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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.8M
-0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
-5.3% YoY
Grant Count
50
+6.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$32K
-11.0% 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
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is limited to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$500 to $250,000
Average Grant
$28,000–$32,000
How to Apply
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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
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 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,762,946 | $10,804,878 | $10,823,983 |
| Revenue | $1,879,205 | $1,847,307 | $1,429,484 |
| Expenses | $1,921,137 | $1,866,412 | $1,694,288 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,888,566 | $1,844,038 | $1,679,338 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,878,299 | $1,846,391 | $1,428,610 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,123,041 | $1,039,994 | $1,111,699 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
239 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
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 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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