Cal Poly Corporation
Cal Poly Corporation is a public charity based in San Luis Obispo, California, formed in 1940. Its stated mission is to provide the university with services and facilities that are integral to the university’s educational program. It administers externally sponsored projects for the university and manages restricted and designated funds supporting university programs.
Cal Poly Corporation at a glance
In short: Cal Poly Corporation gave $19.3M across 49 grants in 2025 (avg $393K), mostly in California. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $19,268,900
- +49.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 49
- +2.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $393,243
- +46.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $47,792
- Total assets
- $426,786,084
- +21.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (11 of 49, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cal Poly Corporation
- Contact
Mailing address: 1 Grand Ave Bldg 15, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Phone: (805) 756-1451
Website: https://calpolycorporation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cal Poly Corporation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was California Polytechnic State University ($12.7M). Together the top 10 received $17.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($672,251), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
192 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 192 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 92% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in California. The remaining reported shares were Rhode Island (2%), and Louisiana, Virginia, and Massachusetts (1% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Cal Poly Corporation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 49 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $41K; repeat grants $495K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $61K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5.5M (2022) to $19.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 49 grants totaling $19.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA | Support of the University | $12,727,053 |
| California Polytechnic State University Foundation San Luis Obispo, CA | Support of the University | $1,030,671 |
| CSU Long Beach Research Foundation Long Beach, CA | Subaward Under Sponsored Programs Grant | $937,163 |
| Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CA | Subaward Under Sponsored Programs Grant | $697,163 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $672,251 |
| San Luis Obispo County Community College District DBA Cuesta Community Col San Luis Obispo, CA | Subaward Under Sponsored Programs Grant | $445,605 |
| Miriam Medical Hospital Providence, RI | Subaward Under Sponsored Programs Grant | $326,563 |
| Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Conservation District Atascadero, CA | Subaward Under Sponsored Programs Grant | $305,098 |
| Chico State Enterprises Chico, CA | Subaward Under Sponsored Programs Grant | $246,593 |
| Southern University and A&M College Baton Rouge, LA | Subaward Under Sponsored Programs Grant | $149,038 |
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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 | $426,786,084 | $130,721,487 | $116,092,332 | $19,268,900 | 49 | $7,476,203 |
| 2024 | $352,704,648 | $124,990,435 | $107,721,453 | $12,852,697 | 48 | $3,452,281 |
| 2023 | $275,406,863 | $111,177,306 | $100,011,654 | $14,443,077 | 39 | $2,912,075 |
| 2022 | $241,706,330 | $93,935,968 | $80,944,302 | $5,488,074 | 27 | $2,556,032 |
| 2021 | $221,621,500 | $66,523,157 | $72,489,849 | $8,707,654 | 29 | $2,978,504 |
| 2020 | $209,034,925 | $72,248,581 | $73,435,532 | $8,906,060 | 29 | $3,965,793 |
| 2019 | $209,928,217 | $89,832,573 | $76,722,508 | $7,917,371 | 23 | $9,947,315 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The corporation’s stated mission is “to provide the university with certain services and facilities which are an integral part of the educational program of the university.” Its described activities include administering research grants and contracts for the university’s benefit and managing gifts and special activity accounts restricted or designated for university programs.
In 2025, its reported grants included support for the university, student grants and scholarships, and subawards under sponsored-program grants. Recipients include colleges, university-affiliated organizations, research organizations, and other institutions. For example, Chico State Enterprises describes its work as promoting and assisting CSU, Chico’s educational and public-service functions by administering grants, farm operations, and other activities. Woodwell Climate Research Center describes its work as conducting science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the corporation reported 49 grants totaling $19,268,900. Grant amounts ranged from $5,294 to $12,727,053, with a median of $47,792.
The largest reported grant was $12,727,053 to an individual recipient State University for support of the university. Other large grants included $1,030,671 to an individual recipient State University Foundation for university support; $937,163 to CSU Long Beach Research Foundation and $697,163 to Allan Hancock College as subawards under sponsored-program grants; and $672,251 to an individual recipient State University for student grants and scholarships awarded and monitored by the university. Additional subawards included $445,605 to San Luis Obispo County Community College District dba Cuesta Community College and $326,563 to Miriam Medical Hospital.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Allison Baird-James as chair; Stan Nosek as chair for part of the year; Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore as vice chair for part of the year; and Damon Fleming as secretary/treasurer. Directors listed include Joseph Cleary, Cara Crye-Wright, Keith Humphrey (part year), Sean Hurley, Geri Lachance, and Patrick Mullen.
