Aphorism Foundation | Foundation Profile

GrantBay analyzes IRS Form 990-PF data to help grant seekers find fit funders like Aphorism Foundation. Data shown is extracted from Form 990-PF filings.

EIN: 46-4347021

Foundation Overview

Based in San Francisco, CA, Aphorism Foundation has awarded 94 grants totaling $151,895,761 to organizations in Massachusetts, California and 16 other states, plus international recipients. Individual grants range from $30,000 to $24,455,517, with a median award of $828,970.

Latest Tax Year
2023
Total Giving (all years)
$151,895,761
Total Assets
$1,051,825,346
Median Grant (all grants)
$828,970

Latest Form 990-PF Snapshot

Total Grants
33
Median Grant
$1,000,000
% Median Grant Growth
+133% (vs previous year)
Data extracted from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Last filing year: February 2026

Foundation Intelligence

Advanced analytics and strategic insights to help nonprofit organizations assess grant opportunities and optimize their application strategies

New Applicant Friendliness
Growth-Minded: 64%

21 of 33 recipients (64%) were new grantees. Foundation actively seeks new partnerships to expand impact. Fresh approaches and innovative programs receive serious consideration.

Geographic Focus
California

Grants are geographically diversified with 29% in California and funding distributed across 21 total locations. This foundation values broad geographic impact and diverse community partnerships. Within California, funding concentrates in San Francisco (41%), Oakland (15%), Walnut (7%).

Funding Trajectory
-21%

Declining funding trend with 21% decrease over 6 years may indicate reduced grant opportunities or shifting foundation priorities. This trajectory suggests more competitive application environment.

Program Areas
Community Projects

Highly focused on community projects with 100% of funding dedicated to this sector. This specialization indicates deep expertise and committed investment in the field.

Where is The Money Going?

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Grants & Funding

Analyzing past grantees provides valuable insights into Aphorism Foundation's funding preferences, organizational priorities, and grant making patterns. This historical data helps potential applicants understand the foundation's strategic focus and identify successful funding approaches.

