Catalyst Foundation
Catalyst Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Established in July 2002, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Key facts about Catalyst Foundation
- EIN
- 87-0666762
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $173,400
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- Average grant
- $7,882
- Median grant
- $2,200
- Total assets
- $6,260,811
- Primary geography
- California (24% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Catalyst Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Catalyst Foundation's 22 itemized 2024 grants were California (24%), Virginia (19%) and Kentucky (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (7 grants), Salt Lake City, UT (3 grants), San Diego, CA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). 59% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public Radio" (4 grants).
How Catalyst Foundation gives
- Giving fell 39% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 29% 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.
Next steps with Catalyst Foundation
- How to evaluate Catalyst Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Catalyst Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.3M
+5.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$173K
+356.3% YoY
Grant Count
22
+340.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+3.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Catalyst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $604K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable purposes, including:
- General charitable purposes
- Education
- Music exhibition
- International diplomacy
- Scholarships
- Public film festivals
- Policy research
- Senior services and aging in place
Grantmaking
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, Utah, and Idaho.
Ready to take the next step with Catalyst Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 22 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $6,260,811
- Total revenues: $575,876
- Total expenses: $271,004
- Total liabilities: $3,400
Historical Assets (2023):
- Total assets: $5,955,939
- Total revenues: $2,570,000
- Total expenses: $140,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,260,811 | $5,955,939 | $6,131,162 |
| Revenue | $575,876 | $2,573,851 | $374,322 |
| Expenses | $271,004 | $140,042 | $424,564 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $177,189 | $38,024 | $284,157 |
| Net Investment Income | $510,241 | $2,471,833 | $251,915 |
| Distributable Amount | $603,934 | $584,196 | $677,324 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Healing Place ($30,000), University of Virginia ($30,000), Benie Foundation ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HEALING PLACE Louisville, KY | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $30,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA Charlottesville, VA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $30,000 |
| BENIE FOUNDATION San Diego, CA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS New York, NY | INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY | $20,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL Washington, DC | PUBLIC FILM FESTIVAL | $20,000 |
| LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY La Jolla, CA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH Salt Lake City, UT | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| CHEVY CHASE AT HOME Chevy Chase, MD | HELP SENIORS LIVE AT HOME | $5,000 |
| KPBS - SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY San Diego, CA | PUBLIC RADIO | $5,000 |
| ARTHUR C CLARKE FOUNDATION Alexandria, VA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Lady Dougan | Chairman, Pres., Trustee | 1 | — |
| Gavin M Dougan | Secretary, Trustee | 1 | — |
| Elena Lady Minton | Treasurer, Trustee | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Catalyst Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable purposes, including: • General charitable purposes • Education • Music exhibition • International diplomacy • Scholarships • Public film festivals • Policy research • Senior services and aging in place
How do I apply for a grant from Catalyst Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 26 grants in the most recent year • Typical grant awards range from $22,000 to $202,000 • Recent grantees include the UCSF Foundation, The Healing Place/John Morgan Center for the Homeless ($30,000), Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital ($20,000), and Benie Foundation ($20,000) **Geographic Focus:** The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, Utah, and Idaho.
What size grants does Catalyst Foundation award?
In 2024, Catalyst Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $173K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Catalyst Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Catalyst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $604K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Catalyst Foundation's EIN?
Catalyst Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0666762. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Catalyst Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Orange County Community Foundation
Irvine, CA
Assets
$688.2M
Grants
894
Total Given
$80.3M
Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego
San Diego, CA
Assets
$788.6M
Grants
740
Total Given
$193.9M
Onerefugee
Salt Lake City, UT
Assets
$158K
Grants
431
Total Given
$800K
George S and Dolores Dore
Salt Lake City, UT
Assets
$966.8M
Grants
400
Total Given
$27.0M
Larry H Miller and Gail Miller Family Foundation
Sandy, UT
Assets
$773.9M
Grants
324
Total Given
$33.2M
University Impact
Provo, UT
Assets
$384.7M
Grants
317
Total Given
$42.3M
Best Friends Animal Society
Kanab, UT
Assets
$200.6M
Grants
307
Total Given
$16.1M
The Community Foundation of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Assets
$190.4M
Grants
299
Total Given
$60.0M
Sorenson Legacy Foundation
Midvale, UT
Assets
—
Grants
266
Total Given
$28.0M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
More Funders in Utah
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.