Eat Learn Play Foundation
Eat Learn Play Foundation is an Oakland, California–based public charity founded by Stephen and Ayesha Curry. It supports children’s well-being through nutritious food, literacy resources, and opportunities to play and be active, with a whole-child, whole-school approach focused on transforming the school experience for Oakland students.
Eat Learn Play Foundation at a glance
In short: Eat Learn Play Foundation gave $10.5M across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $808K), top state California. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,501,413
- +34.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- -35.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $807,801
- +107.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $349,900
- Total assets
- $17,188,713
- +18.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (5 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Eat Learn Play Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 647 4Th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510) 775-2003
Website: https://eatlearnplay.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Eat Learn Play Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kaboom ($4.0M). Together the top 10 received $10.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
93 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 29 grants of 93 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes Oakland as its adopted community and focuses its work on Oakland students, including through Oakland Unified School District. In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in California (41%), Maryland (38%), Pennsylvania (11%), Connecticut (3%), and Colorado (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Eat Learn Play Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 13 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $468K; repeat grants $1M. How we count
Medians: $325K first-time, $752K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.0M (2021) to $10.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $10.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kaboom Bethesda, MD | Renovation of elementary school play spaces at oakland unified school district. | $4,030,359 |
| Oakland Unified School District Oakland, CA | Tiered tutoring literacy coordinator and emergency flowater station and access to water bottles due to lead in drinking fountain water and for oakland central kitchen at the oakland unified school district | $1,400,000 |
| Open Literacy LLC Pittsburgh, PA | 1:1 reading tutoring pilot project in oakland unified school dist. Elementary schools | $1,200,000 |
| Ignite Reading PBC San Francisco, CA | 1:1 reading tutoring pilot project in oakland unified school dist. Elementary schools | $1,200,000 |
| Hoot Reading Inc Oakland, CA | 1:1 Reading Tutoring Pilot Project | $1,129,690 |
| Oakland Literacy Coalition Oakland, CA | Books for elementary schools in oakland unified school district and general operating expenses | $375,000 |
| Brigaid LLC Middletown, CT | Chef training for oakland unified school district central kitchen for food preparation for food for students | $349,900 |
| Rodriguez Community Group LLC Denver, CO | Research and support project for food, tutoring and play activities for elementary students of oakland unified school district | $325,000 |
| Arizona State University Foundation Tempe, AZ | Analysis and evaluation of tutoring pilot at oakland unified school district | $150,000 |
| Alma Advisory Group LLC Chicago, CA | Nutrition services for oakland unified school district central kitchen for food preparation for food for students | $113,964 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $17,188,713 | $22,810,906 | $21,509,441 | $10,501,413 | 13 | $485,213 |
| 2023 | $14,513,296 | $20,441,332 | $17,250,652 | $7,789,895 | 20 | $251,348 |
| 2022 | $11,330,488 | $17,778,322 | $16,384,758 | $8,754,864 | 25 | $5,875 |
| 2021 | $9,809,770 | $13,607,001 | $9,836,161 | $6,000,640 | 21 | $369 |
| 2020 | $3,325,851 | $14,486,974 | $13,060,868 | $9,105,983 | 14 | $563 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support children’s well-being through access to nutritious meals, quality reading resources, and opportunities to play and be active. Its 2024 filing describes work in nutrition, literacy, and play, including support for Oakland Unified School District students.
Its grants have supported school-space renovations, literacy tutoring and books, nutrition services, and evaluation of tutoring programs. Among its grantees, KABOOM! describes its mission as ending playspace inequity by building community-designed playspaces. Oakland Literacy Coalition says it works to ensure every Oakland child learns and loves to read. Reading Partners describes its work as providing personalized, evidence-based literacy support and individualized instruction. Share Our Strength says it works to help communities feed children and address causes of hunger and poverty.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $10,501,413. Awards ranged from $27,500 to $4,030,359, with a median grant of $349,900.
