Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a small charity should not send it a cold proposal.
- Its grants lead with education, with community and rights-focused nonprofits also funded, so work in those areas fits best.
- About 8 in 10 of its 172 grants to organisations fall between $25,000 and $200,000, and the median is $75,000, so a request in that region is typical, although its largest grant has been about $2,000,000.
- In the filing, 94% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in an earlier filing, so most of its money goes to organisations it already knows, and a new applicant should expect the route in to be a relationship rather than a form.
- No geographic focus is stated, and the filing shows grants mainly in California and District of Columbia, which describes its record rather than limiting who may apply.
Overview
Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Francisco, CA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The grant record is led by education programmes, particularly broad support for education programmes and school facilities. It also covers teacher and school-leader development, educational equity, and language access for pupils whose home language is not English. Recipients include universities, schools, and organisations working in teacher preparation and school improvement. Other grants support community programmes and community organising, including youth development, family support and child advocacy. The record also includes support for civil rights work and long COVID programmes. Taken together, the grants go mainly to educational institutions and organisations, alongside community and rights-focused nonprofits.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California and District of Columbia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 94% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 172 grants to organisations were $75,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 3%
- The largest single recipient received 24% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to organisations Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 11% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 54 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $87,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- California Education Partners · To support education programs$1,745,0002024 tax year
- Stanford University · To support education programs and facilties$1,200,0002024 tax year
- Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs · To support long covid programs$575,0002024 tax year
- Spark SF Public Schools · To support education programs$375,0002024 tax year
- Global Impact · To support fund for a safer future & emerging bilingual collaborative$250,0002024 tax year
- Teach Plus · To support education programs$200,0002024 tax year
- Edvance · To support education programs$200,0002024 tax year
- Sobrato Early Academic Language · To support education programs$150,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Maurine S Halperin — Director
- Peggy Anne Dow — Secretary
- Philip W Halperin — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $9,633,585 | $8,231,090 | $138,997,994 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $8,552,787 | $6,774,410 | $164,727,257 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $9,345,575 | $7,810,042 | $151,374,008 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Francisco, CA
Applying to Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Francisco, CA