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Robert & Ruth Halperin Foundation
Robert Halperin, former president of materials-science pioneer Raychem, and his wife Ruth established the foundation in 1999 to structure their philanthropy...
Robert & Ruth Halperin Foundation
Robert Halperin, former president of materials-science pioneer Raychem, and his wife Ruth established the foundation in 1999 to structure their philanthropy and family capital. The foundation operates from a single office in San Francisco's Lombard Street corridor under the direction of the Halperins' children — Philip, Mark, and Peggy Halperin Dow — and Philip's wife Maurine. Ruth Halperin was a former trustee of Stanford University, a relationship reflected in the foundation's sustained support for the university. The foundation's investment posture spans the full private-markets stack. Altss research identifies commitments across early-stage venture, expansion and late-stage rounds, buyouts, fund-of-funds positions, and mezzanine debt. The strategy mirrors the playbook of a direct family office more than a standard 5% payout foundation: a blended portfolio seeking capital appreciation alongside grantmaking capacity. The geographic focus centers on North American opportunities, though the underlying fund commitments provide global exposure. The family's Bay Area civic footprint extends beyond the foundation. Philip Halperin chairs the San Francisco School Alliance Foundation, serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco, and sits on the national advisory board of the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford. The foundation's philanthropic grants fund left-leaning nonprofits, educational programs, and activist organizations year to date. The Halperins also operate the Silver Giving Foundation, an adjacent philanthropic vehicle. The foundation's structural distinction lies in its trustee composition — an all-family board operating a grantmaking endowment with the investment appetite of an active family office. There is no non-family investment committee disclosed, and no external CIO. Succession appears consolidated within the second generation, with Philip Halperin leading both the foundation and the family's broader civic engagement, suggesting the permanent-capital vehicle is designed to extend the Halperin influence rather than spend down over a fixed horizon.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1999
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Francisco
Corporate office
One Lombard Street, Suite 305, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States
Principals
Philip W. Halperin
President and Trustee
Mark Halperin
Trustee
Peggy Halperin Dow
Secretary and Trustee
Maurine S. Halperin
Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Robert & Ruth Halperin Foundation?
Investment governance rests with the family trustees. Philip Halperin serves as President and Trustee, operating alongside his siblings Mark Halperin and Peggy Halperin Dow. No external CIO or non-family investment committee has been disclosed, suggesting the second generation directly oversees the endowment portfolio.
Where does the underlying wealth of the foundation come from?
The endowment derives from Robert Halperin's tenure as president of Raychem Corporation, a pioneer in radiation chemistry and high-performance materials. Raychem was acquired by Tyco International in 1999. Ruth Halperin, a former Stanford trustee, co-founded the charitable entity alongside her husband that same year.
Is the foundation structured as a traditional grantmaker or does it operate more like a family office?
Legally, it is a private grantmaking foundation. In practice, its investment strategy functions like a hybrid family office, allocating across direct venture, buyouts, fund-of-funds, and mezzanine rather than holding a conventional equity/bond portfolio designed solely for a 5% annual distribution.
Does the Robert & Ruth Halperin Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Both. Altss research identifies allocations to external fund-of-funds and co-investment vehicles alongside direct positions in early-stage through late-stage companies. The foundation's strategy is balanced across primary fund commitments, direct co-investments, and mezzanine debt.
What is the relationship between the Robert & Ruth Halperin Foundation and the Silver Giving Foundation?
The Silver Giving Foundation is a separate philanthropic entity also operated by the Halperin family. Both vehicles coexist as part of the family's broader charitable architecture, with Philip Halperin active in governance and the San Francisco civic community through multiple board seats.
Which sectors or causes does the foundation avoid?
Public grantmaking records indicate funding to left-leaning nonprofits, progressive education programs, and activist organizations. Sectors and causes associated with the political right are not represented among disclosed grant recipients, though the foundation does not publish a formal exclusion list.
Does the foundation maintain any significant non-financial assets?
Beyond the liquid endowment, the Halperins have donated art to Stanford University. 'A Mask for All Souls' was gifted to the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts, consistent with Ruth Halperin's long-standing relationship with Stanford as a former trustee (per Stanford University donor records).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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