THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING, CONNECTIONS AND GUIDANCE IN SUPPORT OF TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATH) FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO DEVELOP THE CRITICAL THINKERS AND CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS NEEDED TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW.
Key facts about Formative Foundation
- EIN
- 26-1115393
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $498,923
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $498,923
- Median grant
- $498,923
- Total assets
- $5,062,295
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How Formative Foundation gives
- Giving grew 246% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with Formative Foundation
- How to evaluate Formative Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Formative Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.1M
-1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$499K
+39.6% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$499K
+39.6% YoY
About Formative Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Formative Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Goleta, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $499K. Net investment income was $185K.
Focus Areas
Ready to take the next step with Formative Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 1 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,062,295 | $5,137,504 | $4,917,346 |
| Revenue | $488,002 | $830,768 | $643,032 |
| Expenses | $1,016,236 | $853,135 | $1,008,317 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $185,046 | $190,229 | $117,832 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Santa Barbara School District ($498,923).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SANTA BARBARA SCHOOL DISTRICT Santa Barbara, CA | EQUIPPING AND OPERATING THE FACILITY FOR THE DOS PUEBLOS ENGINEERING ACADEMY AND STEAM MUSEUM. | $498,923 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Brown | Vice President | 2 | — |
| Liz Salentine | Secretary | 2 | — |
| Jamie Flint | Treasurer | 5 | — |
| Lisa Couch | Director | 2 | — |
| Greg Hartley | Director | 2 | — |
| Eckart Meiburg | Director | 2 | — |
| Michelle Pickett | President | 4 | — |
| John McClure | Director | 2 | — |
| Jill O'Gorman | Director | 2 | — |
| Gary Simpson | CEO | 20 | $101,604 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Formative Foundation?
Formative Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Goleta, CA. It holds $5.1M in total assets as of 2025.
How large is Formative Foundation?
As of 2025, Formative Foundation holds $5.1M in total assets with $488K in annual revenue. It awarded 1 grant totaling $499K in 2025.
Where does Formative Foundation operate?
Formative Foundation has awarded grants in California.
What size grants does Formative Foundation award?
In 2025, Formative Foundation awarded 1 grant totaling $499K — an average of about $499K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Formative Foundation's EIN?
Formative Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1115393. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Formative Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
Tides Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Sempra Foundation
San Diego, CA
Assets
$11.5M
Grants
1,501
Total Given
$1.8M
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
Assets
$7.4B
Grants
1,339
Total Given
$287.7M
Chamberlin Education Foundation
Richmond, CA
Assets
$80.6M
Grants
1,302
Total Given
$3.0M
The San Diego Foundation
San Diego, CA
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
1,158
Total Given
$94.3M
The California Endowment
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,125
Total Given
$215.9M
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals
Oakland, CA
Assets
$87.4B
Grants
1,122
Total Given
$225.4M
Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,063
Total Given
$142.2M
More Funders in California
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.