General Service Foundation

Open & Accessible
Private Foundation
SAN RAMON, CaliforniaMediumEIN: 366018535
Civil Rights OrganizationsLGBTQ+ Rights OrganizationsRacial Justice OrganizationsWomen Empowerment NonprofitsSocial Justice Organizations

General Service Foundation's official site provides the foundation's mission, program pages (What We Fund, Lani Shaw Movement Award, Healing Justice) and a Grants page describing biannual grantmaking. The site lists contact details (phone and [email protected]) and shows recent site activity (© 2026).

Source: Website · Mar 2026

Ideal Applicant

Organizations doing movement-driven racial and gender justice work, often national or regional advocacy, coalition, or fiscal-sponsor structures and projects that align with organizing, narrative/cultural work, and leadership development.

Good Fit

  • Works on racial, gender, or social justice through organizing, alliance building, or narrative work.
  • Is a national or regional organization, coalition, membership network, or uses a fiscal sponsor.
  • Seeks multi-year or general support in the grant size bands the foundation commonly awards ($50K–$250K).
  • Has visibility within movement networks that could lead to invitation.

Geography

Broad

Observed grants in the latest year reached 13 states and about 73% of grant dollars went outside the foundation's home state, indicating a multi-state, national footprint despite a notable in-state share (about 27%).

Recipient Variety

Broad

The latest year shows 58 grants to 53 distinct recipients with roughly half the recipients new that year and consistent multi-year grantmaking to many independent organizations, so the portfolio is broadly distributed rather than restricted to a tiny circle.

New Applicants

Moderate

Direct application routes are restricted—public materials state no new LOIs and that proposals are by invitation—but the foundation still added many new grantees in recent years (27 new recipients in 2024, 34 in 2023), so new entrants do appear but are likely brought in through networks or invitation rather than open unsolicited submission.

Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026