor and member of the prominent Pritzker family, John has made mental health advocacy central to his philanthropy following the loss of his sister. He has stated that "putting Nancy's name on the building is to honor her and to bring mental illness out of the shadows," and noted that "like so many other families, ours didn't talk about those struggles, before or after her death."

Amy Rabbino, Ph.D. serves as Executive Director and Secretary. She previously worked for 14 years at the San Francisco Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, including as Director of Philanthropic Services and Interim Chief Philanthropic Officer. Amy holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Amherst College and an M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Other Leadership Team Members:

• Mike Berkowitz - Senior Advisor
• Rebecca Altman - Senior Advisor
• Katherine Gimla Carraher - Grants Manager
• Maya Kageyama - Program Officer
• Toby Cavalier - Program Officer

Foundation Philosophy: "We listen. We participate. We lead. We follow. We play well with others." The foundation describes itself as "not afraid to take on seemingly intractable problems, to explore uncharted territory, or to support projects that cut against the conventional wisdom."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The John Pritzker Family Fund does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states on its website: "Out of respect for your time and ours, we do not accept unsolicited proposals."

The foundation takes a proactive approach to grantmaking, identifying and approaching organizations that align with its mission and priorities. Grants tend to support a core group of grantees with which the fund maintains ongoing relationships. The foundation prioritizes "proximity and direct understanding of issues," suggesting that personal connections and direct knowledge of organizations play a significant role in funding decisions.

Getting on Their Radar

The John Pritzker Family Fund underwrites the JCRC's Israel Study Tour program, which brings influential Bay Area civic leaders to Israel. This demonstrates that the foundation engages with the broader civic and philanthropic community in the San Francisco Bay Area through established Jewish communal organizations.

The foundation is a significant supporter of major Bay Area institutions including JCRC, Temple Emanu-el, the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF), and the Jewish Community Federation. Organizations already connected to these major institutions or working in close partnership with existing grantees may have more visibility with the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only approach, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, research reveals what the John Pritzker Family Fund values in the organizations it supports:

Personal Connection to Mission: The foundation's work in mental health stems directly from John Pritzker's experience losing his sister to suicide. The foundation describes having "experienced mental health conditions first-hand in their own family" and being "committed to reducing stigma and discrimination." Organizations addressing issues with personal resonance to the foundation's leadership are prioritized.

Willingness to Tackle Difficult Problems: The foundation explicitly states it is "drawn to difficult challenges and to big ideas, particularly those being overlooked by others" and is "not afraid to take on seemingly intractable problems, to explore uncharted territory, or to support projects that cut against the conventional wisdom." Projects addressing stigmatized or underfunded issues align with this philosophy.

Evidence-Based Approaches: In mental health, the foundation supports "evidence-based, peer-to-peer high school and undergraduate programs," as demonstrated by support for Bring Change to Mind. The emphasis on research alongside treatment (as with UCSF) suggests the foundation values programs with strong evidence bases.

Proximity and Direct Understanding: The foundation states it prioritizes "proximity and direct understanding of issues," suggesting preference for organizations where the foundation can have direct engagement and see impact firsthand. This aligns with the heavy concentration of grants in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Elevating the Human Spirit: For arts grants, the foundation looks for projects with "the potential to elevate the human spirit and deepen human understanding and compassion." This philosophical approach suggests alignment with humanistic values is important.

Collaborative Approach: The foundation describes itself as supportive and collaborative, with the philosophy "We listen. We participate. We lead. We follow. We play well with others." Organizations seeking partnership rather than just funding appear to align with this approach.

Long-Term Relationships: The foundation "maintains ongoing relationships" with a core group of grantees and provides sustained support over time. Organizations receiving funding should expect and prepare for long-term partnership.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Do not submit unsolicited proposals - The foundation explicitly does not accept them and takes a proactive approach to identifying grantees
• San Francisco Bay Area focus is paramount - While the foundation supports some national and international work, the vast majority of grants go to Bay Area organizations
• Personal mission connection matters - The foundation's work is deeply personal, particularly around mental health, and they seek organizations addressing issues they care deeply about
• Think big and bold - The foundation is drawn to "difficult challenges," "big ideas," and projects "being overlooked by others," including those that "cut against the conventional wisdom"
• Long-term relationships are the model - The foundation maintains ongoing relationships with a core group of grantees rather than making many one-time grants
• Evidence-based approaches are valued - Particularly in mental health, the foundation supports programs with strong evidence bases and research components
• Stigma reduction is a priority - In mental health specifically, John Pritzker has stated that naming the UCSF building after his sister was about "bringing mental illness out of the shadows"
• Connection to existing grantees may help - While there's no public application process, organizations already working with major Bay Area institutions the foundation supports (JCRC, Federation, etc.) may have more visibility

References

• John Pritzker Family Fund official website: www.jpfamilyfund.org (Accessed January 2026)
• "New UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building Will Stand as a Statement Against Stigma," UCSF News, May 2021: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2021/05/420421/new-ucsf-nancy-friend-pritzker-psychiatry-building-will-stand-statement-against
• "Hyatt Hotel heir who lost his sister to suicide gives $60 million to UCSF to help transform mental health care," San Francisco Chronicle, May 2021
• John Pritzker Family Fund profile, Inside Philanthropy: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-p/john-pritzker-family-fund
• John Pritzker Family Fund profile, InfluenceWatch: https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/john-pritzker-family-fund/
• John Pritzker Family Fund - Nonprofit Explorer, ProPublica: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/300039815
• "What's the Lisa and John Pritzker Family Fund up to in the Bay Area?" Inside Philanthropy, January 2017
• The Pritzker Center for Photography, SFMOMA: https://www.sfmoma.org/artists-artworks/pritzker-center-photography/
• John Pritzker Family Fund profile, Foundation Directory, Candid
• John Pritzker Family Fund profile, Cause IQ: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-lisa-john-pritzker-family-fund,300039815/