Girard Foundation
Girard Foundation is a private foundation based in San Diego, California, dedicated to fostering innovation and systemic change in education. The foundation takes a venture philanthropy approach to fund scalable innovations that increase quality learning and training opportunities for young people, with particular emphasis on underserved communities.
Key facts about Girard Foundation
- EIN
- 33-0202832
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,153,906
- Grants made (2025)
- 49
- Average grant
- $43,957
- Median grant
- $7,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (10 of 49, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Girard Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Girard Foundation's 49 itemized 2025 grants were California (82%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (23 grants), La Jolla, CA (4 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Girard Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 49 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $61K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Girard Foundation
- How to evaluate Girard Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+33.4% YoY
Grant Count
49
-2.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+36.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Girard Foundation seeks to foster innovation and systemic change in education with the goal of improving student outcomes in San Diego County and beyond. The foundation's vision is that all young people, especially those facing the greatest obstacles, obtain the education and training they need to access economic opportunity and lead a fulfilling life.
Focus Areas:
Early Impact: Supporting educational innovation models that address opportunity, access, and community support in the early phases of child development, including preschool programs and pre-kindergarten learning options.
Innovative Learning: Investing in programs that combine best practices in education with emerging technologies to improve the educational experience. The foundation prioritizes innovations that personalize the learning experience, foster student autonomy, aid underserved communities, support teachers, and build effective partnerships between students, parents, schools, and the larger community.
Career Readiness: Supporting projects that encourage active career exploration and focus on real-world demands of the economy, recognizing that students have differing passions, goals, and life experiences requiring a range of options.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$500 to $250,000
Average Grant
$28,000–$32,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Girard Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, with grantmaking concentrated in the San Diego region. Historical data indicates that California, New York, and Washington account for approximately 95% of all grants, with grantmaking reaching organizations across seven states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 49 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $10.8 million
- Total revenues: $1.88 million
- Total expenses: $1.92 million
- Investment income and dividends: $499,628
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1.38 million
Historical Assets:
- 2023: $10.8 million
- 2022: $11.1 million
- 2021: $11.7 million
- 2020: $11.8 million
Tax Status:
- Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since January 1987
- EIN: 33-0202832
- Donations are tax-deductible
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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
238 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Ucsd Foundation ($558,000), Junior Achievement of San Diego Inc ($250,000), Transcend Inc ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UCSD FOUNDATION La Jolla, CA | GENERAL | $558,000 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SAN DIEGO INC San Diego, CA | GENERAL | $250,000 |
| TRANSCEND INC Hastings HDSN, NY | GENERAL | $250,000 |
| YMCA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY San Diego, CA | GENERAL | $186,712 |
| CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION Los Angeles, CA | GENERAL | $100,000 |
| DIGITAL PROMISE Seattle, WA | GENERAL | $90,000 |
| MAGNOLIA SCIENCE ACADEMY San Diego, CA | GENERAL | $75,000 |
| PARENT INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION INC National City, CA | GENERAL | $70,000 |
| PROJECT NEXT San Marcos, CA | GENERAL | $65,000 |
| ELEVATE SCHOOL San Diego, CA | GENERAL | $55,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Buzz Woolley – Founder and Chairman of the Board (since 1986). A retired venture capitalist and entrepreneur who has devoted decades to improving the quality of education in the San Diego area. Co-founder of Connect, a local nonprofit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, and co-founder and former Chairman of Voice of San Diego.
Dede Alpert – Board Member. An education innovator with a background in policy-making and educational law. Represented the San Diego region in the California Legislature from 1991–2004, serving three terms in the Assembly and two in the Senate, and was recognized as one of the Legislature's foremost experts on public education. Previously served on the Solana Beach School Board for seven years. Currently serves on the boards of Sharp Healthcare and Price Philanthropies.
Michele Hansen – Vice Chair. Brings passion for education innovation and experience in business and technology. Former first grade teacher and executive in the technology sector.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RB Woolley Jr | Board Chair | 5 | — |
| Mary Lindenstein Walshok | Secretary & Board Member | 5 | $7,500 |
| Michele Hansen | Vice Chair & Board Member | 10 | — |
| Scott Woolley | Treasurer & Board Member | 5 | — |
| Deirdre W Alpert | Assistant Secretary & Board Member | 5 | $7,500 |
| Elizabeth Robitaille | Board Member | 5 | $7,500 |
Contact Information
Girard Foundation 1100 Market Street, Suite 460 San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (858) 551-0881 Email: info@girardfoundation.org Website: girardfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Girard Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Girard Foundation seeks to foster innovation and systemic change in education with the goal of improving student outcomes in San Diego County and beyond. The foundation's vision is that all young people, especially those facing the greatest obstacles, obtain the education and training they need to access economic opportunity and lead a fulfilling life. **Focus Areas:** • **Early Impact:** Supporting educational innovation models that address opportunity, access, and community suppo…
How do I apply for a grant from Girard Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Girard Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, with grantmaking concentrated in the San Diego region. Historical data indicates that California, New York, and Washington account for approximately 95% of all grants, with grantmaking reaching organizations across seven states.
What size grants does Girard Foundation award?
In 2025, Girard Foundation awarded 49 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Girard Foundation's EIN?
Girard Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0202832. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Girard Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.