Can Foundation
Can Foundation is a private foundation, based in Encino, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $185K. Net investment income was $311K.
Can Foundation at a glance
In short: Can Foundation gave $185K across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), top state Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $185,000
- -35.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 7
- -12.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $26,429
- -25.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $4,308,201
- +3.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Washington (43% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Can Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Wild Orca ($80K). Together the top 7 received $185K.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 51 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Can Foundation gives
- Giving fell 42% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 76% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $185K (2024) to $318K (2021). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $185K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Orca Seattle, WA | General Fund | $80,000 |
| American Bird Conservancy The Plains, VA | General Fund | $20,000 |
| Center for Biological Diversity Tuscon, AZ | General Fund | $20,000 |
| Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ithaca, NY | Cornell Lab of Ornithology | $20,000 |
| Earth Justice San Francisco, CA | General Fund | $20,000 |
| The Orangutan Project - USA Austin, TX | General Fund | $20,000 |
| Double Edge Theater Ashfield, MA | General Fund | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,308,201 | $360,970 | $234,787 | $185,000 | 7 | $185,000 | $311,183 | $242,238 |
| 2023 | $4,182,018 | $227,702 | $329,290 | $285,000 | 8 | $285,000 | $183,412 | $228,783 |
| 2022 | $4,283,606 | $118,037 | $341,693 | $297,500 | 9 | $297,500 | $73,844 | $248,889 |
| 2021 | $4,507,262 | $454,791 | $371,852 | $317,500 | 14 | — | $400,439 | $271,794 |
| 2020 | $4,424,323 | $179,491 | $326,400 | $285,000 | 13 | — | $132,306 | $245,149 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Can Foundation reported a distributable amount of $242K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Can Foundation is led by Michael S. Williams, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael S. Williams
President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 Can Foundation
How much does Can Foundation give each year?
Can Foundation gave $185K across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $285K across 8 grants.
What is Can Foundation's typical grant size?
Can Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $26,429, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Can Foundation give grants?
Can Foundation's top state is Washington, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (11%) and Arizona (11%).
Does Can Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 86% of Can Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Can Foundation's largest grantees?
Can Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Wild Orca ($80,000), American Bird Conservancy ($20,000) and Center for Biological Diversity ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Can Foundation?
Can Foundation reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $185K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $242K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Can Foundation's EIN?
Can Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0329401. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 Can Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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