Inspiral Foundation
Inspiral Foundation is a private foundation, based in Pleasanton, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $18K. Net investment income was $1.2M.
Inspiral Foundation at a glance
In short: Inspiral Foundation gave $18K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $17,500
- -1.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,917
- +14.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $3,580,139
- +73.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who Inspiral Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of California Berkeley ($5K). Together the top 6 received $18K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 18 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Inspiral Foundation gives
- In 2025 it paid out 167% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1K (2023) to $18K (2024). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $18K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Donation | $5,000 |
| Cuhk | Donation | $2,500 |
| Stanford University Stanford, CA | Donation | $2,500 |
| Unviersity of Wisconsin Madison, WI | Donation | $2,500 |
| Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | Donation | $2,500 |
| University of California Los Angele Los Angeles, CA | Donation | $2,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,580,139 | $1,680,391 | $166,385 | $17,500 | 6 | $152,000 | $1,179,998 | $91,283 |
| 2024 | $2,067,497 | $2,606,147 | $109,817 | $17,769 | 7 | $109,772 | $1,006,151 | $37,596 |
| 2023 | $256,158 | $207,216 | $4,943 | $1,225 | 5 | $4,943 | $7,226 | $3,257 |
| 2022 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $6,423 | — | — | $6,423 | — | $205 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Inspiral Foundation reported a distributable amount of $91K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Inspiral Foundation is led by Byron Lai, President on every filing since 2021; all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Byron Lai
President
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
$20K (2024) → $20K (2025)
Karen Lai
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$10K (2024) → $10K (2025)
Kathleen Lai
Secretary
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
$20K (2024) → $20K (2025)
Aaron Lai
Officer
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
$10K (2024) → $10K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $20K, to Byron Lai (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Inspiral Foundation
How much does Inspiral Foundation give each year?
Inspiral Foundation gave $18K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $18K across 7 grants.
What is Inspiral Foundation's typical grant size?
Inspiral Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,917, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Inspiral Foundation give grants?
Inspiral Foundation gives mostly in California: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Wisconsin (14%) and Pennsylvania (14%).
Does Inspiral Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Inspiral Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (6 grants).
Who are Inspiral Foundation's largest grantees?
Inspiral Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of California Berkeley ($5,000), Cuhk ($2,500) and Stanford University ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Inspiral Foundation?
Inspiral Foundation reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $152K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $91K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Inspiral Foundation's EIN?
Inspiral Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2756034. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Inspiral Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Inspiral Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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