Bella Charitable Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Bella Charitable Foundation supports education, youth, and refugees in the San Francisco Bay Area in California and Colorado.
IP TAKE: This family foundation is all about helping students attend and succeed in K-12 school and in college. Grantmaking is typically limited to the San Francisco Bay Area, and Jefferson and Denver counties in Colorado. The foundation is not very accessible and only accepts unsolicited applications for its Manolita's Grant program. The same groups make an appearance on BCF’s 990s year after year, so new grantseekers will find this a tough nut to crack.
PROFILE: The Bella Charitable Foundation (BCF) is a private family foundation based in Burlingame, California, which is in the San Francisco Bay Area. A husband and wife team, Juan Jaen and Anita Galeana, created this foundation to pursue their philanthropic interests. Juan Jaen grew up in Spain and met Anita Galeana while attending school in Michigan. The couple moved to the San Francisco Bay Area so that Juan could pursue his biotechnology career. He co-founded Flexus Biosciences and has been leading research and development for cancer immunotherapies at Arcus Biosciences, which he also co-founded. Anita pursued a nursing career, stayed at home to raise the couple’s children, pursued piano studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has worked with various education-related nonprofits. BCF funds local efforts for education, youth, and refugees.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
Education is the foundation’s largest giving area. BCF partners with Changing Perspectives to provide curriculum for K-12 schools throughout Jefferson and Denver counties in Colorado. These grants enable schools to receive teacher training and professional development, programming to engage families and establish relationships between school and home, and access to an “extensive SEL curriculum.” SEL stands for Social Emotional Learning.
In addition to Changing Perspectives, BCF supports Wayfinder, VIA Institute on Character, Happi, and Mindful Schools, all SEL K-12 schools.
In the realm of higher education, the foundation has a robust scholarship program that helps students complete their education at California colleges and universities, including University of California at Riverside, California State University - East Bay, University of San Francisco, San Jose University, San Francisco University, and University of California, Merced.
Grants for Immigrants and Refugees
BCF’s Manolita's Grant program supports 501(c)3 organizations whose work provides legal aid, financial assistance, therapeutic and educational activities, or promotes the rights of refugees “who were forced to leave their homeland due to violence or war.” It does not provide funds for general operating costs and all grant money must be applied to program costs. The program application is here.
Grants for Arts and Culture, Northern California, and the Bay Area
While it is not the largest giving area by any means, the foundation has demonstrated a willingness to give to arts and culture groups, particularly in the Bay Area. Past grantees include Music at Kohl Mansion and The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life.
Important Grant Details
Grants range between about $100 and $50,000; however, the most common amount is $5,000. BCF gives away around $100,000 annually.
Grantmaking focuses on the San Francisco Bay Area of California and Colorado.
This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. Direct general questions to the staff here.
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