Formative Foundation
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.
Formative Foundation at a glance
In short: Formative Foundation gave $499K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $499K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $498,923
- +39.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $498,923
- +39.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $498,923
- Total assets
- $5,062,295
- -1.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Formative Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Santa Barbara School District ($499K).
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 4 grants of 6 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Formative Foundation gives
- Giving grew 246% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $144K (2022) to $3.7M (2021). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $499K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,062,295 | $488,002 | $1,016,236 | $498,923 | 1 | $185,046 |
| 2024 | $5,137,504 | $830,768 | $853,135 | $357,334 | 1 | $190,229 |
| 2023 | $4,917,346 | $643,032 | $1,008,317 | $401,170 | 1 | $117,832 |
| 2022 | $5,040,036 | $513,823 | $596,544 | $144,255 | 1 | $19,859 |
| 2021 | $6,982,223 | $7,173,847 | $3,926,665 | $3,744,483 | 2 | $5,351 |
| 2020 | $1,811,291 | $1,417,308 | $384,356 | $151,841 | 1 | $14,349 |
| 2019 | $779,307 | $847,603 | $936,744 | $596,026 | 1 | $11,174 |
About Formative Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Formative Foundation is a public charity 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
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Formative Foundation is led by Gary Simpson, CEO on every filing since 2023; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary Simpson
CEO
On filings since 2023
20 hrs/week
$61K (2023) → $102K (2025)
Michelle Pickett
President
Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eckart Meiburg
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Couch
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John McClure
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Hartley
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jill O'Gorman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Liz Salentine
Secretary
Secretary → Director, 2022
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Brown
Vice President
Vice Chair & Director → Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Flint
Treasurer
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Daniel Huthsing (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Doug Whetter (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Igor Mezic (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Sheetal Gavankar (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kevin Wojcik (2019) — Treasurer & Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $102K, to Gary Simpson (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Formative Foundation
How much does Formative Foundation give each year?
Formative Foundation gave $499K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $357K across 1 grant.
How large is Formative Foundation?
Formative Foundation reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $488K.
What is Formative Foundation?
Formative Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Goleta, CA. It holds $5.1M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Formative Foundation operate?
Formative Foundation has awarded grants in California.
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.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
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)
Live grants for the work Formative Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Creative Impact Grants $500 - $2,500 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Formative Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Formative 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.
Formative Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?