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Hoag Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.9M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.3M

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Hoag Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,850,000 (2022)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies widely (approximately $10,000 - $250,000+)
  • Geographic Focus: California (primarily Bay Area), plus select national institutions
  • Application Process: No public application process (private family foundation)

Contact Details

Address: 221 Park Lane, Atherton, CA 94027

Phone: 650-313-2002

Note: This is a private family foundation without a website or public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Hoag Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2000 by Jay and Michaela Hoag, prominent Silicon Valley philanthropists based in Atherton, California. The foundation made $1,850,000 in grants in 2022 across 29 awards. Jay Hoag co-founded Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV) in 1995, which has raised approximately $24 billion in capital and has been a leading provider of growth equity to technology companies for over 40 years. In 2025, the Hoags joined the Giving Pledge, committing to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes focused on human potential, equity, and sustainable community development. The foundation's grant making reflects the family's deep personal connections to education and Alzheimer's research, with Michaela serving as founder and chair of Part the Cloud, the nation's most successful Alzheimer's research fundraiser.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Hoag Family Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. Instead, the foundation makes strategic grants to organizations aligned with the family's philanthropic interests and personal connections.

Recent Grant Activity:

  • 2022: 29 grants totaling $1,850,000
  • 2021: 46 grants
  • 2020: 38 grants
  • Most Recent Year: 15 grants

Priority Areas

Alzheimer's Disease Research The foundation's flagship priority, with substantial support directed to Part the Cloud, an initiative founded by Michaela Hoag after losing both parents to Alzheimer's disease. Part the Cloud has raised over $90 million since 2012 and currently funds over 70 human trials globally. Grant recipients from Part the Cloud have secured over $1.6 billion in follow-on funding from federal sources and venture capital.

Higher Education The foundation supports institutions with personal connections to the family:

  • Boston College (Michaela's alma mater)
  • Northeastern University
  • Vanderbilt University

Youth Education and Development

  • Eastside College Preparatory School (California)
  • Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula
  • The Riekes Center (California organization focused on fitness, arts, and nature programs for students)

Local Bay Area Community Organizations

  • Meals on Wheels San Francisco
  • St. Raymond Catholic Church
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bay Area

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation, the Hoag Family Foundation does not:

  • Accept unsolicited proposals or applications
  • Fund organizations outside their areas of established interest
  • Operate open grant competitions
  • Maintain a public-facing grants portal

Governance and Leadership

Jay Hoag - Co-Founder and Principal Donor Jay Hoag has been a technology investor for over 43 years and co-founded Technology Crossover Ventures in 1995. He holds a B.A. in economics and political science from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He serves on the boards of several major corporations, including Netflix and Zillow Group. His estimated fortune is approximately $1.8 billion.

Michaela "Mikey" Hoag - Co-Founder and Principal Donor Michaela Hoag is a Boston College alumna who founded Part the Cloud in 2012 after personal tragedy struck her family. In her Giving Pledge letter, she explained how she lost her father to early-onset Alzheimer's and later her mother to the same disease. She has emerged as a leading voice in Alzheimer's research philanthropy. As she stated in connection with Part the Cloud: "We have been very fortunate to benefit from the opportunities that our country has provided."

Giving Pledge Commitment (2025) In joining the Giving Pledge, the Hoags committed to "dedicate the majority of their considerable fortunes to philanthropic causes focused on human potential, equity, and sustainable community development."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Hoag Family Foundation is a private family foundation that makes grants based on the personal interests, relationships, and connections of Jay and Michaela Hoag. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or proposals.

According to foundation directory data, approximately 90% of family foundations do not have websites or public application processes, and the Hoag Family Foundation falls into this category.

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The following information is based on publicly available data about the foundation's giving patterns and the Hoags' known affiliations. There is no guarantee that any of these approaches will result in funding.

Educational Institutions: The foundation has shown consistent support for educational institutions with personal connections to the family, particularly Michaela's alma mater, Boston College, as well as Northeastern University and Vanderbilt University. Organizations affiliated with these institutions may have indirect pathways to the family's attention.

Bay Area Community Connections: The family resides in Palo Alto/Atherton and has supported local Bay Area organizations including Meals on Wheels San Francisco, St. Raymond Catholic Church, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bay Area. Organizations working in these communities may benefit from local networking.

Alzheimer's Research Network: Organizations focused on Alzheimer's disease research may connect through Part the Cloud, which operates in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association. Part the Cloud funds early-phase clinical trials with the highest probability of slowing, stopping, or curing Alzheimer's disease.

Technology and Venture Capital Connections: Given Jay Hoag's 40+ year career in technology venture capital and his board positions with major companies like Netflix and Zillow, organizations with connections to the technology sector or TCV portfolio companies may have potential pathways for introduction.

Application Success Factors

As this foundation does not accept public applications, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, analysis of the foundation's giving patterns reveals several characteristics of organizations that have received support:

Personal Connection to the Family: The strongest common thread among grant recipients is a direct personal connection to Jay or Michaela Hoag, whether through educational institutions they attended, causes that have personally affected their family (Alzheimer's disease), or local community organizations in their home region.

Alignment with Core Causes: Organizations must align with one of the foundation's clearly defined priority areas:

  • Alzheimer's disease research and treatment
  • Higher education (particularly institutions attended by family members)
  • Youth development and education in the Bay Area
  • Local Bay Area community support services

Track Record of Excellence: The organizations supported by the foundation tend to be well-established institutions with strong track records, such as major universities, the Alzheimer's Association, and recognized community service organizations.

Capacity for Significant Impact: Part the Cloud exemplifies the family's interest in funding approaches with multiplier effects—grants that catalyze additional funding and accelerate research progress. Organizations that can demonstrate how modest seed funding can lead to larger impact may be of interest.

Bay Area Geographic Connection: While the foundation supports some national institutions, there is a clear preference for organizations serving the Palo Alto, Atherton, and broader Bay Area community where the family resides.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This is a private family foundation that does not accept unsolicited applications. Traditional grant writing and application strategies will not be effective.

  • Relationship-Based Giving: All funding appears to flow through personal relationships, institutional connections, or family priorities. Organizations without a connection to the Hoag family should not expect funding opportunities.

  • Alzheimer's Research is Central: Michaela Hoag's Part the Cloud initiative represents the foundation's most significant philanthropic commitment, having raised over $90 million. Organizations in Alzheimer's research should explore Part the Cloud's grant programs through the Alzheimer's Association.

  • Education Focus on Personal Institutions: Higher education support centers on institutions attended by family members (Boston College, Northwestern, University of Michigan) plus select universities. This is not a source for broad higher education funding.

  • Bay Area Community Emphasis: Local organizations in Palo Alto, Atherton, and the broader Bay Area have received support, particularly in youth development, community services, and faith-based organizations.

  • Giving Pledge Commitment Signals Future Direction: The 2025 Giving Pledge commitment to "human potential, equity, and sustainable community development" may signal evolving priorities, though the foundation's core focus areas are likely to remain consistent.

  • Consider Alternative Pathways: Rather than seeking direct funding from the Hoag Family Foundation, organizations should consider:

    • Applying to Part the Cloud programs through the Alzheimer's Association if working in Alzheimer's research
    • Building relationships with supported institutions (Boston College, Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula, etc.)
    • Engaging with the broader Bay Area philanthropic community where the family is active

References

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