El Gato Channel Foundation
El Gato Channel Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Barbara, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to California organizations supporting environmental protection, education, conservation, and other community services, as well as a foundation-run program providing hydration stations in Santa Barbara County.
El Gato Channel Foundation at a glance
In short: El Gato Channel Foundation gave $244K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in California. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $243,796
- -12.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,190
- -17.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,392,841
- -3.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (5 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (100% 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 El Gato Channel 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: 735 State Street Suite 511, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (805) 708-0605
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who El Gato Channel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Environmental Defense Center ($38K). Together the top 10 received $166K.
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 79 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in California. The foundation’s Equal Hydration Project is described as operating in Santa Barbara County.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is El Gato Channel Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 20 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 30% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 192% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $159K (2020) to $279K (2023). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $244K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Defense Center Santa Barbara, CA | Legal Support for Environmental Protections | $37,530 |
| Northern Chumash Tribal Council Los Osos, CA | Ocean Conservation and Marine Sanctuary | $20,000 |
| Community Environmental Council Santa Barbara, CA | Environmental Programs, Education | $17,500 |
| Santa Barbara Channel Keeper Santa Barbara, CA | Watershed Advocacy and Education | $15,566 |
| Los Padres Forestwatch Santa Barbara, CA | Protecting los padres national forest and other central coast public land | $15,000 |
| Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Santa Barbara, CA | Environmental Education and Ocean Conservation | $15,000 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Oakland, CA | Environmental Education | $15,000 |
| Channel Islands Restoration Santa Barbara, CA | Wetlands Restoration & Environmental Education | $10,000 |
| Community Initiatives Oakland, CA | Preserve lower-income neighborhoods through the preservation of quality affordable rental housing | $10,000 |
| Explore Ecology Santa Barbara, CA | Environmental Education and School Gardens | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with El Gato Channel 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 | $4,392,841 | $261,212 | $475,052 | $243,796 | 20 | $424,447 | $217,957 | $221,623 |
| 2023 | $4,546,625 | $167,886 | $546,147 | $279,343 | 19 | $503,026 | $125,540 | $220,497 |
| 2022 | $4,518,137 | $102,953 | $475,131 | $204,963 | 18 | $425,306 | $56,858 | $244,915 |
| 2021 | $5,905,584 | $460,255 | $458,829 | $187,968 | 11 | $403,052 | $400,709 | $286,340 |
| 2020 | $5,744,171 | $187,418 | $419,298 | $158,988 | 11 | — | $143,680 | $263,140 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, El Gato Channel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $222K 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
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes its Equal Hydration Project (EHP), established in Santa Barbara County in 2020. EHP aims to improve equitable access to reliable, safe, clean drinking water and reduce single-use plastic water bottles. The program provides hydration stations to selected grantees based on need and potential impact, for installation in public places and some institutional or educational locations serving priority communities. The filing says the organizations served include those supporting older adults, people experiencing homelessness, people in recovery, low-income families, at-risk youth, and survivors of domestic violence and abuse. EHP expenses were $28,826 in 2024.
Among the organizations supported in 2024, the Environmental Defense Center says it protects and enhances the local environment through education, advocacy, and legal action. The Community Environmental Council describes its work as identifying and addressing environmental issues on the Central Coast, including through energy, transportation, waste, and food programs. The Northern Chumash Tribal Council describes its mission as sustaining Chumash culture and heritage and educating the public about Chumash people. Other supported organizations describe work in environmental education, conservation, public-land protection, and community services.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $243,796 through 20 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $37,530, with a median grant of $10,000.
The largest reported grants included $37,530 to the Environmental Defense Center for legal support for environmental protections; $20,000 to the Northern Chumash Tribal Council for ocean conservation and a marine sanctuary; $17,500 to the Community Environmental Council for environmental programs and education; and $15,566 to Santa Barbara Channel Keeper for watershed advocacy and education. Other notable awards were $15,000 each to Los Padres ForestWatch, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and the Sierra Club Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Steven Adrian as president and Gina Giannetto as secretary/treasurer.
El Gato Channel Foundation is led by Steven Adrian, President on every filing since 2020; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Steven Adrian
President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$37K (2020) → $36K (2024)
Gina Giannetto
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$37K (2020) → $36K (2024)
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 $36K, to Steven Adrian (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about El Gato Channel Foundation
How much does El Gato Channel Foundation give each year?
El Gato Channel Foundation gave $244K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $279K across 19 grants.
What is El Gato Channel Foundation's typical grant size?
El Gato Channel Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,190, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from El Gato Channel Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does El Gato Channel Foundation give grants?
El Gato Channel Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (14 grants), Oakland, CA (2 grants) and Santa Maria, CA (2 grants).
Does El Gato Channel Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on El Gato Channel Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are El Gato Channel Foundation's largest grantees?
El Gato Channel Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Environmental Defense Center ($37,530), Northern Chumash Tribal Council ($20,000) and Community Environmental Council ($17,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is El Gato Channel Foundation?
El Gato Channel Foundation reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $424K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $222K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does El Gato Channel Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes its Equal Hydration Project (EHP), established in Santa Barbara County in 2020. EHP aims to improve equitable access to reliable, safe, clean drinking water and reduce single-use plastic water bottles. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from El Gato Channel 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 El Gato Channel Foundation's EIN?
El Gato Channel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1098449. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does El Gato Channel 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 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). El Gato Channel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/el-gato-channel-foundation-morg_64c51ddae7ea484ea0e0bc71bccfafbd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_831098449_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{El Gato Channel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/el-gato-channel-foundation-morg_64c51ddae7ea484ea0e0bc71bccfafbd},
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 El Gato Channel 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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