Helen Diller Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $11.2 million (based on 2024 expenses)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Individual awards up to $36,000 for teen programs; major institutional gifts in millions
• Geographic Focus: San Francisco Bay Area and global Jewish communities

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.dillerfoundation.org
• Phone: Not publicly listed
• Email: Not publicly listed
• Note: Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals

Overview

The Helen Diller Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1999 and based in San Francisco, California. With approximately $6 million in assets and annual expenses of $11.2 million (2024), the foundation focuses on supporting Jewish community initiatives, education, health and science, and cultural arts. The foundation operates primarily through direct invitation and does not accept unsolicited proposals. The foundation has made transformative gifts totaling over $1.1 billion, particularly to UCSF, while also running signature youth leadership programs that reach Jewish teens across 32 global communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards: $36,000 per recipient - Annual awards to 15 Jewish teens leading social change initiatives
• Diller Teen Fellows Program: Yearlong leadership program operating in 32 communities across 7 countries
• Diller Educator Awards: Recognition for exceptional educators serving Jewish youth in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Institutional Grants: Major gifts to universities, medical centers, and cultural institutions (amounts vary)

Priority Areas

• Health and science research
• Jewish education and identity programs
• Youth leadership development
• Cultural arts institutions
• Medical research and healthcare advancement
• Jewish community strengthening globally

What They Don't Fund

• The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals
• Funding is limited to pre-identified organizations and programs

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

• Jaclyn Safier - President and Director
• Joy Sisisky - Treasurer and Director
• James Koshland - Director and Secretary
• Adele Corvin - Director
• Jennifer Smith - Executive Director of HDFF Programs

The foundation operates exclusively for charitable, educational, and religious purposes, with a particular emphasis on supporting the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. According to their website, the foundation "does not accept unsolicited proposals." Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to pre-selected organizations and initiatives aligned with the foundation's strategic priorities.

Getting on Their Radar

Organizations seeking support from the Helen Diller Family Foundation should focus on:

• Building relationships with Bay Area Jewish community leaders who may have connections to the foundation
• Participating in programs run by the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco
• Demonstrating excellence in the foundation's priority areas through recognized achievements
• Connecting through the Diller Teen Fellows network if working with Jewish youth

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available - decisions are made at the discretion of the board

Success Rates

Not publicly available as there is no open application process

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only funding model

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates by invitation only, organizations should focus on:

• Building strong reputations in health/science, Jewish education, or cultural arts sectors
• Demonstrating measurable impact in serving Jewish communities or advancing medical research
• Developing innovative approaches to youth leadership and Jewish identity strengthening
• Creating programs with potential for scaling across multiple communities
• Establishing credibility through partnerships with established Bay Area institutions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Helen Diller Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals - all funding is by invitation only
• Focus areas include Jewish community initiatives, medical research (especially UCSF partnerships), and youth leadership programs
• The foundation makes both programmatic grants (like the Teen Fellows program) and major institutional gifts
• Building relationships within the Bay Area Jewish community network is essential for potential consideration
• The foundation values programs that strengthen Jewish identity and create global connections among Jewish youth
• Annual giving of approximately $11 million suggests selective but substantial grant-making capacity

References

• Helen Diller Family Foundation Official Website. https://www.dillerfoundation.org (Accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Helen Diller Family Foundation Tax Filings. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/311655715 (Accessed January 2026)
• GuideStar Profile - Helen Diller Family Foundation. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/31-1655715 (Accessed January 2026)
• Diller Teen Fellows Program Website. http://dillerteenfellows.org/ (Accessed January 2026)