Ceres Charitable Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Beaverton, OR EIN: 26-1598048

Ceres Charitable Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Beaverton, OR. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 19 grants totaling $131K. Net investment income was $231K.

Key facts about Ceres Charitable Foundation

In short: Ceres Charitable Foundation gave $131K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in California. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
26-1598048
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$130,963
Grants made (2024)
19
Average grant
$6,893
Median grant
$5,000
New grantees (estimate)
11% first-time grantees (2 of 19, 2024)
Total assets
$2,538,987
Primary geography
California (61% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.5M

+7.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$131K

+2.2% YoY

Grant Count

19

-40.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$7K

+72.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ceres Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $122K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Ceres Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?

11%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 19 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $7K. How we count

Medians: $7K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 110% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Ceres Charitable Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

12states

Share of all 19 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

San JoseWashingtonNew YorkLos GatosSan FranciscoBrooklynCambridgeDenverLivermorePhoenixMilpitasMontgomeryOaklandSaratogaChicagoBoulderLivemoreLos AngelesStony BrookAtlanta

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K33 grants202026 grants202122 grants202232 grants202319 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Montalvo Arts Center: $32KMontalvo Arts Center$32KDoctors Without Borders: $15KDoctors Without Borders$15KSecond Harvest Food Bank: $10KSecond Harvest Food Bank$10KThe Global Uplift Project fka ODFL: $10KThe Global Uplift Project fkaODFL$10KFistula Foundation: $10KFistula Foundation$10KProPublica: $10KProPublica$10KUnion of Concerned Scientist: $5KUnion of Concerned Scientist$5KEarthjustice: $5KEarthjustice$5KMake-A-Wish Foundation: $5KMake-A-Wish Foundation$5KAmerican Indian College Fund: $5KAmerican Indian College Fund$5K

Grant Size Distribution

132 grants across all recorded years

131<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Montalvo Arts Center Saratoga, CASupport the charitable organization's general mission.$31,500
Doctors Without Borders New York, NYSupport the charitable organization's general mission.$15,000
Second Harvest Food Bank San Jose, CASupport the charitable organization's general mission.$10,000
The Global Uplift Project fka ODFL Livermore, CASupport the "Save A Girl" campaign.$10,000
Fistula Foundation San Jose, CASupport the charitable organization's general mission.$10,000
ProPublica New York, NYSupport the charitable organization's general mission.$10,000
Union of Concerned Scientist Cambridge, MASupport the charitable organization's general mission.$5,450
Earthjustice San Francisco, CASupport the charitable organization's general mission.$5,163
Make-A-Wish Foundation Phoenix, AZSupport the charitable organization's general mission.$5,000
American Indian College Fund Denver, COSupport the charitable organization's general mission.$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$2,538,987$2,369,315$2,455,853
Revenue$248,650$-337,313$93,949
Expenses$160,245$140,678$138,458
Qualifying Distributions$134,194$128,200$124,706
Net Investment Income$231,353$50,851$82,291
Distributable Amount$121,580$130,212$129,354

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Ceres Charitable Foundation is led by Scott McDonald, Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Scott McDonald

    Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    10 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alan Tracey

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Zach Taylor

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/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 Ceres Charitable Foundation

How much does Ceres Charitable Foundation give each year?

Ceres Charitable Foundation gave $131K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $128K across 32 grants.

What is Ceres Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?

Ceres Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,893, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ceres Charitable Foundation that year got $7K on average.

Where does Ceres Charitable Foundation give grants?

Ceres Charitable Foundation gives mostly in California: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (19%) and District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and San Jose, CA (2 grants).

Does Ceres Charitable Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 95% of Ceres Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Ceres Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?

Ceres Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Montalvo Arts Center ($31,500), Doctors Without Borders ($15,000) and Second Harvest Food Bank ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Ceres Charitable Foundation?

Ceres Charitable Foundation reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $134K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $122K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Ceres Charitable Foundation?

Ceres Charitable Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Beaverton, OR. It holds $2.5M in total assets as of 2024.

What is Ceres Charitable Foundation's EIN?

Ceres Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1598048. 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.

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