The Fifth Age of Man Foundation was founded by the generosity of Mark Ross, a Russian immigrant who came to San Francisco and achieved success in business and real estate. His partner was John Vitlin, another immigrant, who was from Ukraine.

As the people now charged with carrying forward Mark Ross’ generosity, the Board of the Foundation has decided to direct our 2023 grant program to organizations providing support to the victims of the war being waged against the people of Ukraine.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the innocent men, women, and children, who like people everywhere, want nothing more from life than the chance to live their lives in peace and freedom.

Our Name – a quote from the bard

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE,

And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.

At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.

And then the whining school-boy,
with his satchel,
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school.

And then the lover
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow.

Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth.

And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin’d,
With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part.

The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose well sav’d a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound.
Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

–As You Like It, II.vii.139-166 (Jaques)

5th Age of Man Foundation logo

Application Information

The Fifth Age of Man Foundation has no pre-defined grant application. All submissions are considered on a rolling basis; the bulk of the grants are determined between June and August and funded between November 15th and December 15th of each year. However, all grant applications must include at a minimum a copy of your organization’s IRC 501(c)(3) tax exempt status determination. 
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