Caldwell Fisher Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3.7-6.3 million
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $300 - $12,350,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily California, District of Columbia, and New York (national scope)
• Assets: $26-31 million

Contact Details

Address: 2882 Sand Hill Road, Suite 150, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: (650) 233-9000
EIN: 77-0527966

Note: The foundation does not have a public website and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Caldwell Fisher Family Foundation was established in 1999 and received IRS tax-exempt status in 2001. As a private family foundation with assets of approximately $26-31 million, it distributes $3.7-6.3 million annually through invitation-only grants to preselected organizations. Led by Jennifer Caldwell and John H.N. Fisher, the foundation focuses on climate crisis solutions, environmental conservation, and education, with a particular emphasis on science-based approaches to climate change. Recent strategic initiatives include serving as lead partners in the California Academy of Sciences' $8.5 million "Hope for Reefs" coral reef restoration program and co-chairing Harvard's Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability External Advisory Board. The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than open application cycles, making grants to organizations aligned with their mission across the United States, with concentration in California, Washington D.C., and New York.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs with designated funding streams. Instead, grants are made by trustee discretion to preselected organizations. Recent giving patterns show:

• Major Environmental Initiatives: $100,000+ grants to institutions working on climate solutions and coral reef restoration
• Educational Institutions: Support for schools and educational programs focused on sustainability
• Human Services: Grants to organizations providing community services
• Capacity Building: Support for nonprofit infrastructure and grantmaking organizations

Grant sizes range dramatically from $300 to over $12 million, suggesting both small operational support grants and major multi-year commitments.

Priority Areas

Climate Crisis and Environmental Conservation

• Science-based climate solutions and research
• Coral reef conservation and marine ecosystems
• Environmental advocacy and policy
• Nature-based solutions

Education

• Sustainability education in K-12 schools
• Green schools initiatives and best practices sharing
• Women's leadership development in climate action
• Higher education programs focused on climate science

Strategic Philanthropy

• Support for other grantmaking organizations
• Nonprofit capacity building
• Voluntarism and civic engagement

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly stated, the foundation's giving patterns suggest they do not fund:

• Organizations without clear climate or education focus
• Projects not grounded in scientific research
• Individual scholarships or direct financial assistance
• Organizations outside their geographic focus areas (unless nationally significant)

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Jennifer Caldwell - President/Vice President (serves without compensation)

Jennifer Caldwell manages the family foundation focusing on education and the climate crisis. With a background in media, publishing, and broadcasting, she headed marketing at The Nature Conservancy in California before transitioning fully to philanthropy. In 2006, she founded Hope to Action, a national platform to engage women in taking climate action, and initiated the Bay Area Green Schools Alliance, a forum for regional schools to share sustainability best practices.

Caldwell serves as Board Secretary for Project Drawdown and was appointed Co-Chair of Harvard's Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability External Advisory Board in September 2025. She is an emeritus trustee of The Nature Conservancy in California, Exploratorium, Environmental Working Group, Katherine Delmar Burke School, and the San Francisco Ballet. She also serves on the advisory board of Emerge America.

In her own words about Project Drawdown: "It's critical that we do all that we can to champion climate solutions informed by science and Project Drawdown provides that."

John H.N. Fisher - CEO/Secretary (serves without compensation)

John Fisher is co-founder of Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ), now known as Threshold Ventures, which he established in 1985 with Tim Draper and later Steve Jurvetson (1994). As a professional venture capital investor, Fisher sourced DFJ's investments in major technology companies including Baidu, Hotmail (acquired by Microsoft), SolarCity, SpaceX, Tesla Motors, Twitter, and others. The firm has raised $4 billion across various funds and invested in over 300 portfolio companies.

Fisher holds an A.B. from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He serves as trustee emeritus of the California Academy of Sciences and is on the board of Common Sense Media. His venture capital expertise brings a strategic, results-oriented approach to the foundation's grantmaking, while his longstanding support for scientific institutions reflects the foundation's commitment to evidence-based climate solutions.

Both Caldwell and Fisher were announced as Co-Chairs of Harvard's Salata Institute External Advisory Board in 2025, where they are expected to serve as international ambassadors of Harvard's climate work and advise on strategy and philanthropy.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to their IRS Form 990-PF filings, the Caldwell Fisher Family Foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees, Jennifer Caldwell and John Fisher, based on their strategic priorities and existing relationships. Organizations receive funding through:

• Direct invitation from the trustees
• Identification through the trustees' extensive nonprofit board service
• Recommendations from trusted advisors and partner organizations
• Engagement through sector events and leadership networks

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept applications, organizations working in their priority areas can position themselves to be noticed by:

Demonstrating Science-Based Climate Impact The trustees consistently emphasize science-based approaches. Jennifer Caldwell's quote about Project Drawdown highlights this: "It's critical that we do all that we can to champion climate solutions informed by science." Organizations that can demonstrate evidence-based approaches to climate solutions aligned with frameworks like Project Drawdown's research are more likely to attract attention.

Engaging Through Related Networks Both trustees serve on multiple nonprofit boards where they identify potential grantees:

• Project Drawdown (Jennifer Caldwell is Board Secretary)
• Harvard Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability (both are External Advisory Board Co-Chairs)
• California Academy of Sciences (John Fisher is trustee emeritus)
• Common Sense Media (John Fisher serves on board)
• The Nature Conservancy California (Jennifer Caldwell is emeritus trustee)

Organizations working with these institutions or participating in their programs may gain visibility.

Focus on Women's Climate Leadership Jennifer Caldwell founded Hope to Action specifically to engage women in climate action. Organizations led by women or focusing on women's leadership development in climate solutions may align with her interests.

