Faro Foundation
Faro Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Its 2025 filing reports six grants totaling $738,000, including support for arts and cultural organizations, a school, an animal rescue organization, and groups working in urban farming and food assistance.
Faro Foundation at a glance
In short: Faro Foundation gave $738K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $123K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $738,000
- -42.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $123,000
- -14.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $106,500
- Total assets
- $1,489,266
- -6.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Faro Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1880 Century Park East-16Th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: (310) 556-2266
Website: https://farofoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Faro Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Bushwick Starr Theater ($225K). Together the top 6 received $738K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 21 grants of 41 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 56% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 44% to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Faro Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 891% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $738K (2025) to $2.4M (2021). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $738K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Bushwick Starr Theater Brooklyn, NY | Donation | $225,000 |
| The Walden School San Francisco, CA | Donation | $150,000 |
| Hollywood Hoofbeats Agua Dulce, CA | General Donation to a Non-Profit Animal Rescue Organization | $113,000 |
| Harlem Grown Inc New York, NY | Donation | $100,000 |
| The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, CA | Donation | $100,000 |
| Project Angel Food Los Angeles, CA | Donation | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,489,266 | $711,643 | $765,489 | $738,000 | 6 | $738,000 | $49,829 | $82,854 |
| 2024 | $1,600,383 | $2,263,355 | $1,351,524 | $1,292,500 | 9 | $1,292,500 | $63,369 | $63,798 |
| 2023 | $862,483 | $1,433,745 | $2,078,072 | $2,009,000 | 12 | $2,009,000 | $458,595 | $52,701 |
| 2022 | $1,355,597 | $1,464,123 | $960,728 | $905,000 | 6 | $905,000 | $621,294 | $59,141 |
| 2021 | $1,401,098 | $2,186,552 | $2,440,103 | $2,370,000 | 8 | $2,370,000 | $1,529,872 | $98,700 |
| 2020 | $1,654,649 | $859,002 | $1,322,492 | $1,273,900 | 18 | — | $320,033 | $105,830 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Faro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $83K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and activities. The Walden School says its mission is to inspire artistic expression and personal growth through experiential music programs. The Museum of Contemporary Art describes its work as collecting and exhibiting contemporary art. Harlem Grown says it helps young people lead healthier, more ambitious lives through education and mentorship in urban farming, nutrition, and sustainability. Project Angel Food says it serves critically ill people in Los Angeles County through medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling. The filing also lists a donation to Hollywood Hoofbeats, described in the grant purpose as an animal rescue organization.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Faro Foundation made six grants totaling $738,000. Awards ranged from $50,000 to $225,000, with a median grant of $106,500. The largest grants were $225,000 to The Bushwick Starr Theater in Brooklyn, New York; $150,000 to The Walden School in San Francisco; and $113,000 to Hollywood Hoofbeats in Agua Dulce, California. Other listed grants were $100,000 each to Harlem Grown and the Museum of Contemporary Art, and $50,000 to Project Angel Food.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Paul Knell is listed as a trustee on the 2025 filing.
Faro Foundation is led by Paul Knell, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul Knell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Faro Foundation
How much does Faro Foundation give each year?
Faro Foundation gave $738K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 9 grants.
What is Faro Foundation's typical grant size?
Faro Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $106,500, and its average grant was $123,000, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Faro Foundation give grants?
Faro Foundation gives mostly in California: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (44%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Faro Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 17% of Faro Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (5 grants).
Who are Faro Foundation's largest grantees?
Faro Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Bushwick Starr Theater ($225,000), The Walden School ($150,000) and Hollywood Hoofbeats ($113,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Faro Foundation?
Faro Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $738K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $83K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Faro Foundation fund?
The 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and activities. The Walden School says its mission is to inspire artistic expression and personal growth through experiential music programs. The Museum of Contemporary Art describes its work as collecting and exhibiting contemporary art. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Faro Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Faro 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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