A Look at Matt and Gretchen DiNapoli’s Bay Area Giving
/ Alyssa Ochs
Editor's note: This article was revised and updated on 10/5/21.
Although many philanthropists in the Bay Area of California made their wealth in the tech industry, real estate is another big money-maker that is propelling regional donations. One example is Matthew DiNapoli, who has been involved in real estate investing, developing, and managing for over 20 years. He is the CEO of DiNapoli Capital Partners and is married to Gretchen DiNapoli, a Los Gatos designer.
The Matt and Gretchen DiNapoli Family Foundation is a low-key giver. There’s very little public information available about it, so we gathered here some key details area grantseekers should know.
A Connection to Local Schools
Thus far, local Bay Area schools have been a top priority for the DiNapoli couple, especially schools that have a personal connection to Matt and Gretchen. Their children have gone to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, and Matt once served as the board of trustees for this school. The couple has also supported Gretchen’s school, Presentation High School.
Passion for the Arts
In addition to education, the arts are another interest for the DiNapolis. Once again, personal connections have been driving the foundation’s grants. Funding has gone to the Montalvo Arts Center, the Tech Museum of Innovation, and the Stern Grove Festival. The Children’s Musical Theatre and the Notable Music & Arts Organization, both in San Jose, have also received grants. On rarer occasions when grantmaking strays from education and the arts, the DiNapolis have funded local churches, food banks, animal organizations, and disease associations.
Unsolicited Requests are Unwelcome
Not only does the DiNapoli Family Foundation not have a website to inform grantseekers about guidelines and deadlines, but it also identifies its own grantees to support. According to recent tax records, this funder does not accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits, even local outfits. Outside the Bay Area, the DiNapolis have awarded grants in Los Angeles on a fairly regular basis.
This foundation was established in 2011, so it’s been around for quite a while by now. Yet both Matt and Gretchen DiNapoli are still very much involved with their businesses, so philanthropy certainly is not the only thing they have going on in their lives these days. However, this could change in the years to come—and that would likely be good news for Bay Area nonprofits, which have always been at the center of the DiNapoli couple’s charitable interests.
Learn more about the DiNapolis and how to contact the foundation in our full profile of the Matt and Gretchen DiNapoli Family Foundation in our Bay Area and NorCal Funders Guide.
