Esalen Institute
Esalen is a leading center for exploring and realizing human potential through experience, education, and research. We work toward the realization of a more humane world, seeking answers to questions unlikely to be explored by traditional universities and religions. Esalen sponsors pioneering initiatives and offers personal, spiritual, and social transformation programs for residents, interns, and workshop participants.
Esalen Institute at a glance
In short: Esalen Institute gave $101K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $101K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $101,000
- -12.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $101,000
- -12.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $101,000
- Total assets
- $70,261,692
- +3.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Esalen Institute
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Esalen Institute
Esalen Scholarships
Esalen Institute
Amount
50-90% of tuition and accommodations
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Live Extended Education Program (LEEP)
Esalen Institute
Amount
$1,600 (2-week); $2,900 (4-week)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Work Scholar Program
Esalen Institute
Amount
$16.90/hour wage; housing and meals provided
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Esalen Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Track Two ($101K).
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 2 grants of 2 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2020) to $115K (2023). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $101K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Track Two Mill Valley, CA | Ctr Program | $101,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Esalen Institute?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $70,261,692 | $22,438,038 | $21,955,384 | $101,000 | 1 | $446,812 |
| 2023 | $68,109,549 | $22,705,682 | $21,022,446 | $114,732 | 1 | $361,233 |
| 2022 | $66,638,813 | $21,769,656 | $16,690,069 | — | — | $71,019 |
| 2021 | $34,049,959 | $15,050,891 | $14,167,823 | — | — | $63,433 |
| 2020 | $31,670,799 | $6,295,141 | $12,630,269 | $10,472 | Total only | $127,609 |
| 2019 | $37,818,473 | $18,733,490 | $18,021,334 | $20,000 | 2 | $-372,246 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Esalen Institute
Based on IRS filings
Esalen Institute is a public charity focused on Social Science, based in Big Sur, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $70.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $101K. Net investment income was $447K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Esalen Institute is led by Camille Allen Wright, CEO - since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 10 of 20 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Camille Allen Wright
CEO -
CEO → CEO & Executive Director, 2023
CEO & Executive Director → CEO -, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$150K (2019) → $457K (2024)
Gordon Wheeler
President
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$202K (2019) → $2K (2024)
Dave Morin
Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Board → Chairman, 2022
Chairman → Chairman of the Board, 2023
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Murphy
Director
Board Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
$35K (2019) → $0 (2024)
William Donius
Director
Board Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
$11K (2022) → $10K (2024)
Nancy Wheeler
Director
Board Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$7K (2020) → $815 (2024)
Sravana Borkataky-Varma
Director
Board Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$13K (2022) → $4K (2024)
Anais Gadban
Director of Operations
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$148K (2023) → $139K (2024)
Mary Obrien
Director of Development
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$123K (2023) → $140K (2024)
Anisa Mehdi
Director
Board Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill James
Director
Board Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Annabel Teal
Director
Board Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin Michael Williams
Director
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tanya Luhrmann
Director
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlie Stang
Director
On filings since 2023
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Kripal
Director
New on the 2024 filing
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacy Carroll
CFO
Controller → Director of Finance, 2022
Director of Finance → CFO, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$104K (2021) → $249K (2024)
Amy Oliver
Chief of Staff
Cheif of Staff → Chief of Staff, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$133K (2022) → $174K (2024)
Shira Levin
Marketing Manager
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$123K (2024)
Mary Ellen Klee
Secretary
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Jeffrey Kripal (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Charles Stang (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Douglas Drummond (2021–2022) — Director of Healing Arts
- Former: Ana Gadban (2022) — Director of Operations
- Former: Timothy Hulls (2022) — Director of Maintenance
- Former: Tatyana Sanikovich (2019–2021) — Director of Hr
- Former: Terence Gilbey (2019–2021) — CEO
- Former: Michelle Broderick (2020–2021) — CMO
- Former: Michelle McCrary (2021) — Head of Communications & Marketing
- Former: Cheryl A. Fraenzl (2019–2020) — Director of Programs · Filing note: Thru oct 2020
- Former: Chip Conley (2019) — Board Trustee
- Former: Jane Hartford (2019) — Director of Ctr
- Former: Lorraine Putnam (2019) — Director of Marketing
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $457K, to Camille Wright (CEO - Until 10/24). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Esalen Institute
How much does Esalen Institute give each year?
Esalen Institute gave $101K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $115K across 1 grant.
How large is Esalen Institute?
Esalen Institute reported $70.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $22.4M.
What is Esalen Institute?
Esalen Institute is a public charity focused on Social Science, based in Big Sur, CA. It holds $70.3M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Esalen Institute operate?
Esalen Institute has awarded grants in California, Massachusetts.
What is Esalen Institute's EIN?
Esalen Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6114235. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in California
California Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Esalen Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in California
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation funds nonprofits working to improve lives and alleviate poverty, with initiatives including early childhood development, homelessness, refugees, safe water, and support for foster and opportunity youth. Its work is global, and its 2024 grants had a median award of $76,000. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, except through its Good Neighbor Program for eligible local nonprofits and Title 1 schools.
Assets
$7.4B
Grants
1,339
Total Given
$287.7M
The California Endowment
Los Angeles, CA
The California Endowment funds nonprofit, government, and eligible faith-based organizations working to advance health and racial equity, strengthen community power, and improve health systems and communities, primarily in California. Its 2024 median grant was $100,000, and funding is by invitation only; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,125
Total Given
$215.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Esalen Institute'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.
Esalen Institute down — hundreds of funders to go?