Atkinson Foundation

Important context: This database record merges data from two distinct organizations sharing the Atkinson Foundation name. The IRS financial and grantee data (EIN 946075613) belongs to the US Atkinson Foundation — a San Mateo County, California private foundation managed by Pacific Foundation Services at 1660 Bush Street, San Francisco. The website (atkinsonfoundation.ca), contact email (jmiller@atkinsonfoundation.ca), and Toronto phone number (416.368.5152) belong to the Canadian Atkinson Foundation, a separate Toronto-based entity focused on decent work and economic justice in Ontario. Grant seekers must identify which entity they are approaching.

US Atkinson Foundation (San Mateo County): This foundation operates as a classic place-based family philanthropy guided by the Atkinson family, with Jean Atkinson serving as a longstanding board member. Its giving philosophy is rooted in trust — general operating support is the dominant grant purpose across the grantee portfolio, reflecting a belief in grantee leadership rather than funder-designed program mandates. Priority is given to community-based, community-led nonprofits in San Mateo County serving BIPOC communities and historically marginalized populations in North County and the Coastside. Organizations must have annual budgets under $10 million.

The foundation funds across three thematic pillars: education and youth development (in-school, out-of-school, early childhood, vocational), community support (basic needs, mental and physical health, immigrants and refugees, women's services), and the Lois Atkinson Fund for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The application process uses an online portal at atkinsonfdn.org with three annual cycles.

Canadian Atkinson Foundation (Toronto): This entity fights for social and economic justice for working people in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. It operates through long-term movement-building partnerships rather than open competitive grants, with 21 established partners receiving multi-year commitments. New applicants pitch ideas via email. The 2025-2035 strategy 'The Long View' deepens commitments to decent work, Indigenous justice, and community wealth building.

US Atkinson Foundation (EIN 946075613) — Quantitative Analysis:

Total assets grew from $14.3M (FY2012) to $29.3M (FY2024), a 105% increase over 12 years driven primarily by net investment income (averaging $1.3-$2.5M annually). Annual grants paid have grown 89% from $1,061,700 (FY2019) to $2,002,888 (FY2023), reflecting a deliberate strategy of expanding the grantee portfolio while maintaining individual grant sizes.

Across 578 grants in the database totaling $6,940,500, the average grant is $12,008. The foundation's published guidance confirms individual grants generally fall between $10,000 and $20,000, though cumulative multi-year relationships produce much larger total investments: Faith in Action Bay Area received $270,000 over 6 grants; Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center received $187,500 over 5 grants. The largest single one-time award observed was $100,000 to Youth United for Community Action for the YUCA House acquisition — a rare capital-adjacent exception. Approximately 99% of grant dollars (573 of 578 grants) land in California, with the balance in New York.

By program area, the portfolio distributes roughly as follows: Youth and education accounts for an estimated 35% of grants (Curiodyssey, Peninsula Family Service, Homework Central, Redwood City Friends of Literacy, Healthy Cities Tutoring, Vida Verde, East Palo Alto Kids Foundation); immigrant and newcomer services represent approximately 20% (El Concilio, Upward Scholars, IIBA, Puente de la Costa Sur, Tahirih Justice Center); basic needs and community health make up roughly 25% (Samaritan House, Coastside Hope, Second Harvest, Ravenswood Family Health Network, Sonrisas Dental Health); and youth justice, domestic violence, and IDD services constitute the remaining 20% (CORA, CASA, Fresh Lifelines for Youth, AbilityPath).

Canadian Atkinson Foundation — Grant Range: Recent grants span $6,000 (journalism honorariums) to $364,995 (Workers' Action Centre, 2026), with core multi-year partnership grants typically in the $100,000-$295,000 annual range. Total grantmaking from 2014-2024 was $25.9M across 120 organizations.

The US Atkinson Foundation occupies a mid-tier niche in San Mateo County philanthropy — meaningful general operating grants from a relationship-driven funder with modest staff overhead and high board engagement.

