Firedoll Foundation
Firedoll Foundation is a private foundation based in Walnut Creek, California. It supports nonprofit projects in community development and entrepreneurship, immigrant issues and human rights, environmental conservation, the peace process in the Middle East, and support for survivors of traumatic brain injury.
Firedoll Foundation at a glance
In short: Firedoll Foundation gave $2.9M across 113 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in California. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,867,039
- +29.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 113
- +17.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,372
- +9.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $8,171,588
- +0.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (16 of 113, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Firedoll Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The website accepts LOIs from new applicants during its stated application periods, subject to eligibility and program restrictions. The next general LOI period listed is January 1–March 31, 2027; the foundation says TBI LOIs may be submitted year-round. Returning grantees may request renewals at any time through the online portal and should obtain access instructions from their program officer. An LOI may be up to six pages, with no more than two pages of text, and should include recent financial statements and, if applicable, a project budget. If invited to submit a proposal, applicants provide a brief narrative and financial documents, including organizational and project budgets, recent financial statements, a Form 990, and an IRS determination letter. The website says applicants are notified about three months after submitting an LOI whether a proposal is requested, and about three months after proposal submission whether funding will be awarded. Applicants whose requests are declined must wait one year before reapplying.
- Review Cycle
- The next general LOI period listed is January 1–March 31, 2027. TBI LOIs are accepted year-round.
- Deadline
- The next general LOI period listed is January 1–March 31, 2027.
- Contact
Application contact: Faye Or Sandor Straus Firedoll Foun
Mailing address: 1460 Maria Lane Suite 400, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Phone: (925) 937-3112
Website: https://firedoll.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Firedoll Foundation
Firedoll Foundation: Middle East Peace Grants
Firedoll Foundation
Amount
US $10,000 - US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Firedoll Foundation: Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury Grants
Firedoll Foundation
Amount
US $10,000 - US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grants for Community Development and Entrepreneurship; Immigrant Issues and Human Rights & Environmental Conservation
Firedoll Foundation
Amount
US $10,000 - US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Firedoll Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Social Good Fund ($100K). Together the top 10 received $430K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
376 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 368 grants of 376 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Alameda and Contra Costa counties as the focus for its community development program. Its immigrant issues and human rights program focuses on Northern California, with emphasis on Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Its 2025 grant dollars went primarily to California recipients (78%), followed by recipients in DC (7%), Oregon (3%), and New York (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 113 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Firedoll Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 113 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $19K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 159% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 488% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $950K (2021) to $2.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 113 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Social Good Fund Richmond, CA | Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance Legal Empowerment | $100,000 |
| California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice Oakland, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $50,000 |
| East Bay Sanctuary Covenant Berkeley, CA | Walk-in Clinic & Afghan Support | $45,000 |
| New Isreal Fund Philadelphia, PA | Rabbis for Human Rights | $40,000 |
| Praxis Peace Institute Sonoma, CA | General Operating Support | $40,000 |
| Common Counsel Foundation Oakland, CA | General Support | $35,000 |
| ACLU Foundation of Northern California San Francisco, CA | Immigrant Rights Support | $30,000 |
| Alameda County Public Defender's Office Oakland, CA | Immigration Unit Support | $30,000 |
| American Friends of Combatants for Peace San Francisco, CA | Combatants for Peace in Israel support | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Firedoll Foundation?
