Koshland Foundation
The Koshland Foundation is a private foundation based in Menlo Park, California. Its 2025 grants included support for education-related programs and organizations, including programs connected to the Oakland Unified School District.
Koshland Foundation at a glance
In short: Koshland Foundation gave $3.3M across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $234K), mostly in California. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,269,310
- -23.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -26.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $233,522
- +3.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $225,000
- Total assets
- $7,260,571
- -16.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Koshland Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 7310, Menlo Park, CA 94026-7310
Phone: (650) 529-1978
Website: https://koshland.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Koshland Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was New Leaders ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 42 grants of 90 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in California (63%), New York (22%), Washington, DC (14%), and Massachusetts (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Koshland Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 14 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. How we count
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 431% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.3M (2025) to $5.1M (2020). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Leaders New York, NY | To support the network superintendents program and the coaching and strategic support program. | $500,000 |
| Modern Classrooms Project Inc Washington, DC | Support the Modern Classroms Project in Oakland. | $444,310 |
| Families in Action for Quality Education Oakland, CA | Continuing support of the a-g family communication campaign within the oakland unified school district. | $400,000 |
| New Teacher Center Sacramento, CA | To support the program partnership with the oakland unified school district. | $300,000 |
| Ambition Angels Palo Alto, CA | Expanding the Ambition App and Program. | $250,000 |
| Business United in Investing Lending and Development (Build) Redwood City, CA | Charitable Operations. | $250,000 |
| Oakland Promise Oakland, CA | Support the kindergarten to college program within the oakland unified school district. | $250,000 |
| Alder Graduate School of Education Redwood City, CA | Operations and growth of alder gse's residency and recruitment program. | $200,000 |
| Philanthropic Ventures Foundation Oakland, CA | Fiscally Sponsored Project - Agency by Design Oakland. | $200,000 |
| Groundswell Network Inc Brooklyn, NY | Needs Index Project. | $125,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Koshland Foundation?
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 | $7,260,571 | $1,945,074 | $3,391,148 | $3,269,310 | 14 | $3,329,737 | $1,911,663 | $772,536 |
| 2024 | $8,706,645 | $3,893,421 | $4,376,457 | $4,271,709 | 19 | $4,288,211 | $3,856,233 | $843,618 |
| 2023 | $9,319,687 | $1,933,800 | $3,732,368 | $3,641,648 | 18 | $3,660,360 | $1,897,142 | $949,847 |
| 2022 | $11,118,255 | $2,750,399 | $3,854,038 | $3,725,239 | 19 | $3,742,481 | $2,714,880 | $1,174,061 |
| 2021 | $12,221,894 | $3,218,378 | $4,316,401 | $4,231,150 | 20 | — | $3,181,816 | $1,247,253 |
| 2020 | $13,319,917 | $1,954,614 | $5,215,052 | $5,139,170 | 29 | — | $1,918,778 | $1,271,498 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Koshland Foundation reported a distributable amount of $773K for 2025 — 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its listed grants show support for education programs, teacher and school-leader development, and student-focused initiatives. For example, New Leaders describes its work as developing school leaders and advancing practices for high academic achievement, while Oakland Promise describes its mission as advancing equity and economic mobility through cradle-to-college-and-career achievement. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $3,269,310. Grant amounts ranged from $50,000 to $500,000, with a median of $225,000.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $500,000 to New Leaders for its Network Superintendents Program and coaching and strategic support; $444,310 to The Modern Classrooms Project to support its work in Oakland; $400,000 to Families in Action for Quality Education for an A-G family communication campaign within Oakland Unified School District; and $300,000 to New Teacher Center for a program partnership with the district. Other grants included $250,000 each to Ambition Angels to expand its app and program, BUILD for charitable operations, and Oakland Promise for its Kindergarten to College program within the district. The foundation also awarded $200,000 to Alder Graduate School of Education for its residency and recruitment program and $200,000 to Philanthropic Ventures Foundation for its fiscally sponsored Agency by Design Oakland project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are James Esposto, Secretary/Treasurer/CFO; Gail K. Wachtel, President; and Ellen Koshland, Douglas E. Koshland, James M. Koshland, and Phlyssa Koshland, Vice Presidents.
Koshland Foundation is led by Gail K. Wachtel, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gail K. Wachtel
President
President & Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Esposto
Secretary, Treasurer & CFO
Secretary Treasurer & CFO → Secretary, Treasurer & CFO, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Douglas E. Koshland
Vice President
Vice President & Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Koshland
Vice President
Vice President & Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James M. Koshland
Vice President
Vice President & Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phlyssa Koshland
Vice President
Vice President & Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 $15K, to James Esposto (Secretary/Treasurer/CFO).
Frequently asked questions about Koshland Foundation
How much does Koshland Foundation give each year?
Koshland Foundation gave $3.3M across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4.3M across 19 grants.
What is Koshland Foundation's typical grant size?
Koshland Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $225,000, and its average grant was $233,522, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Koshland Foundation give grants?
Koshland Foundation gives mostly in California: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (22%) and District of Columbia (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (5 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Redwood City, CA (2 grants).
Does Koshland Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of Koshland Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Koshland Foundation's largest grantees?
Koshland Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include New Leaders ($500,000), Modern Classrooms Project Inc ($444,310) and Families in Action for Quality Education ($400,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Koshland Foundation?
Koshland Foundation reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $773K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Koshland Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its listed grants show support for education programs, teacher and school-leader development, and student-focused initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Koshland Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Koshland Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Koshland Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/koshland-foundation-morg_f2575387605b4fa4a9178a582e20d09c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_680069874_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Koshland Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/koshland-foundation-morg_f2575387605b4fa4a9178a582e20d09c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Koshland Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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