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Our Approach to Philanthropy

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Executive Director’s Message

For more than two decades at Taube Philanthropies, I have had the privilege of working closely with Tad and Dianne Taube to advance their distinctive model of philanthropy, which measures success by the partnerships it creates, the institutions it strengthens and, most importantly, the people it empowers.

Applying this approach to giving across medicine, education, Jewish life, civic leadership, and youth well-being has given me a deep understanding of the principles and practices that produce impact across generations, not simply grant cycles.

Today, under Dianne’s leadership as Chairman and CEO, one of my most important responsibilities as Executive Director is to bring that institutional knowledge to bear.

Collaborating with Dianne and our Board, our staff and I help sustain the legacy commitments that have defined Taube Philanthropies, while executing the new priorities Dianne is establishing.

There is much to build upon: empowering young people through partnerships with Bay Area sports foundations; advancing medical research in pediatric cancer, addiction, and neurodegenerative disease; strengthening civic discourse on university campuses; reacting quickly to provide disaster relief; and revitalizing Jewish life in Poland.

Drawing on the Foundation’s experience and relationships, I am confident the years ahead are full of promise.

Shana Penn
Executive Director

Areas of Focus

Medical Research & Innovation

Taube Philanthropies invests in cutting-edge research at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, where a matching grant established the Taube Stem Cell Pediatric Cancer Research Fund. Led by Dr. Agnieszka Czechowicz, this work advances antibody-based stem cell transplantation, reducing reliance on toxic chemotherapy and radiation and improving outcomes and quality of life for children with cancer and rare genetic diseases.

The foundation is also continuing its support for the transformation of UCSF’s Parnassus campus into a state-of-the-art medical and research complex. This includes the Taube Family Mount Sutro Gateway, designed by the acclaimed architects Herzog and de Meuron, which will connect the campus to the surrounding natural reserve.

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Student Well-Being & Mental Health

Santa Clara University’s Initiative for Student Well-Being, a signature program of the foundation, is a nationally recognized model that integrates mental health care directly into campus life through embedded therapists, basic needs support, and substance-free housing. The program reflects Dianne Taube’s belief in proactive, accessible care for young people at a time when student anxiety and depression continue to rise.

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Youth Empowerment & Community Partnerships

Taube Philanthropies takes a distinctive approach to community engagement, channeling the spirit of competition to help kids across the Bay Area thrive. Through long-standing partnerships with the San Francisco 49ers’ Touchdowns for Kids, the Golden State Warriors’ Hoops 4 Kids, and the San Jose Sharks’ Goals for Kids, the foundation provides funding for organizations that improve educational outcomes and life prospects for local youth.

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Diplomacy, Policy & Academic Leadership

The Taube Family Chair of International Relations and Politics anchors Pepperdine University’s Institute for Diplomacy, Security, and Innovation, led by Dr. Kiron Skinner. Through research, convenings, and student engagement, the institute promotes principled leadership and informed policymaking on critical issues in diplomacy, security, and global governance.

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Arts, Culture & Civic Life

Taube Philanthropies has funded projects that have enriched the lives of millions across California. The foundation’s gifts to the San Francisco Opera include the Dianne and Tad Taube Atrium Theater, a 299-seat intimate venue within the Wilsey Center for Opera, while Opera broadcasts at the ballpark have brought music to larger audiences.

The foundation recently helped restore The Bay Lights, returning the iconic installation to the Bay Bridge and reaffirming our commitment to public art and civic identity. Taube Philanthropies is also preparing to unveil the Taube Family Carriage House and Automobile Gallery at the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City, a dynamic new cultural space designed to engage the community through exhibitions, events, and educational programming.

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Taube Philanthropies Directors 

Dianne Taube, Chairman and CEP

Juddson Taube

Mark Taube

Sean Taube

Shana Penn, Executive Director

Jeffrey Farber

Greg Galli

Ken Marciano

Alan Zafran