KELSON FOUNDATION

Supporting OrganizationIRS data 2022–2024

SAN FRANCISCO, CAEIN 813588323 Website

Annual Giving

$8.2M-6% YoY

Grants

Median Grant

$50K

Organizations Funded

135

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Foundation Overview

Mission

Supports organizations that help the overlooked and underserved, with partners that provide tools, space, and education to people making things better

Focus Areas

democracy reform and election integrityvoting access and mobilizationredistricting reformcivil rights and racial justicecriminal justice reform and prison reformgun violence preventionwomen's political representation and leadershipeducation policy and early childhood education

Grant Types

general operating supportendowed fundprogram/project supportresearch supportadvocacy and public education fundinglegal services funding

Funded Initiatives

$5M to Middlebury Innovation Hub (2023), $1M to Amalgamated Charitable Foundation (2023), Education: 826 Valencia, Reading Partners; Progressive causes: Movement Strategy Center, Make the Road New York; Arts: Girls Garage, Museum of Craft and Design

How to Apply

Prefers proactive approach to grantmaking. Does not accept unsolicited applications. Contact through website for inquiries but no clear application pathway

Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.

Giving History

2024-6%

$8.2M

Grants

Median

$50K

States

2023+33%

$8.7M

Grants

Median

$48K

States

2022

$6.5M

Grants

119

Median

$25K

States

Grant Size Distribution

$50K

Typical Grant (Median)

$1K

Smallest

$10K

25th Pctile

$200K

75th Pctile

$1.0M

Largest

Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $10K and $200K.

Largest Recent Grants

$1.0M

2024

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

VT · THE ELIZABETH HACKETT ROBINSON 84 INNOVATION HUB ENDOWED FUND

$500K

2024

NEO PHILANTHROPY INC

NY · GENERAL SUPPORT TO MORE EQUITABLE DEMOCRACY

$500K

2024

AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

DC · GENERAL SUPPORT TO THE DEMOCRACY FRONTLINES FUND

$500K

2024

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

DC · GENERAL SUPPORT TO GW SCHOOL OF LAW MULTI-RACIAL DEMOCRACY PROJECT

$500K

2024

PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT

DC · GENERAL SUPPORT

Geographic Focus

$2.0M8 grants

$1.9M10 grants

$1.6M32 grants

$1.0M2 grants

$550K3 grants

Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.

Financial Overview

YearTotal AssetsGrants Paid

2024

$149.0M

$8.2M(5.5%)

2023

$150.2M

$8.7M(5.8%)

2022

$156.4M

$6.5M(4.2%)

Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets

Network Intelligence

Funding follows networks, not keywords

SciRise maps 4.8M+ grants across 16,000+ foundations to identify which ones are most likely to fund organizations like yours — based on who they already fund, not just what they say they fund.

Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.