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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Girard Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ymca of San Diego County ($225,000), Transcend Inc ($175,000), Silicon Schools ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL | $100,000 |
| CAMARADA INC SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL | $1,500 |
| CATALYST OF SAN DIEGO & IMPERIAL COUNTIES SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL | $7,500 |
| CHILDREN NOW SUITE, CA | GENERAL | $2,500 |
| CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE CLAREMONT, CA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| COLLEGE PREPARATORY MIDDLE SCHOOL SPRING VALLEY, CA | GENERAL | $3,000 |
| COMMUNITY HOUSINGWORKS SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL | $2,000 |
| CONNECT FOUNDATION SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL | $1,500 |
| DARNALL CHARTER SCHOOL SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL | $15,200 |
| DIGITAL PROMISE SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL | $110,000 |
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 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
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?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $1.7 million across 47 grants • Total giving in 2023: $1.6 million across 47 grants • Grant range: $500 to $250,000 • Median grant size: $10,000–$20,000 (varies by year) • Average grant size: $28,000–$32,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is limited to preselected charitable organizations. **Recent Grant Recipients (2023-2024):** • Silicon Schools Fund: $250,000 • Digital Promise: $220,000…
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 2024, Girard Foundation awarded 50 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Girard Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Girard Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Girard Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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