Atkinson's clearest differentiator is its unrestricted general operating support posture: while Peery and Sobrato tend to fund within foundation-initiated strategies, Atkinson grants typically arrive as flexible dollars. Against the Community Foundation for San Mateo County, Atkinson is smaller and more personal — board members are directly engaged in grantee selection and appear by name in grant purpose language. Organizations already funded by Silicon Valley Community Foundation or CFSMC should view Atkinson as an ideal complement: its $10,000-$20,000 unrestricted grants stabilize budgets without programmatic strings, while its three-cycle calendar allows strategic timing around other funders.

FY2023-2024 Financial Activity (US Entity): IRS filings show FY2023 grants paid of $2,002,888 against total assets of $27.2M — a 33% single-year increase from FY2022's $1,502,576. FY2024 assets grew further to $29.3M with total revenue of $2,921,497, though grant totals are not yet in the public filing record. Net investment income drove revenue in prior years ($1.71M in FY2023, $2.46M in FY2022).

Board Changes: Robert Griffin departed the board effective September 14, 2022. Andrea Higuera Ballard joined as Secretary and Tina Crisci as Treasurer — both appear as new directors in the most recent IRS filings. Jean Atkinson transitioned from Secretary to Director across the same period.

Notable Recent Grants (US Entity): The $100,000 capital grant to Youth United for Community Action (YUCA House acquisition) stands out as an unusual one-time investment. Climate Resilient Communities received $60,000 to establish Climate Change Community Teams in South San Francisco and San Bruno — a signal of expanding environmental programming. The Belong Fund and Belong Recovery Fund grants to Faith in Action Bay Area ($270,000 cumulative) represent the foundation's most sustained single-grantee investment.

Canadian Atkinson Foundation (2025-2026): The June 2025 completion of the 2025-2035 strategy, the fall 2025 launch of a Good Fight Prize public awareness campaign with full-page ads in the Toronto Star, the 2026 Atkinson Decent Work Fund launch, and the board-staff process to transfer endowment funds to Indigenous-led entities all mark a period of significant institutional evolution.

For US Atkinson Foundation (atkinsonfdn.org) applicants:

Use the three-cycle calendar strategically. The foundation runs three annual rounds with specific program areas assigned to each: February 1 deadline covers mental/physical health and in-school programs (grants paid end of March); May 1 deadline covers immigrants/refugees, women's services, people with disabilities, and out-of-school programs (grants paid end of June); August 1 deadline covers basic needs, early childhood care/education, and vocational education (grants paid end of September). Submitting in the correct cycle is not optional — the foundation assigns program areas to specific windows.

Lead with geography before mission. San Mateo County presence must be explicit and primary. Multi-county organizations should quantify what percentage of staff, budget, and beneficiaries are in San Mateo County. Coastside-serving organizations (Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Pescadero) should name the geography prominently — the foundation has demonstrated sustained investment in the Coastside through multiple grantees.

Request general operating support. The overwhelming pattern across 578 grants is 'general support' or 'general operating support' as the stated purpose. Framing your entire organizational ask as unrestricted operating funds aligns with the foundation's philosophy. Project-specific asks are a weaker fit.

Emphasize BIPOC community leadership and lived experience. Foundation guidelines explicitly prioritize BIPOC communities and historically marginalized populations. Describe board composition, staff demographics, and how community members with lived experience shape organizational direction.

Respect the budget cap. Organizations with annual budgets over $10 million are ineligible. If your budget is near this threshold, confirm your eligibility before investing application time.

Build relationships before applying. Multiple grants carry honorarium language noting board member recognition — 'in honor of Jean Atkinson's board service,' 'in honor of Linda Lanier's board service.' Warm introductions from existing grantees or community members connected to foundation board members carry real weight.

For Canadian Atkinson Foundation (atkinsonfoundation.ca) applicants:

Email a concise pitch to jmiller@atkinsonfoundation.ca. The foundation funds Ontario-based organizations working on decent work, economic justice, Indigenous reconciliation, and community wealth building. Given the 21-partner model, new entrants should expect a longer cultivation timeline and should demonstrate connection to existing movement infrastructure.