The Zellerbach Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5,995,000 (2024)
• Total Assets: $160.1 million (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (high volume of applications noted)
• Decision Time: Varies by program; quarterly review cycles for Community Arts
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $175,000
• Geographic Focus: Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties (California)
• Grants Awarded: 214 grants in 2023

Contact Details

Address: 455 Market Street, Suite 2200, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 421-2629
Website: https://zff.org
Grants Manager Email: grantsmanager@zff.org
Community Arts: communityarts.zff.org
Together in Community: togetherincommunity@zff.org

Pre-Application Support: The foundation recommends first-time Community Arts applicants attend quarterly informational workshops held prior to each submission window.

Overview

Founded in 1956 by Jennie B. Zellerbach with an initial contribution of $54,600, the Zellerbach Family Foundation began as a family fund before transforming in 1968 into a general-purpose private foundation focused on Bay Area community needs. With over $160 million in assets and approximately $6 million in annual giving, the foundation has been a catalyst for constructive social change for more than 65 years. Through its 2022 strategic framework, ZFF organizes its grantmaking around themes of Safety & Belonging and Arts & Culture, with all grantmaking centered on equity and justice for marginalized people. The foundation is notable for its progressive approach to philanthropy, increasing general operating support from 4% in 2014 to 86% in 2024, and replacing traditional evaluation models with a collaborative "Learning Agenda." Since inception, ZFF has awarded 13,082 grants totaling $158 million to 2,645 grant partners across the Bay Area.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Arts Program (Open Application)

• Grant Amounts: $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000
• Total Annual Distribution: Approximately $1 million
• Application Method: Quarterly cycles via Fluxx online system
• Submission Windows: Two-week periods in September, December, March, and June
• Grant Type: General operating support
• Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscally sponsored artists/organizations with budgets under $2 million

Together in Community (Open Application)

• Purpose: Support for fairs, festivals, and public gatherings celebrating historically underserved communities
• Application Method: Rolling basis via online form
• Grant Type: Event-specific support
• Timeline: Events must occur within six months of award notification
• Eligibility: Same as Community Arts program

Safety & Belonging Program (Invitation Only)

• Focus: Transformation of justice, child welfare, children's mental health, safety net, and immigration systems
• Typical Range: $10,000 - $100,000+ (based on 2023 Form 990)
• Top 2023 Grants: Immigration Institute of the Bay Area ($175,000), Legal Services for Prisoners with Children ($100,000), Life Learning Academy ($100,000), Youth Law Center ($100,000)
• Application Method: By invitation only

William J. Zellerbach Award for Social Change

• Established: 2019
• Purpose: Recognizes Bay Area organizations developing visionary approaches to advance social justice
• Focus: Innovative efforts with potential for sustainable and replicable systems change

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture

• Community-based art and culture, particularly from underrepresented voices
• Work created for audience or community engagement
• Artists representing gender parity, diversity of race/ethnicity, age, socio-economic status, and/or difference in ability
• Artistic disciplines: dance, music, theater, literary arts, visual arts, circus arts, folk art, performance art
• Special focus on underfunded artists in Contra Costa County

Safety & Belonging

• Child and family-serving systems transformation
• Immigrant and refugee support and civic participation
• Community-based responses centering lived experiences of youth and families
• System innovation and reform (child welfare, mental health, education, justice systems)
• Anti-racism and cross-community bridge-building
• Youth development and advocacy

Strategic Approaches

• Imagination: Pilot innovative approaches to services and systems
• Expression: Use art to change narratives and bring people together
• Action: Partner with political and systems leaders for transformation

What They Don't Fund

Community Arts Program Exclusions:

• Film, digital media, radio, podcasts, journalism
• Projects focused primarily on training or education
• Youth-serving programs (e.g., after-school programs, summer camps)
• Activities outside Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco counties
• Retroactive funding
• Debt reduction

General Limitations:

• Organizations not located in or serving Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco counties
• Organizations with annual budgets over $2 million (for open application programs)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

