Isness Foundation
Isness Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chico, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $374K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $2K. Net investment income was $30K.
Isness Foundation at a glance
In short: Isness Foundation gave $2K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $307.5), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,460
- +17.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $308
- +2.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $290
- Total assets
- $374,331
- +1.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (35% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Isness Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Medecins Sans Frontieres USA Inc ($500). Together the top 8 received $2K.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 73 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Isness Foundation gives
- Giving fell 66% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 103% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2024) to $9K (2020). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $2K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Medecins Sans Frontieres USA Inc New York, NY | Donation | $500 |
| American National Red Cross Washington, DC | Donation | $500 |
| Map International Brunswick, GA | Donation | $350 |
| Era of Peace Tucson, AZ | Donation | $330 |
| Butte Humane Society Chico, CA | Donation | $250 |
| Share Our Strength Washington, DC | Donation | $250 |
| Kqed Inc San Francisco, CA | Donation | $180 |
| World Central Kitchen Incorporated Washington, DC | Donation | $100 |
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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 | $374,331 | $21,878 | $17,919 | $2,460 | 8 | $17,151 | $30,321 | $16,582 |
| 2024 | $370,351 | $17,029 | $15,147 | $2,100 | 7 | $17,197 | $20,826 | $16,483 |
| 2023 | $368,469 | $3,655 | $16,340 | $3,030 | 11 | $16,070 | $18,982 | $15,642 |
| 2022 | $381,246 | $16,417 | $17,839 | $7,300 | 22 | $17,599 | $19,430 | $16,917 |
| 2021 | $382,622 | $14,875 | $18,319 | $8,000 | 25 | — | $14,545 | $18,745 |
| 2020 | $386,518 | $21,394 | $18,763 | $8,566 | 21 | — | $20,985 | $17,715 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Isness Foundation reported a distributable amount of $17K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Isness Foundation is led by Daren M. Chody, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daren M. Chody
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nici Melotto
CFO
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $9K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $9K, to Nici Melotto (CFO).
Frequently asked questions about Isness Foundation
How much does Isness Foundation give each year?
Isness Foundation gave $2K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2K across 7 grants.
What is Isness Foundation's typical grant size?
Isness Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $290, and its average grant was $308, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Isness Foundation give grants?
Isness Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (20%) and California (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Isness Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Isness Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (8 grants).
Who are Isness Foundation's largest grantees?
Isness Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Medecins Sans Frontieres USA Inc ($500), American National Red Cross ($500) and Map International ($350), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Isness Foundation?
Isness Foundation reported $374K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $17K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Isness Foundation's EIN?
Isness Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8094396. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Browse active grant opportunities in Isness Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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