Downing Family Foundation
Downing Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in San Diego, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $96K. Net investment income was $338K.
Downing Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Downing Family Foundation gave $96K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $24K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $96,000
- -18.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $24,000
- -18.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,500
- Total assets
- $2,837,975
- +8.6% 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 Downing Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was San Diego Natural History Museum ($80K). Together the top 4 received $96K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 24 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Downing Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 59% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $95K (2022) to $213K (2020). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $96K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Natural History Museum San Diego, CA | Morey Group Project | $80,000 |
| Downing Family Operating Foundation San Diego, CA | Support of Project for Astronomy Assoc. | $6,000 |
| San Diego Astronomy Association San Diego, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Team Swift Fulton, CA | Unrestricted Grant | $5,000 |
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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 | $2,837,975 | $350,642 | $125,298 | $96,000 | 4 | $96,000 | $338,255 | $162,323 |
| 2024 | $2,612,631 | $191,409 | $150,698 | $117,500 | 4 | $117,500 | $178,017 | $151,051 |
| 2023 | $2,571,920 | $610,430 | $137,170 | $107,500 | 6 | $107,500 | $591,184 | $128,791 |
| 2022 | $2,098,660 | $57,470 | $173,909 | $95,000 | 4 | $95,000 | $40,333 | $132,548 |
| 2021 | $2,215,118 | $482,786 | $194,521 | $125,000 | 6 | $125,000 | $459,649 | $147,174 |
| 2020 | $1,926,853 | $77,179 | $278,392 | $213,000 | 6 | — | $56,887 | $135,881 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Downing Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $162K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Downing Family Foundation is led by Tracy Downing, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tracy Downing
President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $0 (2025)
John Downing
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Zachary Downing
Corp Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$7K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Toni M. Leadingham
CFO
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $9K, to Zachary Downing (Corp Secretary). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Downing Family Foundation
How much does Downing Family Foundation give each year?
Downing Family Foundation gave $96K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $118K across 4 grants.
What is Downing Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Downing Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,500, and its average grant was $24,000, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Downing Family Foundation give grants?
Downing Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (3 grants).
Does Downing Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of Downing Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Downing Family Foundation?
Downing Family Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $96K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $162K (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 Downing Family Foundation's EIN?
Downing Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0445623. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Downing Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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