Cal Poly Corporation is led by Cody Vandorn, CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 10 of 22 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cody Vandorn
CEO
Executive Director → CEO, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$13K (2023) → $26K (2025)
Allison Baird-James
Chair
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stan Nosek Part Year
Chair
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cyrus Ramezani
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$68K (2022) → $13K (2025)
Dean Wendt
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$29K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Sean Hurley
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$59K (2020) → $17K (2025)
Joseph Cleary
Director
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
$5K (2025)
Cynthia Villa
Director
Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Mullen
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Geri Lachance
Director
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cara Crye-Wright
Director
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Toby Walpole
Director
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashleigh Spragins
Director
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keith Humphrey Part Year
Director
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dan Banfield
CFO
Associate Executive Director, Business, Finance & Cpc → Associate Executive Director & Bus, 2021
Associate Executive Director & Bus → CFO, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$144K (2019) → $223K (2025)
James Dunning
Associate Vice President & Real Estate
Associate Vice President, Corporate Engagement & Industry → Associate Vice President & Corporate Engag, 2021
Associate Vice President & Corporate Engag → Associate Vice President & Real Estate, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$131K (2019) → $234K (2025)
Andrea Burns
Associate Executive Director & Cpc
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$147K (2020) → $196K (2025)
Daniel Howes
Cpsu Faculty
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$107K (2023) → $123K (2025)
Elizabeth Witt
Manager & Swanton Pacific Ranch
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$189K (2025)
Karen Tillman
Associate Vice President & Economic Development
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$238K (2025)
Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore Part Year
Vice Chair
Chair → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Damon Fleming
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (30)
- Former: Keith Humphrey (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Steven Rein (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore (2021–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Aaron Fernandes (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Matthew Grieshop (2024) — Director
- Former: Stan Nosek (2024) — Chair
- Former: Tiffany Kramlich (2024) — Cpc Director of Hr
- Former: Andrew Thulin (2019–2023) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Judy Mahan (2020–2023) — Cpsu Faculty
- Former: Marissa Hiji (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Jagjit Singh (2023) — Cpsu Faculty
- Former: Cara Crye (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Cole Dorris (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jason Will Marchese (2021–2022) — Associate Executive Director & Legal
- Former: Mark Swisher (2022) — Director & Swanton Pacific Ranch
- Former: Phil Barlow (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Alan Faz (2021) — Director
- Former: Lorlie Leetham Part Year (2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Renee Pera Part Year (2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Lorlie Leetham (2019–2020) — Executive Director
- Former: Nick Pettit (2019–2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Steve Harding (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Celeste Esparza (2020) — Director
- Former: Joe Callero (2020) — Cpc Intermittent & Cpsu Head Coach
- Former: Eumi Sprague (2019) — Director
- Former: Kacey Chun (2019) — Director & Human Resources
- Former: Kshitij Mehta (2019) — Director
- Former: Mike Thornton (2019) — Director, Business & Concept Development
- Former: Paul Hoover Part Year (2019) — Director
- Former: Roman Waskiewicz (2019) — Director
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 $238K, to Karen Tillman (Assoc. VP, Economic Development). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Cal Poly Corporation
How much does Cal Poly Corporation give each year?
Cal Poly Corporation gave $19.3M across 49 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $12.9M across 48 grants.
What is Cal Poly Corporation's typical grant size?
Cal Poly Corporation's median grant in 2025 was $47,792, and its average grant was $393,243, across 49 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cal Poly Corporation that year got $41K on average.
Where does Cal Poly Corporation give grants?
Cal Poly Corporation gives mostly in California: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Luis Obispo, CA (3 grants), Portland, OR (3 grants), Long Beach, CA (2 grants) and Providence, RI (2 grants).
Does Cal Poly Corporation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 49 grants with a stated purpose on Cal Poly Corporation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Subaward Under Sponsored Programs Grant" (46 grants).
Who are Cal Poly Corporation's largest grantees?
Cal Poly Corporation's largest 2025 grantees include California Polytechnic State University ($12,727,053), California Polytechnic State University Foundation ($1,030,671) and CSU Long Beach Research Foundation ($937,163), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($672,251), which are not listed by name. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cal Poly Corporation?
Cal Poly Corporation reported $426.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $130.7M.
What does Cal Poly Corporation fund?
The corporation’s stated mission is “to provide the university with certain services and facilities which are an integral part of the educational program of the university.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cal Poly Corporation?
Cal Poly Corporation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check calpolycorporation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Cal Poly Corporation's EIN?
Cal Poly Corporation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-1648180. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- 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 July 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cal Poly Corporation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cal Poly Corporation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cal-poly-corporation-morg_8ca175d00df94510aafbdbc250232133
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_951648180_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cal Poly Corporation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cal-poly-corporation-morg_8ca175d00df94510aafbdbc250232133},
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 Cal Poly Corporation'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.
Cal Poly Corporation down — hundreds of funders to go?