Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation provides support for the arts, education, and the environment and animals in the San Francisco area.

IP TAKE: The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation favors classical music and opera. Its education funding centers on public universities in Northern California. However, even while privileging these two areas, the foundation has no clear giving strategy and makes grants across a wide-variety of interests. Grantseekers will want to network here.

PROFILE: Established in 1986, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation is based in San Francisco. Gordon Getty is the son of the oil baron J. Paul Getty. Gordon and his wife, Ann, started the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation shortly after selling Getty Oil to Texaco for $10 billion in mid 1980s. Gordon Getty earned a bachelor of arts degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and is a renowned classical composer. He and his wife have underwritten productions of the San Francisco Opera, and Gordon has composed several of his own operas, piano pieces, and choral works. He also has financed restaurants, a Napa Valley winery, a hotel resort, and several retail clothing stores. Grantmaking includes art, opera, symphony, museums, and art education.

Grants for Arts Education, Arts and Culture

The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundations grants for the arts and arts education largely focus on classical music and opera. In these areas, the foundation tends to support mid-sized or established organizations. Past grantees include the San Francisco Opera, the San Francisco Symphony, the Merola Opera Program, the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

The foundation’s arts education funding has mainly benefited higher education. Grantees in this area include the University of San Francisco and the University of California Berkeley.

Grants for Environment, Animal Welfare and Wildlife, and Marine and Freshwater

The foundation does not have a clear giving strategy; however, tax records show that it has consistently supported organizations in these areas. Past grantees include World Wildlife Fund, Environmental Defense Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, Ocean Conservancy, Union of Concerned Scientists, and the Wilderness Society, among many others.

Important Grant Details:

In past years, the foundation has awarded more than 500 grants a year, ranging in size from $1,500 to $1 million. A majority of grants are awarded in amounts less than $50,000, and $5,000 is the most common amount.

  • The foundation does not publicize its grantmaking schedule or guidelines.

  • The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and only funds pre-selected organizations.

Direct general questions to the foundation by phone at 415-352-4410.

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CONTACT:

Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation

1 Embarcadero Ctr., Ste. 1350

San Francisco, CA 94111

415-352-4410