Charistar Foundation
Charistar Foundation is a private foundation, based in Milpitas, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $18K. Net investment income was $209K.
Charistar Foundation at a glance
In short: Charistar Foundation gave $18K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $18,035
- -40.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,006
- -20.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,217
- Total assets
- $1,209,057
- +1.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (75% 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 Charistar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UC Berkeley Civil and Environmental Engineering Fund ($6K). Together the top 6 received $18K.
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 47 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Charistar Foundation gives
- Giving fell 53% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $18K (2025) to $38K (2022). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $18K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley Civil and Environmental Engineering Fund Berkeley, CA | Donation | $6,000 |
| NCTU Foundation Cupertino, CA | Donation | $3,601 |
| Taiwan Red Cross | Donation | $3,434 |
| CA State Parks Foundation San Francisco, CA | Donation | $3,000 |
| National Park Reserve Foundation Washington, DC | Donation | $1,000 |
| Asia Society San Francisco, CA | Donation | $1,000 |
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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 | $1,209,057 | $267,762 | $43,055 | $18,035 | 6 | $42,785 | $209,156 | $56,218 |
| 2024 | $1,192,508 | $135,475 | $67,777 | $30,290 | 8 | $63,895 | $104,805 | $52,238 |
| 2023 | $1,148,921 | $52,564 | $77,436 | $32,852 | 14 | $69,956 | $42,564 | $53,103 |
| 2022 | $1,073,168 | $57,463 | $64,111 | $38,108 | 9 | $56,349 | $18,463 | $56,856 |
| 2021 | $1,302,341 | $41,833 | $51,199 | $20,188 | 10 | — | $21,833 | $54,539 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charistar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Charistar Foundation is led by Cahn Hong Chrn, CEO on every filing since 2024; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cahn Hong Chrn
CEO
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yi Yang Chern
CFO Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Yi Yang (2021–2024) — CFO Secretary
- Former: Chan Hong Chern (2021–2023) — CEO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Charistar Foundation
How much does Charistar Foundation give each year?
Charistar Foundation gave $18K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $30K across 8 grants.
What is Charistar Foundation's typical grant size?
Charistar Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,217, and its average grant was $3,006, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Charistar Foundation give grants?
Charistar Foundation gives mostly in California: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Charistar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Charistar Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (6 grants).
Who are Charistar Foundation's largest grantees?
Charistar Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include UC Berkeley Civil and Environmental Engineering Fund ($6,000), NCTU Foundation ($3,601) and Taiwan Red Cross ($3,434), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Charistar Foundation?
Charistar Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $43K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $56K (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 Charistar Foundation's EIN?
Charistar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0807992. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Charistar Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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