Furthur Foundation

BERKELEY, CA EIN: 68-0177715 Website

The Furthur Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Berkeley, California, with a 30+ year history of supporting progressive organizations working on environmental and social change issues. The foundation was established with initial capital from donations made more than two decades ago and continues to receive contributions from supporters aligned with its mission.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.0M

+5.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$148K

+73.5% YoY

Grant Count

+15.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$6K

+50.9% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Furthur Foundation reported a distributable amount of $117K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation supports progressive groups working on environmental and social change issues in the Bay Area and around the world. The foundation's approach emphasizes funding "smart-thinking groups that are small and close to their target—groups that know their business, share our politics, and spend the money carefully, without a lot of bells and whistles, overhead, and wasted effort."

Primary funding themes include:

Environmental conservation: Organizations working to preserve Earth's ecosystems, including groups saving wolves, forests, and dolphins
Environmental action: Groups fighting toxic waste, growing gardens, and greening schools
Social safety net support: Organizations providing food assistance, job training, and skill development for people and families in need
Community-based initiatives: Organizations that try new approaches, set examples for other organizations, and work toward a better society
Bay Area focus: Special emphasis on local Bay Area organizations and initiatives

Grantmaking

The foundation accepts new applicants and does not specify particular subject area restrictions in its formal focus areas.

Ready to take the next step with Furthur Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds organizations across multiple states including California, Montana, Hawaii, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin, with particular emphasis on the Bay Area.

Grant Distribution by State

California $218K (46%)

Montana $60K (13%)

Pennsylvania $26K (5%)

Oregon $25K (5%)

Ohio $20K (4%)

Arizona $18K (4%)

North Carolina $16K (3%)

Hawaii $14K (3%)

+12 more states

States

Arizona California Colorado District of Columbia Florida Hawaii Idaho Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Montana North Carolina New Mexico New York Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania South Dakota Texas Wisconsin

Cities

AlbanyAlbuquerqueAnnapolisAustinBeavertonBerkeleyBerkelyBonny DoonBoulder CreekBrooklynCasa GrandeCazaderoCharlotteCoeur DaleneColumbusConcordCoolidgeDavieDenverDurham

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (2024):

Total assets: $1,998,020
Annual revenue: $150,164
Annual expenses: $105,731
Total liabilities: $0

Historical Context: The foundation's working capital derives from a series of donations made more than two decades ago, supplemented by ongoing contributions from supporters throughout the year.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2025	2024	2023
Total Assets	$1,998,020	$1,899,538	$1,729,252
Revenue	$236,371	$150,164	$478,718
Expenses	$172,123	$105,731	$85,697
Qualifying Distributions	$151,826	$85,000	$72,000
Net Investment Income	$185,615	$50,645	$274,786
Distributable Amount	$116,891	—	—

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Grant Size Distribution

117 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Furthur Foundation

Foundation

Furthur Foundation Grant

Furthur Foundation

Amount

US $1,000 - US $5,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include MontPIRG ($20,000), Forward Montana Foundation ($20,000), League of Women Voters Helena Leagu ($20,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
Pegasus Project Albany, CA	Pegasus Voyages aka Pegasus Project has taken thousands of inner city kids onto the Bay for marine environment education aboard Pegasus. We have been supporters, off and on, for several years. Last year, Peter and his team finished rebuilding the ship. They continue to offer a service on a shoestring to kids who never get near a sailboat.	$5,000
Backline Brooklyn, NY	To connect music industry professionals and their families with a trusted network of mental health and wellness providers	$3,000
Sunsar Maya San Francisco, CA	help vulnerable women and children in Nepal build pathways out of poverty through holistic, community-based programs that promote education, mental health, and physical wellbeing.	$3,000
The Berkeley Music Group Berkely, CA	The mission of the Berkeley Music Group BMG is to present a vibrant and diverse range of live performances, which advance the appreciation of music, culture and education, serving the entire Bay Area and beyond. In April 2016, BMG re-opened The UC Theatre, turning a former movie theatre into a state-of-the-art, 1,400-capacity, community minded music venue with year-round performances in downtown Berkeley.	$4,000
First Exposure San Francisco, CA	First Exposures leverages the power of mentoring relationships and photography to empower young people to thrive, express themselves creatively, and become leaders in their communities.	$3,000
Abundant Earth Foundation McKinleyville, CA	Promote projects related to climate change, social inequality, and malnutrition.	$3,000
San Francisco Intl Arts Found San Francisco, CA	Provide programs in literature, visual arts, theater, and playwriting to foster innovation and artistic growth within our community.	$3,500
Diaspora Arts Connection Pleasant Hill, CA	Supporting arts and artists of diaspora.	$3,000
The HomeMore Project San Francisco, CA	Provide opportunities to make a difference in homelessness.	$3,000
Color Outside the Lines Portland, OR	Color Outside the Lines is a nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon that empowers and inspires foster children and at-risk youth by providing opportunities for self-expression and creativity. We believe in the power of art to transform lives andto promote mental and emotional health. We provide creative workshops and art therapy in a joyful, healing, and developmentally engaging environment.	$3,500

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Board of Directors:

Chloe Weir
Monet Weir
Natascha Weir
Andre Carothers (Executive Director, based in Berkeley)
Chris Desser
Trevor Soule
Gabriel Soule

Board Members Emeritus:

Carolyn Garcia
Gregory Miller
Ray Palmarini
Barbara Whitestone

The foundation is managed and directed by Andre Carothers in Berkeley. The financial and accounting operations are overseen by a team of volunteer contributors. Board members serve without compensation.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

From 2025 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Robert Weir	Director	1	—
Andre Carothers	Executive Dir.	1	—
Chris Desser	Director	1	—

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Furthur Foundation fund?

How do I apply for a grant from Furthur Foundation?

**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $20,000 • The foundation awarded approximately $147,500 in total giving in recent filings • In 2024, the foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $85,000 **Recent Grantees (2019-2020):** • Amazon Frontlines • ARTogether The foundation accepts new applicants and does not specify particular subject area restrictions in its formal focus areas.

Where does Furthur Foundation make grants?

What size grants does Furthur Foundation award?

In 2025, Furthur Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $148K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Furthur Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Furthur Foundation reported a distributable amount of $117K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.