Helen And Sanford Diller Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $11,648,307 (2023)
Total Assets: $244,849,988 (2023)
Geographic Focus: San Francisco Bay Area and global Jewish needs
Primary Focus: Healthcare, Jewish education, science, arts
Application Process: No public application process (invitation only)

Contact Details

Foundation Office: San Mateo, CA

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. For specific programs like Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards and Diller Teen Fellows, visit the dedicated program websites listed below.

Overview

The Helen And Sanford Diller Family Foundation (EIN: 81-3945624) was granted tax-exempt status in May 2017 and operates as a private grantmaking foundation in San Mateo, California. Founded by Helen (1929-2015) and Sanford Diller (1928-2018), the foundation has donated over $1 billion since 1999, making it one of the most significant philanthropic entities in the San Francisco Bay Area. The foundation's mission centers on supporting health, science, education, and cultural arts, with particular emphasis on the Bay Area and global Jewish needs. Their philanthropy reflects Helen's guiding principle: "It's never too late, too early, or too often to give back." The foundation is currently led by Jaclyn "Jackie" Safier, daughter of Helen and Sanford Diller, who serves as president. The Dillers' most notable contributions include over $1.15 billion in lifetime donations to UCSF, marking them as the largest donors in the university's history.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Major Healthcare Initiatives:

UCSF Medical Programs: The foundation has committed $1+ billion to UCSF, including $500 million (2017) for scholarships and basic research, and $500 million (2018) for the Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights
Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center: Ongoing support for cancer research and treatment facilities

Jewish Youth Programs:

Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards: $36,000 per recipient (15 teens selected annually) - dillerteenawards.org
Diller Teen Fellows Program: Year-long leadership experience in 32 communities globally - dillerteenfellows.org
Diller Educator Awards: $12,500 per award ($10,000 to recipient, $2,500 to their organization) for Bay Area Jewish educators
Diller Prize for Distinguished Lifetime Achievement: $36,000 ($30,000 to recipient, $6,000 to an educational initiative)

University Support:

UC Berkeley: Major capital projects and endowments
UC Santa Cruz: $1.5 million Helen and Sanford Diller Family Endowment for Jewish Studies
Technion Israel Institute of Technology: Helen Diller Quantum Center

Priority Areas

Healthcare & Medical Research:

Cancer research and treatment
Medical education scholarships
Hospital construction and infrastructure
Basic science research

Jewish Education & Leadership:

Teen leadership development programs
Jewish studies at universities
Pre-collegiate Jewish education
Educator recognition and support

Arts & Culture:

Museum support and expansion projects
Public access to arts
Exhibitions and permanent collections

Built Environment:

Medical facilities
Student housing
Parks and playgrounds
Museum galleries and public spaces

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, indicating that grants are made through:

Established signature programs (Teen Fellows, Tikkun Olam Awards, Educator Awards)
Strategic institutional partnerships (primarily with UC system institutions)
Trustee-initiated grants to organizations aligned with foundation priorities

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

President: Jaclyn "Jackie" Safier (daughter of Helen and Sanford Diller; also CEO of Prometheus Real Estate Group)
Treasurer/Secretary: Phyllis Cook
Audit Chair: Nicolas Elsishans

Compensation Policy: All officers receive zero compensation, demonstrating the foundation's commitment to maximizing grant-making capacity.

Board Structure: The foundation operates as a private family foundation, with governance remaining within the Diller family.

Foundation Philosophy: The foundation's approach reflects Helen Diller's belief that "It's never too late, too early, or too often to give back." While Helen served as the public face of the family's philanthropy during her lifetime, Sanford preferred to remain out of the spotlight, focusing on strategic decision-making.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Helen And Sanford Diller Family Foundation does not have a public application process. According to their official website: "The Helen Diller Family Foundation and the Helen Diller Foundation support their programs and do not accept unsolicited proposals."

Grants are made through:

Signature Programs with Open Applications:
- Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards: Teens ages 13-19 can apply or be nominated annually (applications typically due in January)
- Diller Teen Fellows: Applications accepted through local community partners in 32 communities worldwide
- Diller Educator Awards: Nomination-based program for Bay Area Jewish educators (administered by Jewish Community Federation)
Strategic Institutional Partnerships: The foundation proactively identifies major institutional partners, particularly within the University of California system and San Francisco Bay Area cultural institutions.
Trustee-Initiated Grants: Funding decisions made at the board level for organizations aligned with foundation priorities.