Selected large 2024 grants included $4,030,359 to KABOOM! for Oakland Unified School District elementary school play-space renovations; $1,400,000 to Oakland Unified School District for literacy coordination, water access, and central-kitchen support; and $1,200,000 each to Open Literacy LLC and Ignite Reading PBC for a one-to-one reading tutoring pilot in district elementary schools. Hoot Reading Inc. received $1,129,690 for a tutoring pilot, and Oakland Literacy Coalition received $375,000 for school books and general operating expenses.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry as co-founders, with Ayesha Curry also listed as president. Chris Helfrich is listed as CEO. Other officers and directors listed are Alfredo B. D. Silva, treasurer; Jennifer Aaker, secretary; Frank Zecca, treasurer through December 18, 2024, and director; Aneel Bhusri, Arne Duncan, Yvette Radford, and Robin Washington, directors.
Eat Learn Play Foundation is led by Chris Helfrich, CEO on the 2024 filing; 9 of 18 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Chris Helfrich
CEO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$399K (2024)
Ayesha Curry
Co Founder & President
Secretary & Co-Founder → Vice Chair & Co-Founder, 2023
Vice Chair & Co-Founder → Co Founder & President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Fack
Director of People & Operations
Senior Manager, People & Operations → Director of People & Operations, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$126K (2023) → $139K (2024)
Arne Duncan
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank Zecca
Treasurer & Director
Treasurer & Finance Chair → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yvette Radford
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aneel Bhusri
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Washington
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Harvey
COO
Vice President of Operations → COO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$135K (2020) → $223K (2024)
Sidney Griffin Jr.
Vice President Marketing & Communications
Vice President of Marketing & Communications → Vice President, Marketing & Communications, 2023
Vice President, Marketing & Communications → Vice President Marketing & Communications, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$148K (2021) → $187K (2024)
Marissa Trambley
Vice President Philanthropy & Advocacy
Vice President of Philanthropy & Advocacy → Vice President, Philanthropy & Advocacy, 2023
Vice President, Philanthropy & Advocacy → Vice President Philanthropy & Advocacy, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$179K (2022) → $194K (2024)
William Misenhimer
CFO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$63K (2022) → $270K (2024)
Andra Chao
Senior Manager & Programs
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$115K (2023) → $120K (2024)
Mei Wu
Chief of Staff
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$150K (2023) → $163K (2024)
Jessica Russell
Senior Manager, Marketing & Committee
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$111K (2024)
Alredo Bd Silva
Treasurer
Director & Audit Chair → Director, 2023
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Aaker
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Curry
Co Founder
President & Co-Founder → Board Chair & Co-Founder, 2023
Board Chair & Co-Founder → Co Founder, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Christopher Helfrich (2020–2023) — CEO
- Former: Cammy Ness (2022–2023) — Associate Director - Finance
- Former: Monica White (2023) — Associate Director & Development
- Former: Jose Corona (2020–2022) — Vice President of Prgms & Partner
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $399K, to Chris Helfrich (CEO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Eat Learn Play Foundation
How much does Eat Learn Play Foundation give each year?
Eat Learn Play Foundation gave $10.5M across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $7.8M across 20 grants.
What is Eat Learn Play Foundation's typical grant size?
Eat Learn Play Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $349,900, and its average grant was $807,801, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Eat Learn Play Foundation that year got $468K on average.
Where does Eat Learn Play Foundation give grants?
Eat Learn Play Foundation's top state is California, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Maryland (38%) and Pennsylvania (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (5 grants).
Does Eat Learn Play Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 15% of Eat Learn Play Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Eat Learn Play Foundation's largest grantees?
Eat Learn Play Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Kaboom ($4,030,359), Oakland Unified School District ($1,400,000) and Open Literacy LLC ($1,200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Eat Learn Play Foundation?
Eat Learn Play Foundation reported $17.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $22.8M.
What does Eat Learn Play Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support children’s well-being through access to nutritious meals, quality reading resources, and opportunities to play and be active. Its 2024 filing describes work in nutrition, literacy, and play, including support for Oakland Unified School District students. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Eat Learn Play Foundation?
Eat Learn Play Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check eatlearnplay.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Eat Learn Play Foundation's EIN?
Eat Learn Play Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1373602. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 28, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Eat Learn Play Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Eat Learn Play Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/eat-learn-play-foundation-morg_e1900f4fe11f41b59a86641555eabdc9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_831373602_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Eat Learn Play Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/eat-learn-play-foundation-morg_e1900f4fe11f41b59a86641555eabdc9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Eat Learn Play 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.
Eat Learn Play Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?