Sergey Brin Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered; the sensible first step is a warm introduction through someone who already knows it.
- If your work fits its themes, such as health and CNS research, climate and the environment, education and youth, or arts and culture, and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area (with Alameda, Contra Costa and Marin among its priority counties), it is worth keeping in view.
- Its typical grants fall between $100,000 and $6,000,000, with a median of about $680,000, so a much smaller request may not match its usual size.
- In its latest filing, 82% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in its two earlier filings, which suggests existing relationships carry considerable weight.
Overview
Sergey Brin Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Francisco, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (en.wikipedia.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports work related to health and central nervous system research, climate and the environment, Jewish causes, education and youth development, arts and culture, disaster response and humanitarian aid, economic development and human services, and criminal justice and violence prevention; it also supports work in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its health research has a particular focus on Parkinson’s disease, autism and bipolar disorder. Its grants go to universities and research institutions, as well as other non-profit organisations, for both general operating support and targeted research, clean energy, wildfire mitigation and crisis relief. Grants have gone to organisations in the United States and abroad.
Themes
- Health and CNS research
- Climate and environment
- Jewish causes
- Education and youth
- Arts and culture
- Disaster and humanitarian aid
- Justice and violence prevention
Geographic Focus
Priority: San Francisco Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and 6 more counties in California. (as reported in other published sources) From its grants, not stated by the foundation: California; New York; Europe; countries outside the United States.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 82% 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 459 grants to organisations were about $680,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 4%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 7%
- The largest single recipient received 29% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 82% of grant dollars went to organisations Sergey Brin Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 6% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Switzerland, Singapore, Denmark, United Kingdom).
- 23% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 170 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $1M (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research · Asap initiative$79,900,3012024 tax year
- Climate Imperative Foundation · General operating support$48,998,0872024 tax year
- Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research · Asap initiative$47,000,2922024 tax year
- Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research · General operating support$30,104,7882024 tax year
- United States Energy Foundation · General operating support$29,000,0182024 tax year
- Ucsf Foundation · Research support for parkinson's disease$27,902,6732024 tax year
- Ucsf Foundation · Research support$25,023,1092024 tax year
- DAFGiving360 · General operating support$25,000,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Robert Brown — Secretary
- Tara Farnsworth — Treasurer
- Sergey Brin — Director & President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $717,591,938 | $512,137,873 | $3,360,393,347 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $451,687,482 | $376,611,140 | $4,070,439,070 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $725,238,642 | $698,939,667 | $4,309,591,153 | 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 Sergey Brin Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Francisco, CA
Applying to Sergey Brin Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Francisco, CA