Name Amount Location Purpose Year
American Friends Of Libi $1,000,000 Brighton, MA, US General Support 2023
Association Of Marshall Scholars Inc $538,143 Brooklyn, NY, US General Support 2023
Aurealia Institute Inc $1,000,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2023
B Lab Company $1,000,000 Philadelphia, PA, US General Support 2023
Brown University $250,000 Providence, RI, US General Support 2023
Center Of Complex Interventions $1,725,000 Wellesley, MA, US General Support 2023
Center On Rural Innovation $1,000,000 Hartland, VT, US General Support 2023
Choose Love Inc $300,000 New York, NY, US General Support 2023
Computer History Museum $500,000 Mountain View, CA, US General Support 2023
Cortico Corporation $1,000,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2023
Cz Biohub Network $2,000,000 San Francisco, CA, US General Support 2023
Daffy Charitable Fund $120,000 Los Altos, CA, US General Support 2023
Dartmouth College $699,500 Hanover, NH, US General Support 2023
Endeavor Global Inc $50,000 New York, NY, US General Support 2023
Equal Justice Initiative $200,000 Montgomery, AL, US General Support 2023
Ffwd $1,250,000 San Francisco, CA, US General Support 2023
From The Heart Productions Inc $300,000 Oxnard, CA, US General Support 2023
Georgetown University $110,000 Washington, DC, US General Support 2023
Him For Her Inc $350,000 Oakland, CA, US General Support 2023
Hypothesis Fund Pbllc $1,175,000 Mercer Island, WA, US General Support 2023
Locus Science Fiction Foundation $50,000 Oakland, CA, US General Support 2023
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology $1,840,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2023
New America Foundation $2,200,000 Washington, DC, US General Support 2023
Probabilistic Computing Foundation Inc $14,500,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2023
Science And Technology Futures Inc $500,000 Camrbidge, MA, US General Support 2023
Science For America Inc $6,000,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2023
Second Harvest Food Bank $1,880,000 San Jose, CA, US General Support 2023
Securebio Inc $1,160,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2023
The Leland Stanford Junior University $10,000,000 Stanford, CA, US General Support 2023
Ubi Charitable Inc $1,000,000 Oakland, CA, US General Support 2023
University Of Toronto $339,172 Toronto, Foreign, CA General Support 2023
University Of Wisconsin Foundation $250,000 Milwaukee, WI, US General Support 2023
Woodwell Climate Research Center Inc $857,940 Falmouth, MA, US General Support 2023
American Academy Of Arts And Sciences $100,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2022
American Friends Of Libi $1,000,000 Brighton, MA, US General Support 2022
Aspen Insitutute Uk $306,600 Foreign, LONDON SW1P 1DE, UK General Support 2022
Center Of Complex Interventions $1,500,000 Wellesley, MA, US General Support 2022
Center On Rural Innovation $500,000 Hartland, VT, US General Support 2022
Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Inc $2,000,000 San Francisco, CA, US General Support 2022
Endeavor Global Inc $50,000 New York, NY, US General Support 2022
Equal Justice Initiative $46,000 Montgomery, AL, US General Support 2022
Hypothesis Fund Pbllc $800,000 Mercer Island, WA, US General Support 2022
Knowledge Futures Inc $1,000,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2022
Madison Square Boys & Girls Club Foundation Inc $75,000 New York, NY, US General Support 2022
Mercatus Center Inc $360,000 Arlington, VA, US General Support 2022
New America Foundation $2,000,000 Washington, DC, US General Support 2022
Players Philanthropy Fund $1,000,000 Towson, MD, US General Support 2022
President And Fellors Of Harvard College $1,500,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2022
The Putney School $30,000 Putney, VT, US General Support 2022
University Of Toronto $329,293 Toronto, Foreign, CA General Support 2022
University Of Wisconsin Foundation $250,000 Milwaukee, WI, US General Support 2022
Brigham And Women's Hospital $1,000,000 Boston, MA, US General Support 2021
Center Of Complex Interventions $1,000,000 Wellesley, MA, US General Support 2021
Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Inc $2,000,000 San Francisco, CA, US General Support 2021
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors $165,000 New York, NY, US General Support 2021
University Of Toronto $319,702 Toronto, N/A, CA General Support 2021
Brigham And Women's Hospital $1,000,000 Boston, MA, US General Support 2020
Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Inc $2,000,000 San Francisco, CA, US General Support 2020
New America Foundation $2,000,000 Washington, WA, US General Support 2020
New Venture Fund $1,000,000 Washington, DC, US General Support 2020
Opportunitywork Inc $2,500,000 Washington, DC, US General Support 2020
Pahara Institute $750,000 Walnut, CA, US General Support 2020
Uc Santa Cruz Foundation $34,503 Santa Cruz, CA, US General Support 2020
University Of Toronto $310,391 Toronto, N/A, CA General Support 2020
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation $100,000 New York, NY, US General Support 2017
Berggruen Institute $110,000 Los Angeles, CA, US General Support 2017
Brigham And Women's Hospital $1,000,000 Boston, MA, US General Support 2017
Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Inc $2,000,000 San Francisco, CA, US General Support 2017
Changeorg Charitable Foundation Inc $331,000 San Francisco, CA, US General Support 2017
Civic Nation $250,000 Washington, DC, US General Support 2017
Columbia University $500,000 New York, NY, US General Support 2017
Connected Camps $420,000 Culver City, CA, US General Support 2017
Cortico Corporation $1,000,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2017
Creative Visions Foundation $100,000 Malibu, CA, US General Support 2017
Democracy Works Inc $250,000 Brooklyn, NY, US General Support 2017
Do Something Inc $4,000,000 New York, NY, US General Support 2017
Green For All $1,250,000 Oakland, CA, US General Support 2017
Harvard Law School $8,000,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2017
Institute Of Play Inc $80,000 New York, NY, US General Support 2017
Leaders In Tech Inc $200,000 San Francisco, CA, US General Support 2017
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology $2,808,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2017
New America $2,000,000 Washington, DC, US General Support 2017
Nonzero Foundation $180,000 Princeton, NJ, US General Support 2017
Openai Inc $5,000,000 San Francisco, CA, US General Support 2017
Opportunitywork Inc $5,000,000 Washington, DC, US General Support 2017
Pahara Institute $750,000 Walnut, CA, US General Support 2017
Pecan Street Inc $2,000,000 Austin, TX, US General Support 2017
Public Radio International Inc $240,000 Minneapolis, MN, US General Support 2017
Schwab Charitable Fund $24,455,517 San Francisco, CA, US General Support 2017
Second Harvest Food Bank $2,000,000 San Jose, CA, US General Support 2017
The Miami Foundation $5,000,000 Miami, FL, US General Support 2017
The Mission Continues $100,000 St Louis, MO, US General Supportoor 2017
Union Of Concerned Scientists Inc $100,000 Cambridge, MA, US General Support 2017
Voteorg $600,000 San Francisco, CA, US General Support 2017

