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Cortopassi Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.9M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M

Cortopassi Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $932,075 (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 84 grants (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$11,000
  • Total Assets: $27.7 million
  • Geographic Focus: San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County, California
  • Application Process: No public application process (invitation only)

Contact Details

Address: 11292 N Alpine Rd, Stockton, CA 95212

Note: The foundation does not have a public website and does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding.

Overview

The Cortopassi Family Foundation was established in 1990 by Dean "Dino" Cortopassi and Joan Cortopassi under the operating motto "Responsible Philanthropy." As a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, the foundation provides financial support to qualified organizations that work to improve the wellbeing of the people and environment of San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County. With total assets of approximately $27.7 million, the foundation distributed $932,075 across 84 grants in 2023. Following Dino Cortopassi's passing in 2022, the foundation continues under the leadership of President Tom Cortopassi and a board of family trustees. The foundation maintains a focused approach to grantmaking, supporting pre-selected organizations aligned with the founders' vision of responsible philanthropy and community stewardship in California's Central Valley.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a private family foundation making grants through trustee discretion rather than formal programs. Grants typically average around $11,000, though amounts vary based on the project and organization.

Application Method: Invitation only - the foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.

Priority Areas

The foundation's activities include support for:

  • Family Services: Supporting organizations that serve families in need, including St. Mary's Dining Room for the hungry and Family Promise of San Joaquin County (family homelessness prevention)
  • Educational Grants: Scholarships for students, including support for inner-city Catholic schools (St. Gertrude and St. George) and University of the Pacific
  • The Arts: Cultural organizations in the region
  • Civic Support: Community development and civic organizations
  • Wildlife Habitat Development: Environmental conservation, particularly Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta wetlands preservation through the Wetlands Preservation Foundation
  • Environmental Conservation: The foundation deeded 750 acres to create the Wetlands Preservation Foundation, which manages "The Black Hole" habitat - a major wintering ground for migratory waterfowl

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations, they do not fund:

  • Unsolicited grant requests
  • Organizations outside San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties
  • For-profit enterprises

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

  • Tom Cortopassi - President
  • Carla Donaldson - Trustee
  • Jeff Colombini - Trustee
  • Gino Cortopassi - Trustee
  • Katherine Whitlow - Trustee
  • Rebecca Carlson - Trustee

Founders:

  • Dean "Dino" Cortopassi (1937-2022) - Co-founder, prominent Central Valley agriculturalist and philanthropist
  • Joan Cortopassi - Co-founder

Leadership Philosophy

Dino Cortopassi, who passed away in February 2022 at age 84, was remembered as a generous donor to many nonprofits and schools. He lived by several principles that guided his philanthropy:

  • "Life is a banquet at which many go hungry"
  • "No one makes it entirely on his own, and in my case, I had many people contributing to what success came my way, and I appreciate them all"
  • "Success is not an accident. It comes from being rigorous, being disciplined. Just work like hell when a disguised opportunity comes your way"

His commitment to education was particularly strong, leading to major gifts for the University of the Pacific's Donald and Karen DeRosa University Center, athletic programs, and student scholarships.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Cortopassi Family Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their strategic priorities and existing relationships with organizations in San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties.

Organizations are typically identified through:

  • The trustees' existing knowledge of community needs
  • Board members' connections within the philanthropic and civic sectors
  • The foundation's longstanding commitment to specific causes and institutions

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation operates through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships with organizations in their geographic focus area. The foundation has demonstrated long-term commitments to specific institutions and causes that align with the founders' values:

  • Education institutions: University of the Pacific has received multiple gifts including support for facilities, athletics, and scholarships
  • Faith-based social services: St. Mary's Dining Room and inner-city Catholic schools have received sustained support
  • Environmental conservation: The family created the Wetlands Preservation Foundation as a separate 501(c)(3) to advance Delta conservation
  • Family services: Organizations like Family Promise of San Joaquin County addressing critical community needs

Organizations with deep roots in San Joaquin or Stanislaus Counties and alignment with the foundation's priority areas may come to the trustees' attention through their community involvement and demonstrated impact.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As grants are made to preselected organizations through trustee discretion, there is no standard application review timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Organizations that have previously received funding may continue to receive support based on trustee decisions.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not accept applications, understanding what has characterized their grantmaking can provide insight into their values:

Geographic Focus: The foundation maintains strict geographic boundaries, supporting only organizations serving San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County. This reflects the founders' commitment to their home region in California's Central Valley.

Long-term Relationships: The foundation appears to favor sustained relationships with organizations rather than one-time gifts, as evidenced by ongoing support to institutions like University of the Pacific and local Catholic schools.

Alignment with Founder Values: Grants reflect Dino Cortopassi's personal values and interests:

  • Education as a pathway to success
  • Environmental stewardship, particularly Delta preservation
  • Support for the most vulnerable ("Life is a banquet at which many go hungry")
  • Responsible, disciplined approach to philanthropy

Demonstrated Community Impact: Organizations that have received support, such as Family Promise of San Joaquin County and St. Mary's Dining Room, address critical community needs with tangible outcomes.

Connection to Agriculture and Environment: Given the Cortopassi family's agricultural heritage, conservation efforts and sustainable land use practices appear to resonate strongly, as demonstrated by the 750-acre land gift and creation of the Wetlands Preservation Foundation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through standard grant applications - they fund only preselected organizations
  • Geographic Restriction: Grants are limited to organizations serving San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties in California
  • Family Foundation: Decisions are made by family trustees with deep roots in the Central Valley agricultural community
  • Priority on Education and Environment: The foundation's largest commitments have been to educational institutions and environmental conservation, particularly Delta wetlands
  • Sustained Giving Pattern: With 84 grants averaging ~$11,000 annually, the foundation makes numerous smaller grants rather than a few large ones
  • Values-Driven: The foundation's motto "Responsible Philanthropy" and Dino Cortopassi's personal philosophy guide grantmaking toward disciplined, community-focused support
  • Alternative Path: For organizations interested in wetlands/Delta conservation, consider connecting with the related Wetlands Preservation Foundation, which was created and funded by the Cortopassi Family Foundation

References

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