Grantee Stories

After closing in December 2024, UC Berkeley has opened the Carol T. Christ Center for Connected Learning at Moffit Library as an innovative, student-centered space

Creating Citizens is Commonwealth Club World Affairs’ (CCWA) civics education initiative. We recently had an opportunity to chat with Lauren Silver, who developed and leads the program, about bringing high school students and teachers into the compelling conversations for which CCWA is widely renowned.

As the preeminent source for civics education in the country, iCivics provides non-partisan curricula and training for educators in all 50 states—in close to 150,000 K–12 schools. Natacha Scott, Director of Educator Engagement, told us, “The country often talks about civic learning and engagement as things it hopes young people will do. iCivics is working toward a world where they are actually prepared to do them.”

Common Sense Media (CSM) is a national leader in digital and media literacy curricula and training. We spoke with Eisha Buch, CSM’s Head of Teaching and Learning, about “digital citizenship.” She commented, “You can’t fully participate in civic life today without digital literacy—the ability to engage with those spaces responsibly, safely, and meaningfully. And that’s the lens our curriculum brings to the topic.”

Brandeis SF has begun a large-scale update to their facilities, creating a welcoming, safe space for students, staff, and families.

On March 19, the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) celebrated the newly renovated Kanbar Hall with a special onstage conversation with comedian Sarah Silverman. The extensive renovations, which started in September 2025, create a state-of-the-art venue capable of hosting events for the JCCSF and the larger community.

The Monkey King, an action-packed new opera, made its world premiere in San Francisco in November 2025. All eight performances were sold out, and the wildly enthusiastic audiences included many new opera-goers. We spoke with General Director Matthew Shilvock about SF Opera’s success in presenting new works and in attracting new patrons.

Warsaw’s POLIN Museum is working to complete a number of upgrades, including opening the new Bonds gallery, with Koret support

Dozens of the Bay Area’s smaller arts organizations credit their well-being and optimism to the pro-borrower expertise of a resource that flies under many people’s radar. The Arts Loan Fund (ALF), housed at the Northern California Grantmakers, was created specifically to lend essential funding, offsetting temporary cash-flow emergencies. Close to 1,500 loans (and over $36 million) later, we wish ALF a very vibrant 45th!

Congregation Emanu-El will host a grand reopening in September to mark the completion of an extensive renovation project.

Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School has begun an ambitious renovation that will add state of the art facilities to enhance its curriculum and foster a strong, vibrant Jewish community. We spoke with head of school Adam Eilath about his educational philosophy and how Wornick’s plans will help it remain a special and responsive place for children to learn and grow.

The Israel on Campus Coalition hosted a massive convening of stakeholders to build connections and inspire the next generation of pro-Israel advocates