The Grove Foundation
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $19.7 million (2024)
- Success Rate: Not available (invitation-only)
- Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
- Grant Range: $500,000 - $1,075,000 (based on recent grants)
- Geographic Focus: California (especially Central Valley and Bay Area), Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Southern US states
Contact Details
- Address: P.O. Box 1667, Los Altos, CA 94023-1667
- Phone: Not publicly available
- Email: Not publicly available
- Website: grovefoundation.org
Overview
The Grove Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1986 with total assets of $103 million and annual charitable disbursements of $19.7 million. The foundation envisions "a world in which all people have the resources, respect and sense of belonging to live and contribute fully as themselves, in safety, and with joy." Led by Co-Executive Directors Leslie Dorosin and Rebekah Saul Butler, with Board Chair Karen Grove, the foundation is currently in a spenddown phase, planning to distribute all assets and cease grantmaking by 2030. As such, they are not actively seeking new grantees and expect new funding opportunities to be extremely limited.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
- Civic Engagement and Environment: Focus on Central Valley California, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, supporting progressive organizations led by people of color
- Safety Net: Investment in low-income individuals in San Mateo County, particularly East Palo Alto
- Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice: Support for comprehensive sex education, birth justice, and abortion access
- Immigration: Legal services, policy advocacy, and coalition building primarily in the Bay Area
- Black Power Building: Support for Black-led power building and civic engagement groups, particularly in Louisiana, Georgia, and Alabama
Priority Areas
- Organizations led by people of color
- Civic engagement of underrepresented communities
- Immigration rights and services
- Reproductive justice
- Economic and social justice
- Youth development
- Food assistance and public health
What They Don't Fund
Not specified in available documentation
Governance and Leadership
- Board Chair: Karen Grove
- Co-Executive Directors: Leslie Dorosin and Rebekah Saul Butler
- Secretary: Blanch Vance
The foundation operates with a lean governance structure focused on strategic grantmaking aligned with their social justice mission.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. The Grove Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and is currently in a spenddown phase. As stated on their website: "we are not actively seeking new grantees, and expect that new funding opportunities will be limited." The foundation plans to distribute all assets and cease grantmaking by 2030.
Decision Timeline
Not publicly disclosed - operates through invitation and trustee discretion
Success Rates
Not applicable - invitation-only funding
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - the foundation is not accepting unsolicited applications
Application Success Factors
Given that The Grove Foundation operates by invitation only and is in spenddown mode:
- The foundation made 137 grants in their most recent year
- Recent major recipients include NEO Philanthropy ($1,075,000), Immigrant Legal Resource Center ($660,000), and Amalgamated Charitable Foundation ($587,000)
- They prioritize organizations already in their portfolio
- Focus is on sustaining current grantee relationships through 2030
- Organizations working in their priority areas (immigration, reproductive justice, civic engagement, Black power building) aligned with existing grantees may have indirect opportunities through collaborative funding
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- The Grove Foundation is NOT accepting unsolicited applications
- They are in a spenddown phase, planning to cease operations by 2030
- Current focus is on supporting existing grantees only
- Total annual grantmaking is approximately $19.7 million
- Strong focus on social justice, particularly organizations led by people of color
- Geographic priorities include California's Central Valley, Bay Area, and Southern US states
- Consider seeking support through their current major grantees who receive pass-through funding
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Grove Foundation (accessed December 31, 2025)
- CauseIQ - The Grove Foundation Profile (accessed December 31, 2025)
- The Grove Foundation Official Website - grovefoundation.org (accessed December 31, 2025)
- GuideStar Profile - EIN 77-0108124 (accessed December 31, 2025)
- Charity Navigator - The Grove Foundation (accessed December 31, 2025)