Bothin Foundation

**Our History** The Bothin Foundation (pronounced “bo-THEEN”) was established by Henry E. Bothin and incorporated as a private foundation in the State of California in 1917. Henry Bothin moved to San Francisco in the 1870’s as a teenager. Ultimately, he began working in the steel industry and investing in commercial real estate. Thirty years later, he had become the largest individual commercial landowner in San Francisco. Henry’s fierce business demeanor was balanced by his warm generosity towards underprivileged children and his commitment to initiatives aimed at eliminating tuberculosis. Leveraging his success, he established the Bothin Helping Fund in 1917, making it the second oldest private foundation west of the Mississippi. For over 100 years, the Bothin Foundation has been a significant influence in Bay Area philanthropy. Today, the foundation continues Henry Bothin’s legacy through its board, which is made up of multiple generations of Henry’s descendants, as well as non-family community members who work in a variety of sectors, including nonprofit and finance.