TomKat Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8.3 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $4,670,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily U.S., with strong emphasis on California

Contact Details

Address: 111 Sutter Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 529-5692
Website: https://tomkatfoundation.org/

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or provide direct contact for grant inquiries.

Overview

The TomKat Foundation was founded in 2022 (originally as TomKat II Foundation, renamed in 2023) by billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer and his wife Kat Taylor, co-founder and CEO of Beneficial State Bank. The foundation reported total assets of $49.1 million and annual giving of $8.3 million in 2023. The TomKat Foundation is part of the broader Steyer philanthropic network, which succeeded the TomKat Charitable Trust that operated from 2008-2015 with $132 million in assets. The foundation's mission is to create and partner with innovative organizations that envision a world with climate stability, a healthy and just food system, and broad prosperity. Co-founder Kat Taylor articulates the foundation's focus succinctly: "Good food. Good money. Good energy." The foundation embraces the interconnectedness of these complex systems and believes understanding the relationships between financial practices, energy usage, and food production methods is critical to sustaining a healthy planet.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The TomKat Foundation operates three main grantmaking programs:

Good Energy (Climate & Clean Energy)

• Supports organizations working to prevent climate disaster and preserve American prosperity
• Embraces partnerships for direct energy efforts and development of a new energy economy
• Funding for climate change and clean energy accounts for approximately half of annual grantmaking
• Recent grants: $2.94 million to NextGen Policy, $3 million to NextGen Education Fund
• Long-term partnerships include Advanced Energy Economy Institute

Good Food (Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems)

• Supports conditions necessary for sustainable animal agriculture's economic success
• Priorities include:
  • Shifting institutional food demand toward sustainable sources
  • Improving food processing and distribution systems
  • Increasing sustainable ranching lands
  • Improving food access for underserved communities
• Recent grants: $500,000 to Center for Ecoliteracy
• Long-term partnership with Point Blue Conservation Science for regenerative ranching research

Good Money (Financial Empowerment & Reform)

• Sustains the idea of beneficial banking
• Focuses on empowerment of consumers and communities in financial actions
• Defends against predatory financial services by supporting alternatives
• Prioritizes organizations that lend to businesses and nonprofits meeting human needs sustainably
• Multi-year support to Oakland's Beneficial State Foundation

Priority Areas

• Climate change mitigation and clean energy transition
• Sustainable and regenerative agriculture practices
• Equitable financial services and community banking
• Environmental justice and underserved communities
• Systems change approaches to interconnected challenges
• Organizations demonstrating commitment to environmental sustainability and local community support

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published explicit exclusions, but based on their focused areas, they do not fund:

• Organizations outside their three core program areas (Good Energy, Good Food, Good Money)
• Projects without clear environmental or social justice components
• Individual scholarships or direct aid to individuals
• Organizations without alignment to systems-level change approaches

Governance and Leadership

Founders:

• Tom Steyer: Billionaire philanthropist, founder and former co-senior managing partner of Farallon Capital, founder of NextGen America (originally NextGen Climate), 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, served on Stanford University Board of Trustees (2007-2017)
• Kat Taylor: Co-founder and CEO of Beneficial State Bank, Board Chair of NextGen Policy, Stanford GSB MBA

Key Quotes from Leadership:

Kat Taylor on their philanthropic philosophy: "Good food. Good money. Good energy" - summarizing the foundation's three core focus areas.

On systemic change: "We live in these terribly complex, interconnected times. There's not going to be a silver bullet or single-dimensional approach."

On responsibility: "We've had a lot of advantage in our lives, my husband Tom Steyer and myself. With this kind of privilege comes huge responsibility to be part of making this world the best place to live and work for all."

On sustainable agriculture: "We're trying to make a case that there is a responsible way to raise beef that generates benefits that society needs."

Tom Steyer on their ranching work: "Trying very hard to show that raising grass-finished cattle, chickens, and pigs is something that is good for the soil, produces healthy food, and sequesters carbon on a net basis."

On philanthropy's role: Taylor emphasizes that "philanthropy alone cannot put a dent in the world's problems unless it's somehow connected to business and the social compact — and to society's main institutions."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The TomKat Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

According to Inside Philanthropy, "TomKat does not accept proposals" and the foundation's website "doesn't include contact information or anything about its grantmaking process."

Grants are made through:

• Pre-existing relationships and partnerships
• Organizations within the Steyer philanthropic network
• Long-term collaborative partnerships identified by foundation leadership
• Strategic alignment with foundation priorities

Getting on Their Radar

Strategic Partnerships: The foundation maintains long-term collaborative relationships with key organizations. Major multi-year partnerships include Advanced Energy Economy Institute (climate/energy), Point Blue Conservation Science (sustainable ranching since 2010), Beneficial State Foundation (community banking), and Center for Ecoliteracy (food systems education).

