Biglari Foundation
Biglari Foundation is a private foundation, based in San Antonio, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $26K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $322K. Net investment income was $1.
Biglari Foundation at a glance
In short: Biglari Foundation gave $322K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $64K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $322,367
- -7.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -28.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $64,473
- +29.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $80,000
- Total assets
- $26,244
- +106.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Biglari Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Texas Biomedical Research Institute ($125K). Together the top 5 received $322K.
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 28 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Biglari Foundation gives
- Giving fell 58% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $114K (2020) to $1.5M (2021). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $322K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Biomedical Research Institute San Antonio, TX | For charitable, scientific, literary, artistic, cultural, civic, or educational purposes; or for the promotion of health and human services. | $125,000 |
| Trinity University San Antonio, TX | For charitable, scientific, literary, artistic, cultural, civic, or educational purposes; or for the promotion of health and human services. | $82,367 |
| The SMH (Saint Mary's Hall) Fund San Antonio, TX | For charitable, scientific, literary, artistic, cultural, civic, or educational purposes; or for the promotion of health and human services. | $80,000 |
| John Hayes Memorial Fund - San Antonio Area Somerset, TX | For charitable, scientific, literary, artistic, cultural, civic, or educational purposes; or for the promotion of health and human services. | $25,000 |
| Utsa San Antonio, TX | For charitable, scientific, literary, artistic, cultural, civic, or educational purposes; or for the promotion of health and human services. | $10,000 |
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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 | $26,244 | $337,501 | $323,941 | $322,367 | 5 | $322,367 | $1 | $1,449 |
| 2024 | $12,684 | $360,001 | $362,501 | $347,639 | 7 | $347,639 | $1 | $2,443 |
| 2023 | $15,184 | $290,001 | $382,044 | $376,000 | 9 | $376,000 | $1 | $3,074 |
| 2022 | $107,227 | $855,335 | $775,334 | $769,237 | 4 | $769,237 | $1 | $1,952 |
| 2021 | $27,226 | $1,480,335 | $1,480,710 | $1,480,524 | 3 | — | $1 | $1,764 |
| 2020 | $27,601 | $100,010 | $114,015 | $114,000 | 2 | — | $10 | $1,729 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Biglari Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Biglari Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Philip Cooley
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ruth Person
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sardar Biglari
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Biglari Foundation
How much does Biglari Foundation give each year?
Biglari Foundation gave $322K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $348K across 7 grants.
What is Biglari Foundation's typical grant size?
Biglari Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $80,000, and its average grant was $64,473, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Biglari Foundation give grants?
Biglari Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Antonio, TX (4 grants).
Does Biglari Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Biglari Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Biglari Foundation's largest grantees?
Biglari Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Texas Biomedical Research Institute ($125,000), Trinity University ($82,367) and The SMH (Saint Mary's Hall) Fund ($80,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Biglari Foundation?
Biglari Foundation reported $26K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $322K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Biglari Foundation's EIN?
Biglari Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-1925940. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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