Decision Timeline

For signature programs with public applications:

Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards: Nominations due in December, applications due in January, recipients announced in spring
Diller Teen Fellows: Rolling recruitment through community partners
Diller Educator Awards: Annual nomination cycle administered by Jewish Community Federation

For institutional grants: Timelines are not publicly disclosed as these grants are initiated by the foundation rather than through external application.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations seeking support should consider the following approaches:

Alignment with Core Priorities: The foundation has demonstrated consistent commitment to:

Major healthcare institutions, particularly UCSF and cancer research
Jewish education and teen leadership development
University-based Jewish studies programs
Bay Area arts and cultural institutions (Contemporary Jewish Museum, SFMOMA, de Young Museum, Legion of Honor)
Projects that create lasting public benefit and infrastructure

Scale and Impact: Recent grants indicate preference for:

Transformational gifts that create naming opportunities and lasting legacy (e.g., $500 million+ UCSF commitments)
Programs with measurable impact on youth development
Infrastructure projects that serve communities for decades

Jewish Community Connection: Strong preference for:

Programs that strengthen Jewish identity and community
Initiatives that connect Jewish teens globally
Support for Jewish educators and educational institutions
Projects that repair the world (tikkun olam)

Geographic Focus: Priority given to:

San Francisco Bay Area institutions
Global Jewish needs
University of California system institutions
Israeli institutions (Technion partnership)

Example Successful Projects:

Teens leading social change initiatives (Tikkun Olam Award recipients have founded organizations addressing special needs siblings, climate action, food insecurity, autism awareness)
Major medical research and treatment facilities
Museum galleries increasing public access to art
University endowments supporting Jewish studies

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No unsolicited proposals accepted: Organizations cannot submit grant applications directly to the foundation for general funding
Participate in signature programs: The only public pathways to foundation support are the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards, Diller Teen Fellows, and Diller Educator Awards
Think transformational, not transactional: The foundation's major grants ($100 million+) focus on creating lasting infrastructure and legacy
Jewish education is central: Programs strengthening Jewish identity, particularly for teens, are core to the foundation's mission
Bay Area roots matter: Despite global reach, the foundation maintains strong commitment to San Francisco Bay Area institutions
Relationship-based grantmaking: Major institutional grants appear to develop through long-term relationships with trustees and foundation leadership
Since 2001, 81 educators have been recognized: The Educator Awards program has distributed over $1 million to Jewish educators and Bay Area institutions, demonstrating sustained commitment to this area

References

Helen Diller Family Foundation official website: https://dillerfoundation.org/
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Helen And Sanford Diller Family Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813945624
Charity Navigator Profile: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/813945624
UCSF News, "Largest-Ever Gift to UCSF Honors Philanthropist Helen Diller" (January 2017): https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2017/01/405476/largest-ever-gift-ucsf-honors-philanthropist-helen-diller
UCSF News, "UCSF Receives $500M Commitment from Helen Diller Foundation to Begin Planning New Hospital" (February 2018): https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2018/02/409741/ucsf-receives-500m-commitment-helen-diller-foundation-begin-planning-new
Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards: https://dillerteenawards.org/
Diller Teen Fellows: https://dillerteenfellows.org/
Jewish Community Federation, "About the Educator Awards": https://jewishfed.org/about-educator-awards
Wikipedia, "Sanford Diller": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanford_Diller
J. Weekly, "Philanthropist Sanford Diller, 89, was 'driven by purpose'" (February 2018): https://jweekly.com/2018/02/06/philanthropist-sanford-diller-89-driven-purpose/
Inside Philanthropy, "Inside the Helen Diller Family Foundation, Where an Heir to a Real Estate Empire Oversees Major Giving" (July 2019): https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2019-7-23-inside-the-helen-diller-foundation-an-heir-to-a-real-estate-empire-oversees-major-giving
UC Berkeley Chancellor's Office, "Jackie B. Safier": https://chancellor.berkeley.edu/jackie-safier

Information accessed December 2025