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Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$13.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $35.5M

Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13 million (2022)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: N/A (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly by program
  • Geographic Focus: United States, with emphasis on early childhood education nationally and film projects in Baltimore and Berkeley
  • Foundation Type: Private Independent Foundation
  • Founded: 1997

Contact Details

Main Office:

Zaentz Innovation Fund (Film):

Overview

Founded in 1997, the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation builds on the legacy of three-time Academy Award-winning producer Saul Zaentz (1921-2014), whose career included producing Best Picture winners One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus, and The English Patient. The foundation is dedicated to improving outcomes for underrepresented and vulnerable minority children in the United States, with a focus on creating "standards of fairness and a level playing field for those living in poverty and adversity." The foundation gave approximately $13 million in grants in 2022 and operates under three core values: Innovation, Education, and Opportunity. Led by President Elliot Steinberg and Strategic Advisor Dr. Dan Wuori, the foundation maintains significant partnerships with major institutions including Harvard Graduate School of Education (with a $35.5 million founding gift for the Zaentz Early Education Initiative in 2016) and Stanford Center on Early Childhood.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Early Childhood Education:

  • Major institutional partnerships and multi-year commitments
  • Harvard's Zaentz Early Education Initiative (professional learning academy, fellows program, innovation challenge)
  • Stanford Center on Early Childhood (fellowship programs, RAPID Survey Project expansion, core center support)
  • Start Early (six-year partnership to increase access to equitable, high-quality early education)

K-12 Education:

  • Programs to improve graduation rates
  • College scholarships
  • Educational innovation and scientific teaching methods

Film and Media:

  • Zaentz Innovation Fund: Supporting diverse, underrepresented filmmakers in narrative film and immersive media (since 2016)
    • Application period: June 16 - September 5 (annual)
    • Provides storylab, development labs, screenplay lab, mentoring, and grants
    • Based in Baltimore, MD
  • Berkeley Film Foundation: Three-year grant of $1.5 million awarded January 2024
    • Individual filmmaker grants range: $5,000 - $25,000

Support for Vulnerable Populations:

  • Assistance for homeless individuals
  • Medical care, shelter, and nutrition programs
  • Employment opportunity assistance

Priority Areas

  • Early childhood education research, policy, and practice
  • Professional development for early childhood educators and leaders
  • Innovation in educational methods and systems
  • Independent filmmaking by diverse and underrepresented creators
  • Programs supporting children living in poverty and adversity
  • Equal access to quality learning opportunities

What They Don't Fund

The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Organizations cannot apply directly to the foundation for funding outside of specific programs like the Zaentz Innovation Fund for filmmakers.

Governance and Leadership

President:

  • Elliot Steinberg - Holds JD from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley and undergraduate degree from University of California. Previously served as owner at Elliot G Steinberg and held positions at Telluride Venture Fund, California Real Estate Investment Trust, and other ventures. Has personal connection to Saul Zaentz, having attended the Academy Awards with him when The English Patient won Best Picture.

Strategic Advisor:

  • Dr. Dan Wuori - Strategic Advisor on Early Childhood. Founder and President of Early Childhood Policy Solutions, with over 30 years of early childhood leadership. Previously served as Deputy Director of South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness (2005-2018) and continues as Senior Advisor to The Hunt Institute. Bestselling author who hosts the foundation's "Meeting the Moment" webinar series and works with governors and state legislators to improve early years policy.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For General Funding (Education, Social Services): This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and existing institutional partnerships.

