The Mitchell Kapor (KAY-por) Foundation is a family foundation based in the San Francisco Bay Area. We support organizations that provoke social change in communities of color en route to equality.
We recognize that social change occurs on a continuum between communities and systems. Along that spectrum, we provide financial resources and assist with efforts to galvanize a compelling force for social change.
Founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Mitchell Kapor in 1997, the Foundation hopes to positively contribute to larger social change through working with community partners and philanthropic peers. We employ three strategies in pursuit of our mission: grantmaking and community partnerships, collaboration with other funders, and technical assistance to organizations.
We are particularly interested in working with organizations that have a racial justice analysis and an integrated use of information technology. Considerations include:
- Leadership/constituency of and focus on low-income communities of color
- Appropriate diverse representation on staff and board
- Appropriate use of available information technology to further mission, reach, and efficiency
- Based in the San Francisco Bay Area (preferred but not required)
Primary Areas of Work
- Strategic Grantmaking supports efforts to involve communities in civic matters through organizing, electoral empowerment, and policy change. Limited grants are available on a rolling basis throughout the year. Learn more about our Strategic Grants.
- The College Bound Brotherhood aims to expand the number of young African American men in the Bay Area who are prepared for a college education. We work with young men, community leaders, and networks of college readiness organizations to foster a college going culture among young black men. Limited grants are available once annually. Learn more about our Brotherhood program.
- Assistance & Advising works to provide capacity-building resources - direct technical assistance, workshops, and referrals - to support the community-based organizations we serve. Learn more about our Assistance & Advising.
We also provide $2.2 million in core support to our sister organization, Level Playing Field Institute, founded by Freada Kapor Klein in 2001, and offer limited discretionary grants to other efforts that more broadly address fairness and equity. We don't consider external solicitations and requests for these grants.
Our Vision
Through Mitchell Kapor Foundation grantmaking, we seek to:
- Include the perspectives and interests of people of color, their communities, and other marginalized groups when addressing concerns, ensuring that neither subtle nor overt racism shapes the definition of issues;
- Correspondingly, afford opportunities to and have a positive impact on all communities, especially low-income communities of color;
- Help people develop empathy, understanding, and connection across lines of class, race, ethnicity, and religion;
- Enhance opportunities for average people, especially in low income communities of color, to renew democracy by participation in and influence on political and decision-making processes at all levels; and
- Render social and political issues more understandable so that people can make informed decisions and advocate for courses of action.
Jobs
We operate with a small staff, and job openings are rare. Any available positions will always be listed on our blog.
If you're interested in volunteering, we're happy to talk with you. Please contact us.
