Bernard Osher Foundation

The Bernard Osher Foundation, established in 1977 and based in San Francisco, is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of life through support for higher education and the arts. The foundation provides post-secondary scholarships to colleges and universities nationwide, with a particular focus on reentry students. It oversees a national network of Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, which cater to seasoned adults and operate on the campuses of 124 higher education institutions across the United States. Additionally, the foundation supports integrative medicine programs in the U.S. and Sweden, collaborating with prestigious institutions such as the University of California, San Francisco, and Harvard Medical School. The foundation also awards grants to various performing arts organizations, museums, and educational initiatives, particularly in Northern California and Maine. Governance is provided by a nine-member Board of Directors, chaired by Barbro Osher, who serves as Honorary Consul General of Sweden in California.