Girard Foundation
Girard Foundation is a private foundation based in San Diego, California, that seeks to foster innovation and systemic change in education to improve student outcomes in San Diego County and beyond. It takes a venture-philanthropy approach, supporting scalable innovations that expand learning and job-training opportunities for young people.
Girard Foundation at a glance
In short: Girard Foundation gave $2.2M across 49 grants in 2025 (avg $44K), mostly in California. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,153,906
- +33.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 49
- -2.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $43,957
- +36.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $14,470,548
- +34.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (10 of 49, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Girard Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It makes grants by invitation and identifies organizations in partnership with community partners and advisors.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1100 Market Street Suite 460, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (858) 558-9200
Website: https://girardfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Girard Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ucsd Foundation ($558K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
238 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 184 grants of 238 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated goal includes improving student outcomes in San Diego County and beyond. In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 13% to New York, 4% to Washington, and less than 1% to Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
- 57% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 38% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 226% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2019) to $2.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 49 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with Girard Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,470,548 | $6,230,628 | $2,523,026 | $2,153,906 | 49 | $2,434,820 | $6,228,929 | $1,076,680 |
| 2024 | $10,762,946 | $1,879,205 | $1,921,137 | $1,614,845 | 50 | $1,888,566 | $1,878,299 | $1,123,041 |
| 2023 | $10,804,878 | $1,847,307 | $1,866,412 | $1,705,410 | 47 | $1,844,038 | $1,846,391 | $1,039,994 |
| 2022 | $10,823,983 | $1,429,484 | $1,694,288 | $1,559,644 | 47 | $1,679,338 | $1,428,610 | $1,111,699 |
| 2021 | $11,088,787 | $1,303,200 | $1,939,678 | $1,738,000 | 45 | $1,896,784 | $1,300,451 | $1,268,351 |
| 2020 | $11,725,265 | $1,610,130 | $1,638,830 | $1,515,455 | 54 | — | $1,607,256 | $1,077,097 |
| 2019 | $11,753,965 | $295,672 | $1,326,363 | $1,220,400 | 53 | — | $455,289 | $1,094,742 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Girard Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on Early Impact, Innovative Learning, and Career Readiness. Its Early Impact work explores accessible learning options for preschool children. In Innovative Learning, it funds programs combining educational practices with emerging technologies, including approaches that personalize learning and foster student autonomy. Its Career Readiness work supports active career exploration, technology-based skills such as coding, and hands-on learning.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work among its grantees. Transcend says it supports communities to create and spread extraordinary learning for all. The YMCA of San Diego County describes its mission as nurturing a healthy spirit, mind, and body so all can thrive. The Parent Institute for Quality Education says it helps families build the knowledge and skills to partner with schools and communities. These are the organizations’ own descriptions of their missions.
Grantmaking
The foundation reports making grants by invitation only and works with community partners and advisors to identify organizations aligned with its priorities. Its stated approach is to fund innovative programs that expand educational and job-training opportunities for young people.
In 2025, it made 49 grants totaling $2,153,906. Individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $558,000, with a median of $7,500. Larger awards included $558,000 to UCSD Foundation, $250,000 each to Junior Achievement of San Diego and Transcend Inc, and $186,712 to YMCA of San Diego County. Other notable 2025 grants were $100,000 to California Charter Schools Association, $90,000 to Digital Promise, and $75,000 to Magnolia Science Academy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists RB Woolley Jr as board chair; Mary Lindenstein Walshok as secretary and board member; Michele Hansen as vice chair and board member; Scott Woolley as treasurer and board member; Deirdre W Alpert as assistant secretary and board member; and Elizabeth Robitaille as board member.
Girard Foundation is led by Rb Woolley Jr., Board Chair on every filing since 2019; 3 of 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rb Woolley Jr.
Board Chair
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deirdre W. Alpert
Assistant Secretary & Board Member
Assistant Secretary & Trustee → Assistant Secretary & Board Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $8K (2025)
Elizabeth Robitaille
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $8K (2025)
Mary Lindenstein Walshok
Secretary & Board Member
Secretary & Trustee → Secretary & Board Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $8K (2025)
Michele Hansen
Vice Chair & Board Member
Vice President & Trustee → Vice President & Board Member, 2020
Vice President & Board Member → Vice Chair & Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Woolley
Treasurer & Board Member
CFO & Trustee → CFO & Board Member, 2020
CFO & Board Member → Treasurer & Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Robert A. Schroeder To (2020) — Assistant CFO & Board Member
- Former: Robert A. Schroeder (2019) — Assistant CFO & Trustee
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 $8K, to Mary Lindenstein Walshok (Secretary & Board Member). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Girard Foundation
How much does Girard Foundation give each year?
Girard Foundation gave $2.2M across 49 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 50 grants.
What is Girard Foundation's typical grant size?
Girard Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $43,957, across 49 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Girard Foundation that year got $61K on average.
Where does Girard Foundation give grants?
Girard Foundation gives mostly in California: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was 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).
Does Girard Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Girard Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (49 of 49) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Girard Foundation's largest grantees?
Girard Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ucsd Foundation ($558,000), Junior Achievement of San Diego Inc ($250,000) and Transcend Inc ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Girard Foundation?
Girard Foundation reported $14.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Girard Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on Early Impact, Innovative Learning, and Career Readiness. Its Early Impact work explores accessible learning options for preschool children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Girard Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 16, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Girard Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/girard-foundation-morg_92f8c20f3dc84a5eaf00b229aba9da59
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_330202832_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Girard Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/girard-foundation-morg_92f8c20f3dc84a5eaf00b229aba9da59},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Girard 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.
Girard Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?