Who funds The Exploratorium?
57 private foundations reported grants to The Exploratorium in San Francisco, California totaling $12.3 million across 67 grants in tax years 2023 to 2025. The largest funder was Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation, with $8.2 million.
From the funders' IRS Form 990-PF filings.
- Foundation funders57
- Grants reported67
- Total received$12.3 million
- Funders taking applications9
Foundations that fund The Exploratorium
| Foundation | Purpose given | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation | In support of an architectural master plan for campus site. | 8 | $8.2 million |
| Dhanam Foundation | To support the stability and revitalization fund | 2 | $1.0 million |
| William K Bowes Jr Foundation | Exploratorium gallery renewal | 1 | $1.0 million |
| The Eucalyptus Foundation | Stability & revitalization fund | 1 | $500,000 |
| Gerson Bakar Foundation | General support | 1 | $300,000 |
| The Bengier Foundation | Unrestricted | 1 | $250,000 |
| The Anne Wojcicki Foundation | General support | 1 | $250,000 |
| McMurtry Family Foundation of 2003 | To further and promote charitable efforts. | 1 | $100,000 |
| The Bernard Osher Foundation | Lifelong learning institutes | 1 | $100,000 |
| The Charles and Roberta Katz Family Foundation | General funding | 1 | $85,000 |
| Samantha and Darren Bechtel Family Foundation | Capital campaign to support the exploratorium stability & revitalization fund | 2 | $75,000 |
| Koret Foundation | Teacher professional development program | 2 | $75,000 |
| Clay Foundation - West | Unrestricted operating funds. | 1 | $40,000 |
| Robert and Dana Emery Family Foundation Rockefeller Trust Company | Unrestricted grant related to educational activities | 1 | $25,000 |
| Caldwell Fisher Family Foundation | Science/education | 1 | $25,000 |
| Dan and Stacey Case Family Foundation | To further organization's charitable purposes | 1 | $25,000 |
| Wendell Family Foundation | General purposes | 1 | $25,000 |
| Crankstart Foundation | General support | 1 | $25,000 |
| The Seed Fund Grants Inc | Sea level rise public education | 1 | $15,000 |
| The Griffith Family Foundation | General | 1 | $15,000 |
| Barn Road Foundation | General Support | 1 | $10,000 |
| Prologis Foundation | Arts & culture | 1 | $10,000 |
| Kelson Foundation | General support | 1 | $10,000 |
| Lisa Stone Pritzker Family Fund | To provide a public learning laboratory to explore the world through science, art, and human perception | 1 | $10,000 |
| John and Marcia Goldman Foundation | 2024 annual grant | 1 | $10,000 |
| The Wollenberg Foundation | Unrestricted | 1 | $10,000 |
| Tramiel Charitable Trust | Educational resources | 1 | $9,000 |
| The Grado Foundation | General support. | 1 | $7,500 |
| Paul S Nadler Family Charitable Trust | General | 1 | $5,000 |
| Starting Line Foundation | General purpose | 1 | $5,000 |
| The George & Wilma Leonard Charitable Foundation | Eleemosynary | 1 | $5,000 |
| Charlotte Palmer Phillips FoundationInc | General Purpose | 1 | $4,833 |
| Harold L Wyman Foundation Inc | Education | 1 | $4,000 |
| Robert K & Barbara J Straus Family Foundation Inc | In furtherance of 501(c)(3) exempt purpose | 1 | $2,500 |
| Mimi and Peter Haas Fund | 2024 phenomena(l) ball | 1 | $2,500 |
| The May Family Foundation | General charitable purposes | 1 | $2,500 |
| Opus Qua Foundation | Support charitable organizations that support education | 1 | $2,000 |
| Penner Family Foundation Inc | General Operating Support | 1 | $2,000 |
| Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund | For the explainer program. | 1 | $2,000 |
| The Greenspan Foundation 5223318 | General operating | 1 | $1,000 |
| The Granoff Family Foundation | Charitable organization | 1 | $1,000 |
| The Donohue Family Foundation | General and unrestricted | 1 | $1,000 |
| The Betsy & Alan D Cohn Foundation Inc | General purpose | 1 | $1,000 |
| Harvey and Leslie Wagner Foundation | General budget | 1 | $1,000 |
| Arthur and Charlotte Zitrin Foundation | General support | 1 | $1,000 |
| One Planet Foundation | To create inquiry-based experiences that transform learning worldwide. | 1 | $1,000 |
| Villa Family Foundation Inc | Education | 1 | $1,000 |
| Akiyama Family Foundation | Promote Education Activities | 1 | $1,000 |
| Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation | To carry out specific charitable, educational, and cultural projects | 1 | $1,000 |
| Pham Foundation | education | 1 | $938 |
| The WKW Family Foundation Inc | To support the organization in its mission to create inquiry-based experiences that transform learning worldwide. | 1 | $399 |
| Ralph & Marsha Guggenheim Family Foundation | General Support | 1 | $339 |
| Amazonsmile Foundation | General support | 1 | $307 |
| The Roy & Niuta Titus Foundation | By making science visible, touchable, and accessible to a wide variety of people - at the museum, online, and in the classroom - our explore-for-yourself way of learning and teaching influences science education worldwide. Our professional development programs provide educators with the skills, tools, and support they need to apply inquiry-based learning and teaching in their classes. | 1 | $199 |
| Textron Charitable Trust DTD 122353 | Matching gift to education | 1 | $199 |
| Texas Instruments Foundation | Donations to colleges, universities and other organizations under "matching gifts program." | 1 | $139 |
| Edward Jones Foundation | Arts, culture and humanities | 1 | $36 |
Using this list
A foundation that already gives to The Exploratorium gives in its field and region, so the list doubles as a prospect list for similar organizations in San Francisco. Open a foundation to see its application rules, typical grant and every other grant it paid.
Questions people ask
Who funds The Exploratorium?
Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation, Dhanam Foundation, William K Bowes Jr Foundation, The Eucalyptus Foundation and Gerson Bakar Foundation, and 52 more, according to their IRS Form 990-PF filings.
How much does The Exploratorium get from foundations?
$12.3 million in 67 reported grants from 57 private foundations in tax years 2023 to 2025. Government grants and gifts from individuals are not included.
Which of these funders accept applications?
The Bengier Foundation, The Bernard Osher Foundation, Koret Foundation, Robert and Dana Emery Family Foundation Rockefeller Trust Company and John and Marcia Goldman Foundation say in their filings that they accept applications.