“I want to make sure all my success at PIMCO goes back into the world“
– Bill Gross
Our Mission
The Foundation supports organizations that create direct, measurable impact in communities—both locally in California and globally
Our Focus
Donations directed by Jennifer Gross support a portfolio of grants focused on the advancement of education, health, and poverty alleviation in the world’s low-income countries. Contributions aim to promote practical solutions to sustainable development. The Foundation has prioritized support for early childhood education and development and community-owned water projects that enhance access to clean water resources. The Gross family has also donated to human rights campaigns. Grantees of the Foundation include: the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Think Equal, Charity: Water, VII Foundation, and the Path to Peace Foundation.
As a father and long-time resident of Orange County, Mr. Gross has always admired and respected the impactful role of educators in their communities. He has sponsored the Orange County Teachers of the Year awards since 1992, an honor he now shares with his son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Jennifer Gross. The Foundation has also donated to several higher education institutions, including UCLA and UC Irvine, as well as to both Bill and daughter Jennifer’s alma mater, Duke University.
Both within the U.S. and beyond it, the Foundation is committed to expanding access to quality education, providing scholarships to Duke University and Saddleback Community College, as well as support for UN-affiliated universal education efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.
Bill Gross is a recipient of the “UCI Medal,” an annual award that is considered UC Irvine’s most prestigious honor, awarded to those who have made exceptional contributions to the university’s mission of teaching, research and public service.
The William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation supports a wide range of healthcare initiatives. The Foundation has donated directly to hospitals, community clinics, Mercy Ships, and domestic care workers. Donations have focused on improving infant care, low-income country healthcare, and humanitarian relief via organizations such as Doctors Without Borders.
The Foundation also provided emergency grants to support the collective response to the coronavirus pandemic, funding access to critical supplies for frontline workers and vulnerable communities throughout the U.S. as well as innovative care delivery for hospitals.
Bill Gross is a recipient of the “UCI Medal,” an annual award that is considered UC Irvine’s most prestigious honor, awarded to those who have made exceptional contributions to the university’s mission of teaching, research and public service.
The William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation is proud to support organizations dedicated to addressing the global crisis of climate change and working to alleviate the disproportionate harm inflicted on vulnerable populations both domestically and internationally from climate impacts. In recognition of the intersections between the health of the planet and the health of the people inhabiting it, the Foundation has contributed to conservation campaigns, particularly on ocean and environmental conservation. Chief among the organizations that Jennifer Gross and the Foundation support are the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, the Ocean Institute, Mercy for Animals, and Hudson River Park Friends.
As a longtime resident of Orange County, Bill Gross has always believed in supporting the local community. He has worked to strengthen communities by contributing to efforts directed at helping those most in need, including those who are homeless, living in poverty or are in ill health. The William, Jeff, and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation has also donated to cultural organizations that offer enrichment through the arts. Beneficiaries of the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation include the Laguna Beach Community Clinic, Laguna Food Pantry, Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach Senior Center, Laguna Radio Inc., and Friendship Shelter. During times of extraordinary crisis, like the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, the Gross Family Foundation provided $1.5 million in donations to organizations located in the Los Angeles area to assist in relief efforts for individuals and families facing hardships due to economic effects of the virus. These donations were directed towards the OC Food Bank and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County among others.
Philanthropy
Bill Gross and the Gross Family’s notable donations include:
$40 million | University of California, Irvine
$40 million to the University of California, Irvine to establish a nursing school and assist in the construction of a new building to house it.
$23.5 million | Duke University
$23.5 million to Duke University to provide financial aid for needy and excellent students and other programs.
$20 million | Mercy Ships
$20 million to Mercy Ships, which uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building and sustainable development to those without access in the developing world.
$20 million | Hoag Memorial Hospital
$20 million to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in support of the Women’s Pavilion, the largest contribution at the time in the history of the hospital, supporting the largest expansion ever undertaken at Hoag.
$20 million | Cedars-Sinai Hospital
$20 million dollars to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, CA.
$19 million | Earth Institute
More than $19 million to the Earth Institute of Columbia University’s Millennium Villages Project, which attempted to implement an innovative model for helping rural African communities lift themselves out of extreme poverty.
$10 million | UC Irvine
$10 million | Mission Hospital
$10 million to Mission Hospital Laguna Beach, the largest gift in the history of the coastal hospital allowing it to double the size of its emergency room.
$9 million | Smithsonian Postal Museum
$9 million to the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C., to create the 12,000-square-foot William H. Gross Stamp Gallery, the world’s largest gallery dedicated to philately.
$33 million | Doctors Without Borders
Multiple donations totaling $33 million to the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders, making Bill Gross the largest donor ever.
About
Jennifer Gross
Jennifer contributes to global Sustainable Development Goals and well-being reports, including the World Happiness Report. She helped found Vatican initiatives on ethics, sustainability, and justice, serves on multiple global nonprofit boards, and, as a director of the Gross Family Foundation, leads international and economic development grantmaking efforts.
Bill Gross
Known as the original “Bond King,” Bill Gross retired in 2019 after a four-decade investing career. He co-founded PIMCO, grew its Total Return Fund into the world’s largest, later joined Janus Henderson, earned top industry honors, and has donated over $700 million to philanthropic causes.
Jeff Gross
Award-winning photographer Jeff Gross began shooting surfing as a teen and built a global career with Getty Images covering major sporting events. A Brooks Institute graduate, he now freelances, earning top honors. As a Gross Family Foundation director, he helps guide donations to health, education, and research initiatives.
Contact
Throughout the year, Bill, Jeff and Jennifer Gross research ideas for possible donations. The Foundation does not accept solicitations or grant requests.