Above & Beyond Teaching
Above & Beyond Teaching is based in San Rafael, California. Its website describes an organization that recognizes exceptional California public high school teachers, particularly those serving underserved communities, and connects educators through professional learning and peer support. The 2025 filing type is Form 990-PF, a private foundation.
Above & Beyond Teaching at a glance
In short: Above & Beyond Teaching gave $69K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $69,000
- +38.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +88.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,059
- -26.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,978,970
- +4.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Above & Beyond Teaching
- How to Apply
-
The filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. It lists no deadline and requests information on the applicant’s 501(c)(3) status, financial information, organizational purpose, and purpose of the grant. It names education, health, social services, and environmental causes as preferred areas.
- Contact
Application contact: Christopher Disalvio
Mailing address: PO Box 10162, San Rafael, CA 94912
Phone: (415) 454-9425
Website: https://abovebeyond.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Above & Beyond Teaching funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cordova High School ($2K). Together the top 2 received $4K.
Organizations only. It also paid 15 grants to individuals ($65,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 59 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing shows that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in California. The organization’s website describes its work as supporting educators across California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Above & Beyond Teaching gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 468% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $41K (2023) to $105K (2021). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $69K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 15 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $65,000 |
| Cordova High School Rancho Cordova, CA | 2025 Outstanding Teachers of America Award | $2,000 |
| Carpenteria High School Carpenteria, CA | 2025 Outstanding Teachers of America Award | $2,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,978,970 | $579,336 | $487,313 | $69,000 | 17 | $486,022 | $242,234 | $103,832 |
| 2024 | $1,885,786 | $426,459 | $408,111 | $50,000 | 9 | $404,546 | $120,586 | $101,666 |
| 2023 | $1,866,612 | $282,392 | $345,255 | $41,000 | 5 | $342,396 | $54,263 | $94,605 |
| 2022 | $1,919,125 | $176,904 | $445,821 | $85,000 | 13 | $444,242 | $77,145 | $108,368 |
| 2021 | $2,236,489 | $141,900 | $398,944 | $105,000 | 15 | $398,473 | $79,983 | $137,435 |
| 2020 | $2,493,155 | $205,170 | $174,060 | — | — | — | $119,529 | $122,247 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Above & Beyond Teaching reported a distributable amount of $104K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to promote equitable educational opportunities by celebrating and supporting outstanding and inspirational California public high school teachers, especially those working in underserved school communities. Its stated priorities include teacher recognition, professional development, mentorship, and educator communities that support teachers and students.
The 2025 filing says the organization gives preference to education, health, social services, and environmental causes. Its listed 2025 grants were for the Outstanding Teachers of America Award.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Above & Beyond Teaching reported 17 grants totaling $69,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median of $2,000. Five named teacher honorees—three individual recipients, Amanda de Witte, and an individual recipient—each received $10,000 for the 2025 Outstanding Teachers of America Award. Listed school recipients, including Cordova High School, an individual recipient High School, and an individual recipient High School, each received $2,000 for the award.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kathy Williams as Chair and the following directors: Douglas Carlston, Tim Allen, Myrtice Salmond, Ann Mathieson, Nadya Chinoy Dabby, Alec Lee, Lise Buyer, Stanley Hitomi, and Lynda Lucero.
Above & Beyond Teaching is led by Kathy Williams, Chair on every filing since 2020; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathy Williams
Chair
On filings since 2020
1.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Mathieson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Carlston
Director
President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nadya Chinoy Dabby
Director
On filings since 2022
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lise Buyer
Director
On filings since 2023
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Myrtice Salmond
Director
On filings since 2023
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stanley Hitomi
Director
On filings since 2023
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Allen
Director
On filings since 2023
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alec Lee
Director
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynda Lucero
Director
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Sandy
Director
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Jude Carlston Cooks (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Alec Brown (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Donal Carlston (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: J Kirk Brown (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Arun K Ramanathan (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jan Rizzulti (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Gary Carlston (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Above & Beyond Teaching
How much does Above & Beyond Teaching give each year?
Above & Beyond Teaching gave $69K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $50K across 9 grants.
What is Above & Beyond Teaching's typical grant size?
Above & Beyond Teaching's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $4,059, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Above & Beyond Teaching give grants?
Above & Beyond Teaching gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Above & Beyond Teaching give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Above & Beyond Teaching's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "2025 Outstanding Teachers of America Award" (17 grants).
How large is Above & Beyond Teaching?
Above & Beyond Teaching reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $486K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $104K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Above & Beyond Teaching fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to promote equitable educational opportunities by celebrating and supporting outstanding and inspirational California public high school teachers, especially those working in underserved school communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Above & Beyond Teaching?
The filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Above & Beyond Teaching's EIN?
Above & Beyond Teaching's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0154752. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Above & Beyond Teaching funds
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