Gerson Bakar Foundation

The Gerson Bakar Foundation operates as an invitation-only private foundation, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. Founded in 1984 by real estate developer Gerson Bakar (1928-2017) and his wife Barbara Bass Bakar, the foundation has grown to over $2.5 billion in assets. Its grantmaking is highly concentrated: over half of annual distributions (which exceeded $161 million in 2024) flow to the University of California campuses at Berkeley and San Francisco. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and does not maintain a public website or open application process. Leadership rests with Barbara Bass Bakar as Chair/President, with directors Richard L. Greene and Anne Bakar. The foundation employs only 3 staff members, reflecting its lean, relationship-driven approach to philanthropy. Its strategy favors long-term, recurring general operating support to a stable roster of grantees rather than competitive grant cycles.

The Gerson Bakar Foundation's giving has evolved significantly over time. The number of individual grants has declined from 74 in 2017 to 33 in 2024, while total dollar amounts have grown substantially — from approximately $90 million annually to over $161 million in 2024. This reflects a consolidation strategy: fewer grantees receiving larger awards. The grant range is extraordinarily wide, from $90 to over $96 million for a single recipient (UCSF Foundation). The median grant is approximately $20,000, but the distribution is heavily skewed by multi-million-dollar commitments to UC institutions. Primary funding areas include higher education (dominant), K-12 education, Jewish causes, arts and culture, animal welfare, and human services. Geographically, 22 of 33 grants in 2024 went to California-based organizations, with additional giving in New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Washington. The foundation's investment income of $73.7 million (2024) supports its substantial distribution levels.

Among San Francisco Bay Area mega-foundations with billion-dollar-plus assets focused on education and community, the Gerson Bakar Foundation stands out for its concentrated, invitation-only approach.

The Bakar Foundation is notably more opaque than its peers — most comparable foundations accept letters of inquiry and publish grant guidelines. Its payout rate (approximately 6.3% of assets) exceeds the 5% IRS minimum, indicating genuine philanthropic commitment rather than mere compliance. Its per-staff giving ratio is extraordinarily high given only 3 employees manage $161M+ in annual distributions.

In the most recent fiscal year (2024), the Gerson Bakar Foundation distributed $161.5 million across 33 grants. The largest single grant was $96.5 million to the UCSF Foundation Investment Company, underscoring the foundation's deep commitment to UC San Francisco and its medical research programs including the Bakar Cancer Hospital (opened 2015). The UC Berkeley Foundation received $37 million, supporting programs like the Bakar Fellows Program for early-career faculty in science and technology research, and the Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics. Smith College received $10 million, and the Addison Labs Foundation received $7.8 million. The foundation continues to support Berkeley Hillel ($37M noted in one source), reflecting its strong Jewish philanthropic commitments. The trend toward fewer but larger grants continues, with total expenses of $184 million in 2024. Barbara Bass Bakar continues to lead the foundation following Gerson Bakar's passing in 2017, maintaining the family's philanthropic legacy with an emphasis on the institutions her late husband championed throughout his life.

The Gerson Bakar Foundation explicitly states it does not accept unsolicited proposals, making direct applications essentially impossible. However, organizations seeking to get on the foundation's radar should consider these strategies: (1) Build relationships with existing grantees — organizations like UCSF, UC Berkeley, the San Francisco SPCA, and the Contemporary Jewish Museum have long histories with the foundation and could potentially facilitate introductions. (2) Align with core focus areas — the foundation prioritizes higher education (especially UC system), Jewish community organizations, arts and culture in the Bay Area, and animal welfare. Organizations outside these areas have virtually no chance of funding. (3) Demonstrate Bay Area impact — nearly all grantmaking is geographically focused on the San Francisco Bay Area, with the exception of some national Jewish organizations. (4) Pursue the related Barbara and Gerson Bakar Foundation (DBA The Achieve Foundation, EIN 20-5691977), which operates as a separate entity with additional grantmaking. (5) Consider that the foundation values long-term institutional relationships and general operating support over project-specific grants — organizations that can demonstrate enduring mission alignment with the Bakar family's interests in education, healthcare, and Jewish community life are most likely to eventually receive support.