The Helen Diller Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The filing states that the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and gives by invitation only, so a cold proposal is not the route for your organisation.
- If your work sits in health, science, education or cultural arts, and within the Bay Area priority or the global scope in its geographic focus, it fits the areas the foundation states.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $25,000 and $6,950,000, with a median of $3,150,000, so size any request to your project's real need and treat $25,000 as the bottom of that typical band rather than a ceiling.
- Renewals carry weight, since 44% of its grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it had already funded, but being new is not a reason to hold back, and no deadlines are given to plan around.
Overview
The Helen Diller Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Mateo, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Helen Diller Foundation supports health, science, education and cultural arts, with a focus on the Bay Area and global Jewish needs. Its educational emphasis extends from preschool through adulthood, particularly the teenage years, and includes Jewish studies. In health and science, it backs bold plans for medical discovery, patient treatment and access to expert health professionals. The filings show grants to universities and congregations, alongside support for teen fellowship, medical-centre and quantum-centre purposes. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Themes
- Health
- Science
- Education
- Cultural arts
Geographic Focus
Priority: Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and 6 more counties in California; global.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 44% 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 17 grants to organisations were $3,150,000 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 48% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 44% of grant dollars went to organisations The Helen Diller Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 48% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 7 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5M (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of California, San Francisco · Helen diller medical center$25,000,0002024 tax year
- Helen Diller Family Foundation · Diller teen fellows program and general support$6,950,0002024 tax year
- Helen Diller Family Foundation · Diller teen fellows program and general support$6,600,0002024 tax year
- American Society for Technion · Helen diller quantum center$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Congregation Emanu-El · Investing in the future campaign$950,0002024 tax year
- Jewish Community Federation · Transformation fund$250,0002024 tax year
- Congregation Emanu-El · Investing in the future campaign$19,0502024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Nicolas Elsishans — Audit Chair
- Phyllis Cook — Treasurer & Secretary
- Jaclyn Safier — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $16,300,977 | $15,915,000 | $102,976,216 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $11,971,299 | $11,648,307 | $244,826,191 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $45,133,897 | $44,769,050 | $788,293 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Helen Diller Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Mateo, CA
- dillerfoundation.org
Applying to The Helen Diller Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Mateo, CA
- dillerfoundation.org