← Back to US Funders Directory

Koret Foundation

Annual Giving
$36.4M
Grant Range
$1K - $2.0M

Koret Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $36,360,445 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $315,527,122
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $2,050,000
  • Average Grant: ~$50,000
  • Geographic Focus: San Francisco Bay Area, Israel, and worldwide Jewish community
  • Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

Website: https://koret.org
Phone: (415) 882-7740
Mailing Address: 611 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
Contact Page: https://koret.org/contact/

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications but organizations may introduce themselves through the contact page.

Overview

Established in 1979 by Joseph Koret following his wife Stephanie's passing, the Koret Foundation has distributed over $1 billion in grants since 1980. The foundation's work centers on traditional Jewish values including learning and teaching, individual dignity, and community. Koret operates with a trust-based approach to grantmaking, investing in people, ideas, and organizations while empowering grantees to serve their communities with flexibility and autonomy. The foundation describes its philosophy as "funding that is flexible, responsive, and adaptive," emphasizing long-term relationships over transactional funding. With 284 awards made in 2024, Koret focuses on strengthening the Bay Area community and nurturing the continuity of the Jewish people worldwide. The foundation is committed to innovation, testing new ideas, and serving as a catalyst for positive change by bringing people and organizations together to help solve social problems of common concern.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Koret Foundation divides its charitable giving into two main program areas:

Bay Area Community Grantmaking (Six Initiatives)

  • Higher Education: Post-secondary education and technical training providing pathways to career fulfillment and financial stability. In 2020, Koret announced a five-year $50 million Higher Education Initiative supporting Bay Area colleges and universities including UC Berkeley, Stanford University, University of San Francisco, UC Davis, San Jose State University, City College of San Francisco, and others.

  • K-12 Education: Preparing underserved and at-risk children and teens for personal and academic success, with focus on opportunity and support for college or vocational education completion.

  • Arts & Culture: Supporting pillar arts institutions that engage, enrich, and inspire the entire community. In May 2023, Koret awarded $6 million in grants to approximately 40 cultural institutions to help rejuvenate the Bay Area arts scene.

  • Food Security: Supporting organizations working to reduce food insecurity in the Bay Area. Recent investment of $2.2 million in food banks and programs addressing food access.

  • Veterans Support: Helping veterans find strong pathways towards economic and social success as they return to civilian life.

  • Civic Projects: Community infrastructure and social fabric initiatives.

Jewish Community Grantmaking (Two Core Initiatives)

  • Jewish Peoplehood: Understanding Judaism as a civilization with shared story, religion, culture, and ethical traditions to strengthen community bonds and involvement.

  • U.S.-Israel Bridge Building: Supporting Israel as a Middle Eastern democracy and fostering strategic ties between the United States and Israel. Recent example includes a three-year, $7.5 million grant to Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco for its Jewish Youth Initiative.

Recent grantees include: Osher Marin JCC, Congregation Rodef Sholom, Jewish Story Partners, Insight Housing, USC Shoah Foundation, Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, and ANU - Museum of the Jewish People.

Priority Areas

  • Educational opportunities and student success (K-12 and higher education)
  • Arts and cultural initiatives
  • Jewish community projects and institutions
  • Programs serving vulnerable populations
  • Food assistance programs
  • Veterans services
  • Community development in the Bay Area

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's specific exclusions are not publicly detailed on their website. However, the foundation focuses primarily on the San Francisco Bay Area and Jewish causes, suggesting limited or no funding for organizations outside these geographic and thematic areas.

Governance and Leadership

The Koret Foundation is led by a four-member board of directors and a professional staff team.

Board of Directors:

  • Michael J. Boskin (Co-President)
  • Anita Friedman (Co-President): Distinguished record of public service in Jewish and general communities. She serves as a trustee on the national boards for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the University of Southern California's Shoah Foundation, and the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life & Culture.
  • Richard Greene (Board Member)
  • Abraham D. Sofaer (Board Member): Served for many years as President of the American Friends of the Koret Israel Economic Development Funds.

Executive Leadership:

  • Jeffrey A. Farber (Chief Executive Officer): Joined Koret in 2005. Oversees all foundation business, leading the staff and board in executing grantmaking strategies and managing the foundation's assets.

The foundation operates with distinguished board members and experienced professional staff with backgrounds in philanthropy and business.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Koret Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation accepts grant proposals by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Organizations may introduce themselves and their organizations through the foundation's contact page at https://koret.org/contact/ or by calling (415) 882-7740. However, this does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

The foundation tends to provide ongoing support to large- and medium-sized organizations that are well-established in the Bay Area, as well as national educational initiatives running large-scale interventions for Bay Area schools and communities. Koret maintains longstanding relationships with many of its grantees.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The foundation's trust-based approach suggests flexibility in timing based on individual grantee relationships and project needs.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available, as the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis rather than accepting open applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only grantmaking model. The foundation emphasizes long-term relationships and ongoing support to existing grantees.

Application Success Factors

Since the Koret Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, success depends on building relationships and alignment with their priorities:

Geographic and Thematic Alignment:

  • Organizations must be focused on the San Francisco Bay Area community OR the Jewish community (U.S., Israel, or worldwide)
  • More than half of all grants stay in the Bay Area

Organizational Profile:

  • The foundation tends to support large- and medium-sized organizations that are well-established
  • Strong preference for organizations with which the foundation can maintain longstanding relationships
  • Track record of high performance in serving communities

Strategic Approach:

  • The foundation values trust-based relationships and empowers grantees with flexibility
  • Emphasis on innovation and testing new ideas
  • Collaborative approaches that bring people and organizations together to solve social problems
  • Organizations that serve vulnerable populations and address systemic issues

Funding Philosophy Alignment:

  • Demonstrating commitment to traditional Jewish values: learning and teaching, individual dignity, and community
  • Showing how your work creates positive community impact
  • Willingness to engage in long-term partnerships rather than one-time funding relationships

Key Initiatives: Organizations aligned with the foundation's six Bay Area initiatives (higher education, K-12 education, arts & culture, food security, veterans support, civic projects) or two Jewish community initiatives (Jewish Peoplehood, U.S.-Israel Bridge Building) are more likely to be considered.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: The Koret Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Building awareness and relationships is essential before any formal proposal stage.

  • Geographic focus is critical: Your organization must serve the San Francisco Bay Area OR the Jewish community (U.S., Israel, worldwide) to be eligible.

  • Long-term relationships matter: Koret emphasizes ongoing support to grantees with whom it maintains longstanding relationships, suggesting that initial funding may lead to multi-year partnerships.

  • Trust-based philosophy: The foundation empowers grantees with flexible, responsive, and adaptive funding, valuing organizational autonomy in serving communities.

  • Significant grant range: With grants ranging from $1,000 to over $2 million and an average of $50,000, the foundation supports both smaller projects and major initiatives.

  • Focus on established organizations: The foundation tends to support large- and medium-sized, well-established organizations rather than emerging nonprofits.

  • Innovation and collaboration valued: Koret seeks organizations committed to testing new ideas and bringing stakeholders together to solve social problems collaboratively.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory