Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation
Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation is a private foundation based in El Cajon, California. Its 2024 IRS filing states that awards are available only to entities providing animal rescue and shelter.
Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation at a glance
- Total assets
- $6,797,464
- +4.8% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $243,104
- +44.8% vs 2023
- Qualifying distributions (2024)
- $270,864
- -9.6% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $345,232
- -5.3% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists an application process involving a 501(c)(3) certificate and a statement of use of funds.
- Review Cycle
- September 30 annually.
- Deadline
- September 30 annually.
- Contact
Application contact: Erlinda Buhay Executive Director
Mailing address: 1331 N Cuyamaca Suite G, El Cajon, CA 92020
Phone: (619) 596-6967
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 28 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in El Cajon, California. Its listed 2022 grantees were based in Huntington Beach, San Diego, and Pacific Grove, California; the filing does not state a geographic funding area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation gives
- 28% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% 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 (2022). 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 2020 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $500 (2020) to $10K (2022). In 2022 it made 18 grants totaling $10K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Surrendered Souls Rescue Inc Tempe, AZ | Dog Rescue & Foster | $1,000 |
| Leashes 4 Life Int'l Assistance Dog San Diego, CA | Assistance Dog Training and Support. | $1,000 |
| San Diego Humane Society and SPCA San Diego, CA | Animal Shelter & Adoption | $500 |
| Cat Canine Assistance Referral Educ Sherman Oaks, CA | Cat and Dog Rescue | $500 |
| Animal Friends Rescue Project Pacific Grove, CA | Pet Adoption | $500 |
| Animal Welfare League of St Francis Paramount, CA | Animal Control | $500 |
| El Cajon Animal Center for Educ Ser El Cajon, CA | Animal Shelter | $500 |
| Boston Buddies Inc Huntington Beach, CA | Boston Terrier Rescue & Adoption | $500 |
| Northern California Animal Rescue F Elk Grove, CA | Animal Protection & Welfare | $500 |
| Preventing Euthanasia Through Rescu Oakland, CA | Animal Protection & Welfare | $500 |
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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 | $6,797,464 | $243,104 | $345,232 | — | — | $270,864 | $164,024 | $285,761 |
| 2023 | $6,487,649 | $167,885 | $364,644 | — | — | $299,757 | $101,698 | $264,754 |
| 2022 | $6,170,988 | $17,029 | $329,226 | $10,000 | 18 | $263,071 | $87,722 | $279,494 |
| 2021 | $7,295,448 | $326,853 | $284,860 | $5,000 | 9 | $216,542 | $257,880 | $308,360 |
| 2020 | $7,041,252 | $3,169,748 | $256,206 | $500 | 1 | — | $60,090 | $150,893 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $286K 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 is provided. The foundation’s 2024 filing limits awards to entities that provide rescue and shelter for animals.
Among its 2022 grantees, Boston Buddies described its work as rescuing and rehoming Boston Terriers and mixes, including providing foster and medical care. Feral Cat Coalition described its work as assisting with feeding and neutering homeless cats. Animal Friends Rescue Project said it seeks lifelong homes for stray, abandoned, and abused cats and dogs, with a focus on animals at greatest risk.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 18 grants totaling $10,000 in 2022, with no grants reported in 2023 or 2024. Three listed 2022 grantees each received $500: Boston Buddies Inc. in Huntington Beach, California; Feral Cat Coalition in San Diego, California; and Animal Friends Rescue Project in Pacific Grove, California.
The filing states that applicants should provide a 501(c)(3) certificate and a statement of use of funds. Awards are restricted to entities providing animal rescue and shelter.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Teresita B. Bacani as President, Erlinda G. Buhay as Secretary, and Darhyl Besa as CFO. The filing also identifies Erlinda Buhay as Executive Director for application inquiries.
Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation is led by Teresita B. Bacani, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Teresita B. Bacani
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darhyl Besa
CFO
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$22K (2020) → $28K (2024)
Erlinda G. Buhay
Secretary
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
$7K (2020) → $6K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $28K, to Darhyl Besa (CFO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation
How large is Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation?
Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation reported $6.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $271K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $286K (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 Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2024 filing limits awards to entities that provide rescue and shelter for animals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation?
The filing lists an application process involving a 501(c)(3) certificate and a statement of use of funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation make grants?
The foundation is based in El Cajon, California. Its listed 2022 grantees were based in Huntington Beach, San Diego, and Pacific Grove, California; the filing does not state a geographic funding area.
What is Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation's EIN?
Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0562506. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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
Live grants for the work Heart of Gold Legacy Foundation funds
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