Excellence Initiative
Excellence Initiative is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Redmond, WA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $89.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $1.3M. Net investment income was $6.9M.
Excellence Initiative at a glance
In short: Excellence Initiative gave $1.3M across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $443K). Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,330,000
- +692.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $443,333
- +692.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $125,000
- Total assets
- $89,096,810
- +25.4% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Excellence Initiative funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kabeer Excellence Foundation ($1.1M). Together the top 3 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 6 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Excellence Initiative gives
- In 2024 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $168K (2023) to $1.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kabeer Excellence Foundation | To Support Underprivileged via Education and Medical Relief | $1,135,000 |
| Foundation for Excellence | To Support Underprivileged via Education and Medical Relief | $125,000 |
| Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital | To Support Eye Services for the Underprivileged | $70,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $89,096,810 | $19,137,359 | $1,527,838 | $1,330,000 | 3 | $3,356,233 | $6,880,508 | $3,546,745 |
| 2023 | $71,038,071 | $16,459,465 | $200,170 | $167,768 | 3 | $3,418,273 | $4,456,004 | $2,753,722 |
| 2022 | $53,595,801 | $31,548,998 | $245,281 | — | — | — | $393,584 | — |
| 2021 | $22,292,084 | $9,371,286 | $377,799 | — | — | — | $412,201 | — |
| 2020 | $13,298,597 | $7,893,454 | $39,429 | — | — | — | $98,712 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Excellence Initiative reported a distributable amount of $3.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Excellence Initiative is led by Rajeev Agarwal, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rajeev Agarwal
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arpita Agarwal
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jay Bensal (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Shelly Bensal (2020–2022) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about Excellence Initiative
How much does Excellence Initiative give each year?
Excellence Initiative gave $1.3M across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $168K across 3 grants.
What is Excellence Initiative's typical grant size?
Excellence Initiative's median grant in 2024 was $125,000, and its average grant was $443,333, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Does Excellence Initiative give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Excellence Initiative's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Excellence Initiative?
Excellence Initiative reported $89.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Excellence Initiative?
Excellence Initiative is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Redmond, WA. It holds $89.1M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Excellence Initiative operate?
Excellence Initiative has awarded grants in Texas.
What is Excellence Initiative's EIN?
Excellence Initiative's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1718168. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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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