Wayne & Gladys Valley Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $26,700,000 (2024)
Total Assets: $262,300,000
Average Grant Size: $25,000 (though larger grants common in wind-down phase)
Grant Range: $10,000 - $30,000,000 (historical range, currently emphasizing larger capital grants)
Geographic Focus: Primarily Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California (East Bay Area), with rare national grants
Number of Grants: 47 grants awarded in 2024

Contact Details

Wayne & Gladys Valley Charitable Foundation
1939 Harrison Street, Suite 510
Oakland, CA 94612

Phone: (510) 466-6060
Email: info@wgvalley.org
Website: https://gchopkins.wixsite.com/valley-foundation

Executive Director: Michael D. Desler

Overview

The Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation was established in 1977 by F. Wayne Valley, one of California's largest residential homebuilders and founder of Citation Builders, and his wife Gladys Valley. Following the founders' deaths (Wayne in 1986, Gladys in 1998), the foundation became a major regional philanthropic institution with approximately $262 million in assets. In 2003, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to wind down the foundation and distribute approximately $1 billion in assets. While originally planned to terminate by 2018, the foundation remains active as of 2024-2025, continuing to make grants—particularly larger capital awards—as part of its extended spend-down strategy. The foundation's mission is to provide financial assistance to charitable organizations that demonstrate excellence, cost-efficient management, and clearly defined, achievable goals, with primary emphasis on the East Bay Area of California.

Funding Priorities

Primary Areas of Interest

Education: Higher education, secondary education, and other educational programs
Medical Research: Particularly eye disease research and treatment
Health Care: Medical facilities and healthcare programs
Youth Programs: Organizations serving young people
Parks and Recreation: Local parks and recreational facilities
Catholic Organizations: Catholic schools and institutions in the region

Current Strategic Focus (Wind-Down Phase)

As part of the foundation's wind-down strategy, there is particular emphasis on capital grants including:

Bricks and mortar projects (new facility construction)
Facility upgrades and improvements
Equipment purchases
Projects with lasting, major impact on organizations and communities

The foundation seeks to make substantially larger grants during this phase that create permanent, transformative change.

Geographic Limitations

Primary focus: Alameda and Contra Costa Counties (East Bay Area of California)
Occasional exceptions: Rare national grants, though most funding stays in the region

Organizational Characteristics Sought

The foundation looks for organizations with:

Broad-based funding support (not over-reliant on a single funder)
Specifically defined goals and purposes
Demonstrated effectiveness in programs
Expectations for continued success without future dependence on foundation support
Committed, enthusiastic, and diligent leadership

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Tamara A. Valley - President (daughter of founders)
Richard M. Kingsland - Board Member and Vice President/Chief Financial Officer
Barbara B. LaSalle - Board Member
John V. Stock - Board Member

Staff

Michael D. Desler - Executive Director
Richard M. Kingsland - Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Carolyn A. Worth - Corporate Secretary and Assistant Vice President-Administration
Cheryl P. Hopkins - Administrative Assistant

The foundation's governance reflects the founders' business principles, emphasizing merit-based decision-making in all philanthropic activities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited applications via USPS mail. The foundation strongly emphasizes that applications are to be succinct and discourages lengthy submissions.

Application Requirements:

Submit a concise application including:

Organization description and brief history with financial stability information
Project description, purpose, and goals
Number of beneficiaries served
References to research demonstrating project need
Project timeline and business plan documentation
Detailed budget showing income and expenses with projected revenues

Required Attachments:

Board of Directors list with affiliations
IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter and public charity status documentation
State of California Franchise Tax Board exemption letter
CFO letter confirming tax-exempt status hasn't been revoked
Most recent audited financial statements
Complete IRS Form 990 from most recent fiscal year

Submit applications to:
Michael D. Desler, Executive Director
Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation
1939 Harrison Street, Suite 510
Oakland, CA 94612

Questions: Email info@wgvalley.org or call (510) 466-6060

Application Review Process

Initial Screening: Foundation staff reviews applications against criteria
Further Consideration: If an applicant passes initial screening, further consideration may be requested
Site Visits: Approved applicants typically participate in site visits before funding decisions
Board Decision: Final funding decisions made by Board of Directors

Important Note: Personal contact with individual board directors is "not encouraged" unless initiated by foundation leadership. Direct all applications and correspondence through official channels.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not specify application deadlines, suggesting year-round, rolling consideration of proposals. Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented, though the multi-stage process (initial screening, further consideration, site visits, board decision) suggests applications should be submitted well in advance of funding needs.

Success Rates

With 47 grants awarded in 2024 from total annual giving of approximately $26.7 million, the foundation maintains selective grantmaking. Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly disclosed.

Notable Grants

The foundation has awarded significant grants demonstrating its capacity for transformative funding:

$30 million to University of California, San Francisco to create the Wayne and Gladys Valley Center for Vision
$15 million to Santa Clara University (2004) for library construction
$15 million to Milton-Freewater Unified School District (Oregon) for new elementary school construction
Over $30 million to Bellarmine College Preparatory (cumulative)
Over $20 million to Bishop O'Dowd High School (cumulative)
Nearly $2 million to All May See Foundation for eye disease research and treatment at UCSF
$600,000+ to Alameda County Library
Consistent support to Oakland Children's Fairyland, Alameda County Community Food Bank, and Alameda Boys and Girls Club
Support to The Hidden Genius Project for capital improvements in Oakland

Application Success Factors

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Capital Projects Are Prioritized: Given the wind-down strategy, capital grant proposals for new facilities, major upgrades, or equipment purchases are "major components" of current grantmaking. Frame requests around lasting infrastructure improvements.

Demonstrate Self-Sustainability: The foundation explicitly seeks organizations with "expectations for continued success in its activities without future dependence on support from the foundation." Show how the grant creates lasting impact without creating ongoing funding dependency.

Show Broad-Based Support: Organizations with diverse funding sources are preferred. Demonstrate other funders, earned revenue, or fundraising capacity.

Be Concise: The foundation explicitly states "applications are to be succinct." Avoid lengthy narratives—be clear, direct, and focused on key information.

Evidence of Effectiveness: Provide concrete demonstration of program effectiveness and track record of success. Include data, outcomes, and measurable results.

Merit-Based Approach: Reflect the founders' business principles in your proposal. Show specific, defined goals, measurable outcomes, and efficient management practices.

East Bay Focus: Organizations serving Alameda and Contra Costa Counties have clear advantage, though the foundation occasionally makes national grants for exceptional opportunities.

Catholic Connection: Catholic organizations and institutions have received substantial historical support, particularly in secondary education.

Common Themes in Funded Projects

Major educational facilities and institutions
Medical research with regional or national significance
Youth-serving organizations with proven track records
Parks, recreation, and quality-of-life improvements in the East Bay
Organizations with long-term relationships and consistent performance

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Capital projects are the current priority: With the foundation in wind-down mode, proposals for facility construction, major renovations, or significant equipment purchases have the strongest fit with current strategy
Think transformative, not incremental: The foundation is making "substantially larger grants" for projects with "lasting, major impact"—frame requests around permanent, transformative change
Emphasize sustainability: Demonstrate how your project creates lasting value without creating ongoing funding dependency on the foundation
Keep it short: Succinct applications are explicitly requested—respect this preference with clear, focused proposals
East Bay organizations have advantage: Alameda and Contra Costa County organizations are the primary focus
Build your case on merit: Show specific goals, demonstrated effectiveness, strong leadership, and cost-efficient management
Unsolicited applications are welcome: Despite being in wind-down, the foundation continues to accept and review new proposals

References

Research completed: December 16, 2025