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The William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$18.0M
Grant Range
$3K - $4.0M
Decision Time
13mo

The William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $18 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $550 million
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Annual meeting in October; distributions before year-end
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $4,000,000 (most grants under $500,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Orange County (especially Laguna Beach), California, national, and international
  • Application Process: No public applications accepted

Contact Details

Website: https://grossfamilyfoundation.com
Phone: (949) 500-7373
Location: Laguna Beach, California

Note: The foundation does not accept solicitations or grant requests.

Overview

The William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Charitable Foundation was established by renowned investor Bill Gross, co-founder of PIMCO and known as the "Bond King," along with his children Jeff and Jennifer. With assets of $550 million, it ranks as one of the largest private foundations in Orange County. The foundation has consistently distributed approximately $17-22 million annually across 60+ organizations since 2018. The foundation's mission is to support organizations with direct community impact, focusing on humanitarian efforts, education, and healthcare. Bill Gross is a Giving Pledge signatory who has donated over $700 million in his lifetime. The foundation takes an intentionally eclectic approach to giving, with Bill stating, "The standard philanthropic philosophy seems to be that you have to focus and concentrate in order to have an impact. I think Sue and I are more eclectic." The foundation has been recognized as the largest donor to Doctors Without Borders, having contributed nearly $50 million over two decades.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates across six main philanthropic areas with flexible grant amounts:

Healthcare ($2,500 - $3,000,000+)
Supports hospitals, community clinics, Mercy Ships, humanitarian medical organizations, and pandemic relief efforts. Recent major grants include $3 million to Doctors Without Borders (2024) and over $1 million to Atrium Health (2024).

Education ($2,500 - $2,500,000+)
Provides scholarships (Duke University, Saddleback Community College), sponsors Orange County Teachers of the Year awards since 1992, and funds K-12 and higher education institutions including UCLA, UC Irvine, and universal education efforts in sub-Saharan Africa. Harbor Day School received $2.5 million in 2021.

Global Development & Humanitarian Relief ($5,000 - $1,000,000+)
Focuses on practical solutions aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, with emphasis on early childhood programs, clean water access (WASH initiatives), and poverty alleviation in developing nations. Recent major grants include over $1 million to Sustainable Development Solutions Network (2024).

Environment & Climate Change ($5,000 - $500,000)
Addresses climate mitigation with focus on vulnerable populations, ocean conservation, and environmental advocacy. Recipients include Environmental Advocates NY (over $1 million in 2024), Pacific Marine Mammal Center, and Ocean Institute.

Community Support ($2,500 - $500,000)
Local Orange County assistance including food banks, homeless services, police foundations, and emergency relief. Distributed $1.5 million in COVID-19 emergency grants to LA-area nonprofits. Recent disaster relief includes $50,000 to LA Fire Department Foundation and American Red Cross for wildfire relief.

Arts & Culture ($2,500 - $250,000)
Supports theater, libraries, music education, museums, and creative healing initiatives throughout Southern California. Recent recipients include Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, and Laguna College of Art and Design.

Grants are awarded annually, with distributions made before year-end following an October decision meeting.

Priority Areas

  • Healthcare access and humanitarian medical relief – particularly organizations providing direct care to underserved populations domestically and globally
  • Educational opportunity and access – scholarships, teacher recognition, K-12 and higher education institutions
  • Global development – early childhood development, clean water, education in sub-Saharan Africa and developing nations
  • Climate change mitigation – with emphasis on impacts to vulnerable populations
  • Orange County and Laguna Beach community organizations – significant local giving priority
  • Direct impact organizations – the foundation consistently emphasizes organizations with "ground game" providing direct assistance rather than administrative overhead

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's emphasis on "direct impact" and Bill Gross's statement about avoiding "ego monuments" suggests limited interest in:

  • Capital campaigns for building naming opportunities
  • Organizations with high administrative costs relative to program delivery
  • Projects without clear, measurable community outcomes

Governance and Leadership

William H. "Bill" Gross – Founder and Director
Co-founder of PIMCO and renowned bond investor who retired from active investing in 2019 to focus on philanthropy. Giving Pledge signatory with over $700 million in lifetime donations. Gross has stated: "My giving has been directed less toward building ego monuments, and more for direct action. The bulk of my giving has gone toward organizations that provide health care, humanitarian relief, education, and community support. In other words, groups that have a ground game and provide direct assistance to urgent causes."

