Desert Pacific Foundation
Desert Pacific Foundation is a private foundation based in Signal Hill, California. It supports college- and graduate-level students through scholarships, with funds paid directly to the recipient’s college or university.
Desert Pacific Foundation at a glance
In short: Desert Pacific Foundation gave $49K across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $49,448
- +9.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- +94.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,413
- -43.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,200
- Total assets
- $11,257
- -7.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Desert Pacific Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing directs applicants to complete the application and submit letters of recommendation and an essay. The filing lists Cindy Glessner as the contact.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists April 30, 2025. This was a past deadline.
- Deadline
- The filing lists April 30, 2025.
- Contact
Application contact: Cindy Glessner
Mailing address: 2845 Temple Ave 2Nd Floor, Signal Hill, CA 90755
Phone: (562) 498-1250
Email: dpfoundation@vadpfcu.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Desert Pacific Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
115 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 115 grants of 115 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in California. The remaining reported shares were New Mexico and Texas at 2% each, and Iowa and Nevada at 1% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
Cities
How Desert Pacific Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−16%). 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 2018 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $28K (2018) to $59K (2022). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $49K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 35 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $49,448 |
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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 | $11,257 | $51,300 | $52,204 | $49,448 | 35 | $49,448 | — | — |
| 2024 | $12,161 | $50,200 | $47,155 | $45,273 | 18 | $45,273 | — | — |
| 2023 | $9,116 | $49,209 | $47,475 | $45,062 | 22 | $45,062 | — | — |
| 2022 | $7,382 | $60,137 | $61,388 | $58,625 | 25 | $58,625 | — | — |
| 2021 | $8,633 | $60,172 | $58,082 | $56,182 | 15 | $56,238 | — | — |
| 2020 | $6,543 | $50,264 | $51,377 | $48,250 | 13 | — | $10 | — |
| 2018 | $8,628 | $39,128 | $30,500 | $27,925 | 6 | — | — | $652 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated direct charitable activity is providing scholarships for college- and graduate-level students.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 35 grants totaling $49,448. Grants ranged from $500 to $3,000, with a median grant of $1,200. The largest reported awards included four $3,000 scholarships and one $2,448 scholarship, all to individual recipients.
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes an application requiring an application form, letters of recommendation, and an essay. It states that awards are $5,000 per year and are provided directly to a college or university; the school program must be located in the United States.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Shannon Workman as chairwoman, Donna Soroczak as vice chair, Donn Grizzle as treasurer, Heidi Bair and Maryann Child as members, and Cindy Glessner as executive director.
Desert Pacific Foundation is led by Cindy Glessner, Executive Director on every filing since 2018; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cindy Glessner
Executive Director
On filings since 2018
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Workman
Chairwoman
Chairman → Chairwoman, 2024
On filings since 2018
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donn Grizzle
Treasurer
On filings since 2018
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donna Soroczak
Vice Chair
Vice Chairman → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Heidi Bair
Member
Member at Large → Member, 2021
On filings since 2018
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maryann Child
Member
Secretary → Board Member, 2020
Board Member → Member, 2023
On filings since 2018
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2025. "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 Desert Pacific Foundation
How much does Desert Pacific Foundation give each year?
Desert Pacific Foundation gave $49K across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $45K across 18 grants.
What is Desert Pacific Foundation's typical grant size?
Desert Pacific Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,200, and its average grant was $1,413, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Desert Pacific Foundation give grants?
Desert Pacific Foundation gives mostly in California: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Desert Pacific Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 35 grants with a stated purpose on Desert Pacific Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (35 grants).
How large is Desert Pacific Foundation?
Desert Pacific Foundation reported $11K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $51K.
What does Desert Pacific Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated direct charitable activity is providing scholarships for college- and graduate-level students. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Desert Pacific Foundation?
The 2024 filing directs applicants to complete the application and submit letters of recommendation and an essay. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Desert Pacific Foundation's EIN?
Desert Pacific Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3277065. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS May 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 27, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2018–2025
Live grants for the work Desert Pacific Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Desert Pacific Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Desert Pacific Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Desert Pacific Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?