SOURCE OF WEALTH: Cisco Systems
FUNDING AREAS: Social Services, Education, Economic Development
OVERVIEW: John Wakerly and family do their grantmaking through the Wakerly Family Foundation, which prioritizes social services, education and economic development.
BACKGROUND: John Wakerly graduated from Marquette University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in electric engineering, and Stanford University, where received his MS and PhD. Wakerly worked as a VP of engineering for companies including Cisco Systems and Alantec, which was acquired by Ericsson. Wakerly also served on the engineering faculty at Stanford University and is the author of nine textbooks and editions.
WAKERLY FAMILY FOUNDATION: John Wakerly and his late wife, Kate, established the Wakerly Family Foundation in 1997, and Kate served as founding president. Initially, WFF prioritized the San Francisco Bay Area counties of San Mateo and Santa Clara. In recent years, however, the foundation expanded its grantmaking to include other parts of the U.S.
The Wakerly Family Foundation prioritizes social services, education and initiatives for economic development, including funding projects and programs that support vulnerable children and immigrant communities. The foundation is is “especially interested in supporting relatively small, low-overhead organizations and programs that can obtain high leverage” with grants of up to $10,000. Wakerly’s statement of purpose fully details its program areas.
Past grantees include Rosie ‘s Place in Boston, the Northern Illinois Food Bank, St. Charles, the Day Worker Center of Mountain View, the Veterans Foundation of Illinois and Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County.
WFF does not consider unsolicited proposals from new organizations.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect this funder to continue to award small grants to social service organizations in the Bay area and elsewhere. Chicago has emerged as a secondary geographic focus.
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