Koshland Foundation
The Koshland Foundation is a private foundation established in 1985 and based in Menlo Park, California. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation focused on grantmaking in education and related fields.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.7M
-6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.3M
+17.3% YoY
Grant Count
19
+5.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$225K
+11.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Koshland Foundation reported a distributable amount of $844K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities center on:
- Education, particularly maker education initiatives
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- STEM Education
- Science Education
The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to supporting educators and leaders in Oakland, California, with recent grants supporting teacher development and student-focused programs.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$218,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- California (primary focus, particularly Oakland)
- Wisconsin
- Tennessee
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending July 2023:
- Total Assets: $9,319,687
- Total Revenue: $1,933,800
- Total Expenses: $3,732,368
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Giving Rate: 39.1% of assets
Tax Status:
- Tax-exempt since September 1986
- EIN: 68-0069874
- Form 990-PF filer
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,706,645 | $9,319,687 | $11,118,255 |
| Revenue | $3,893,421 | $1,933,800 | $2,750,399 |
| Expenses | $4,376,457 | $3,732,368 | $3,854,038 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,288,211 | $3,660,360 | $3,742,481 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,856,233 | $1,897,142 | $2,714,880 |
| Distributable Amount | $843,618 | $949,847 | $1,174,061 |
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
105 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New Leaders ($500,000), Philanthropic Ventures Foundation ($425,000), Business United in Investing Lending and Development (build) ($400,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALDER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION REDWOOD CITY, CA | OPERATIONS AND GROWTH OF ALDER GSE'S RESIDENCY AND RECRUITMENT PROGRAM. | $200,000 |
| AMBITION ANGELS EAST PALO ALTO, CA | EXPANDING THE AMBITION APP AND PROGRAM. | $250,000 |
| BAY AREA COMMUNITY RESOURCES SAN RAFAEL, CA | BOOKNOOK AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. | $171,000 |
| BAY EDUCATION FUND OAKLAND, CA | COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND. | $25,000 |
| BUSINESS UNITED IN INVESTING LENDING AND DEVELOPMENT (BUILD) REDWOOD CITY, CA | CHARITABLE OPERATIONS. | $400,000 |
| CENTER FOR CURRICULUM REDESIGN JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | ONE-YEAR PROJECT TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE COLLABORATION COMPETENCY. | $150,000 |
| LEAD LIBERATED OAKLAND, CA | ANTI RACIST COLLECTIVE PROGRAM. | $150,000 |
| EDUCATORS FOR EXCELLENCE NEW YORK, NY | PARTNERING WITH THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR PUBLIC RESEARCH AND LEADERSHIP. | $100,000 |
| GROUNDSWELL NETWORK INC BROOKLYN, NY | NEEDS INDEX PROJECT. | $125,000 |
| INSTRUCTION PARTNERS NASHVILLE, TN | INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP. | $300,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Staff:
- Gail K. Wachtel — President, Director
- James M. Koshland — Vice President, Director
- Douglas E. Koshland — Vice President, Director
- Ellen Koshland — Vice President, Director
- Phlyssa Koshland — Vice President, Director
- James Esposito — Secretary, Treasurer/CFO
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES ESPOSTO | SECRETARY/TREASURER/CFO | 2 | $13,000 |
| GAIL K WACHTEL | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| ELLEN KOSHLAND | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| DOUGLAS E KOSHLAND | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JAMES M KOSHLAND | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| PHLYSSA KOSHLAND | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Koshland Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities center on: • **Education**, particularly maker education initiatives • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking** • **Human Services** • **STEM Education** • **Science Education** The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to supporting educators and leaders in Oakland, California, with recent grants supporting teacher development and student-focused programs.
How do I apply for a grant from Koshland Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $25,000–$750,000 • Median grant size: $218,000 • Recent annual giving: $3,641,648 (2023) • Number of grants: 18–29 grants annually **Recent Grants (2023):** • The Modern Classrooms Project: $365,940 (Support for Launch and Implementation of Project in Oakland, CA) • The Oakland REACH: $333,333 (Support for Oakland Reach Program for Students and Families) • The Teaching Well: $332,375 (Support for Program and Expansion for Oakland, CA Teachers an…
Where does Koshland Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • California (primary focus, particularly Oakland) • Wisconsin • Tennessee
What size grants does Koshland Foundation award?
In 2024, Koshland Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $4.3M — an average of about $225K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Koshland Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Koshland Foundation reported a distributable amount of $844K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Koshland Foundation's EIN?
Koshland Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0069874. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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