For Filmmakers - Zaentz Innovation Fund:

  • Application Period: June 16 - September 5 (annual)
  • Contact: saulzaentzfund@gmail.com
  • Website: https://www.zaentzfund.com
  • Supports diverse filmmakers in narrative film and immersive media
  • Provides development labs, screenplay lab, mentoring, and grants

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's approach to grant-making centers on strategic, long-term partnerships with major institutions and organizations aligned with their mission. Based on their documented practices:

Partnership Approach:

  • The foundation has established major multi-year partnerships with prestigious institutions including Harvard Graduate School of Education ($35.5 million for the Zaentz Early Education Initiative in 2016) and Stanford Center on Early Childhood
  • Recent grants include: Berkeley Film Foundation ($1.5 million over three years, awarded January 2024) and Arts for Learning Maryland ($1.7 million, April 2023)

Key Figures and Connections:

  • President Elliot Steinberg oversees strategic direction
  • Dr. Dan Wuori (Strategic Advisor) works extensively with state leaders, governors, and legislators on early childhood policy - organizations working in these policy spheres may intersect with his network
  • The foundation hosts the "Meeting the Moment" webinar series led by Dr. Wuori focused on early childhood needs

Sector-Specific Engagement:

  • For early childhood education organizations: The foundation is deeply embedded in the early childhood policy and research community through Harvard and Stanford partnerships, the RAPID Survey Project, and state-level policy work
  • For film organizations: The foundation supports independent film through established programs in Baltimore (Zaentz Innovation Fund) and Berkeley (Berkeley Film Foundation)

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than a competitive application timeline, except for the Zaentz Innovation Fund which has an annual cycle (applications June 16 - September 5).

Success Rates

Not applicable for general funding. The Zaentz Innovation Fund for filmmakers operates on a competitive basis but success rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications for general funding.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications for most programs, the factors below reflect the foundation's documented priorities and the types of organizations and projects they have chosen to support:

Alignment with Core Values: The foundation operates under three explicit values: Innovation, Education, and Opportunity. Successful partnerships demonstrate how their work helps "people live their imagined lives" by supporting underrepresented and vulnerable minority children.

Focus on Systems Change: The foundation invests in initiatives that have the potential to transform systems, not just individual outcomes. Examples include:

  • Harvard's Zaentz Early Education Initiative creating new models of professional learning for educators worldwide
  • Stanford's RAPID Survey Project providing actionable data to inform policies and programs at scale
  • The Zaentz Innovation Challenge recognizing "promising new ideas and strategic approaches that have the potential to transform early education"

Evidence-Based Approaches: The foundation supports "innovations in scientific teaching methods and best practices" and partners with research institutions conducting "groundbreaking research to drive policy and practice."

Equity and Access: Projects must demonstrate commitment to creating "standards of fairness and a level playing field for those living in poverty and adversity." The foundation's six-year partnership with Start Early specifically focuses on "equitable, high-quality early education and care for all children and families."

For Filmmakers (Zaentz Innovation Fund): The fund explicitly aims to be "a force for equality and diversity in the film industry, a voice for facts, and an equal playing field for the underrepresented." Since 2016, it has "given voice to those who have been denied filmmaking opportunities and has emboldened diverse filmmakers to write, design, produce, and distribute a wide array of visual content."

Long-Term Vision: Successful partnerships tend to be multi-year commitments with substantial funding (Harvard's $35.5 million, Berkeley Film Foundation's $1.5 million over three years), suggesting the foundation seeks deep, sustained engagement rather than one-off projects.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists for general funding - the foundation only supports preselected charitable organizations through trustee discretion and does not accept unsolicited requests
  • Filmmakers have direct access through the Zaentz Innovation Fund (applications June 16 - September 5 annually at zaentzfund.com)
  • Focus on early childhood education dominates the foundation's grant-making, with major investments in Harvard and Stanford partnerships, professional development, research, and policy work
  • Systems-level change is prioritized - the foundation invests in initiatives with potential to transform entire fields, not just individual programs
  • Significant, multi-year commitments characterize the foundation's approach - recent partnerships range from $1.5 million to $35.5 million over multiple years
  • Equity and diversity are non-negotiable - all work must demonstrate commitment to supporting underrepresented and vulnerable populations, whether in education or film
  • Strong leadership connections in early childhood policy through Dr. Dan Wuori may create intersections with organizations working in state-level policy reform

References

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