MoFo Foundation
2023 Annual Report
The Morrison & Foerster Foundation has contributed over $79 million since 1986 to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations that address social welfare and discrimination. In 2023, the Morrison & Foerster Foundation’s charitable donations totaled over $4.4 million.
Learn more about the Foundation, including our charitable donations and giving programs, in our 2023 Annual Report.
The Morrison & Foerster Foundation enables the people of Morrison Foerster and the Foundation’s board of directors to focus their charitable giving on nonprofit organizations serving the communities where they live and work. Funds are distributed at the discretion of the Foundation’s board, which includes partners from each of the firm’s geographic regions.
In 2023, the MoFo Foundation’s charitable donations totaled over $4.4 million. Separately, Morrison Foerster’s other giving programs in Berlin and London, which are similar to the MoFo Foundation, made charitable donations of approximately $301,819, for a combined total giving of more than $4.76 million.*
Striving to Meet the Critical Needs of Our Time
Mirroring the firm’s values of excellence, service, collaboration, inclusivity, and a commitment to supporting future generations, the MoFo Foundation strives to meet the critical needs of our time. With a focus on legal aid and disadvantaged youth, much of our annual giving has consistently supported organizations aimed at helping those who have been historically and systemically marginalized and disenfranchised and supporting access to justice for all.
In 2023, we also made special donations to address sudden natural disasters and humanitarian issues, as well as recognition of the influence and meaningful experiences of historically marginalized groups.
In addition to our annual giving, we set aside a portion of the Foundation’s budget most years in order to fund a series of occasional special grants in amounts much larger than we could otherwise contribute. Over the years, we have funded five sets of these large grants, all nominated by Morrison Foerster personnel, and all addressing some of the critical unmet needs of disadvantaged children and youth in our communities.
Our total giving through our Special Project Grants Program now stands at $7.1 million. The 2024 Special Project Grants Program represents the MoFo Foundation’s fifth set of special grants, totaling $2.1 million, following similar $1 million programs in 2003 and 2006, a $1.5 million program to celebrate its 25th anniversary, and a $1.3 million program for its 30th anniversary in 2016.
Our Special Project Grants Program has supported nonprofit organizations broadly serving disadvantaged youth and families that address social welfare and discrimination through programs focused on legal aid, civil rights, and equity in education, healthcare, arts and housing.
The Foundation considers funding requests only if sponsored by Morrison Foerster lawyers or staff. We are not accepting other unsolicited grant proposals at this time.
The Morrison & Foerster Foundation gives only to nonprofit organizations with IRC § 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with programs that, in the view of the Foundation's board of directors, are aligned with the Foundation’s focus and can, in the board’s opinion, best serve the community’s charitable needs. Contributions are not made to individuals; to fraternal, religious, or political organizations; to groups that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or gender identity; or to organizations that serve only a particular religious or political group. The Foundation does not purchase tickets to charitable fundraising events.
The Foundation’s board of directors includes partners from the firm’s offices around the world.
The Morrison & Foerster Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity, federal tax ID no. 94-3006979. Financial information about the Foundation can be obtained by writing to the Morrison & Foerster Foundation at 425 Market Street, 32nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105‑2482. In addition, several states where the Foundation is required to file financial information each year require the following disclosures: Colorado: Colorado residents may obtain copies of registration and financial documents from the office of the Secretary of State, (303) 894-2200 or www.coloradosos.gov using Reg. No. 20123033547. New York: Upon request, a copy of the latest annual report can be obtained from the Foundation, or from the Charities Bureau of the Office of the Attorney General, Attn: FOIL Officer, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005, (212) 416-8401, or www.charitiesnys.com. REGISTRATION IN THE ABOVE STATES DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION OF THE MORRISON & FOERSTER FOUNDATION BY THE STATES.
* Our numbers are shown on a cash basis and are unaudited because of the timing of the Foundation’s annual independent audit.