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 | $8,171,588 | $4,137,350 | $3,422,866 | $2,867,039 | 113 | $3,293,333 | $2,117,397 | $674,289 |
| 2024 | $8,138,637 | $2,976,494 | $2,735,383 | $2,219,000 | 96 | $2,619,564 | $1,309,064 | $628,409 |
| 2023 | $12,449,763 | $3,436,270 | $2,210,077 | $1,716,031 | 73 | $2,095,093 | $1,064,786 | $571,072 |
| 2022 | $11,827,787 | $1,936,843 | $1,551,266 | $1,106,798 | 50 | $1,446,224 | $1,575,402 | $719,728 |
| 2021 | $14,087,435 | $1,140,151 | $1,380,775 | $950,000 | 44 | — | $1,384,218 | $742,519 |
| 2020 | $12,167,489 | $2,558,642 | $2,598,016 | $2,186,458 | 95 | — | $1,083,872 | $587,505 |
| 2019 | $12,104,941 | $2,991,674 | $2,103,949 | $1,727,235 | 79 | — | $984,759 | $577,041 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Firedoll Foundation reported a distributable amount of $674K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website says it seeks ways to “be part of the solution.” Its focus areas include community development and entrepreneurship, immigrant issues and human rights, environmental conservation, the peace process in the Middle East, and survivors of traumatic brain injury.
For community development, the foundation describes support for safety-net services, reentry programs, entrepreneurship, and workforce development, with a 2026 priority on safety-net organizations. Its immigrant and human rights program supports work such as alternatives to detention and advocacy for detained immigrants and asylum seekers; the foundation says it is not accepting unsolicited requests in this program area at this time.
Examples of grantees’ work, as described by the grantees, include legal services and community organizing for immigrants and people fleeing violence, provided by East Bay Sanctuary Covenant; peace education forums and conflict-resolution workshops, provided by Praxis Peace Institute; and legal services, research, education, and advocacy for sustainable community resources, provided by Sustainable Economies Law Center.
The foundation says it does not fund, among other things, education, climate change, most research, media projects, start-up or seed funding, and organizations with budgets under $150,000. It generally does not fund general support for first-time applicants, though it does fund general support for existing grantees. It favors discrete projects with clear deliverables.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 113 grants totaling $2,867,039. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
The largest reported grant was $100,000 to Social Good Fund for Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance Legal Empowerment. Other notable grants included $50,000 to California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice for general support; $50,000 to an individual recipient Research Institute for math book distribution and a prize; $45,000 to East Bay Sanctuary Covenant for its walk-in clinic and Afghan support; and $40,000 to Praxis Peace Institute for general operating support. The foundation also awarded $30,000 to ACLU Foundation of Northern California for immigrant rights support and $30,000 to Alameda County Public Defender’s Office for immigration unit support.
Deadline: The next general LOI period listed is January 1–March 31, 2027. TBI LOIs are accepted year-round.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sandor Straus as president and Faye Straus as vice president and treasurer.
Firedoll Foundation is led by Sandor Straus, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sandor Straus
President
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Faye Straus
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Firedoll Foundation
How much does Firedoll Foundation give each year?
Firedoll Foundation gave $2.9M across 113 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.2M across 96 grants.
What is Firedoll Foundation's typical grant size?
Firedoll Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $25,372, across 113 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Firedoll Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does Firedoll Foundation give grants?
Firedoll Foundation gives mostly in California: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (20 grants), Oakland, CA (17 grants), Berkeley, CA (15 grants) and Washington, DC (8 grants).
Does Firedoll Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 34% of Firedoll Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (38 of 113) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Firedoll Foundation's largest grantees?
Firedoll Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Social Good Fund ($100,000), California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice ($50,000) and East Bay Sanctuary Covenant ($45,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Firedoll Foundation?
Firedoll Foundation reported $8.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $674K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Firedoll Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website says it seeks ways to “be part of the solution.” Its focus areas include community development and entrepreneurship, immigrant issues and human rights, environmental conservation, the peace process in the Middle East, and survivors of traumatic brain injury. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Firedoll Foundation?
The website accepts LOIs from new applicants during its stated application periods, subject to eligibility and program restrictions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Firedoll Foundation's EIN?
Firedoll Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3301999. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Firedoll Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Firedoll Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Firedoll Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/firedoll-foundation-morg_4da57a42aafd4b90bcabad737924384f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943301999_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Firedoll Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/firedoll-foundation-morg_4da57a42aafd4b90bcabad737924384f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Firedoll Foundation'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.
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