← Back to US Funders Directory

Sunlight Giving

Annual Giving
$23.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Sunlight Giving

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $23,502,415 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $471 million
  • Grant Range: $715 - $1,000,000
  • Number of Awards: 357 (2023)
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months from start to finish
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Silicon Valley / San Francisco Bay Area (10 counties)
  • Decision Meetings: February and October

Contact Details

Overview

Sunlight Giving is a family foundation established in 2014 by Tegan and Brian Acton following the sale of WhatsApp to Facebook for $22 billion. The foundation believes that a child's economic status should not define their future and is dedicated to supporting nonprofits that ensure young children and families living in poverty in greater Silicon Valley have access to essential resources.

Operating as part of the Wildcard Giving family alongside Acton Family Giving and Solidarity Giving, Sunlight Giving holds approximately $471 million in assets and distributed $23.5 million in grants in 2023 across 357 awards. The foundation practices trust-based philanthropy, providing flexible general operating support and minimizing reporting requirements. Their strategic approach focuses on eight giving areas including food security, housing stability, healthcare access, and family support services, all centered on serving families with children ages 0-5 in ten Bay Area counties.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Sunlight Giving provides funding across eight primary giving areas:

  • Core Programs: General support for established partners
  • Family Support: Resources for family stability and wellbeing
  • Food Security: Access to nutrition and food resources ($50,000 - $300,000+)
  • Health Care Access: Healthcare services for low-income families
  • Housing Stability: Stable shelter and housing support ($60,000 - $250,000)
  • Safe Spaces: Child care and safe environments for children ($55,000+)
  • Family Opportunity: Pathways to economic advancement
  • Communities: Broader community-level initiatives

Most grants are structured as multi-year commitments (typically 2-3 years) with annual payments. The foundation emphasizes flexible, general operating support rather than restricted project funding.

Priority Areas

  • Nonprofits serving families with children ages 0-5
  • Organizations centering BIPOC, immigrants, women, and people living in poverty
  • Work advancing racial, gender, and economic justice
  • Safety net services including food, housing, healthcare, family support, and safe spaces
  • Community-recognized organizations with identified problems and proposed solutions

What They Don't Fund

  • Lobbying and activities to influence specific legislation
  • Medical research
  • Endowments
  • Grants to individuals
  • Organizations that discriminate against groups or individuals
  • Organizations promoting religious doctrine in program delivery

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Brian Acton - Founder, Co-Chair, Secretary & Treasurer

  • Executive Chairman of Signal Foundation
  • Co-founder of WhatsApp
  • Former roles at Adobe, Apple, and Yahoo

Tegan Acton - Founder, Co-Chair & President

  • Principal at Sunlight Giving, Solidarity Giving, and Acton Family Giving
  • Previously directed Communications and Strategic Initiatives at Stanford
  • Former positions at Yahoo and Sundance Institute

Staff

Cedrick Andrews - Program Director

  • Directs overall strategy and grantmaking
  • Background in economic security, education, and policy reform

Sepi Aghdaee - Program Officer

  • Covers Health Care Access, Food Security, and Safe Spaces
  • Serves Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties

Jessica Avendano - Program Officer

  • Focuses on Family Support, Housing Stability, and Safe Spaces
  • Manages Alameda, Contra Costa, Merced, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus counties

Erika Matadamas - Program Officer

  • Covers Family Support, Family Opportunity, and Housing Stability
  • Serves Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties

Kelsey Leuchars - Grants Manager

Vianey Barroso Villa - Office and Administrative Manager

Leadership Philosophy

Tegan Acton has stated: "Philanthropy takes up so much space in the room. But we just write the check. Someone else went out there and made it work."

The Actons emphasize: "We spend our days at organizations pursuing different missions, but with a shared belief in an individual's right to dignity, agency, justice and self-determination."

On trust-based philanthropy, Tegan aims to be "the kind of donor she wishes she had worked with" during her nonprofit experience, believing that "organizations really know best where the money needs to go to make an impact."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

While most grantmaking is by invitation, Sunlight Giving welcomes inquiries from prospective partners through their online application portal:

  1. Review eligibility: Confirm alignment with their mission, geographic focus, and population served
  2. Submit online interest form: Access via their website's application portal
  3. Receive response: Within 10 business days regarding next steps
  4. If selected: Program officer initiates conversation and/or site visit
  5. Due diligence: Internal review and recommendation to board
  6. Decision notification: Shortly after board meetings
  7. Award distribution: Formal letter and funds within one month of decision

Application Portal Support: For questions, contact grants@sunlightgiving.org or (650) 235-4883

Decision Timeline

  • Board Decision Meetings: February and October
  • Process Duration: 2-3 months from initial conversation to decision
  • Response to Inquiries: Within 10 business days
  • Fund Distribution: Within one month after decision

Eligibility Requirements

Organizations must meet all of the following criteria:

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, fiscally-sponsored project, or public agency
  • Serve families with children ages 0-5
  • Work in one or more of the foundation's eight giving areas
  • Operate in and serve residents of their 10-county Bay Area footprint:
    • Alameda, Contra Costa, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Stanislaus counties
  • Select regional, state, and national advocacy efforts affecting these communities also considered

Application Success Factors

What Sunlight Giving Specifically Looks For

  • Community Recognition: Organizations and leaders recognized in their communities who have identified problems and propose solutions
  • Equity Focus: Commitment to centering racial, gender, and economic justice in work
  • Population Alignment: Direct service to families with children ages 0-5 living in poverty
  • Geographic Match: Clear operations in one or more of their 10 focus counties
  • Mission Fit: Alignment with their giving areas (food security, housing, healthcare, etc.)

Examples of Recent Grantees (2024)

  • Abode Services: $250,000 (housing stability, multi-year)
  • Alameda County Community Food Bank: $300,000 + $50,000 (food security)
  • A Safe Place: $60,000 (housing stability)
  • Child Care Coordinating Council of San Mateo County: $55,000 (safe spaces)

Their Approach to Partnerships

Sunlight Giving views themselves as learning partners with grantees. Tegan Acton has emphasized: "We've certainly made mistakes. But it's offered us the opportunity to calibrate our work. Feedback is a gift."

The foundation commits to distributing a minimum of 5% yearly across their philanthropic entities and intentionally maintains minimal post-award engagement—no special reporting, presentations, site visits, or event attendance requirements. Annual check-in calls occur only when needed to understand field issues.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-based but open to inquiries: Most grants are by invitation, but they welcome interest forms from aligned organizations and respond within 10 business days
  • Strong geographic requirement: Must serve families in their 10 specific Bay Area counties—this is a hard eligibility requirement
  • Early childhood focus is essential: Organizations must serve families with children ages 0-5; this population focus is central to their mission
  • Trust-based philanthropy practitioners: They provide flexible general operating support and minimize reporting requirements—emphasize organizational capacity and leadership
  • Equity lens matters: They explicitly partner with organizations centering BIPOC, immigrants, women, and people living in poverty
  • Multi-year funding available: Many grants are structured as 2-3 year commitments, providing stability for grantees
  • Review existing grantees: Check their grants list to understand the types of organizations they fund and ensure strong alignment before applying

References

Accessed December 2024

← Back to US Funders Directory