Educational Innovation in Sustainability The foundation has supported the Bay Area Green Schools Alliance and sustainability education. Schools and educational organizations with innovative approaches to teaching climate science and solutions may be of interest.

Attending Climate Sector Events As co-chairs of the Salata Institute External Advisory Board, both trustees are described as "international ambassadors of Harvard's climate work." They likely participate in major climate conferences, sustainability forums, and higher education climate initiatives where they encounter new organizations.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation with two trustees who make decisions by discretion, the timeline from initial relationship building to grant award likely varies significantly based on the relationship, project scope, and strategic fit.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation does not accept applications, so there are no success rate statistics. Their giving has ranged from 7-46 grants per year in recent years:

• 2024: 7 grants
• 2023: 23 grants
• 2022: 31 grants
• 2021: 46 grants

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only grantmaking structure.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates by invitation only, the following factors appear to influence their grantmaking decisions based on their documented giving patterns and the trustees' public statements:

Science-Based Climate Solutions The trustees consistently emphasize evidence-based approaches. Jennifer Caldwell stated, "It's critical that we do all that we can to champion climate solutions informed by science and Project Drawdown provides that." Projects grounded in climate science research, such as their support for coral reef restoration through the California Academy of Sciences, exemplify this priority.

Educational Innovation Both trustees have deep involvement in education. Jennifer Caldwell initiated the Bay Area Green Schools Alliance, demonstrating interest in K-12 sustainability education. Their leadership of Harvard's Salata Institute shows commitment to higher education climate initiatives. Educational programs that integrate climate science into curriculum or develop future climate leaders align with their interests.

Collaborative and Systemic Approaches The trustees' involvement in networks like Project Drawdown and the Salata Institute suggests preference for organizations working collaboratively on systemic solutions rather than isolated projects. Jennifer Caldwell's Bay Area Green Schools Alliance exemplifies this approach—creating a forum for schools to share best practices rather than funding individual schools in isolation.

Institutional Credibility and Track Record Major grants have gone to established institutions like the California Academy of Sciences and Harvard University. While they may support emerging organizations through smaller grants, significant funding appears to require demonstrated capacity and track record.

Women's Leadership in Climate Action Jennifer Caldwell founded Hope to Action to engage women in climate action. Organizations led by women or specifically focused on developing women's climate leadership may resonate with her interests.

Geographic Relevance While the foundation makes grants nationally, concentration in California (where both trustees are based), Washington D.C., and New York suggests preference for organizations where they can maintain closer relationships or where major policy/research institutions are located.

Alignment with Trustees' Networks Both trustees serve on multiple nonprofit boards. Organizations that intersect with The Nature Conservancy, California Academy of Sciences, Common Sense Media, Project Drawdown, or Harvard's climate initiatives have natural connection points.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Funding comes through trustee discretion and invitation only, making relationship building the only path to potential support.

• Science-Based Climate Focus: The trustees' consistent emphasis on evidence-based climate solutions means organizations must demonstrate rigorous scientific grounding for their work. Alignment with frameworks like Project Drawdown's research is advantageous.

• Education as Climate Strategy: Both trustees view education as critical to addressing climate change, from K-12 sustainability programs to higher education research. Educational organizations with innovative climate curricula have clear alignment.

• Network-Driven Discovery: With both trustees serving on boards of major climate and conservation organizations (Project Drawdown, Salata Institute, California Academy of Sciences, The Nature Conservancy), organizations working within these networks have the best visibility.

• Wide Grant Range Indicates Strategic Flexibility: Grants from $300 to over $12 million suggest the trustees make both small exploratory grants and major multi-year commitments. This range indicates openness to supporting organizations at different scales if strategically aligned.

• Women's Climate Leadership: Jennifer Caldwell's founding of Hope to Action and her emphasis on engaging women in climate action suggests organizations led by women or focused on women's climate leadership may resonate with the foundation's values.

• Long-Term Relationship Building Required: Given the invitation-only structure and the trustees' preference for preselected organizations, building awareness of your organization requires multi-year engagement through sector activities, shared networks, and demonstrated impact rather than a single application moment.

References

• Charity Navigator Profile - Caldwell Fisher Family Foundation. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/770527966

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Caldwell Fisher Family Foundation (EIN 77-0527966). Form 990-PF filings from 2021-2024. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/770527966

• Grantmakers.io Profile - Caldwell Fisher Family Foundation. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/770527966-caldwell-fisher-family-foundation/

• Harvard Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability. "Jennifer Caldwell and John Fisher to Serve as Co-Chairs to the Salata Institute External Advisory Board." September 2025. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://salatainstitute.harvard.edu/jennifer-caldwell-and-john-fisher-to-serve-as-co-chairs-to-the-salata-institute-external-advisory-board/

• Project Drawdown. "Jennifer Caldwell - Board Secretary." Accessed March 3, 2026. https://drawdown.org/board/jennifer-caldwell

• California Academy of Sciences. "The California Academy of Sciences makes monumental investment in coral reef research and restoration." May 4, 2016. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.calacademy.org/press/releases/the-california-academy-of-sciences-makes-monumental-investment-in-coral-reef-research

• Philanthropy News Digest. "$8.5 Million Pledged for Coral Reef Research and Restoration." May 5, 2016. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/8.5-million-pledged-for-coral-reef-research-and-restoration

• Harvard Gazette. "Salata Institute launches external advisory board." Accessed March 3, 2026. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/newsplus/salata-institute-launches-external-advisory-board/

• Cause IQ - Caldwell Fisher Family Foundation. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/caldwell-fisher-family-foundation,770527966/

• Instrumentl 990 Report - Caldwell Fisher Family Foundation. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/caldwell-fisher-family-foundation