The Morrison & Foerster Foundation was established in 1986 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation to allow Morrison & Foerster LLP to make the best use of its charitable resources in each of the communities the firm serves. The Foundation is exceptional among law firms. Since its founding, firm partners have donated approximately one percent of the firm’s annual net income to the Foundation. We also accept donations from other organizations and individuals who wish to make donations through the Foundation.

As Morrison & Foerster has grown, so has the Foundation’s annual giving. In recent years, the Foundation’s annual budget has reached close to $2 million. Over the years, we have donated millions of dollars to those in need in our communities across the United States and, where tax laws permitted, in other countries as well. The Foundation’s mission is purely charitable – we do not make donations for business development or client reasons.

Focus

We focus our Giving Programs on organizations serving people in the communities in which Morrison & Foerster personnel live and work. Our principal giving areas include legal aid, children, fellowships & scholarships, food & shelter, health and the arts. We have raised and distributed funds in response to certain recent disasters. In late 2003, we announced several special grants focused on disadvantaged youth, over and above our customary giving. We also offer a number of matching gift programs to Morrison & Foerster members and employees.

Board of Directors

The Foundation’s board of directors comprises partners from the firm’s domestic offices.

Funding Criteria

The Morrison & Foerster Foundation gives only to nonprofit organizations with IRC § 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status whose programs, in the view of the Foundation’s board of directors, best serve our focus and the community’s charitable needs. Recipients may not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, political affiliation or sexual orientation; they may not serve only a particular religious or political group; and they may not be fraternal, religious or political organizations.

We provide only general sponsorship of charitable fundraisers, such as dinners and golf tournaments, and do not purchase tables or accept tickets to such functions. By contrast, Morrison & Foerster LLP often sponsors tables for firm personnel attending charitable fundraisers with a community service or business development component.

We consider funding requests only if sponsored by a Morrison & Foerster partner or employee. We are not accepting other unsolicited grant proposals at this time.

For more information, please see our Giving Programs or contact:

The Morrison & Foerster Foundation
425 Market St.
San Francisco, CA 94105-2482