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The Draper Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.3M
Grant Range
Up to $1.0M00
0
Success Rate
12%

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The Draper Foundation

Quick Stats

  • EIN: 94-3256415
  • Annual Giving: $6,254,725 (2023 990-PF)
  • Grant Range: ~$57,000-115,000 average per grant based on regulatory data
  • Grants Awarded: 54-87 grants annually (per 990-PF filings); third-party sources report approximately 110 grants in 2024
  • Total Assets: $130-188 million
  • Geographic Focus: National (19 states), with concentration in California, Texas, and New York
  • Application Process: No public application process (private family foundation)

Contact Details

Address: 55 E 3rd Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94401-4010

Phone: 415-601-6111

Note: The Draper Foundation does not appear to have a public website or formal application process. This is a private family foundation.

Overview

The Draper Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1996 and led by venture capitalist Timothy C. Draper and his family. With assets ranging from $130-188 million, the foundation distributed $6,254,725 in grants in 2023 (per 990-PF filing). The foundation focuses primarily on arts, education, children and social services, and Presbyterian churches. As a family foundation, it appears to operate through trustee discretion rather than an open application process, pre-selecting organisations aligned with the Draper family's philanthropic interests. The foundation has made significant grants to educational institutions, policy organisations, and entrepreneurship programmes, reflecting Timothy Draper's background as a technology venture capitalist and his interest in innovation and educational reform.

Funding Priorities

Recent Grant Recipients

Based on available data from third-party sources, notable grants include:

  • Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation: Community Outreach (major recipient, total amount not specified in single-grant format)
  • The Independent Institute: $1.7 million total (Community Outreach/Policy Research)
  • BizWorld Foundation: $957,000 total across 6 grants (Education/Entrepreneurship)
  • University of Pennsylvania: $100,000 (Education)
  • California Policy Center: $1.35 million total (Policy Research)
  • Libertas Institute: $750,000 total (Policy Research)
  • Stand Together Trust: $300,000 total (Policy/Community Outreach)

Note: Grant amounts above represent aggregate totals from third-party grant databases and may span multiple years.

Priority Areas

Education Programmes The foundation has shown strong support for educational initiatives, particularly those focused on entrepreneurship education and innovation. The Draper family has connections to BizWorld Foundation (founded by Tim Draper) and supports educational reform initiatives.

Arts Support for arts organisations is a stated priority, though specific recipients in this category are not publicly detailed.

Children and Social Services The foundation supports organisations working with children and providing social services to communities.

Presbyterian Churches Religious organisations, specifically Presbyterian churches, receive support from the foundation.

Community Outreach Grants to organisations engaged in community development and outreach activities.

Medical Research Some grants support medical research initiatives.

Environmental Reform Limited support for environmental causes.

Geographic Scope

The foundation funds organisations across 19 states, with particular focus on:

  • California (especially San Francisco Bay Area)
  • Texas
  • New York
  • Florida
  • Major metropolitan areas including New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, and San Francisco

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

  • Timothy C. Draper - President and Director

    • Venture capitalist and founder of Draper Associates, DFJ (Draper Fisher Jurvetson), and Draper University
    • Known for investments in Tesla, SpaceX, Skype, Baidu, and Hotmail
    • Strong advocate for entrepreneurship education and educational reform

  • William H. Draper III - Secretary and Director

    • Father of Timothy Draper
    • Co-founder of Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
    • Extensive background in venture capital and philanthropy

  • Andrea Draper - Director (family member)

  • Jessica Draper - Director (family member)

  • Desiree Omran - Chief Financial Officer

All directors and officers serve on a voluntary basis, receiving no compensation for their roles.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Draper Foundation does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, the organisation pre-selects grant recipients based on trustee discretion and the Draper family's philanthropic interests. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals through a formal application portal or process.

According to available data, the foundation is "open to new applicants" with a reported new applicant funding rate of 12%, suggesting that while the foundation may consider new organisations, these relationships are likely developed through personal connections, referrals, or proactive identification by the foundation's leadership rather than through formal grant applications.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this foundation, success in receiving funding appears to be based on:

Alignment with Family Interests Organisations should align closely with Timothy Draper's documented interests:

  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Given Draper's background in venture capital and his founding of BizWorld and Draper University, organisations focused on entrepreneurship education are well-positioned
  • Educational Reform: Draper has been publicly active in supporting school choice and educational innovation initiatives
  • Technology and Innovation: Organisations leveraging technology for social impact align with the Draper family's expertise

Connection to Existing Portfolio Several grants flow to organisations with existing connections to the Draper family:

  • BizWorld Foundation (founded by Tim Draper)
  • Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (co-founded by William H. Draper III)
  • Educational institutions where family members may have connections

Policy and Research Organisations The foundation has supported policy research organisations like The Independent Institute, suggesting interest in free-market economics, limited government, and educational policy research.

Geographic Proximity While the foundation funds nationally, there appears to be a concentration of giving in the San Francisco Bay Area where the foundation and Draper family are based.

Established Track Record As with most private family foundations, organisations with proven impact and institutional stability are more likely to receive support than early-stage initiatives.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No formal application process exists - This foundation operates by invitation or trustee discretion only
  • Focus on relationship-building - Getting on the foundation's radar requires connections to the Draper family network, the venture capital community, or existing grantee organisations
  • Entrepreneurship and education are key themes - Organisations working at the intersection of education and entrepreneurship are well-aligned with the foundation's interests
  • Think innovation and disruption - Timothy Draper's venture capital background suggests preference for innovative approaches over traditional models
  • Large grants are possible - While average grant size is ~$57,000-115,000, the foundation has made aggregate grants of hundreds of thousands to over $1 million to aligned organisations
  • Multi-year relationships - Some organisations appear to receive recurring support, suggesting the foundation values long-term partnerships
  • Consider the broader Draper ecosystem - Organisations connected to Draper University, Draper Associates, or other Draper family ventures may have advantages

References

  1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Draper Foundation (EIN 94-3256415)

  2. Cause IQ - The Draper Foundation Profile

  3. Grantable.co - The Draper Foundation Profile

  4. Candid/Foundation Directory Online - The Draper Foundation

  5. Charity Navigator - Draper Foundation Profile

  6. BizWorld Foundation - About BizWorld

  7. Tim Draper Wikipedia

  8. Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Website

  9. Impala Digital - The Draper Foundation Profile

  10. Granted AI - Draper Foundation Profile

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