Getting to Know the Borch Foundation, a Bay Area Tech Funder
/ Alyssa Ochs
Habitat for Humanity is among the nonprofits that have received Borch support. Kathy Hutchins/shutterstock
Editor's note: This article was revised and updated on 9/30/2021.
While some Bay Area tech philanthropists are regularly in the spotlight, many others fly under the radar and keep even big gifts low-key. Not a whole lot is known about the philanthropy of Christopher and Andrea Borch, but they’re interesting for their local dedication and broad interest areas.
Here are three things to know about the Saratoga, California-based Borch Foundation for grantseekers in the Bay Area.
The Borch Couple is Deeply Rooted in California
Although Christopher Borch has his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and spent 17 years living and working in Asia, this couple’s California roots run deep.
Borch has a Silicon Valley engineering and manufacturing operation for his Micro-Mechanics (Holdings) Ltd., as well as a factory in Morgan Hill, California. Much of the Borch couple’s giving is centered on Northern California and the Bay Area, although the funder does not appear to have any hard and fast geographic restrictions in place at this time.
Grantmaking Interests Are Broad
Christopher Borch is still active in business, so there is a lot more than just philanthropy going on in this family. He and his wife, Andrea, established the Borch Foundation in 2007, and have focused on a wide variety of interests since that time. For example, the couple is committed to causes for children and youth, yet often through grants to familiar universities that hold personal affiliations.
They have also awarded grants to human services causes, such as the Second Harvest Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity. The environment and animals appear to be of importance to the Borch couple, as well; they’ve given grants to the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, Nature Conservancy and San Jose Animal Care Center.
Unsolicited Requests Are Welcome
Considering that the Borch Foundation does not have a website, it’s surprising that the couple welcomes unsolicited requests for funding. According to the foundation’s most recent available tax records, it does not require applicants to fill out a specific form, but is open to receiving requests by mail. Their foundation does not have deadlines, nor any geographical restrictions. The couple has awarded grants as low as $500 and others in the hundreds of thousands, but keep requests in the $5,000 to $25,000 range, because this is what’s most commonly awarded.
Learn more about this funder and others in the region by checking out IP’s Bay Area Funding Guide.
