Cleo Foundation
Cleo Foundation is a San Francisco-based foundation that funds organizations in Monterey and Mendocino counties, focusing on academic enrichment, outdoor education, and hospice care. The site provides grant guidelines, a searchable grants list, and application information including an invite-only application timeline.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A California-based nonprofit (especially serving Monterey or Mendocino counties) working in youth development, outdoor education, academic enrichment, mental-health supports for children, hospice/palliative services, or community arts, seeking general operating or program support in the $10k–$30k range.
Good Fit
- • Programs that serve Monterey or Mendocino county communities.
- • Focus areas: youth development, outdoor education, academic enrichment, child mental-health, hospice, or local arts.
- • Request size around the foundation's typical $10K–$30K grants.
- • Existing local partnerships or introductions to foundation staff.
- • Track record of measurable program outcomes in the foundation's priority areas.
Geography
All observed grants across 2022–2024 were made in California, focused on Monterey/Mendocino-area communities, so the funder's observed geographic footprint is narrowly local.
Recipient Variety
The foundation funded around 11 distinct recipients in the latest year with similar counts in prior years and supports a range of mission areas (youth development, outdoor education, hospice, arts), indicating a relatively broad set of independent grantees for a small private foundation.
New Applicants
Direct evidence shows occasional new entrants (two new recipients in the latest year), but the publicly stated process is invitation-only with staff-issued invitations, so unsolicited applicants face a limited, relationship-driven path to entry.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
