The FARO Foundation is a private foundation established in 2004 and based in Los Angeles, California. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) entity and engages in philanthropic grantmaking across multiple states and focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
+85.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-35.7% YoY
Grant Count
9
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$144K
-14.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Faro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $64K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts
- Creative Writing
- Historic Buildings
- Journalism
- Animal Rescue
Grantmaking
The foundation's expenses ($2,078,072) have exceeded its revenue ($1,433,745), indicating significant grant distribution activity relative to annual income.
Grant Range
$720
Average Grant
$720
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
- California: Agua Dulce, Calabasas, Encino, Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Francisco
- New York: Brooklyn, New York
- Massachusetts: Lenox
- Hawaii: Kaneohe, Kapolei
Primary geographic focus areas include California, New York, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving:
- Total assets: $862,483 (most recent filing)
- Total assets (alternative source): $1,600,383
- Annual grants awarded: $2,078,072 (expenses)
- Annual revenue: $1,433,745
- Expense ratio: 144.9% of total revenue spent on programs
Contact Information:
- Address: 1880 Century Park East, 16th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067-1600
- Telephone: 310-556-2266
- EIN: 27-6020872
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,600,383 | $862,483 | $1,355,597 |
| Revenue | $2,263,355 | $1,433,745 | $1,464,123 |
| Expenses | $1,351,524 | $2,078,072 | $960,728 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,292,500 | $2,009,000 | $905,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $63,369 | $458,595 | $621,294 |
| Distributable Amount | $63,798 | $52,701 | $59,141 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Bushwick Starr Theater ($625,000), Shakespeare & Company ($200,000), Hollywood Hoofbeats ($102,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HARLEM GROWN INC NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $100,000 |
| HOLLYWOOD HOOFBEATS AGUA DULCE, CA | GENERAL DONATION TO A NON-PROFIT ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION | $102,500 |
| SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY LENOX, MA | DONATION | $200,000 |
| THE BUSHWICK STARR THEATER BROOKLYN, NY | DONATION | $625,000 |
| FUTURE COMMUNITIES INC LOS ANGELES, CA | HOMELESS SUPPORT PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| CTAOP FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | DONATION | $30,000 |
| ARTHUR MILLER FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | AMF THEATER EDUCATION PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| HOLLYWOOD INDIES LITTLE LEAGUE CALABASAS, CA | DONATION | $5,000 |
| THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES, CA | DONATION | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Paul Knell serves as a trustee of the foundation, dedicating 3 hours to the role and serving without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL KNELL | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant announcements indicate the foundation's active engagement in community funding:
$25,000 in FARO grants awarded to community-led projects across Reading$25,000 in FARO grants awarded to community-led projects across Reading
$25,000 in FARO grants awarded to community-led projects across ReadingFARO donations supporting STEM projects through The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools
FARO Donates Funds for STEM Projects - The Foundation for Seminole CountySubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Faro Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts • Creative Writing • Historic Buildings • Journalism • Animal Rescue
How do I apply for a grant from Faro Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $1,292,500 (based on most recent IRS Form 990) • Typical award range: $5,000–$625,000 • Average grant size: $720 • Total grants awarded in 2024: 1,472 grants • The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants funded **Financial Context:** The foundation's expenses ($2,078,072) have exceeded its revenue ($1,433,745), indicating significant grant distribution activity relative to annual income.
Where does Faro Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: • **California:** Agua Dulce, Calabasas, Encino, Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Francisco • **New York:** Brooklyn, New York • **Massachusetts:** Lenox • **Hawaii:** Kaneohe, Kapolei Primary geographic focus areas include California, New York, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.
What size grants does Faro Foundation award?
In 2024, Faro Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $144K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Faro Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Faro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $64K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Faro Foundation's EIN?
Faro Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6020872. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Faro Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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