The Charles N. Felton and Charlotte Ashley Felton Endowment is a private philanthropic fund that awards annual grants to nonprofit organizations that contribute to the musical or educational advancement of the City of San Francisco, California, or that serve to benefit economically disadvantaged residents within the city. This endowment is administered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., which serves as the trustee for the fund.
Grants are specifically aimed at supporting programmatic efforts that align with the foundation’s mission. The priority areas include arts, culture, and humanities; education; health; human services; and public or societal benefit. The fund provides program support, not operational or salary funding, and gives preference to organizations directly located in and serving San Francisco.
To qualify for funding, applicants must be a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status or a qualified governmental entity. Geographic restrictions apply, as all eligible organizations must be based in San Francisco, California. The foundation does not typically fund salary-related expenses and tends to support a small number of projects annually.
Applications are accepted year-round but must be submitted by April 15 to be considered during the annual grant review. The review process concludes approximately three months after the submission deadline, and applicants will be notified of decisions via email. Funded organizations may be required to submit periodic progress updates and a final report detailing the outcomes of the funded work.
The foundation generally awards between one and three grants annually, with average awards ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 and a total average annual giving of approximately $12,000. Organizations may apply via the online portal managed by the trustee.
