Robert & Ruth Halperin Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8.6 million (2024)
• Grant Range: $50,000 - $1,745,000
• Median Grant: $88,000
• Total Assets: $151 million
• Number of Grants: 54 grants (2024)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily California, with some national grants
• Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Foundation Leadership:

• Philip W. Halperin, President
• Macy Parker, Programme Director
• Priti Sanghani, Senior Programme Officer
• Kathleen So, Controller

Location: San Francisco, CA
EIN: 94-3334424
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Private Grantmaking Foundation (since August 1999)

Note: The foundation does not have a public website and does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

Overview

The Robert & Ruth Halperin Foundation was established in 1999 by the late Silicon Valley businessman Robert Halperin, former president of Raychem materials science firm, and his wife Ruth, a renowned patron of the arts. Robert Halperin, who earned a doctoral degree from the University of Chicago, led Raychem's growth from several hundred employees to 8,000 before retiring in 1990. Ruth Halperin was instrumental in developing the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford and received Stanford's Golden Spike Award in 2007, the university's highest honour for volunteer service.

The foundation is currently directed by the couple's three children—Philip Halperin (President), Mark Halperin, and Peggy Halperin Dow—as board members. With over $151 million in assets and annual distributions of approximately $8.6 million, the foundation focuses primarily on education programmes in California, along with civil rights advocacy, community organising, and social justice initiatives.

The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organisations. Philip Halperin, retired from the financial sector after working for Weston Presidio, Lehman Brothers, and Montgomery Securities, continues his parents' philanthropic legacy while also serving as president of the Silver Giving Foundation and sitting on boards including The Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco and the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University.

Funding Priorities

Primary Focus Areas

Education Programmes (Largest funding category)

• K-12 public education reform and support
• Higher education initiatives
• Research-practice partnerships
• Teacher support and professional development

Civil Rights and Advocacy

• Immigration rights
• Gun violence prevention
• Civil liberties
• Social justice initiatives

Community Programmes

• Community organising
• Long COVID support programmes
• Environmental initiatives

Recent Grant Recipients (2024)

Major Grants:

• California Education Partners: $1,745,000 - Education programmes and research-practice partnerships
• Stanford University: $1,200,000 - Education programmes
• Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs: $575,000 - Community and environmental programmes
• Spark SF Public Schools: $375,000 - Public school support in San Francisco
• New Venture Fund: $300,000 (2023) - Education programmes
• EdVance: $200,000 (2023) - Education programmes
• California State University Foundation: $150,000 (2023) - Education programmes

Known Advocacy Recipients:

• National Immigration Law Center
• Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
• Anti-Defamation League
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

The foundation made 54 grants in 2024, 57 grants in 2023, and 61 grants in 2022, with a median grant size of $88,000.

What They Fund

• California-based education reform initiatives
• Research-practice partnerships in education
• Public school support and enhancement
• Civil rights and social justice advocacy
• Community organising efforts
• Progressive advocacy organisations
• Higher education programmes at universities
• Environmental and social entrepreneurship

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published specific exclusions, but their giving patterns indicate:

• They do not fund organisations outside their preselected network
• Focus is primarily California-based, though some national grants are made
• Grants go to established organisations rather than startups or individuals

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

• Philip W. Halperin - President and Trustee (son of founders)
• Mark Halperin, AB'81 - Trustee (son of founders)
• Peggy Halperin Dow - Trustee (daughter of founders)

Key Staff:

• Macy Parker - Programme Director (highest compensated staff at $166,156)
• Priti Sanghani - Senior Programme Officer
• Kathleen So - Controller

Leadership Perspectives

Philip Halperin has dedicated his career to supporting California's children and public education. According to public profiles, he has "championed efforts to empower and improve school districts, strengthen pre-school statewide, promote local investment in public schools, support teachers, and build partnerships that close opportunity gaps." As Chairman of the San Francisco School Alliance Foundation Board and co-founder of California Education Partners, Philip has co-chaired six successful campaigns that have collectively raised over $4.0 billion for the public schools and children of San Francisco.

Philip also serves on the boards of The Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco, the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University, and University High School, demonstrating the foundation's deep connections to educational institutions and youth-serving organisations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Robert & Ruth Halperin 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."

