Albert and Janice Meister Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so an organisation without an invitation should not expect a cold proposal to be considered.
- Its stated purposes are broad, spanning advocacy, education, research, culture and emergency response, and no geographic focus is stated, so fit is best judged on the work itself rather than location.
- Typical grants fall between $25,000 and $110,000, about 8 in 10 of its 39 grants to organisations, with a median of $50,000 and a largest grant of $160,000, so a request near $50,000 sits in the middle of its usual giving.
- In its latest filing, 66% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so new applicants should expect a relationship-led field where a first approach is unlikely to succeed.
Overview
Albert and Janice Meister Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Francisco, 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
Across the recorded grants, the foundation supported a wide mix of nonprofit activity rather than one stated field. Recipients included journalism and press-freedom organisations, civil-liberties and gun-violence-prevention groups, reproductive-health assistance and climate-advocacy organisations, youth dance and arts-education programmes, research institutions, humanitarian relief providers, animal-care organisations and local environmental and shared-knowledge initiatives. The grant purposes cover advocacy, service delivery, education, research, culture and emergency response; some describe work extending around the world. Recipients are located across several states and the District of Columbia. The filings also show continuing relationships with prior grantees: a substantial share of recorded grant dollars went to organisations funded in an earlier filing.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, Illinois, New York and District of Columbia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 66% 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 39 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 66% of grant dollars went to organisations Albert and Janice Meister Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 9% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 15 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Cityside Jounralism Intiative · Support delivering high quality journalism to underserved communities$150,0002024 tax year
- Women's Reproductive Rights Assistance Project · Support women who are financially unable to pay for safe, legal abortions or emergency contraception$100,0002024 tax year
- Climate Emergency Fund · Support awareness of climate change and advocacy for sustainable energy$100,0002024 tax year
- Flight Path Dance Foundation · Support tuition-free youth dance company and career preparation program for nyc dancers ages 14-18$80,0002024 tax year
- Freedom to Read Foundation · Support freedom of speech and of the press$75,0002024 tax year
- Committee To Protect Journalism · Support press freedom and keeping journalists safe$60,5002024 tax year
- Roger Baldwin Foundation · Support protecting the liberties guaranteed by the us constitution$50,0002024 tax year
- 4PT0 Schools · Support program for high school students to create art portfolios$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Thomas Meister — Trustee
- Robert Meister — Trustee
- Kathryn Meister — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,029,457 | $789,000 | $17,217,483 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $959,812 | $770,000 | $17,743,586 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $944,349 | $845,500 | $19,200,014 | 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 Albert and Janice Meister 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 Albert and Janice Meister 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