GAM Foundation
GAM Foundation is a private foundation based in Hillsborough, California. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in education, disaster relief, environmental conservation, child welfare, and other areas.
GAM Foundation at a glance
In short: GAM Foundation gave $47K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in California. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $46,725
- +14.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +13.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,797
- +1.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,022
- Total assets
- $996,470
- +1.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (6 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (58% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to GAM Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 100 De Sabla Rd, Hillsborough, CA 94010
Phone: (415) 254-1006
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who GAM Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hillsborough School Foundation ($15K). Together the top 10 received $38K.
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 77 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California organizations received 58% of grant dollars, and organizations in the District of Columbia received 24%. New York received 5%, while Illinois and Connecticut each received 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is GAM Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 26 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $165 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 983% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2021) to $47K (2024). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $47K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough School Foundation Burlingame, CA | Expanding education | $15,000 |
| San Mateo High School Foundation San Mateo, CA | Expanding education | $5,330 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | Disaster relief | $5,000 |
| Ocean Conservancy Washington, DC | Environmental conservation programs | $5,000 |
| Stanford University Redwood City, CA | Expanding education | $2,000 |
| UNICEF USA New York, NY | Child welfare programs | $1,227 |
| Cool Effect Inc Greenbrae, CA | Environmental conservation programs | $1,227 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council Inc San Francisco, CA | Environmental conservation programs | $1,023 |
| Quest Scholars Program Palo Alto, CA | Underprivileged youth education access | $1,023 |
| Sandy Hook Promise Foundation Newtown, CT | Child welfare and gun death prevention | $1,023 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $996,470 | $64,844 | $1,084 | $46,725 | 26 | $46,921 | $66,070 | $52,518 |
| 2023 | $978,210 | $61,180 | $366 | $40,825 | 23 | $40,975 | $63,907 | $49,183 |
| 2022 | $955,343 | $4,765 | $892 | $39,728 | 19 | $39,883 | $4,727 | $38,817 |
| 2021 | $991,634 | $5 | $718 | $4,313 | 9 | $4,499 | $49,330 | $42,857 |
| 2020 | $988,840 | $988,840 | $740 | — | — | — | — | $426 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, GAM Foundation reported a distributable amount of $53K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for GAM Foundation is provided. Its 2024 grant purposes include expanding education, disaster relief, environmental conservation, child welfare, and civil liberties protection.
Grantee missions illustrate the work of some organizations it supports. World Central Kitchen describes its work as providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Ocean Conservancy says it unites science, people, and policy to protect the ocean. Quest Scholars Program describes its mission as connecting high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds to educational, career, and life opportunities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, GAM Foundation made 26 grants totaling $46,725. Grants ranged from $50 to $15,000, with a median of $1,022. Notable grants included $15,000 to Hillsborough School Foundation and $5,330 to San Mateo High School Foundation, both for expanding education; $5,000 each to World Central Kitchen for disaster relief and Ocean Conservancy for environmental conservation programs; and $2,000 to Stanford University for expanding education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Kristen Gasior — President
- Roman A Margolin — Treasurer
GAM Foundation is led by Kristen Gasior, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kristen Gasior
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roman A. Margolin
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 GAM Foundation
How much does GAM Foundation give each year?
GAM Foundation gave $47K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $41K across 23 grants.
What is GAM Foundation's typical grant size?
GAM Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,022, and its average grant was $1,797, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from GAM Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does GAM Foundation give grants?
GAM Foundation gives mostly in California: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (4 grants), Burlingame, CA (3 grants), Chicago, IL (3 grants) and San Mateo, CA (2 grants).
Does GAM Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on GAM Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Expanding education" (3 grants) and "Environmental conservation programs" (3 grants).
Who are GAM Foundation's largest grantees?
GAM Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hillsborough School Foundation ($15,000), San Mateo High School Foundation ($5,330) and World Central Kitchen ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is GAM Foundation?
GAM Foundation reported $996K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $47K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $53K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does GAM Foundation fund?
No mission statement for GAM Foundation is provided. Its 2024 grant purposes include expanding education, disaster relief, environmental conservation, child welfare, and civil liberties protection. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from GAM Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is GAM Foundation's EIN?
GAM Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3863977. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does GAM 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from GAM 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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