Makahakama Foundation
Makahakama Foundation is a private foundation based in Palo Alto, California, founded in 2022. The foundation catalyzes positive change through three primary pillars: community resilience and empowerment, environmental protection and restoration, and support for underserved entrepreneurs. The organization employs three staff members and manages assets exceeding $19 million.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.1M
-1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$530K
-16.7% YoY
Grant Count
24
-11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
-6.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Makahakama Foundation reported a distributable amount of $756K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to catalyze positive change through restoring and protecting nature, supporting under-resourced entrepreneurs, and strengthening the resiliency of communities.
Community Resilience and Empowerment: The foundation supports local organizations in Hawaiʻi, San Mateo County, and Santa Clara County that build cultural fabric and community resiliency through the arts, safety net services, K-12 education programming, affordable housing, and local climate solutions for frontline communities.
Environment: The foundation funds and makes impact investments in organizations and projects that restore and protect nature and build resilient, healthy ecosystems. The foundation emphasizes approaches that can be catalytic if deployed at scale.
Entrepreneurship: The foundation supports efforts to increase access to capital, education, mentorship, and professional networks for individuals in underserved communities seeking to become entrepreneurs. Impact investing also supports venture funds focused on equitable entrepreneurship.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $2,000 to $300,000. Recent data indicates a median grant amount of approximately $9,979, with an average grant size of $101 across all grants.
Average Grant
of $101 across all grants.
Ready to take the next step with Makahakama Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations in California (particularly San Mateo County and Santa Clara County), Hawaiʻi, Virginia, and New York. Primary focus areas include the Bay Area and Hawaiʻi.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,118,541 | 2024 |
| Total Assets | $19,412,971 | 2023 |
| Total Giving | $530,000 | 2024 |
| Total Giving | $987,649 | 2023 |
| Total Revenues | $101,715 | 2024 |
| Total Revenues | $155,936 | 2023 |
| Total Expenses | $950,368 | 2024 |
| Total Expenses | $1,050,824 | 2023 |
| Giving Rate | 4.4% | 2023 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,118,541 | $19,412,971 | $25,971,091 |
| Revenue | $101,715 | $155,936 | $31,127,990 |
| Expenses | $950,368 | $1,050,824 | $657,888 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $905,651 | $987,649 | $254,441 |
| Net Investment Income | $46,993 | $88,008 | $3,344,949 |
| Distributable Amount | $756,098 | $1,143,741 | $745,100 |
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
55 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lahaina Community Land Trust ($300,000), The Nature Conservancy ($60,000), The Acceleration Project ($36,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| African Diaspora Network Santa Clara, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| Ayudando Latinos a Sonar EL GRANADA, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| Big Sur Land Trust Monterey, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula MENLO PARK, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| Chopsticks Alley Art SAN JOSE, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $2,000 |
| Climate Resilient Communities PALO ALTO, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| Earth Island Institute Berkeley, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| Hawaiian Islands Land Trust HONOLULU, HI | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| Immigrant Legal Resource Center SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2500 to CRISP and $2500 to SBLISN | $5,000 |
| Kitchen Table Advisors BERKELEY, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Joyce A. Chung: Director and President (serves without compensation)
- Joyce J. Song: Managing Director
- Rene A. Lacerte: Director, Treasurer, and Secretary (serves without compensation)
- Anu Sanghvi: Entrepreneurship Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOYCE A CHUNG | DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT | 20 | — |
| RENE A LACERTE | DIRECTOR, TREASURER, SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 855 El Camino Real, Suite 317, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Phone: (650) 248-8888
Email: info [at] makahakama.org
Website: makahakama.org
EIN: 88-0992719
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Makahakama Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to catalyze positive change through restoring and protecting nature, supporting under-resourced entrepreneurs, and strengthening the resiliency of communities. **Community Resilience and Empowerment:** The foundation supports local organizations in Hawaiʻi, San Mateo County, and Santa Clara County that build cultural fabric and community resiliency through the arts, safety net services, K-12 education programming, affordable housing, and local climate solutions for f…
How do I apply for a grant from Makahakama Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $2,000 to $300,000. Recent data indicates a median grant amount of approximately $9,979, with an average grant size of $101 across all grants. **Recent Activity:** In 2024, the foundation made four major grants totaling $396,000, including $300,000 to Lahaina Community Land Trust for Fire Recovery Opportunity and Permanence Fund, $60,000 to The Nature Conservancy for Ocean Recovery Work, and $36,000 to The Acceleration Project for Project Launchpad Sup…
Where does Makahakama Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations in California (particularly San Mateo County and Santa Clara County), Hawaiʻi, Virginia, and New York. Primary focus areas include the Bay Area and Hawaiʻi.
What size grants does Makahakama Foundation award?
In 2024, Makahakama Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $530K — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Makahakama Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Makahakama Foundation reported a distributable amount of $756K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Makahakama Foundation's EIN?
Makahakama Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0992719. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Makahakama Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Makahakama 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
Go from researching Makahakama Foundation to a real strategy.