Samantha and Darren Bechtel Family Foundation
Invitation OnlySan Francisco, California · EIN 20-0721636 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$690K
Organizations funded23
Typical grant$5,000
Total assets$8.1M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $4,000 and $30,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
8% of grants went outside California.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeths Smile Foundation | Westport, CT | To support children and young adults with an incurably ill parent, before and after the parent's death. | $250,000 |
| California Liver Institute | San Francisco, CA | To support cli's move and renovation of its new home at ucsf. for this grant opportunity, we have an overhead/indirect rate limit of 5% of… | $100,000 |
| Lone Mountain Childrens Center Inc | San Francisco, CA | To support the school's mission and philosophy as active parents in the community and by providing meaningful and predictable financial… | $50,000 |
| Thacher School Inc | Ojai, CA | Thacher annual fund | $50,000 |
| The Exploratorium | San Francisco, CA | Capital campaign to support the exploratorium stability & revitalization fund | $50,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | Stanford, CA | The stanford fund | $30,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | Stanford, CA | General operating supportfor the stanford graduate school of business | $30,000 |
| Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy | San Francisco, CA | General operating support (trustee giving) | $25,000 |
| Marin Community Foundation | Novato, CA | For the sybil sugarman memorial fund, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children battling dipg. | $25,000 |
| The Exploratorium | San Francisco, CA | General operating support (trustee giving) | $25,000 |
| Tipping Point Community | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $10,000 |
| City of St Helena | St Helena, CA | To support the st. helena fire department | $5,000 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | To support the cornell program in infrastructure policy, in recognition of darren's board involvement. | $5,000 |
| Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $5,000 |
| San Francisco Ballet Association | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $5,000 |
| San Francisco Opera Association | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $5,000 |
| The Boys & Girls Clubs of St Helena and Calistoga | St Helena, CA | General operating support | $5,000 |
| San Francisco Zoological Society | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $4,000 |
| California Academy of Sciences | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $3,500 |
| Children of Shelters | San Francisco, CA | General support | $2,500 |
| San Francisco Museum of Modern Art | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $2,500 |
| Headlands Center for the Arts | Sausalito, CA | General operating support | $1,500 |
| Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $1,500 |
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | Stanford, CA | The stanford fund | $120,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | Stanford, CA | General operating support for the stanford graduate school of business | $120,000 |
| Tipping Point Community | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $40,000 |
| San Francisco Museum of Modern Art | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $30,000 |
| City of St Helena | St Helena, CA | To support the st. helena fire department | $20,000 |
| Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $20,000 |
| San Francisco Ballet Association | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $20,000 |
| San Francisco Opera Association | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $20,000 |
| The Boys & Girls Clubs of St Helena and Calistoga | St Helena, CA | General operating support | $20,000 |
| Yellowstone Club Community Foundation | Bozeman, MT | Black diamond membership 2025 and 2026 | $20,000 |
| Bay Area Discovery Museum | Sausalito, CA | General operating support | $16,000 |
| San Francisco Zoological Society | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $16,000 |
| California Academy of Sciences | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $14,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $690,500 | 36 |
| 2023 | $430,000 | 8 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Oct 30, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202503039349101800
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 20-0721636
- Profile updated Nov 6, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.