What the Krause Foundation Funds in the Bay Area

Tada Images/shutterstock

One of numerous under-the-radar tech philanthropies in the Bay Area is the Krause Foundation, which is the charitable vehicle of Bill and Gay Krause. Bill Krause worked for Hewlett Packard for many years before becoming the president and CEO of 3Com Corporation. He is also the president of a private investment firm called LWK Ventures. He and his wife have been channeling their giving through the Krause Foundation since 1994.

Here are a few things to know about this Bay Area funder.

Education is the main focus

The bulk of Krause Foundation grants go toward education in the Bay Area and to support organizations with family connections. Gay Krause has been deeply involved with education throughout her life and career. She is a former teacher and principal, and is now the executive director of the Krause Center for Innovation at Foothill College. Outside of the Bay Area, the couple regularly support their alma maters—the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina for Bill and Pennsylvania State University for Gay.

Closer to home, grantees are frequently based in Oakland, Los Altos Hills and San Jose. The foundation has supported the YMCA of Silicon Valley, the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and the Computer History Museum. Youth mentoring and tutoring, winegrowing education, and tech education are all interests. The foundation is based in Los Altos Hills, and most of these grants are for general operating support.

Health is another interest

Aside from education, the Krause Foundation’s next-biggest interest is public health. For example, at the local level, it has recently given to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and the Community Health Awareness Council of Mountain View, California.

Grants often range from $5,000 to $25,000

In recent years, Krause grants have mostly been in the $5,000 to $25,000 range. Occasionally, a grant is larger, such as a 2019 donation of $125,000 to the Foothill De Anza Foundation and $3.5 million in unrestricted funding for the Foothill De Anza Community College District back in 2013. But overall, grants tend to stay smaller side and add up to around half a million dollars per year.

Unsolicited requests are unwelcome

According to the most recent tax records available, the Krause Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests and prefers to seek out its own grantees. Learn more about this funder and get contact information for general questions in IP’s full profile of the Krause Foundation, part of our Bay Area and NorCal funding guide.