Creekside Foundation

The Creekside Foundation is a preselected-only family foundation led by the Dachs family that does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It distributes approximately $1.9M annually with giving heavily concentrated in two anchor institutions: Wesleyan University ($1.425M in 2024 for facilities and scholarships) and Crystal Springs Uplands School ($1.37M in 2024 for capital campaign and financial aid). Together these two institutions received approximately 95% of 2024 distributions. Beyond these anchor relationships, the foundation makes smaller grants ($1,000-$25,000) to youth-serving organizations, children's health research (Lucile Packard Foundation), and community organizations. The foundation's 2024 receipt of a $10.45M contribution suggests significant new capital that may increase future grantmaking capacity. Organizations seeking funding would need to establish relationships through the Dachs family network, with the strongest alignment being educational institutions with financial aid programs or children's health research.

The Creekside Foundation saw a transformative year in 2024, receiving $10.45M in contributions (up from $0 in prior years) which boosted assets and total revenue to $10.9M. Prior to 2024, the foundation operated on investment returns alone. Total charitable disbursements in 2024 were $1.94M (99.7% of expenses), with $0 in officer compensation. The giving is extremely concentrated: Wesleyan University received $1.425M (facilities fund and scholarships) and Crystal Springs Uplands School received $1.37M (capital campaign and financial aid). Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health received $400,000 for prematurity research and facilities. The remaining grants were much smaller: One Love Foundation ($25K), Kukio Hoomana Fund ($15K), Peninsula Bridge Program ($10K), with Bates College, The Carey School, Mount Tamalpais School, and There With Care each receiving $5K, and Wood River Bicycle Coalition and St. Luke's Wood River Foundation each receiving $1K. Geographic distribution centers on California (10 grants) and Connecticut (4 grants), with additional grants to organizations in Idaho, Maine, Maryland, and Hawaii. The median grant is approximately $5,000-$25,000, but the large anchor grants skew the average significantly upward.

The Creekside Foundation is a small family foundation relative to major Bay Area philanthropic institutions. Its distinctive characteristic is the extreme concentration of giving in two educational institutions (Wesleyan University and Crystal Springs Uplands School), which receive over 95% of annual distributions. The recent $10.45M infusion suggests the foundation may be positioning for expanded grantmaking in future years.

The most significant recent development is the $10.45M contribution received in 2024, which dramatically increased the foundation's revenue from $1.6M (2023) to $10.9M and represents the largest single contribution in the foundation's history. This infusion lifted net assets and suggests either a major estate gift or a strategic recapitalization by the Dachs family. Total 2024 charitable disbursements reached $1.94M across 12 grants, with the largest going to Wesleyan University ($1.425M) and Crystal Springs Uplands School ($1.37M). The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health received $400,000 for prematurity research. The foundation also continued its pattern of smaller grants to youth and community organizations in California, Idaho, and Hawaii. The foundation website (creeksidefoundation.com) is hosted on Wix but currently renders without extractable content. The most recent 990-PF filing covers the 2024 fiscal year.

The Creekside Foundation is a closed, family-directed private foundation that only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Key considerations: (1) The foundation's giving is extremely concentrated, with Wesleyan University and Crystal Springs Uplands School receiving 95%+ of annual distributions, leaving limited capacity for new grantees; (2) The remaining grants ($1K-$25K) go to youth-serving organizations, children's health, and community groups primarily in California and Connecticut; (3) The Dachs family directs all grantmaking through a three-member board with no staff compensation; (4) The recent $10.45M contribution may expand future grantmaking capacity, potentially opening opportunities for new organizations; (5) Organizations with the strongest alignment would be educational institutions with financial aid or scholarship programs, children's health research organizations (particularly prematurity/neonatal), and youth development programs in the Bay Area or other geographies where the Dachs family has connections (Idaho/Sun Valley, Hawaii); (6) There is no public application process or contact information beyond the San Francisco PO Box.