The Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation

Mission

The mission of the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation is to honor the legacy of its founder in celebrating the inimitable creative spirit of the Bay Area by supporting local working artists and the organizations that help to promote and sustain their artistic practice.

History

The Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation operates in honor of the unwavering commitment to the Bay Area embodied by its namesake, Phyllis Canon Wattis. During her 97 years, Phyllis generously supported a variety of Bay Area causes, but she shared a particular passion for the arts—both fine arts and performing arts. She served on the boards of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Opera, and proved to be a committed financial and ideological supporter of these organizations. Her vision helped shape the arts community in San Francisco to be one of daring and cutting edge endeavors.

Funding Priorities

The foundation celebrates the critical role artists have in creating a thriving Bay Area, and the equally important support provided by arts organizations in helping sustain artists and their creative work.

The foundation issues grants twice per year, focused on two main programs:

• Legacy Grants: general operational support for organizations with a demonstrated commitment to providing comprehensive services for artists by helping them advance artistically and professionally.
• New Works Grants: project support for new and emergent works created by small and mid-sized arts organizations.