The Foundation's most important guiding principle is that it seeks to engage in philanthropic activities and to fund charitable organizations and institutions that have demonstrated they are self-sustaining, or clearly have the potential to become self-sustaining, or that focus on self-sustaining operations and activities.
The Sachs Family Foundation Grant aims to fund organizations that are self-sustaining or have the potential to be so, focusing on strengthening the economic base of disadvantaged communities in the U.S. and developing countries. The Foundation's interest lies in economic development programs, providing financial aid, particularly through low interest loans (Program Related Investments) and grants in education, health, and housing. It has also supported merit-based scholarships for low-income students in the San Francisco Bay Area and performance arts programs that offer affordable access to socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. The Foundation is open to considering grants outside its primary focus if they represent a significant timely aid in developing self-sustaining projects or ideas.