This means:

• Organisations cannot submit applications or proposals
• Grants are made at the discretion of the board of trustees
• Recipients are selected through the trustees' existing knowledge and networks
• The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's close connections to specific sectors and Philip Halperin's leadership roles, organisations working in these areas may have indirect pathways:

San Francisco Public Education Sector:

• Philip Halperin serves as Chairman of the San Francisco School Alliance Foundation Board and is co-founder of California Education Partners
• Organisations working with SFUSD or in San Francisco public education may come to the foundation's attention through these networks
• The foundation has a demonstrated commitment to organisations like Spark SF Public Schools and California Education Partners

Stanford University Network:

• Both founders were deeply involved with Stanford (Robert served on the University of Chicago board, but they endowed art professorships at Stanford and developed the Cantor Arts Center)
• Philip serves on the board of the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford
• The foundation has made substantial grants to Stanford University

Progressive Advocacy Networks:

• The foundation supports prominent national advocacy organisations including ACLU, National Immigration Law Center, Anti-Defamation League, and Brady Campaign
• Organisations working in civil rights, immigration, gun violence prevention, and civil liberties that have connections to these major grantees may be considered

Note: These pathways are not guarantees of funding but represent areas where the foundation has demonstrated sustained interest and where trustees have direct involvement.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, the foundation makes grants based on trustee discretion rather than application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their giving patterns reveals clear preferences:

Funding Patterns and Preferences

1. Strong Focus on Education Reform The foundation's largest grants consistently go to education organisations, particularly those focused on K-12 public education in California. California Education Partners, founded by Philip Halperin, received $1,745,000 in 2024 and $1,695,000 in 2023, making it the top recipient.

2. Support for Research-Practice Partnerships The foundation values evidence-based approaches. California Education Partners' Stanford-Sequoia Research Practice Partnership received a Community Partnerships Award from Stanford University, demonstrating the foundation's interest in rigorous, research-informed educational interventions.

3. Progressive Values Alignment Recipients include organisations advancing civil rights, immigration reform, gun violence prevention, and civil liberties. The foundation supports "left-leaning advocacy groups" according to multiple sources, indicating a clear ideological alignment with progressive causes.

4. California-Centric with National Reach While the majority of grants support California-based organisations (particularly San Francisco), the foundation also funds national advocacy organisations like ACLU and the Brady Campaign.

5. Established Organisations Preferred Grant recipients are well-established nonprofits with track records, not startups or emerging organisations. The median grant of $88,000 and grants ranging to $1.7 million suggest the foundation funds substantial, established programmes.

6. Multi-Year Relationships The foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with key grantees, making repeated grants to organisations like California Education Partners and Stanford University.

7. Board Member Engagement Philip Halperin's extensive board service and leadership in education suggests the foundation values direct trustee involvement and relationship-building with grantees.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Do not submit proposals or letters of inquiry.

• Invitation-only model: Grants are made to preselected organisations based on trustee knowledge and discretion. The only pathway to funding is through relationships with trustees or being identified by them.

• Education is the primary focus: Approximately 70-80% of funding goes to education programmes, particularly K-12 public education reform in California and higher education.

• Progressive advocacy organisations receive significant support: If your organisation works in civil rights, immigration, gun violence prevention, or civil liberties, and is already connected to major national advocacy networks, you may be on their radar.

• San Francisco connections matter: Philip Halperin's deep involvement in San Francisco education (School Alliance Foundation, connections to SFUSD) means organisations working in this ecosystem have the highest probability of consideration.

• Median grant is $88,000: Most grants fall in the $50,000-$150,000 range, though the foundation makes several large grants ($500,000+) to priority organisations annually.

• Research-informed approaches: The foundation values evidence-based programmes and research-practice partnerships, particularly in education.

• Long-term relationships preferred: The foundation tends to make repeated grants to trusted organisations rather than funding many different organisations each year (54 grants from $151 million in assets suggests selectivity).

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Robert & Ruth Halperin Foundation. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943334424 (Accessed January 6, 2026)

2. Grantmakers.io Profile - Robert & Ruth Halperin Foundation. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/943334424-robert-and-ruth-halperin-foundation/ (Accessed January 6, 2026)

3. InfluenceWatch - Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/robert-and-ruth-halperin-foundation/ (Accessed January 6, 2026)

4. SFGate - "Silicon Valley pioneer Robert Halperin dies" (October 2014). https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Silicon-Valley-pioneer-Robert-Halperin-dies-5886066.php (Accessed January 6, 2026)

5. J Weekly - "Ruth Levison Halperin, patron of the arts, Stanford football fan" (December 2008). https://jweekly.com/2008/12/05/ruth-levison-halperin-patron-of-the-arts-stanford-football-fan/ (Accessed January 6, 2026)

6. California Education Partners - Phil Halperin bio. https://www.caedpartners.org/person/phil-halperin/ (Accessed January 6, 2026)

7. Stanford Magazine - "Champion of the Arts." https://stanfordmag.org/contents/champion-of-the-arts-5168 (Accessed January 6, 2026)

8. University of Chicago News - "Robert M. Halperin, PhB'47, Trustee Emeritus, 1928-2014." https://news.uchicago.edu/story/robert-m-halperin-phb47-trustee-emeritus-1928-2014 (Accessed January 6, 2026)