Matt and Gretchen DiNapoli Family Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Matt & Gretchen DiNapoli Family Foundation’s grantmaking include support of local schools, healthcare, and human services institutions, among other interests in California.
IP TAKE: The foundation lacks transparency and keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. It appears to pre-select its grantees and does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. This funder is a real challenge for new grantseekers as it tends to fund many of the same groups year after year. It does not provide a way to get in touch, but we have provided contact information below.
PROFILE: Established in 2011, the Matt & Gretchen DiNapoli Family Foundation was founded by real estate investor veteran Matt NiNapoli and his wife, Gretchen, who is also a designer in Los Gatos. He is CEO of DiNapoli Capital Partners and has been actively involved in real estate development, investment, and management for over two decades. The foundation lacks transparency and does not maintain a public presence, but tax fillings suggest that the Matt and Gretchen DiNapoli Family Foundation grantmaking supports local schools, healthcare, and human services institutions, among other interests in California.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education, and Arts Education
While the Matt & Gretchen DiNapoli Family Foundation does not seem to have clear funding priorities, tax records show that education has received the lion’s share of support. Much of the DiNapoli’s grantmaking goes to Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School, where Matthew NiNapoli once served as president for the board of trustees, and other Catholic education groups, including Sacred Heart Nativity School. Other past grantees include Presentation High School, Bellarmine College Preparatory, and Cristo Rey San Jose High School.
Santa Clara College received $212,500 in 2022, and the college has seen regular support over the years. Other higher education grantees include DiNapoli’s alma maters University of Southern California and Columbia University, where he earned a B.A. in political science and an MBA, respectively.
Some of the arts education organizations that have seen support include Notable Music and Arts Organization, Montalvo Arts Center, the Tech Museum of Innovation, Friends of the Brentwood Art Center, and San Jose Childrens’ Musical Theater.
Grants for Public Health and Access, Diseases
Health is another important area of grantmaking and hospitals and other healthcare groups have received a lot of support. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Children's Burn Foundation, Eating Disorders Resource Center, and Best Buddies, for developmental disability services.
The foundation also makes grants to disease organizations as part of its healthcare grantmaking, including Concern Foundation for cancer research, JDRF International for diabetes care, and The Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation.
Grants for Bay Area and NorCal, Community Development
Almost all foundation grantmaking stays in the Bay Area. Human services organizations, especially, have received support here, including Second Harvest Food Bank, All Stars Helping Kids, Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen, CityTeam Ministries, Southbay Teen Challenge, and Hunger at Home.
A number of local Catholic organizations have also been grant recipients, including Catholic Church Extension Society of USA, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Jesuits West, and Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County.
Important Grant Details
Grants range from $300 to $200,000; however, the most common amount is $1,000. It gave away over $468,000 in a recent year. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or LOIs, preferring to pre-select its grantees.
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CONTACT:
Matt & Gretchen DiNapoli Family Foundation
18 Park Avenue
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-471-1680
