Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation
Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation is a private family foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in 2008, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and functions as a private grantmaking foundation. The foundation was created with a focus on supporting education and teachers across California and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.3M
-32.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$533K
+10.6% YoY
Grant Count
47
-2.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+13.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking vision is to support a thriving, effective, equitable and respected education system in California and beyond, where all students have the opportunity to learn and succeed.
The foundation emphasizes the critical role of teachers in American education, believing that teachers are the most valued members of the American workforce. The organization recognizes significant leverage in investing in education by supporting and encouraging teachers, noting that throughout their careers, one great teacher will impact hundreds of students.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education support and reform
- Teacher development and support
- STEM education
- Community health and school health initiatives
- Science education
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation made 82 grants totaling approximately $533,000 to $684,000 in total giving. Recent grants include:
Ready to take the next step with Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic focus is mainly but not exclusively California, with grantmaking extending beyond the state as well.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $1,967,480
- Total Revenue: $909,569
- Total Expenses: $683,878
- Total Liabilities: $274,000
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,328,608 | $1,967,480 | $1,882,007 |
| Revenue | $261,707 | $909,569 | $416,843 |
| Expenses | $784,234 | $683,878 | $1,007,308 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $899,090 | $894,754 | $821,915 |
| Net Investment Income | $237,242 | $166,702 | $40,376 |
| Distributable Amount | $160,104 | $221,963 | $197,510 |
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
245 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Karen Leshner, Founder & President
Karen founded Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation in 2008 and has been involved in philanthropy since 1997 through a predecessor organization. Her philanthropic passion centers on answering the question: "What can we do to make sure that great people go into the career of teaching and stay in the career?"
Prior to launching Intrepid, Karen was the founder and portfolio manager of an investment business based in Palo Alto, California. She spent the first several years of her career as an engineer and also worked for eight years as a volunteer music teacher at her local elementary school. Karen holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia, a Master's Degree in Business from Vanderbilt University, and was a Fellow in the Stanford Distinguished Career Institute program. She serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN LESHNER | FOUNDER & PRESIDENT | 8 | — |
| DAVID WAGONFELD | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JOANNE SCHNEIDER | SECRETARY | 1.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been actively involved with the LIGHT Awards program, which engages diverse youth through strong dual immersion education. The foundation congratulated eleven new LIGHT Awards educators and welcomed its eleventh cohort of LIGHT Awards educators, indicating ongoing commitment to recognizing and supporting exceptional educators.
Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation Congratulates Eleven New LIGHT ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities