Downey Kiwanis Foundation
Downey Kiwanis Foundation is a private foundation based in Downey, California. Its 2025 filing reports grants for scholarships to graduating high school students and support for local community, education, health, and youth-related programs.
Key facts about Downey Kiwanis Foundation
In short: Downey Kiwanis Foundation gave $281K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in California. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 95-4001578
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $281,386
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- Average grant
- $23,449
- Median grant
- $6,538
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (4 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $6,452,545
- Primary geography
- California (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The 2024 filing lists Carmen Vasquez as the contact. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.5M
+6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$281K
+18.1% YoY
Grant Count
12
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
+27.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Downey Kiwanis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $276K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Downey Kiwanis Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 12 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $39K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its reported activities and grants include scholarships, community programs, music education, health-related support, and services for children.
Among its 2025 grantees, Downey Symphonic Society describes its mission as presenting symphonic concerts for grade-school children to help them develop an appreciation for music and the arts. Rancho Los Amigos Foundation says it raises funds for programs, services, and equipment for Rancho Rehabilitation Center patients and their families, including pediatric and adult patients affected by disabling injuries or illnesses. PIH Health Foundation describes its mission as raising funds for PIH Health hospitals and providing health education and related community programs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $281,386. Grant amounts ranged from $1,250 to $143,125, with a median of $6,538. Its largest reported grant was $143,125 for scholarships to 59 graduating high school students. Other notable grants included $50,000 to Downey Family YMCA for construction of a new YMCA, $23,000 to ARC of Southeast Los Angeles for financial support, and $17,000 to Downey Symphonic Society for music programming for Downey fifth-grade students.
The 2024 filing lists direct charitable activity providing 48 scholarships to graduating high school students. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
How to Apply
The 2024 filing lists Carmen Vasquez as the contact. Form and materials, deadlines, and restrictions on awards are listed as N/A.
Ready to take the next step with Downey Kiwanis Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 2% to recipients in Indiana. Most listed recipients are in Downey, California; the grants also include recipients in Whittier, Burbank, and Indianapolis.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $106K (2020) to $301K (2023). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $281K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was 59 Graduating High School Students ($143K). Together the top 10 received $278K.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 65 (86%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 59 Graduating High School Students Downey, CA | Scholarship | $143,125 |
| Downey Family YMCA Downey, CA | Financial Support for Construction of New YMCA | $50,000 |
| Arc of Southeast Los Angeles Downey, CA | Financial Support | $23,000 |
| Downey Symphonic Society Downey, CA | Bringing music to the 5th grade students of downey | $17,000 |
| Kiwanis Club of Downey Los Amigos Downey, CA | Support of pathfinder's leadership camp andchristmas shopping for disadvantaged children | $15,597 |
| Rancho Los Amigos Foundation Downey, CA | Financial Support | $7,076 |
| 3 Downey High School Teachers Downey, CA | 3 Scholarships for Teachers of the Year | $6,000 |
| Kiwanis International Children's Fu Indianapolis, IN | Financial support to improve the lives of children around the world | $6,000 |
| PIH Health Foundation Whittier, CA | Financial Support | $5,000 |
| Downey Unified School District Downey, CA | Support of True Lasting Connection Program | $4,838 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,452,545 | $693,160 | $293,136 | $281,386 |
| 2024 | $6,059,762 | $479,876 | $249,426 | $238,333 |
| 2023 | $5,830,511 | $308,563 | $310,926 | $300,904 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,452,545 | $6,059,762 | $5,830,511 |
| Revenue | $693,160 | $479,876 | $308,563 |
| Expenses | $293,136 | $249,426 | $310,926 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $281,386 | $238,333 | $300,904 |
| Net Investment Income | $394,060 | $377,033 | $248,104 |
| Distributable Amount | $276,331 | $268,224 | $249,660 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Carmen Vasquez as president, Leslie Jones as secretary, and Gary Nesbit as treasurer. Directors listed are Charles Pifer, Steve Roberson, Alan Frischer, Stephen Chu, John Casillas, Jesse Padilla, and Phil Requejo.
Downey Kiwanis Foundation is led by Carmen Vasquez, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carmen Vasquez
President
Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alan Frischer
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Pifer
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Chu
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Roberson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Casillas
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jesse Padilla
Director
On filings since 2024
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phil Requejo
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Nesbit
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Jones
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Jason Cierpiszewski (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Doug Hall (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Jerome Wetzstein (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Richard M. Lehn (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Rose Schneeberger (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Carmen Vasquez
Mailing address: 10428 Haledon Ave, Downey, CA 90241
Phone: (562) 291-9526
Frequently asked questions about Downey Kiwanis Foundation
How much does Downey Kiwanis Foundation give each year?
Downey Kiwanis Foundation gave $281K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $238K across 13 grants.
What is Downey Kiwanis Foundation's typical grant size?
Downey Kiwanis Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,538, and its average grant was $23,449, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Downey Kiwanis Foundation that year got $39K on average.
Where does Downey Kiwanis Foundation give grants?
Downey Kiwanis Foundation gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Downey, CA (9 grants).
Does Downey Kiwanis Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Downey Kiwanis Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support" (3 grants).
Who are Downey Kiwanis Foundation's largest grantees?
Downey Kiwanis Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include 59 Graduating High School Students ($143,125), Downey Family YMCA ($50,000) and Arc of Southeast Los Angeles ($23,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Downey Kiwanis Foundation?
Downey Kiwanis Foundation reported $6.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $281K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $276K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Downey Kiwanis Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its reported activities and grants include scholarships, community programs, music education, health-related support, and services for children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Downey Kiwanis Foundation?
The 2024 filing lists Carmen Vasquez as the contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Downey Kiwanis Foundation's EIN?
Downey Kiwanis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4001578. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching Downey Kiwanis Foundation by hand.
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