Donato Family Foundation
The Donato Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Burlingame, California. In 2024, it reported 16 grants totaling $89,000 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in environmental education, conservation, community support, and other areas.
Donato Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Donato Family Foundation gave $89K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in California. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $89,000
- +41.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,563
- +41.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,580,255
- -69.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (2 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Donato Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1145 Oxford Road, Burlingame, CA 94010
Phone: (650) 996-7499
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Donato Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Santa Clara University ($10K). Together the top 10 received $65K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the reported share of grant dollars by recipient state was California 88%, New York 6%, Oregon 6%, and Pennsylvania 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Donato Family Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 16 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 149% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $54K (2022) to $89K (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $89K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA | General Donation | $10,000 |
| Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation Truckee, CA | General Donation | $10,000 |
| In Real Life Movies Inc Sausalito, CA | General Donation | $10,000 |
| Vida Verde Nature Education San Gregorio, CA | General Donation | $5,000 |
| Stanford University Redwood City, CA | Business School Fund | $5,000 |
| League to Save Lake Tahoe South Lake Tahoe, CA | General Donation | $5,000 |
| Burning Man Project San Francisco, CA | General Donation | $5,000 |
| Friends of the River Sacramento, CA | General Donation | $5,000 |
| Heroic Hearts Project New York, NY | General Donation | $5,000 |
| Alma Future Foundation San Diego, CA | General Donation | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Donato Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,580,255 | $-3,490,627 | $122,415 | $89,000 | 16 | $94,043 | $1,685,041 | $63,117 |
| 2023 | $5,193,297 | $67,250 | $67,465 | $62,700 | 16 | $64,237 | $56,742 | $77,174 |
| 2022 | $5,197,336 | $120,059 | $57,944 | $54,000 | 8 | $54,000 | $55,715 | $94,041 |
| 2021 | $5,191,600 | $5,191,600 | — | — | — | — | — | $10,101 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Donato Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $63K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Vida Verde Nature Education describes its mission as promoting educational equity through free overnight environmental learning experiences for students who otherwise would not have the opportunity. The League to Save Lake Tahoe says it works to protect and restore the environmental health, sustainability, and scenic beauty of the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Other recipients describe missions that include providing emergency and transitional shelter for homeless families (Samaritan House), supporting military veterans seeking hope and healing (Heroic Hearts Project), and engaging people in large-scale public art as a catalyst for education, empowerment, and collaboration (Flux Foundation).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 16 grants totaling $89,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest listed grants were $10,000 each to Santa Clara University, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, and In Real Life Movies Inc. Other listed grants of $5,000 included Vida Verde Nature Education, Stanford University’s Business School Fund, the League to Save Lake Tahoe, Burning Man Project, Friends of the River, Heroic Hearts Project, Alma Future Foundation, Samaritan House, and Flux Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kristin Donato as president and Craig Donato, Maya Donato, and Sarah Donato as directors.
Donato Family Foundation is led by Kristin Donato, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kristin Donato
President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Craig Donato
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Maya Donato
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Sarah Donato
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 Donato Family Foundation
How much does Donato Family Foundation give each year?
Donato Family Foundation gave $89K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $63K across 16 grants.
What is Donato Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Donato Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,563, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Donato Family Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does Donato Family Foundation give grants?
Donato Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (6%) and Oregon (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants).
Does Donato Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of Donato Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Donato Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Donato Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Santa Clara University ($10,000), Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation ($10,000) and In Real Life Movies Inc ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Donato Family Foundation?
Donato Family Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $94K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $63K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Donato Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Donato Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Donato Family Foundation's EIN?
Donato Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2343029. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does Donato Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Donato Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma
San Francisco, CA
The Federation funds Jewish life and identity, antisemitism response, crisis relief, human services, and justice and inclusion, with work in the Bay Area, Israel, and beyond. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,050 to $2,405,915, with a median of $22,750. It frequently issues requests for proposals and welcomes inquiries about new Bay Area programs; no current organization grant opportunities were listed.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
1,032
Total Given
$94.5M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Tahoe Community Foundation
Incline Village, NV
Tahoe Community Foundation funds nonprofits serving the Lake Tahoe Basin in areas including the environment, education and youth, well-being, arts and culture, and community engagement. Action Grants typically range from $2,500 to $5,000; its broader 2025 grantmaking had a median award of $25,000. It accepts Action Grant applications on a rolling basis for quarterly review; the Community Fund has an annual competitive cycle.
Assets
$169.9M
Grants
191
Total Given
$26.9M
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Donato Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/donato-family-foundation-morg_2640f06259134ef28b75165c78c7090e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_872343029_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Donato Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/donato-family-foundation-morg_2640f06259134ef28b75165c78c7090e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Donato Family 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.
Donato Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?