Malama Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Kansas City, MO EIN: 68-0625112

Malama Foundation is a private foundation, based in Kansas City, MO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $55K. Net investment income was $91K.

Key facts about Malama Foundation

In short: Malama Foundation gave $55K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
68-0625112
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$55,122
Grants made (2025)
3
Average grant
$18,374
Median grant
$25,000
Total assets
$2,647,967
Primary geography
Michigan (54% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.6M

+2.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$55K

+0.2% YoY

Grant Count

3

+50.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$18K

-33.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Malama Foundation reported a distributable amount of $126K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Malama Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 44% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

Cities

SouthfieldWashingtonWailukuWarrensburgGlen EllenHonoluluKihei

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K3 grants2020 2 grants2021 3 grants2022 4 grants2023 2 grants2024 3 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $43K (2020) to $95K (2023). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $55K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2025

Sunbridge International Collaborative Inc: $30KSunbridge InternationalCollaborative Inc$30KCitizens Coal Council: $25KCitizens Coal Council$25KMarine Conservation Institute: $122Marine Conservation Institute$122

The largest 2025 recipient was Sunbridge International Collaborative Inc ($30K). Together the top 3 received $55K.

Grant Size Distribution

14 grants across all recorded years

13<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 14 (93%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Sunbridge International Collaborative Inc Southfield, MICultural and Ethical Awareness$30,000
Citizens Coal Council Washington, PASocial Awareness$25,000
Marine Conservation Institute Glen Ellen, CATo Assist with the Conservation of Marine Life$122

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,647,967$2,573,131$2,396,413
Revenue$156,352$209,214$1,241,102
Expenses$56,516$57,496$97,792
Qualifying Distributions$55,122$55,000$95,000
Net Investment Income$91,151$93,404$5,836
Distributable Amount$126,464$118,624$82,142

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 14, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Malama Foundation is led by Sandra R. Higman, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Sandra R. Higman

    President & Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura A. Brown

    Secretary & Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Victor Perelmuter

    Director

    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.

Frequently asked questions about Malama Foundation

How much does Malama Foundation give each year?

Malama Foundation gave $55K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $55K across 2 grants.

What is Malama Foundation's typical grant size?

Malama Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $18,374, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Malama Foundation give grants?

Malama Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Pennsylvania (45%).

Does Malama Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Malama Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

How large is Malama Foundation?

Malama Foundation reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $55K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $126K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What is Malama Foundation's EIN?

Malama Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0625112. 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.

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