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Henderson Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.8M
Grant Range
$4K - $1.0M
Success Rate
12%

Henderson Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4.8 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: 12% for new applicants
  • Grant Range: $4,000 - $1,000,000
  • Typical Grant: $50,000 (median)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California (especially San Francisco Bay Area), with additional funding in New York, Georgia, Texas, Hawaii, and other states
  • Total Assets: $110 million (2024)

Contact Details

Location: San Francisco/Burlingame, California
EIN: 85-4363440

Note: The foundation does not have a public website or contact information, as they do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Henderson Family Foundation was established in 1999 and has grown into a substantial private family foundation with assets of approximately $110 million as of 2024. Led by volunteer executives Rebecca R. Henderson (President/CEO) and Cal J. Henderson (Treasurer/Secretary) along with Callum Henderson-Begg (CFO), the foundation distributes approximately $4.8 million annually to charitable organizations. The foundation is committed to helping local communities with healthcare services, improving educational opportunities, and protecting the natural environment, with a strong belief that locally-based financial support enables them to directly see the results of their charitable giving. Their grantmaking has expanded significantly over the years, from just 7 grants in 2021 to 56 grants in 2024, demonstrating growing philanthropic impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific application cycles. All grants are awarded through a preselected process, typically as general operating support or for specific initiatives identified by the trustees.

Grant Amounts:

  • Median: $50,000
  • Range: $4,000 - $1,000,000
  • Maximum recent grant: $1,000,000 (Children's Day School, 2024)

Priority Areas

The foundation's grantmaking focuses on three core areas:

Education

  • K-12 education institutions
  • Educational access and equity initiatives
  • Technology education (e.g., Girls Who Code)

Health Care Services

  • Supporting local community health services
  • Medical research initiatives (including the Stephen and Nancy Grand Multiple Myeloma Translational Initiative)

Environment & Natural Resources

  • Environmental protection programs
  • Conservation initiatives

Additional Focus Areas:

  • Arts and culture institutions (especially in San Francisco)
  • Social justice and civic engagement
  • Women's leadership and empowerment
  • Voluntarism and philanthropy infrastructure

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's stated commitment to "locally-based" funding suggests they prioritize organizations where they can see direct impact, typically in California and other select states where they have connections.

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team (all serve voluntarily without compensation):

  • Rebecca R. Henderson - President/CEO and Director
  • Cal J. Henderson - Treasurer/Secretary and Director
  • Callum Henderson-Begg - Chief Financial Officer

The foundation operates as a private family foundation with a small, dedicated leadership team that personally oversees all grantmaking decisions. All officers work on a voluntary basis, ensuring that foundation resources are directed toward charitable purposes rather than administrative costs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

All grants are initiated by the foundation's trustees based on their own research, relationships, and strategic priorities. Organizations cannot submit proposals or applications directly to the foundation.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies potential grantees through several channels:

Board and Family Connections: The Henderson family and board members identify organizations through their personal networks, professional connections, and community involvement in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Geographic Presence: The foundation has demonstrated strong ties to organizations in San Francisco and the broader Bay Area. Having an established presence and reputation in these communities appears to be significant.

Alignment with Core Mission: Organizations that clearly serve the foundation's three core areas—healthcare services, education, and environmental protection—particularly at the local level, appear most likely to receive consideration.

Prior Beneficiaries as Indicators: Recent grantees include Children's Day School (received $1,000,000 in 2024), Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco, Girls Who Code, VoteAmerica, Women Donors Network, and The OpEd Project ($200,000 in 2024), suggesting the foundation supports established organizations with strong track records in education, arts, civic engagement, and social justice.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees throughout the year.

Success Rates

According to available data, the foundation has a 12% funding rate for new applicants who somehow get on their radar, though again, they do not have a formal application process.

Grant Activity Growth:

  • 2021: 7 grants
  • 2022: 43 grants
  • 2023: 36 grants
  • 2024: 56 grants

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—there is no application process.

Application Success Factors

Since there is no public application process, organizations cannot directly apply for funding. However, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals several factors that characterize successful grantees:

Local California Focus: Approximately 62% of grants (35 out of 56 in 2024) went to California-based organizations, with strong preference for San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits.

General Operating Support: The majority of grants (23 in 2024) were designated as "general support," indicating the foundation prefers to support organizations' overall mission rather than restricting funding to specific projects.

Established Organizations: Grantees tend to be well-established nonprofits with proven track records rather than startup organizations.

Mission Alignment: Organizations that clearly address healthcare, education, or environmental issues—particularly at the local community level—are most represented in the grantmaking portfolio.

Progressive Values: Grant recipients suggest alignment with progressive social values, including support for women's leadership (Women Donors Network), civic engagement (VoteAmerica), and social justice causes.

Arts and Culture: Despite not being explicitly stated in their mission, the foundation has demonstrated significant support for arts institutions, particularly in San Francisco (Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco, Corporation of Fine Arts Museums).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No direct approach: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. They identify and select all grantees proactively.

  • Geographic strategy matters: If your organization is based in or serves the San Francisco Bay Area, you have significantly higher chances of being noticed by the foundation.

  • Build reputation locally: Focus on establishing a strong presence and reputation in the foundation's primary geographic areas of interest, particularly California, New York, Georgia, and Texas.

  • Network strategically: Since grants flow from trustees' knowledge and relationships, networking within San Francisco philanthropic circles and sector-specific networks may increase visibility.

  • Track funding patterns: The foundation's giving has grown substantially, from 7 grants in 2021 to 56 in 2024, suggesting an expanding philanthropic footprint and potentially greater openness to new organizations.

  • Align with core values: Organizations focused on education, healthcare, environmental protection, arts/culture, social justice, or civic engagement appear most aligned with the foundation's interests.

  • Be patient: Building the kind of reputation and relationships that would bring your organization to the trustees' attention is a long-term strategy, not a quick funding fix.

References

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