Network Connections: The TomKat Foundation operates within the broader "Steyer Network" of organizations including NextGen America, NextGen Policy, NextGen Education Fund, and TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation. Organizations already working with these entities may have increased visibility.

Sector Visibility: The foundation's leadership maintains active involvement in climate advocacy, sustainable agriculture research, and financial reform. Organizations making significant contributions in these fields, particularly with systems-level approaches, may attract attention through their sector impact.

Demonstration Projects: Given the foundation's connection to TomKat Ranch as a "learning laboratory" for regenerative agriculture, organizations conducting rigorous research or demonstration projects that advance understanding of sustainable practices align with their approach.

Past Grantee Relationships: Inside Philanthropy notes that "networking with past grantees may help to open the door" - suggesting that connections through organizations they've previously funded could provide pathways to consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not have an open application process with published timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - without a public application process, success rate data is not relevant.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis without a formal application or reapplication process.

Application Success Factors

Since the TomKat Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations seeking to understand what the foundation values can consider the following insights:

Systems-Level Thinking: The foundation explicitly embraces "the inherent interconnectedness of these complex systems" and seeks organizations that understand relationships between financial practices, energy usage, and food production methods. Kat Taylor has stated, "We live in these terribly complex, interconnected times. There's not going to be a silver bullet or single-dimensional approach."

Long-Term Partnership Model: The foundation's largest grants (over $1 million) generally go to organizations with ongoing collaborative partnerships. Examples include their decade-long partnership with Point Blue Conservation Science (since 2010) and multi-year support to Beneficial State Foundation, suggesting they value sustained relationships over one-off projects.

Demonstration and Research Focus: Through TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation, the foundation operates what they call a "learning laboratory" that "carefully documented and shared the successes and failures" of regenerative ranching. This suggests value placed on organizations that rigorously measure and share results, including failures.

Connection to Business and Social Institutions: Kat Taylor emphasizes that "philanthropy alone cannot put a dent in the world's problems unless it's somehow connected to business and the social compact — and to society's main institutions," indicating preference for organizations bridging philanthropy and market-based solutions.

Triple Bottom Line Approach: Support for Beneficial State Foundation, which emphasizes "people, planet and profit," suggests alignment with organizations balancing social, environmental, and financial sustainability rather than focusing on single outcomes.

Geographic and Issue Overlap: The foundation shows strong interest in California-based initiatives and organizations working at the intersection of their three focus areas (energy, food, money), particularly those addressing environmental justice and underserved communities.

Network Alignment: Major 2023 grants to NextGen Policy ($2.94 million) and NextGen Education Fund ($3 million) demonstrate the foundation's integration within the broader Steyer philanthropic network and preference for organizations aligned with this ecosystem.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals - do not spend time preparing applications unless specifically invited.

• Long-Term Partnership Focus: The foundation operates through sustained collaborative relationships rather than one-off grants, with grants over $1 million typically going to ongoing partners.

• Systems-Change Orientation: Look for alignment across all three program areas (Good Energy, Good Food, Good Money) and demonstrate understanding of how these systems interconnect.

• Research and Documentation: The foundation values organizations that rigorously measure impact and openly share both successes and failures, as evidenced by their approach at TomKat Ranch.

• Network Strategy: Organizations already working within the Steyer philanthropic ecosystem (NextGen entities, Beneficial State, etc.) have stronger pathways to consideration.

• Triple Bottom Line: Demonstrate commitment to people, planet, and profit - not just environmental goals but also economic viability and social justice.

• California Focus: While not exclusive, the foundation shows strong preference for California-based work and organizations with West Coast connections.

References

• TomKat Foundation official website: https://tomkatfoundation.org/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy, TomKat Foundation profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-t/tomkat-foundation (Accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, TomKat Foundation 990 forms: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/921160421 (Accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ, Tomkat II Foundation profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/tomkat-ii-foundation,921160421/ (Accessed February 2026)
• InfluenceWatch, TomKat Foundation: https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/tomkat-foundation/ (Accessed February 2026)
• InfluenceWatch, TomKat Charitable Trust: https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/tomkat-charitable-trust/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Stanford Graduate School of Business, "Kat Taylor: Changing the Face of Philanthropy": https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/kat-taylor-changing-face-philanthropy (Accessed February 2026)
• Point Blue Conservation Science, Working Landscapes program: https://www.pointblue.org/our-work/working-landscapes/ (Accessed February 2026)
• TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation website: https://www.tomkatranch.org/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report, TomKat Foundation: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/tomkat-foundation-478314b9-c22b-4002-b576-bcf797e4e76b (Accessed February 2026)