Room to Breathe Project

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $2,067,121 (2023)
Total Assets: $57,863,386 (2024)
Number of Grants: 29 awards (2023)
Average Grant Size: $68,904
Geographic Focus: San Francisco Bay Area with some national partnerships
Foundation Type: Private foundation

Contact Details

Website: www.r2bproject.com
Email: hello@r2bproject.com
Phone: 415-890-2296
Address: 135 Main St Ste 850, San Francisco, CA 94105-8117

Overview

The Room to Breathe Project (R2B) is a private foundation founded by Seth Boro and Jen Hamilton that envisions "a world where all young people, and the adults who serve them, are well." Established following Hamilton's work as an innovation Fellow with The Tipping Point in 2015, the foundation has grown to hold over $57 million in assets. R2B's strategic approach focuses on investing in and partnering with Bay Area-focused organizations and innovation projects that address mental health and well-being challenges facing youth. The foundation operates with a lean structure, with both founders serving as volunteer leaders (Hamilton as President and Boro as Secretary/Treasurer) receiving no compensation for their roles. R2B's goal is to give organizations and innovation projects "room to breathe" so that they can equip San Francisco youth and the adults who support them with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

R2B operates primarily through strategic partnerships and direct program support rather than traditional open grant cycles. Known funding streams include:

R2BeWell Educator Stipend Program: $600 mental well-being stipends provided to educators at partner SFUSD schools (increased from $400 in 2023-24). In 2024-25, the program provides stipends to 715 educators across 16 SFUSD elementary schools, serving approximately 5,500 students.
Strategic Partnership Grants: Multi-year support for organizations aligned with R2B's mission (grant amounts vary based on partnership scope and duration)

Priority Areas

R2B focuses on several interconnected strategies:

Enabling a strong start to life: Supporting early childhood and family-based interventions
Supporting culturally appropriate training for caregivers: Building capacity among those who work directly with youth
Promoting mental health and well-being support where young people are located: School-based and community-embedded programs
Engaging with key community partners to address systemic issues: Collaborative approaches to policy and practice change
Building the mental health workforce: Creating pathways for diverse professionals to enter the mental health field
Educator well-being: Supporting the mental health of teachers and school staff as a lever for student well-being

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's narrow geographic focus (San Francisco Bay Area) and strategic partnership model suggest they do not fund:

Organizations outside the San Francisco Bay Area (with rare exceptions for national partnerships)
General operating support for organizations not aligned with youth mental health
Capital campaigns or building projects
Individual scholarships or direct services to individuals (except through partner organizations)

Governance and Leadership

Jen Hamilton - Founder & President Hamilton conceived the vision for R2B while serving as an innovation Fellow with The Tipping Point in 2015, where "she was struck with a vision for a more 'socially and emotionally well' world." She brings expertise in finance, operations, and nonprofit management from previous roles at Kiva Microfunds and San Francisco's Housing Accelerator Fund.

Seth Boro - Founder & Secretary/Treasurer Boro is a managing partner at Thoma Bravo, where he leads the firm's infrastructure software and cybersecurity strategy. He co-founded R2B with his wife, Jen Hamilton, and serves in a volunteer capacity.

Rhonnel Sotelo - Executive Director With over two decades in philanthropy, Sotelo previously served as CEO of Rogers Family Foundation and held positions at the Stuart Foundation and San Francisco Foundation, focusing on education and youth well-being initiatives.

Sophia Kokores - Director of Partnerships & Co-Manager of R2BeWell A former Tipping Point Fellow who collaborates with Hamilton on mindfulness programming. She has a background in education and positive psychology.

Liz Waller - Grants, Operations, & Communications Consultant & Co-Manager of R2BeWell Provides creative and administrative support for well-being initiatives.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Room to Breathe Project does not have a public application process. The foundation operates through strategic partnerships and trustee-identified opportunities rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Grants are awarded based on:

Trustee discretion: Leadership identifies organizations and projects aligned with their strategic priorities
Pre-existing relationships: Many grants flow from connections in the San Francisco nonprofit and education sectors
Strategic initiatives: The foundation develops and funds its own programs (like R2BeWell) in partnership with selected organizations

Organizations interested in R2B's work are encouraged to contact them at hello@r2bproject.com to introduce their organization, though this does not guarantee funding consideration.

Application Success Factors

Since R2B operates through invitation and strategic partnerships rather than open applications, success in securing funding appears to be based on:

Strategic Alignment

Clear focus on youth mental health and well-being in the San Francisco Bay Area
Evidence-based approaches with measurable outcomes
Culturally appropriate and equity-focused programming

Relationship Building

Connections to the San Francisco philanthropic ecosystem (particularly The Tipping Point, San Francisco Foundation, and education-focused funders)
Presence in San Francisco schools and youth-serving spaces
Demonstrated impact in similar programs or populations

Innovation and Learning Orientation The foundation describes supporting "innovation projects," suggesting they value:

Novel approaches to persistent challenges
Willingness to pilot and evaluate new models
Openness to learning and iteration

Examples of Funded Work Based on known partnerships, successful projects include:

Seneca's Unconditional Education Coach Role: Embedding coaches in schools for 3-5 years to build a climate of unconditional care
Peer Health Exchange's selfsea platform: Online mental health curriculum using a near-peer model (college volunteers teaching high school students)
Greater Good in Education Well-Being Course: Online professional development for educators (enrolled 2,000+ participants)
The Primary School's Bridge to Preschool: Serving families in San Francisco's Bayview community

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process: This is an invitation-only funder. Focus on relationship building rather than proposal submission.
Deep San Francisco roots: Geographic focus is primarily SFUSD and San Francisco community organizations, with rare national partnerships.
Educator well-being as strategy: R2B views supporting adults who serve youth as critical leverage for youth outcomes—programs serving educators may be of particular interest.
Partnership model: The foundation seeks multi-year strategic partnerships rather than one-time grants, suggesting sustained collaboration and shared learning.
Lean operation, strategic focus: With volunteer leadership and small staff, R2B is highly selective and strategic in partnerships.
Innovation welcomed: The foundation's language around "innovation projects" and giving organizations "room to breathe" suggests openness to piloting new approaches.
Contact for introduction: While there's no application portal, organizations can email hello@r2bproject.com to introduce their work—though this doesn't guarantee funding consideration.

References

All sources accessed December 2024.