Making Waves Foundation Inc
Making Waves Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Richmond, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $255.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $101K.
Making Waves Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Making Waves Foundation Inc gave $101K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $101K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $100,995
- -15.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $100,995
- -15.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,995
- Total assets
- $255,646,569
- +0.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% 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 Making Waves Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Making Waves Academy ($101K).
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 4 grants of 7 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Making Waves Foundation Inc gives
- Giving fell 37% from 2022 to 2025. 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 $78K (2021) to $192K (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $101K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Making Waves Academy Richmond, CA | Provide Funding for the School. | $100,995 |
Ready to take the next step with Making Waves Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $255,646,569 | $19,058,104 | $19,295,816 | $100,995 | 1 | $10,107,784 | — |
| 2024 | $254,404,088 | $23,444,545 | $20,840,578 | $118,957 | 1 | $13,765,690 | — |
| 2023 | $252,006,095 | $26,832,934 | $21,053,227 | $191,500 | 1 | $18,906,874 | — |
| 2022 | $246,520,948 | $31,756,669 | $19,032,804 | $160,311 | 2 | $24,018,438 | $3,385,374 |
| 2021 | $241,696,341 | $12,436,212 | $19,325,250 | $78,179 | 2 | — | $20,710 |
| 2020 | $246,870,428 | $34,390,390 | $25,204,481 | $139,828 | 1 | — | — |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Making Waves Foundation Inc is led by Patrick O'Donnell, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 4 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Patrick O'Donnell
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$120K (2020) → $320K (2025)
Alicia Malet Klein
President
Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ajani Jackson
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phillip Gordon
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sid Landman
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Derrick Bolton
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Theresa Fay-Bustillos
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Blass
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Kulvin Crawford
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Audrey Wisch
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Quintanilla
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elissa Salas
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leela De Souza Bransten
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erick Roa
Chief Operating Officer
Vice President Human Resources → Chief Operating Officer, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$118K (2022) → $225K (2025)
Aiyana Mourtos
Chief Program Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$195K (2023) → $226K (2025)
Allison Leilani Holton
Chief of External Affairs
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$213K (2024) → $234K (2025)
Eli J. Weinberg
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John H. Scully
Co-Chair
Chairman → Co-Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Regina Scully
Co-Chair
Director → Co-Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronald A. Cohan
Secretary
Secretary → Director, 2022
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Darcy Deming (2020–2023) — Chief Advancement Officer
- Former: Jonathan Stern (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Melissa Fries (2020–2023) — Executive Director of College & Alumni Programs
- Former: Michael Yuen (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Jane Choi (2022–2023) — Chief Finance & Strategy Officer
- Former: Rong Clark (2020–2021) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: James McLean (2020) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Steven Roth (2020) — Chief Operating Officer
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 $320K, to Patrick O'Donnell (Chief Executive Officer). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Making Waves Foundation Inc
How much does Making Waves Foundation Inc give each year?
Making Waves Foundation Inc gave $101K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $119K across 1 grant.
How large is Making Waves Foundation Inc?
Making Waves Foundation Inc reported $255.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $19.1M.
What is Making Waves Foundation Inc?
Making Waves Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Richmond, CA. It holds $255.6M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Making Waves Foundation Inc operate?
Making Waves Foundation Inc has awarded grants in California.
What is Making Waves Foundation Inc's EIN?
Making Waves Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0204312. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 5, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Making Waves Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California
Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation
San Francisco, CA
The Robert and Ruth Halperin Foundation supports education, long COVID programs, community organizing, and related charitable work, with most 2024 funding going to California organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,350 to $1,745,000, with a median grant of $87,500. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$151.4M
Grants
54
Total Given
$7.8M
The Joseph & Mercedes McMicking
San Francisco, CA
The Joseph & Mercedes McMicking funds children’s education and welfare, including tuition assistance and arts, science, and technology programs, primarily for nonprofits serving San Francisco Bay Area residents. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts applications online after prospective applicants contact the Executive Director and submit a letter of inquiry; invited applicants receive an application link.
Assets
$17.2M
Grants
72
Total Given
$665K
John H and Regina K Scully Foundation
San Rafael, CA
The John H and Regina K Scully Foundation supports charitable organizations with general support and funding for construction, programs, and exhibitions. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $25 million, with a median of $100,000; 96% of grant dollars went to California organizations. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$724.0M
Grants
29
Total Given
$38.0M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Chamberlin Family Philanthropy
Richmond, CA
The foundation supports a varied range of charitable organizations, with most 2024 grant dollars going to California and Hawaii and a small share to Georgia, New York, and Nevada. Its 40 grants ranged from $1,500 to $100,000, with a median of $5,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
40
Total Given
$588K
Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation
Palo Alto, CA
The Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation funds scientific discovery, environmental conservation, and the special character of the San Francisco Bay Area, with grants ranging from $50 to $20 million and a 2024 median award of $200,000. Its stated geographic focus includes the Bay Area, and its grants also support work in other U.S. locations and internationally. It funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests or grant proposals.
Assets
$11.5B
Grants
920
Total Given
$403.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Making Waves Foundation Inc'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.
Making Waves Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?