Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation focuses on education, the environment, policy, human rights, libraries and arts and culture in the Bay Area and beyond.
IP TAKE: The Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation is a broad, local funder that prefers a low profile, proactive approach, which makes it difficult for new grantees. It lacks transparency and does not provide a clear way to get in touch about grants. Potential grantees will want to network here, although an address is listed below.
PROFILE: Established in 1997, the Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation a foundation based in Belvedere, California. In 1978, Stephen Silberstein co-founded Innovative Interfaces, which develops automated systems for libraries. Today the company has more than 2,400 library systems installed in 9,500+ libraries, spanning the globe in at least 66 countries. Silberstein is now retired and has engaged in philanthropy through the Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation.
Grants for Education
This foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers. However, Silberstein broadly focuses much of his philanthropy on education. Education grants tend to focus on higher education, libraries and general education grants.
Silberstein has been a trustee of U.C. Berkeley Foundation and U.C. Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy. Past grantees include the U.C. Berkeley Foundation and the Berkeley Public Education Foundation.
The founder has also supported libraries in the Bay Area. Silberstein has served on the board of the Belvedere-Tiburon Library Foundation, and past support has gone to the Berkeley Public Library and Alameda Free Library Association. Silberstein also funds policy work and human rights.
Grants for Democracy and Civic Engagement
The foundation does not seem to have clear funding priorities, but public affairs and voting rights receive significant support. Past grantees include National Vote at Home Institute, National Redistricting Foundation, Media Matters for America, and Economic Policy Institute.
Important Grant Details:
Foundation grants are often between $50,000 and $1 million each.
Review the funder’s recent tax records to learn more about its local giving.
Funding is largely focused on the Bay Area of California and the city of Berkeley.
Past human rights grantees include Ella Baker Center for Human Rights Impact Fund and the Movement Strategy Center in Oakland. Silberstein also has funded environmental and arts and culture organizations in the Bay Area, including San Francisco Baykeeper and the Berkeley Repertory Theater.
It does not appear that this foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. Direct general questions to the foundation at 415-435-1692.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
CONTACT:
1 Cliff Rd
Belvedere Tiburon, CA 94920-2432
415-435-1692