• Thomas H. Zellerbach, Chair - Former partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP for 30 years, specializing in intellectual property; JD from University of Pennsylvania Law School; BA in political science from Colorado College
• Hilary Reek, Vice Chair and Secretary
• Karin Kissane, Treasurer
• Alexandra Aquino-Fike
• Emily Boschwitz
• Adam Fong
• James W. Head
• Ravi Karra
• Suchi Somasekar
• William Zellerbach

Staff

• Allison L. Magee, President and Executive Director

Leadership Philosophy

Allison Magee on the foundation's approach: "What stands out for me is that the updates we've made to all of our grantmaking and partnerships over time weren't part of a 'trust-based' branding or any other trend in the sector. They were made as a result of authentic curiosity and a practical understanding of what we actually need and don't need to achieve our goals in partnership with the community."

On community-centered grantmaking: "I often tell my board that our program officers are the first to know when there is a problem... Not from a progress report, but from the conversations they're having with grantees."

The foundation emphasizes that "Too often, foundations can act in a top-down fashion, choosing the issues, designating the leaders, hiring the experts. Yet people who are closer to the problem often have better ideas about the solution and can be clear-eyed about the strategies to get there."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Arts Program:

1. Attend a Workshop (Recommended for first-time applicants): Quarterly informational workshops held prior to each submission window
2. Submit via Fluxx: Use the foundation's online grant management system
3. Optional: Use The Common App (created by Bay Area arts funders to streamline applications)
4. Application Components:
   • Complete application questions
   • Provide work sample (video, audio, PDF, or JPEG)
   • Upload supporting documents
5. Time Investment: 3-4 hours on average; less time if using The Common App

Together in Community:

1. Submit application via online form on rolling basis
2. Brief details about upcoming event required
3. Project and organization budgets NOT required
4. Once notified, grants processed through Fluxx

Safety & Belonging and Other Programs:

• Invitation only - no open application process
• Contact the foundation directly if interested in their work

Decision Timeline

Community Arts:

• Quarterly cycles with two-week submission windows (September, December, March, June)
• Email notification of decision (specific timeline not publicly disclosed)
• One-year grant period from notification date

Together in Community:

• Rolling basis
• Email notification
• Events must occur within six months of award notification

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation acknowledges receiving a "high volume of grantseekers" and "large number of applications" to the Community Arts program. In 2023, they made 236 awards totaling $6.1 million, but total application numbers are not published.

Reapplication Policy

Community Arts Program:

• Grantseekers may submit once per application cycle
• Eligible to receive one Community Arts grant each calendar year
• Can submit to multiple cycles throughout the year
• No specific information about reapplying after unsuccessful applications, suggesting no waiting period between unsuccessful and subsequent applications

Note: Due to the volume of applications, the foundation cannot provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

What Makes a Strong Application

For Community Arts Applicants:

1. Clear Mission Alignment: Articulate how your project or organization creates work for audience or community engagement in the three-county area

2. Diversity and Representation: Demonstrate how collaborating artists represent gender parity, diversity of race/ethnicity, age, socio-economic status, and/or difference in ability

3. Community Focus: Show work by or for historically underrepresented communities

4. Authentic Voice: While the foundation acknowledges AI tools can be helpful, they recommend "significant editing" to maintain an authentic voice in applications

5. Complete Application Package: Include all three essential elements - completed application questions, work sample, and supporting documents

6. Strong Work Samples: Samples should complement your organization/project description and showcase aesthetic and style

For Together in Community Applicants:

1. Clear Community Definition: Clearly define the intended community your event serves
2. Belonging Focus: Articulate a clear plan to bring communities together to create a shared sense of belonging
3. Engagement Component: Clearly describe community engagement and/or cultural component
4. Celebrates Underserved Communities: Demonstrate how the event uplifts historically underserved communities

Foundation's Evaluation Priorities

The foundation has moved away from traditional outcomes-based evaluation to a collaborative "Learning Agenda" approach focused on responsive questions like "How does the community ensure that an increase in funding for the arts leads to a more diverse arts and culture sector?"

