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: This progressive funder keeps a low profile, but makes substantial grants to groups whose work aligns with its values. It does not have a strong web presence or provide a clear way to get in touch about grants. It’s not accessible or responsive, but a number has been provided below for general questions.
It is unclear how much money Silberstein has in reserve, but a past 990 indicated nearly $110 million in assets in his foundation. Expect money to continue streaming to Silberstein’s select interest areas, particularly policy organizations.
PROFILE: The Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation was established in 1997 by Stephen M. Silberstein, founder of Innovative Interfaces, a software company specializing in digital library management. While the foundation does not have a website, tax filings show that it funds work in a wide range of issues, such as education, policy, human rights, environment, and arts & culture.
Grants for Human Rights, Civic and Democracy
While the Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation does not have a website, tax filings suggest an interest in democracy and civic engagement, with grants going to support major national organizations such as the ACLU, Human Rights Watch, ProPublica, Economic Policy Institute, Progressive Change Institute, and American Constitution Society for Law and Policy. Silberstein has been a trustee of U.C. Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy.
He has also supported many organizations around the country, particularly in Washington, D.C. and New York including Amnesty International, Media Matters, and Democracy Now. A component of this philanthropy also involves leveraging media, and he has made grants to Brave New Foundation, which supports Brave New Films, a socially conscious documentary film company, and Kitchen Sisters Productions, which “works to build community through storytelling.”
Silberstein endorsed expanding gun-sale background checks and supporting Maine ballot initiative campaigns through the Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation.
Grants for Higher Education
While the Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation does not have a website, tax filings suggest an interest in higher education and literacy. Past grantees include the U.C. Berkeley Foundation and the Berkeley Public Education Foundation. 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 through higher education institutions.
The City of Berkeley, by the way, is a significant site of philanthropy, and grantees have included Berkeley Public Education Foundation. He has also supported Oakland School of the Arts. Silberstein prioritizes libraries as well, and has helped fund places like Belvedere-Tiburon Library Foundation, Berkeley Public Library, and Alameda Free Library Association.
Grants for Environmental Conservation
Tax filings suggest the foundation broadly funds environmental conservation. The foundation generally supports major national and international organizations, but it sometimes makes grants to local groups in the Bay Area. Grantees include Save the Bay, Natural Resources Defense Council, People for Open Space, ecoAmerica, Seacology, and Rainforest Action Network.
Grants for Arts and Culture and Journalism
While the Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation does not have a website, tax filings suggest a broad, but progressive interest in media, journalism, and the arts. It has made grants to Media Matters for America, Democracy NOW! Productions, the Asia Society, Inequality Media, and Kovno Communications.
Important Grant Details:
Grants generally range from $50,000 to $500,000. Note that while the foundation supports organizations across the United States, it shows some preference for those operating in California, where it is based.
The Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
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CONTACT:
Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation
29 Eucalyptus Rd.
Belvedere, CA 94920-2435
(415) 435-1692