Jennifer Gross – Director, Global Development & Humanitarian Relief
Duke University graduate and co-founder of Blue Chip Foundation (2015). Jennifer leads the foundation's international and economic development grant work, with focus on early childhood programs and community WASH initiatives. The foundation notes that "Jennifer, Jeff and I have always tried to seek out mission-driven, non-profit organizations that are as focused on outcomes as intent."

Jeff Gross – Director, Health, Education & Research
Award-winning professional photographer based in Los Angeles. Jeff oversees donations to health, education, and research organizations and participates in the annual grant-making decisions.

The three family members personally research potential donation recipients throughout the year and convene annually in October to vote on which causes and charities to support.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "does not accept solicitations or grant requests" and "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations."

The Gross family members (Bill, Jeff, and Jennifer) personally research and identify potential recipients throughout the year. Grant decisions are made at an annual family meeting held in October, with donation checks distributed before year-end.

Organizations cannot submit proposals or applications. All grants are awarded at the initiative of the foundation based on the family's independent research and priorities.

Decision Timeline

  • Research Period: Ongoing throughout the year (January-September)
  • Decision Meeting: October annually
  • Distributions: Before December 31

Success Rates

Not applicable – the foundation operates on an invitation/selection model rather than a competitive application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable – there is no public application process. Organizations previously funded may receive renewed support based on the foundation's ongoing research and priorities, as evidenced by multi-year commitments to organizations like Doctors Without Borders (nearly $50 million over two decades).

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Direct Impact Focus: Bill Gross has consistently emphasized support for organizations with a "ground game" that provide direct assistance rather than administrative overhead. As he states: "My advice to future philanthropists would be to find existing institutions like MSF (my favorite) and start writing checks. And forget about semi-permanent nameplates over hospitals and universities."

Mission-Driven with Outcome Focus: The family seeks "mission-driven, non-profit organizations that are as focused on outcomes as intent," emphasizing measurable community impact.

Alignment with Core Priority Areas: Organizations working in healthcare access, education opportunity, humanitarian relief, global development, climate change, or Orange County community support are most likely to align with the foundation's interests.

Established Track Record: Major recipients like Doctors Without Borders, major universities, and regional health systems demonstrate the foundation's preference for established organizations with proven effectiveness.

Geographic Connections: While the foundation gives globally, there is significant preference for Orange County and particularly Laguna Beach organizations, reflecting Bill Gross's hometown connections.

Emergency Response Capacity: The foundation has demonstrated responsiveness to urgent needs, including $1.5 million in COVID-19 emergency grants and rapid response to wildfire and hurricane relief efforts.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No direct approach possible: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant writing or applications. Organizations should not spend time crafting proposals or submitting letters of inquiry.

  • Invitation-only model: The foundation operates entirely on the family's initiative. They research and select recipients independently throughout the year.

  • Focus on "direct impact": If somehow on the foundation's radar, organizations should demonstrate clear, measurable community outcomes and low administrative overhead relative to program delivery.

  • Local connections matter: Orange County and Laguna Beach organizations appear to have preferential consideration, though the foundation also supports major national and international organizations.

  • Multi-year relationships: The foundation demonstrates willingness to support organizations over many years (e.g., nearly $50 million to Doctors Without Borders over two decades), suggesting that once selected, organizations may receive ongoing support.

  • Wide grant range: While most grants are under $500,000, the foundation awards grants from as small as $2,500 to as large as $4 million, demonstrating flexibility based on organizational needs and project scope.

  • Annual cycle: Decisions happen once per year in October with distributions before year-end, though the research process is ongoing throughout the year.

References

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