Chris & Karen Chen Foundation
Chris & Karen Chen Foundation is a private foundation, based in San Ramon, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $95K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $4K. Net investment income was $2K.
Chris & Karen Chen Foundation at a glance
In short: Chris & Karen Chen Foundation gave $4K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,136
- +48.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -40.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,379
- +146.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $794
- Total assets
- $94,764
- -7.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% 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 Chris & Karen Chen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The University of California ($3K). Together the top 3 received $4K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 18 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Chris & Karen Chen Foundation gives
- Giving grew 95% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% 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 $2K (2023) to $4K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $4K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The University of California Berkeley, CA | Educational | $2,800 |
| Lockwood STEAM Academy classroom pack forFLL 2023-2024 season Oakland, CA | Charitable | $794 |
| Cal High Men's Basketball San Ramon, CA | Charitable | $542 |
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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 | $94,764 | $2,018 | $5,793 | $4,136 | 3 | $5,743 | $1,968 | $6,292 |
| 2024 | $101,911 | $3,575 | $5,359 | $2,795 | 5 | $5,328 | $3,575 | $5,754 |
| 2023 | $101,186 | $2,226 | $3,673 | $1,672 | 4 | $3,619 | $2,226 | $4,856 |
| 2022 | $103,476 | $3,852 | $3,649 | $2,119 | 2 | $3,637 | $3,852 | $5,661 |
| 2021 | $100,939 | $26,065 | $2,865 | $1,743 | 4 | — | $890 | $7,571 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chris & Karen Chen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Chris & Karen Chen Foundation is led by Chris Chen, CEO on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Chris Chen
CEO
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Chang
CFO
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Chris & Karen Chen Foundation
How much does Chris & Karen Chen Foundation give each year?
Chris & Karen Chen Foundation gave $4K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3K across 5 grants.
What is Chris & Karen Chen Foundation's typical grant size?
Chris & Karen Chen Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $794, and its average grant was $1,379, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Chris & Karen Chen Foundation give grants?
Chris & Karen Chen Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Chris & Karen Chen Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Chris & Karen Chen Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Chris & Karen Chen Foundation?
Chris & Karen Chen Foundation reported $95K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6K (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 Chris & Karen Chen Foundation's EIN?
Chris & Karen Chen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2473960. 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
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