Aspiration
To train charitable nonprofits in how to select and use technology in sustainable ways that increase impact; to design and run highly collaborative nonprofit technology events, focused on knowledge sharing and development of peer support networks; and to provide advice, strategy support, tools, and resources to charitable projects and foundations to help them achieve their missions of delivering high-impact technology that can meet the needs of those working for a better world.
Key facts about Aspiration
In short: Aspiration gave $1.3M across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $101K), top state Connecticut. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 91-2106274
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,318,322
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- Average grant
- $101,409
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $9,773,621
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (45% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$9.8M
+43.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+4672.6% YoY
Grant Count
13
+550.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$101K
+634.2% YoY
About Aspiration
Based on IRS filings
Aspiration is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in San Francisco, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $9.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 13 grants totaling $1.3M. Net investment income was $49K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 13 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2023) to $1.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $1.3M.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Busy Inc ($596K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 16 (56%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Busy Inc Stamford, CT | Programs | $595,890 |
| Open Web Advocacy Inc New York, NY | — | $252,500 |
| Code for Science and Society Portland, OR | — | $50,000 |
| Connect Humanity San Francisco, CA | — | $50,000 |
| Exchange Point Institute Saint Francis, KS | — | $50,000 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | — | $50,000 |
| UC Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | — | $50,000 |
| Open Source Collective Covina, CA | — | $46,427 |
| Open Environmental Data Inc Dover, DE | Programs | $45,005 |
| Unfurl Futures LLC Portland, OR | — | $45,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,773,621 | $6,827,972 | $5,892,735 |
| Revenue | $12,569,627 | $10,590,023 | $8,782,014 |
| Expenses | $9,764,603 | $9,303,972 | $7,742,668 |
| Net Investment Income | $48,551 | $108,092 | $62,757 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 26, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Aspiration is led by Allen Gunn, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 6 of 13 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Allen Gunn
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$148K (2019) → $205K (2025)
Amba Kak
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$194K (2024) → $206K (2025)
Arnold Chandler Jr.
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$170K (2025)
Joan Donovan
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$150K (2025)
Misty Avila
Board Chair
Board Member → Board Chair, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah West
Managing Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$95K (2022) → $231K (2025)
Geoffrey MacDougall
Senior Advisor
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$118K (2022) → $208K (2025)
Camille Ramani
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harlo Holmes
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jack Aponte
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aman Ahuja
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chaeny Emanavin
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Farrell
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Steve Wright (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Julia Angwin (2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Nhadine Leung (2024) — Ops. Director
- Former: Julianne Ancey (2022–2023) — Assistant Director
- Former: Kristina Wilfore (2022) — Consultant
- Former: Adam Hyde (2019–2021) — Program Co-Dir.
- Former: Bill Lester (2020) — Board to
- Former: Jon Peizer (2020) — Chair to
- Former: Jonathan Peizer (2019) — Board Chair
- Former: Kristen Ratan (2019) — Program Codirector
- Former: William Lester (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $231K, to Sarah West (Managing Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Aspiration
How much does Aspiration give each year?
Aspiration gave $1.3M across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $28K across 2 grants.
What is Aspiration's typical grant size?
Aspiration's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $101,409, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Aspiration give grants?
Aspiration's top state is Connecticut, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (23%) and California (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants), Portland, OR (2 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Who are Aspiration's largest grantees?
Aspiration's largest 2025 grantees include Busy Inc ($595,890), Open Web Advocacy Inc ($252,500) and Code for Science and Society ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Aspiration?
Aspiration reported $9.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.6M.
What is Aspiration?
Aspiration is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in San Francisco, CA. It holds $9.8M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Aspiration's EIN?
Aspiration's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2106274. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Here's the math on researching Aspiration by hand.
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