El Gato Channel Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Santa Barbara, CA EIN: 83-1098449

El Gato Channel Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Santa Barbara, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 20 grants totaling $244K. Net investment income was $218K.

Key facts about El Gato Channel Foundation

EIN: 83-1098449
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $243,796
Grants made (2024): 20
Average grant: $12,190
Median grant: $10,000
New grantees (estimate): 25% first-time grantees (5 of 20, 2024)
Total assets: $4,392,841
Primary geography: California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated April 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who El Gato Channel Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for El Gato Channel Foundation's 20 itemized 2024 grants were California (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (14 grants), Oakland, CA (2 grants) and Santa Maria, CA (2 grants). None of its 20 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.

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. 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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with El Gato Channel Foundation

How to evaluate El Gato Channel Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
Draft an LOI to El Gato Channel Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.4M

-3.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$244K

-12.7% YoY

Grant Count

+5.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$12K

-17.1% YoY

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.

About El Gato Channel Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with El Gato Channel Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

California $244K (100%)

Share of all 20 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California Virginia

Cities

Santa BarbaraOaklandMonterey BayGoletaLos OsosSanta MariaArlingtonFairfieldSolana BeachVentura

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$4,392,841	$4,546,625	$4,518,137
Revenue	$261,212	$167,886	$102,953
Expenses	$475,052	$546,147	$475,131
Qualifying Distributions	$424,447	$503,026	$425,306
Net Investment Income	$217,957	$125,540	$56,858
Distributable Amount	$221,623	$220,497	$244,915

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 2, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

79 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Environmental Defense Center ($37,530), Northern Chumash Tribal Council ($20,000), Community Environmental Council ($17,500).

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

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Steven Adrian	President	10	$36,000
Gina Giannetto	Secretary/ Treasurer	10	$36,000

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is El Gato Channel Foundation?

El Gato Channel Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Santa Barbara, CA. It holds $4.4M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is El Gato Channel Foundation?

As of 2024, El Gato Channel Foundation holds $4.4M in total assets with $261K in annual revenue. It awarded 20 grants totaling $244K in 2024.

Where does El Gato Channel Foundation operate?

El Gato Channel Foundation has awarded grants in California, Virginia.

What size grants does El Gato Channel Foundation award?

In 2024, El Gato Channel Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $244K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is El Gato Channel Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, El Gato Channel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $222K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.