Big West Conference
Big West Conference is an Irvine, California-based organization classified as a Form 990 public charity. Formed in 1969, it supports intercollegiate athletics and student-athletes through conference championships and distributions to member schools.
Big West Conference at a glance
In short: Big West Conference gave $10.6M across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $959K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,554,073
- +87.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $959,461
- +87.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $851,822
- Total assets
- $13,212,316
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (87% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Big West Conference
- Contact
Mailing address: 100 Spectrum Center Drive 420, Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: (949) 261-2525
Website: https://bigwest.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Big West Conference funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Uc Davis ($1.6M). Together the top 10 received $10.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 13 grants of 22 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in California (87%) and Hawaii (13%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Big West Conference gives
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5.6M (2024) to $10.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $10.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Uc Davis Davis, CA | Provide Support | $1,561,351 |
| University of Hawaii Honolulu, HI | Provide Support | $1,351,423 |
| Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA | Provide Support | $1,297,341 |
| Uc Irvine Irvine, CA | Provide Support | $927,765 |
| Uc Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Provide Support | $893,360 |
| CSU Long Beach Long Beach, CA | Provide Support | $851,822 |
| CSU Northridge Northridge, CA | Provide Support | $837,113 |
| CSU Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | Provide Support | $754,076 |
| CSU Fullerton Fullerton, CA | Provide Support | $748,514 |
| Uc Riverside Riverside, CA | Provide Support | $741,614 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $13,212,316 | $19,032,661 | $16,987,918 | $10,554,073 | 11 | $174,536 |
| 2024 | $11,660,951 | $18,842,551 | $17,222,398 | $5,629,535 | 11 | $103,512 |
| 2022 | $11,398,827 | $11,354,067 | $10,379,413 | — | — | $4,997 |
| 2019 | $7,929,557 | $7,534,520 | $6,721,496 | — | — | $104,659 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s 2024 filing states that its purpose is to maintain intercollegiate athletics as part of the educational program and student-athletes as part of the student body, while preserving a distinction between college athletics and professional sports. The filing describes two programs: student-athlete support, using NCAA funds to help with financial needs arising from being a student-athlete; and athletic events and championships, providing postseason championship opportunities for member institutions.
The 2025 grants listed in the filing went to universities and state university campuses. One recipient, Cal Poly Corporation, describes its own mission as providing Cal Poly with services and facilities integral to the university’s educational program.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the conference reported 11 grants totaling $10,554,073. Grant amounts ranged from $589,694 to $1,561,351, with a median of $851,822.
The largest listed grants were $1,561,351 to UC Davis, $1,351,423 to the University of Hawaii, and $1,297,341 to Cal Poly. Other listed recipients included UC Irvine ($927,765), UC Santa Barbara ($893,360), CSU Long Beach ($851,822), CSU Northridge ($837,113), CSU Bakersfield ($754,076), CSU Fullerton ($748,514), UC Riverside ($741,614), and UC San Diego ($589,694). Each grant’s stated purpose was “provide support.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Pradeep Khosla as board chair and Erika Beck as vice chair. Directors listed are Jeffrey Armstrong, Vernon Harper, Ronald Rochon, Jane Close Conoley, Gary May, Howard Gilman, Kim Wilcox, and Henry Yang.
Big West Conference is led by Pradeep Khosla, Board Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2022); 5 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Pradeep Khosla
Board Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gary May
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry Yang
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Howard Gilman
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Close Conoley
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Armstrong
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Wilcox
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vernon Harper
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald Rochon
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Hensel
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Butterly
Commissioner
Commissioner, Treasurer & Secretary → Commissioner, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$311K (2022) → $369K (2025)
Kristi Giddings
Deputy Commissioner
Senior Associate Commissioner → Deputy Commissioner, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$102K (2022) → $228K (2025)
Tom Davis
Chief Marketing Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$113K (2022) → $154K (2025)
Kevin Rorke
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$128K (2024) → $171K (2025)
Cheryl Wong
Associate Commissioner
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$126K (2025)
Erika Beck
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: David Lassner (2022–2024) — Board Chair
- Former: Alexandra Penewell (2024) — Associate Commissioner-Championships
- Former: Jeff Armstrong (2024) — Director
- Former: Sylvia Alva (2024) — Director
- Former: Ben Jay (2022) — CFO
- Former: Framroze Virjee (2022) — Board Chair
- Former: Lynnette Zelezny (2022) — Director
- Former: Atheletic Director-Member Sch (2019) — Council Member
- Former: Dennis Farrell (2019) — Trsurer & Secrtry
- Former: Ed Jackiewicz (2019) — President
- Former: Erica Monteabaro (2019) — Associate Commissioner
- Former: Faculty Athltic Rep-Member Sch (2019) — Council Member
- Former: Jan Ingham (2019) — President
- Former: Presidentchancellor Of Member (2019) — Council Member
- Former: Robert Halvaks (2019) — Senior Associate Cmmsnr
- Former: Sr Woman Admin-Ea Member Sch (2019) — Council 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 $369K, to Daniel Butterly (Commissioner). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Big West Conference
How much does Big West Conference give each year?
Big West Conference gave $10.6M across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $5.6M across 11 grants.
What is Big West Conference's typical grant size?
Big West Conference's median grant in 2025 was $851,822, and its average grant was $959,461, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Big West Conference give grants?
Big West Conference gives mostly in California: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Hawaii (13%).
Does Big West Conference give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Big West Conference's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Provide Support" (11 grants).
Who are Big West Conference's largest grantees?
Big West Conference's largest 2025 grantees include Uc Davis ($1,561,351), University of Hawaii ($1,351,423) and Cal Poly ($1,297,341), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Big West Conference?
Big West Conference reported $13.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $19.0M.
What does Big West Conference fund?
The organization’s 2024 filing states that its purpose is to maintain intercollegiate athletics as part of the educational program and student-athletes as part of the student body, while preserving a distinction between college athletics and professional sports. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Big West Conference?
Big West Conference has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check bigwest.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Big West Conference's EIN?
Big West Conference's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-2742481. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 16, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 28, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Big West Conference's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Big West Conference funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/big-west-conference-morg_b03aace51a5542e1963a321b5e8b2895
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_952742481_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Big West Conference funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/big-west-conference-morg_b03aace51a5542e1963a321b5e8b2895},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Big West Conference'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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