B Quest
B Quest is a private foundation based in San Diego, California. It supports equitable community solutions that reduce carbon emissions, increase renewable energy, and advance policy changes toward a zero-carbon future, using both grants and philanthropic loans.
B Quest at a glance
In short: B Quest gave $1.8M across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $65K), mostly in California. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,827,297
- +3.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- -22.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $65,261
- +33.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $34,573,509
- +62.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (11 of 25, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (80% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to B Quest
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website also describes a project-inquiry process for proposals that fit its financing interests, including projects physically located in designated disadvantaged or underserved communities.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2405 Bancroft St, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: (619) 228-6274
Website: https://bquestfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who B Quest funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Maac ($325K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
135 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 135 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
B Quest’s website describes its work as spanning the United States, with an emphasis on California. It says SunForAll accepts applications from across the country, and its project examples include locations in California, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Hampshire. In 2024, 80% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 16% to recipients in Washington, DC, 3% to Georgia, and 1% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is B Quest open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 25 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $46K; repeat grants $94K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $38K repeat.
- 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 43% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 553% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2022) to $3.2M (2021). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Climate Integrity Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $300,000 |
| Building Electrification Institute San Diego San Diego, CA | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| Climate Action Campaign San Diego, CA | Support Policy Action in San Diego and CA | $250,000 |
| Maac Chula Vista, CA | Support of Ev Access Project | $175,000 |
| Maac Chula Vista, CA | Support of Next Level Project | $150,000 |
| The Childrens Initiative San Diego, CA | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| San Ysidro Health San Diego, CA | Ev Charger Installation | $81,363 |
| Bethel Ame San Diego Solar San Diego, CA | Support Affordable Housing Project | $57,816 |
| CASA Familiar San Ysidro, CA | Solar Installation | $50,000 |
| SANDIEGO350 San Diego, CA | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with B Quest?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $34,573,509 | $6,681,134 | $2,349,746 | $1,827,297 | 28 | $20,497,082 | $4,694,763 | $3,706,517 |
| 2023 | $21,260,359 | $2,921,718 | $2,165,312 | $1,764,666 | 36 | $8,058,081 | $2,834,463 | $3,099,374 |
| 2022 | $20,503,953 | $1,592,810 | $1,767,718 | $1,374,436 | 25 | $6,687,971 | $1,475,511 | $3,521,693 |
| 2021 | $20,678,861 | $4,384,181 | $3,507,466 | $3,204,068 | 20 | $3,849,825 | $4,236,928 | $1,373,010 |
| 2020 | $19,632,812 | $2,891,391 | $3,388,335 | $3,127,199 | 26 | — | $1,519,762 | $1,122,931 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, B Quest reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
B Quest’s stated mission is to partner with organizations creating equitable community solutions to reduce carbon emissions, increase renewable energy, and advocate for policy changes toward a zero-carbon future. Its website describes support for solar and other renewable-energy projects, community solar, energy efficiency and building electrification, electric-vehicle charging and access, e-bike programs, and climate advocacy.
The foundation’s financing includes low- or no-interest bridge loans for eligible projects awaiting rebates or other payments. Its 2024 filing descriptions also include loans for solar and battery-storage installations, nonprofit solar financing, and the acquisition of income-restricted homes in Oceanside.
Its 2024 grantees include organizations with a range of missions. For example, Center for Climate Integrity says it educates communities and elected officials about polluters’ role in climate change and the need for accountability. SanDiego350 says it works to prevent climate change and climate injustice through education, outreach, public-policy advocacy, and volunteer action. Casa Familiar says its mission is to improve quality of life in underserved and underrepresented communities. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, B Quest reported 28 grants totaling $1,827,297. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $300,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest grants included $300,000 to Center for Climate Integrity for general operating support; $250,000 to Building Electrification Institute San Diego for general operating support; and $250,000 to Climate Action Campaign to support policy action in San Diego and California. Other notable grants included $175,000 to MAAC for its EV Access Project, $150,000 to MAAC for its Next Level Project, and $150,000 to The Childrens Initiative for general operating support.
The foundation describes its grantmaking as operating alongside direct investment in projects. Its website also describes bridge loans for renewable-energy projects, including financing that can help nonprofits and community-based organizations cover project costs before rebates or incentives are received.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kara Ballester as president and Andrew Ballester as treasurer and secretary.
B Quest is led by Kara Ballester, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kara Ballester
President
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Ballester
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 B Quest
How much does B Quest give each year?
B Quest gave $1.8M across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 36 grants.
What is B Quest's typical grant size?
B Quest's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $65,261, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from B Quest that year got $46K on average.
Where does B Quest give grants?
B Quest gives mostly in California: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (13 grants) and Chula Vista, CA (2 grants).
Does B Quest give general operating support?
Yes: 32% of B Quest's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Support Solar Project" (5 grants).
Who are B Quest's largest grantees?
B Quest's largest 2024 grantees include Maac ($325,000 across 2 grants), Center for Climate Integrity ($300,000) and Climate Action Campaign ($260,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is B Quest?
B Quest reported $34.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does B Quest fund?
B Quest’s stated mission is to partner with organizations creating equitable community solutions to reduce carbon emissions, increase renewable energy, and advocate for policy changes toward a zero-carbon future. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from B Quest?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is B Quest's EIN?
B Quest's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5550417. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does B Quest accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in B Quest's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). B Quest funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/b-quest-morg_fec8d339f2b847cf80be19d5d6cc7b00
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_475550417_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{B Quest funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/b-quest-morg_fec8d339f2b847cf80be19d5d6cc7b00},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from B Quest's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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