Foundations Similar to Aphorism Foundation

Discover 5 foundations with comparable assets ($1,014,386,281-$1,124,534,019), similar grant patterns, and geographic focus in CA that may also align with your organization's funding needs and grant seeking strategy.

Foundation Name Total Assets Typical Grant Size Service Area Similarity Match

EIN: 94-3380194 | 999 grants awarded
$1,046,937,741
(≈ Similar)
$200,000
median grant
San Francisco, CA
Same state
66%
Good match

EIN: 95-4292101 | 5764 grants awarded
$1,042,135,742
(≈ Similar)
$10,000
median grant
Los Angeles, CA
Same state
66%
Good match

EIN: 95-4442307
$1,014,386,281
(≈ Similar)
Not available
see full profile
Los Angeles, CA
Same state
65%
Good match

EIN: 20-3216993 | 828 grants awarded
$1,118,398,532
(≈ Similar)
$50,000
median grant
San Diego, CA
Same state
65%
Good match

EIN: 27-1208110 | 84 grants awarded
$1,124,534,019
(≈ Similar)
$224,366.5
median grant
Sunnyvale, CA
Same state
65%
Good match

Contact Information

Official contact details for Aphorism Foundation as registered with the IRS. These details are essential for grant applications, correspondence, and due diligence processes.

EIN 46-4347021
Website N/A
Address 50 CALIFORNIA STREET 3550 San Francisco, CA 94111-0000

Key People (2)

Board members, trustees, and key staff who oversee Aphorism Foundation's grant making decisions and strategic direction. Understanding leadership composition can provide insights into foundation priorities and potential networking opportunities.

Ppres/treas/dir Reid Hoffman
Secretary Frank F Huang

Forms 990-PF

IRS Form 990-PF filings provide comprehensive financial information, grant details, and operational data. These documents are essential resources for understanding foundation capacity, giving patterns, and strategic priorities.

Form 990-PF Research Tips
  • Review Part XV for detailed grant recipient information and funding purposes
  • Check Part I for total assets, annual giving amounts, and payout requirements
  • Examine Part VIII for key personnel compensation and board structure
  • Look for trends across multiple years to understand giving patterns

About This Foundation Profile

This comprehensive foundation profile for Aphorism Foundation is powered by Grant Bay's advanced foundation research platform. Our system analyzes IRS Form 990-PF filings, grant histories, and philanthropic patterns to provide nonprofit organizations with actionable intelligence for grant seeking success.

Data Sources & Accuracy

All information is derived from official IRS filings and public records. Grant Bay processes thousands of Form 990-PF documents to extract grant details, financial data, and organizational information. Data accuracy depends on foundation reporting quality and IRS filing completeness.

Research Applications

Use this profile for prospect research, grant strategy development, application preparation, and relationship building. Combine this data with additional research on foundation priorities, application processes, and board member backgrounds for comprehensive grant seeking strategies.

Data Currency: Last updated February 2026 based on IRS Form 990-PF filings. Foundation information reflects most recent available tax year data.