CF
LP profile
Crankstart Foundation
Foundation · Palo Alto, United States
9
VC firms backed
$4.4B
AUM
~$220M
Allocated to VC (est. 5%)
01 · Background
Who Crankstart Foundation is.
- Historical Background
- Crankstart is a family foundation established by venture capitalist Michael Moritz and his wife, novelist Harriet Heyman. The foundation, based in San Francisco, has seen its endowment and grantmaking activities expand significantly in recent years, corresponding with the founders' growing wealth.
- Source of Capital
- The foundation's capital is derived from the personal wealth of its founders, Michael Moritz and Harriet Heyman. As of 2020, the foundation reported net assets of $1.8 billion, with Michael Moritz contributing $81 million in that year alone.
- Allocation Strategy
- The foundation operates as a private grantmaking organization, focusing on providing funds to non-profit organizations. Its primary funding interests are centered on education, economic mobility, housing security, democracy, arts and culture, and scientific research. In 2021, the foundation reported distributing over $250 million in grants, and in 2023, it contributed over $203 million.
02 · Fund commitments
The funds Crankstart Foundation backs.
Crankstart Foundation is a limited partner in 9 funds. 3 of them place in the Power Law Investor Ranking; those lead, best-ranked first.
Sequoia Capital
#2 Power Law
Peak XV Partners
#207 Power Law
Paradigm
#348 Power Law
Francisco Partners
HSG
Makena Capital Management
Pacificor
The Wolff Company
WestBridge Capital
03 · Allocation
How Crankstart Foundation’s fund book is spread.
The 9 funds Crankstart Foundation backs, by where the manager is headquartered and how many funds that manager has raised.
Where those managers are based
By fund headquarters.
- North America 778%
- Rest of world 222%
United States 7 · China 1 · India 1
04 · Direct investments
The companies Crankstart Foundation backs directly.
Crankstart Foundation holds 3 companies directly, separate from the funds it commits to as a limited partner.
05 · Other LPs
Other LPs.
Other foundations in the Power Law LP ranking, closest to Crankstart Foundation by combined power-law score — North America first, then the nearest worldwide.
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Surdna Foundation
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66 VC funds backed
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Skoll Foundation
$2.0B AUM
51 VC funds backed
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The Ford Family Foundation
$1.3B AUM
32 VC funds backed
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Klarman Family Foundation
$200M AUM
12 VC funds backed
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Blandin Foundation
$400M AUM
40 VC funds backed
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The Bat Hanadiv Foundation No. 3
$1.6B AUM
5 VC funds backed
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Passport Foundation
$51M AUM
40 VC funds backed
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The Sturm Family Foundation
$110M AUM
15 VC funds backed