The Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation is a San Francisco-based private grantmaking foundation that donates to a variety of left-leaning nonprofits and activist organizations. The organization funds many prominent national and California-centric left-leaning organizations including the National Immigration Law Center, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Anti-Defamation League, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). ¹

The foundation was founded by the late Silicon Valley businessman Robert Halperin and his wife Ruth. Halperin had worked in Silicon Valley since 1957 for Raychem, a technology parts manufacturer, until the company sold in 1998. The foundation is currently directed by the Halperin’s three children as board members and has over $150 million in assets, giving over $7 million in grants annually. ²

Background

The Robert and Ruth Halperin Founded was founded by businessman Robert Halperin and his wife Ruth shortly after Raychem, the company Robert Halperin ran as president since 1958, was sold to Tyco International. ³

Robert Halperin was seen as an influential businessman in the early days of Silicon Valley. He joined Raychem, a company founded in 1957 by researchers at the Stanford Research Institute that used radiation to shape and harden plastic conduits for use in technology prototypes. Halperin was known as a hard-charging salesman who worked 70 to 80 hours a week and under his leadership the company grew from several hundred employees to over 8,000. Halperin retired from Raychem in 1990 and the company was sold to Tyco International in 1999. ⁴

Robert Halperin died in 2014 at age 86 and was preceded in death by his wife Ruth Halperin, who died in 2008. During their lifetimes, Robert and Ruth Halperin were known for their support of various educational programs, especially at the University of Chicago, where Robert earned a doctoral degree and served for many decades on the university’s board of trustees. ⁵

Activity

The Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation is currently directed by the Halperin’s three children, Philip Halperin, Mark Halperin (no relation to the news anchor of the same name), and Peggy Halperin Dow, who are the foundation’s three sole board members. ⁶

Philip Halperin is the current president of the foundation and is also the president of the Silver Giving Foundation, which he founded with his wife. Philip Halperin is retired from the financial sector, having worked for investment firms Weston Presidio, Lehman Brothers, and Montgomery Securities. Philip Halperin also sits on the boards of The Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco, the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University, and University High School. ⁷

Giving

The Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation has over $150 million in assets and provides over $7 million in grants annually to California-based and national left-leaning advocacy groups as well as many colleges and universities across the nation. Organizations and institutions supported by the foundation include the University of Chicago, Stanford University, Partnership for LA Schools, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Anti-Defamation League, the National Women’s Law Center, the National Immigration Law Center, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the San Francisco Parks Alliance, the Center for Teaching Quality, International Network for Public Schools, Facing History and Ourselves, and California Education Partners. ⁸

1. “IRS Form 990.” Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation. 2018. Accessed August 8, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/943334424/10_2019_prefixes_92-95%2F943334424_201812_990PF_2019103016797945
2. “Silicon Valley pioneer Robert Halperin dies.” SFGate. November 11, 2014. Accessed August 8, 2021. https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Silicon-Valley-pioneer-Robert-Halperin-dies-5886066.php
3. “Silicon Valley pioneer Robert Halperin dies.” SFGate. November 11, 2014. Accessed August 8, 2021. https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Silicon-Valley-pioneer-Robert-Halperin-dies-5886066.php
4. “Silicon Valley pioneer Robert Halperin dies.” SFGate. November 11, 2014. Accessed August 8, 2021. https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Silicon-Valley-pioneer-Robert-Halperin-dies-5886066.php
5. Huang, Wen. “Robert M. Halperin, PhB’47, Trustee Emeritus, 1928-2014.” UChicago News. January 7, 2015. Accessed August 8, 2021. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/robert-m-halperin-phb47-trustee-emeritus-1928-2014
6. “IRS Form 990.” Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation. 2018. Accessed August 8, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/943334424/10_2019_prefixes_92-95%2F943334424_201812_990PF_2019103016797945
7. “Philip W. Halperin.” Stanford Freeman Spogli Institute for international Studies. Accessed August 8, 2021.  https://fsi.stanford.edu/people/philip-w-halperin
8. “IRS Form 990.” Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation. 2018. Accessed August 8, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/943334424/10_2019_prefixes_92-95%2F943334424_201812_990PF_2019103016797945