Breyer Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Breyer Family Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so the first step is to find a route to an invitation rather than send a cold application.
- Most of its grants are modest: half of its 52 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $25,000 and $440,000, so a request within that band is a sensible starting point.
- The filing shows that 92% of its grant dollars to organisations in its most recent filing went to organisations it had also funded in either of the two filings before it, so repeat relationships dominate and a new applicant should expect to be an exception.
- Its grants have reached several states, but no geographic focus is stated, so do not assume your area is either excluded or favoured.
- Organisations with no existing link to the foundation and no invitation should not expect an unsolicited application to be considered.
Overview
Breyer Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Palo Alto, CA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The recorded grants went to a varied group of charitable organisations, including universities, museums and other cultural institutions, alongside other nonprofit organisations. Named purposes include general support, university leadership and innovation funds, undergraduate education, museum exhibitions and digital departments, entrepreneurship and international programmes. A number of entries support broad institutional needs, while others are designated for particular funds or projects. The grants reach organisations in several states, but the filing gives no geographic eligibility rule or any stated preferred applicant profile.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Ohio, New York, California and Massachusetts.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 92% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 52 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
4 other states: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 30% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations Breyer Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 33% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 14 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $115k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- American Endowment Foundation · General support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Metropolitan Museum of Art · Digital department, trustee fund, re-opening of rockefeller wing$925,0002024 tax year
- President and Fellows of Harvard College · Hbs fund for leadership and innovation$250,0002024 tax year
- Children's Hospital & Research Center Foundation · The concert for ucsf benioff children's hospital$250,0002024 tax year
- REDF · General support$200,0002024 tax year
- United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation · General support$150,0002024 tax year
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art · Director's circle, collectors' forum, painting & sculpture accessions, art of today fund$130,0002024 tax year
- Code2College · General support$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Tom Van Loben Sels — Secretary
- Daniel Breyer — Treasurer
- James W Breyer — President / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,425,007 | $3,036,667 | $85,559,448 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,786,411 | $4,501,666 | $95,903,917 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,676,638 | $4,300,000 | $103,877,492 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Breyer Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Palo Alto, CA
Applying to Breyer Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Palo Alto, CA