Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation
The Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation is a private foundation based in North Tustin, California. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations in multiple states; the filing limits awards to exempt organizations organized exclusively for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes.
Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation at a glance
In short: Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation gave $2.8M across 53 grants in 2025 (avg $53K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,811,000
- -4.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- +6.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $53,038
- -10.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $8,652,521
- -3.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (38% 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 Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a letter of request to Cynthia Foster. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Awards are limited to exempt organizations organized exclusively for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes.
- Review Cycle
- No submission deadline.
- Deadline
- No submission deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Cynthia Foster
Mailing address: 12241 Newport Avenue Suite 100, North Tustin, CA 92705
Phone: (714) 558-1921
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hillsdale College ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 144 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, California received 38% of grant dollars, Virginia 21%, Michigan 11%, Texas 10%, and Pennsylvania 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation gives
- 87% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 9270% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2022) to $3.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 53 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI | General | $300,000 |
| Cuesta College Foundation San Luis Obispo, CA | General | $250,000 |
| National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation Springfield, VA | General | $170,000 |
| Linked Public Schools Bakersfield, CA | General | $150,000 |
| Pacific Legal Foundation Sacramento, CA | General | $120,000 |
| CO2 Coalition Arlington, VA | General | $100,000 |
| Freedom Foundation Valley Forge, PA | General | $100,000 |
| Heartland Institute Arlington Heights, IL | General | $100,000 |
| Institute for Justice Arlington, VA | General | $100,000 |
| Patriot Paws Service Dogs Rockwall, TX | General | $100,000 |
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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 | $8,652,521 | $585,030 | $4,187,238 | $2,811,000 | 53 | $2,815,513 | $525,797 | $254,927 |
| 2024 | $9,008,049 | $1,035,452 | $3,016,070 | $2,951,000 | 50 | $2,951,326 | $970,708 | $228,273 |
| 2023 | $9,746,361 | $157,839 | $1,831,027 | $1,800,000 | 40 | $1,800,612 | $208,946 | $148,589 |
| 2022 | $67,886 | $10,121 | $32,114 | $30,000 | 1 | $30,614 | $8,621 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $255K for 2025 — 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 or specific focus areas are provided. Grants listed for 2025 include support for colleges, legal organizations, policy institutes, a public school organization, and a service-dog organization.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Cuesta College Foundation says it supports college programs, educational opportunities, and student success. Pacific Legal Foundation says it litigates nationwide to secure Americans’ rights. Patriot Paws Service Dogs says it trains and provides service dogs at no cost to disabled veterans and others with mobile disabilities. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their missions, not stated focus areas of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 53 grants totaling $2,811,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $300,000, with a median of $30,000.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $300,000 to Hillsdale College, $250,000 to Cuesta College Foundation, $170,000 to National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, $150,000 to Linked Public Schools, and $120,000 to Pacific Legal Foundation. Each was listed for general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cynthia M Foster as President; Diana J Bowen as Secretary; James H Pankey and Roberta P Sweet as Directors; and Peter S Pankey as Vice-President and Treasurer. David A Poole is also listed as a Director.
Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation is led by Cynthia M Foster, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cynthia M Foster
President
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David A Poole
Director
Secretary → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James H Pankey
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roberta P Sweet
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter S Pankey
Vice President & Treasurer
Treasurer → Vice President & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana J Bowen
Secretary
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Bruce J Gary (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Elizabeth S Pankey (2020) — President
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.
Frequently asked questions about Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation
How much does Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation give each year?
Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation gave $2.8M across 53 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.0M across 50 grants.
What is Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation's typical grant size?
Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $53,038, across 53 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation give grants?
Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation's top state is California, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (21%) and Michigan (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (7 grants), Tustin, CA (5 grants), Arlington, VA (3 grants) and Bakersfield, CA (3 grants).
Does Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (53 of 53) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation's largest grantees?
Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Hillsdale College ($300,000), Cuesta College Foundation ($250,000) and National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation ($170,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation?
Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation reported $8.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $255K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation fund?
No mission statement or specific focus areas are provided. Grants listed for 2025 include support for colleges, legal organizations, policy institutes, a public school organization, and a service-dog organization. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation?
Submit a letter of request to Cynthia Foster. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation's EIN?
Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0142851. 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/edgar-e-and-elizabeth-s-pankey-foundation-morg_f1532c7ac1764b9da98017bc7ef001d2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_330142851_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Edgar E \& Elizabeth S Pankey Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/edgar-e-and-elizabeth-s-pankey-foundation-morg_f1532c7ac1764b9da98017bc7ef001d2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Edgar E & Elizabeth S Pankey 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.
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