They prioritize:

• Work that deepens community involvement
• Efforts that advance fair policies and practices
• Creative expressions of shared humanity
• Projects centered on equity and justice for marginalized people

Recent Examples of Funded Work

Arts & Culture:

• Dimensions Dance Theater: Promoting cultural awareness through dance
• Community Arts grants to support diverse Bay Area artists and small/mid-sized arts organizations

Safety & Belonging:

• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area: $175,000 (2023 - largest grant)
• Legal Services for Prisoners with Children: $100,000
• Life Learning Academy: $100,000
• Youth Law Center: $100,000
• Village Community Resource Center: Organizing immigrant parents for educational advocacy
• California Children's Trust: Reimagining children's behavioral health systems
• Chinese for Affirmative Action: Addressing anti-Asian racism and building cross-community understanding

William J. Zellerbach Award Recipients:

• 2019: Bayview-Hunters Point Center for Arts and Technology (BAYCAT)
• 2020: Hip Hop for Change Inc.
• 2021: Youth Together, Inc.
• 2022: Asian Prisoner Support Committee (APSC)

Strategic Alignment

The foundation values organizations that:

• Center the lived experiences and expertise of marginalized communities
• Pursue healing and bridging between individuals and communities
• Use imagination, expression, and action as strategies for change
• Demonstrate commitment to creating vibrant and inclusive communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Focus on General Operating Support: With 86% of grants now unrestricted, ZFF seeks to support organizations holistically rather than just projects. Emphasize organizational capacity and community impact.

2. Geographic Specificity Matters: Applications must demonstrate clear connection to Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco counties. Contra Costa County arts organizations receive special attention as an underfunded area.

3. Attend Pre-Application Workshops: The foundation strongly recommends first-time Community Arts applicants attend quarterly informational workshops to understand priorities and processes.

4. Emphasize Community-Centeredness: Show how your work centers the voices, experiences, and expertise of the communities you serve. The foundation values work led by those closest to the issues.

5. Consider The Common App: Using this tool (shared by Bay Area arts funders) can streamline your application and ensure you're presenting information in familiar formats.

6. Think Beyond Traditional Evaluation: ZFF has eliminated formal reports for Community Arts grantees and values qualitative learning over quantitative outcomes. Focus on community impact and learning rather than just numbers.

7. Build Relationships Before Invitation-Only Programs: Since Safety & Belonging grants are by invitation only, organizations interested in this work should attend foundation events, connect with program officers, and engage with their existing grantees to build visibility.

8. One Grant Per Year Per Program: Strategic timing is important - choose your application cycle carefully since you can only receive one Community Arts grant per calendar year.

References

1. Zellerbach Family Foundation official website - https://zff.org (accessed January 2026)
2. Zellerbach Family Foundation About Us page - https://zff.org/about-us/ (accessed January 2026)
3. Zellerbach Family Foundation Grants page - https://zff.org/grants/ (accessed January 2026)
4. Zellerbach Family Foundation Community Arts Guidelines & Eligibility - https://communityarts.zff.org/guidelines-and-eligibility/ (accessed January 2026)
5. Zellerbach Family Foundation Community Arts FAQ - https://communityarts.zff.org/faq/ (accessed January 2026)
6. Zellerbach Family Foundation Together in Community - https://zff.org/together-in-community/ (accessed January 2026)
7. Zellerbach Family Foundation Our Work - https://zff.org/our-work/ (accessed January 2026)
8. Inside Philanthropy: "How the Zellerbach Family Foundation Transformed Its Giving to Better Support Grantees" - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/how-the-zellerbach-family-foundation-transformed-its-giving-to-better-support-grantees (accessed January 2026)
9. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Zellerbach Family Foundation (EIN: 94-6069482) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/946069482 (accessed January 2026)
10. Cause IQ - Zellerbach Family Foundation - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/zellerbach-family-foundation,946069482/ (accessed January 2026)
11. GuideStar Profile - Zellerbach Family Foundation - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-6069482 (accessed January 2026)
12. Northern California Grantmakers - Zellerbach Family Foundation Profile - https://ncg.org/profile/org/15655 (accessed January 2026)