Columbia Foundation currently has three program areas:

• Arts and Culture
• Human Rights
• Food and Farming

For detailed information about each program area, please follow the links above. Additionally, please read information about Foundation-Initiated grants and Media Guidelines.

The goal is to support art as a way of enriching life experience.

Grantmaking* is focused on programs in San Francisco and London to:

• provide opportunities to artists from diverse cultures for the creation, development, performance or exhibition in the performing (music, opera, dance, theater) literary, or visual arts; and
• engage new audiences and increase access to the arts for, and participation in the arts by, underserved communities.

*General support is considered only for organizations with annual operating budgets under $500,000.

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The goals are to significantly increase sustainable, organic farming and regional foodsheds for cities and towns.*

Grantmaking is focused on programs in California working to:

• preserve and enhance biodiversity as it relates to agriculture;
• accelerate the pace of transition to sustainable, organic growing practices;
• increase access to farmland for new farmers; and
• develop the intellectual and policy frameworks to accelerate the transition to sustainable food systems

*Sustainable, organic production minimizes reliance on fossil fuels and maximizes soil fertility and productivity through biological processes that preserve and enhance biodiversity. A regional foodshed is whatever size agricultural area is necessary to feed the community(ies) located within it.

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The goal is to help protect basic human rights, including economic, social, cultural, civil, and political freedom. As defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, these are not privileges granted by governments, nor can governments abrogate them.

Grantmaking is focused on San Francisco Bay Area programs working to:

• prevent child sexual abuse (CSA) by increasing public education about CSA and disclosure by survivors of CSA to enable them to recover mental and physical health;
• improve the fairness of elections and effectiveness of representative democracy with an emphasis on ending pay-to-play politics and providing for public financing by citizens of election campaigns; and
• achieve marriage equality through public education and policy development programs at the state and national level.

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• appreciation of a diversity of ideas and people
• focus on underlying causes of, and systemic solutions to, social inequities and environmental degradation
• responsible stewardship of charitable assets

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• approach grantmaking with a long-term perspective
• participate in partnerships for cumulative impact
• engage proactively with new leaders and ideas
• consult with external communities and experts to identify the highest and best use of funds

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Madeleine Russell’s legacy to the foundation included her willingness to (1) tackle big issues even as a small foundation, (2) support unpopular causes, (3) consider projects whether local, national, or international, (4) always try to “make a difference” whether through continuing loyal support or through start-up grants. Over time, Columbia has focused increasingly on California over national programs. International grantmaking was always a very small part of the Columbia program and is not considered currently, with the exception of support for arts organizations and programs in London.

The foundation’s programs have encompassed different approaches to grantmaking as follows:

1. Within an area like environment, urban community, or human rights, when the foundation did not have defined program goals it looked for opportunities to support a few of the best organizations in the field, or to identify new, promising organizations that were doing good and important work, and that had not yet attracted the attention and support of other funders. It was the organization itself that was the primary focus of the grant review. In the arts, the foundation valued the quality of the art including less well known art from diverse cultures, while also supporting programs involving the next generation of artists and those who are reaching new audiences. The tried and true might be great art, but Columbia has more often funded “value-added” projects than institutional support for ongoing work.
2. When the foundation established more defined program goals (e.g., elimination of prejudice and discrimination based on sexual and gender diversity, sustainable food and farming systems in California), grant proposals were assessed in relation to the goals. Thus, it was not the merits of the nonprofit organization that were the primary subject of assessment; it was whether the nonprofit could significantly contribute to progress towards a program goal set by the foundation. The capacity of the nonprofit to work effectively on the program goals has been the primary, although not the only, consideration.
3. In some instances the foundation has dispensed with local limitations when the goals of the program would be best served by organizations working at the national level or in another geographic region (e.g., Freedom to Marry, Civil Marriage Collaborative, Public Campaign, Compassion in Dying).
4. There has been a continuing tension between: (1) a desire to provide only “start-up funds” for new endeavors and the often compelling need to provide funding for the long haul to strengthen an organization(s) in a new field; (2) consideration of small-scale, local, hands-on organizations providing direct service or developing new models versus more high-powered organizations that can work for systemic change; (3) funding for big organizations/institutions with established fundraising offices where other funding is often more available versus funding for smaller, newer organizations.
5. When focused on a program goal, the foundation sometimes has provided funding, either general-support or project-support grants, over five or even ten years to an organization, when it is assessed to be the most effective single actor working towards a goal set by the foundation.

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The following questions are among those considered when reviewing an application for a grant.

1. Benefit – Does the program/activity hold promise for significant benefit of the foundation’s program goal? Of the many approaches/strategies employed by organizations, why does this approach offer the promise of success?
2. Context – What other organizations and leaders are active in this field? Is government involved? Does the private sector address this issue effectively? Is collaboration among organizations occurring?
3. Leadership – Who are the leaders? Success of the program/organization is largely due to the competence, creativity, experience, dedication, and energy of the leaders of the organizations/projects.
4. Cost – What is the cost of the activity? Is it reasonable in relationship to the promised benefits/outcomes?
5. Benchmarks – How many years/how many grants might Columbia consider for this organization until a major benchmark of progress is achieved or until the goal is achieved?
6. Likelihood of success – What is the probability that the benefits will be achieved? High risk, high gain? Low risk, high gain? High risk, low gain? Low risk, low gain?
7. Urgency – Is the issue urgent, requiring attention on a timely basis; are there special conditions now that increase the likelihood of success?
8. Time-frame – Will the benefit be achieved in the near future (3 to 5 years), in an adult’s lifetime (5 to 25 years), or in the long-term (for the next generation)?
9. Need – Does the applicant organization need Columbia funding, or is it probable it could secure funding elsewhere?

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Columbia considers organizations with public charity status: (1) 501(c)(3) status for U.S. organizations, and (2) registration with The Charity Commission in the U.K. for London organizations. The foundation does not consider letters of inquiry from for-profit organizations or individuals.

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Grants to support capital and endowment campaigns of large organizations (annual operating budget above $5 million) are a lower priority and are usually initiated by the foundation.

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