Crankstart Foundation
Crankstart Foundation is a San Francisco–based private foundation (EIN 94-3377099) that funds work in economic mobility, education, democracy, housing security, environment, and medical science, with a strong focus on the Bay Area. The site describes program priorities and contact guidance and aligns with the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings and public grant records.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A mission-aligned Bay Area nonprofit or an intermediary working on housing, education, economic mobility, democracy, environment, or related systems-change work with organizational capacity for multi-year/general support.
Good Fit
- • Clear alignment with the foundation’s Bay Area program priorities (housing, education, economic mobility, democracy, environment, medical science).
- • Demonstrated capacity to absorb multi-year or multi-hundred-thousand-dollar general operating support.
- • Existing relationships or introductions via local intermediaries or funder collaboratives.
- • Participation in regional initiatives or pooled funds the foundation supports.
Geography
Grants reach many states (19 distinct states observed in the latest year) but funding is heavily concentrated in California, where roughly two-thirds of dollars were directed and the Bay Area is a clear focus.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows broad distribution—428 grants to 346 distinct recipients with many small and mid-sized awards alongside larger institutional grants—indicating a wide and diverse recipient set.
New Applicants
Direct evidence shows many new grantees entered the portfolio in the latest year (132 new recipients), but the foundation publicly states it only funds preselected applicants and does not run an open application process, so unsolicited entry appears possible but limited and usually relationship- or outreach-driven.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
