Michael and Catherine Podell Fund
The Michael and Catherine Podell Fund is a family foundation established in 2005 and based in Hillsborough, California. It operates as a private foundation with a public benefit classification.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.8M
+25.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$520K
-34.6% YoY
Grant Count
20
-9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
-28.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Michael and Catherine Podell Fund reported a distributable amount of $660K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $14,750,235
- Total Annual Giving: $520,000 (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,750,235 | $11,726,703 | $11,789,982 |
| Revenue | $1,924,711 | $1,854,112 | $918,613 |
| Expenses | $587,803 | $857,964 | $640,713 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $529,300 | $804,900 | $590,910 |
| Net Investment Income | $626,220 | $149,084 | $294,066 |
| Distributable Amount | $660,356 | $549,672 | $513,655 |
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
91 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Meals on Wheels of Sf ($100,000), Epacenter ($75,000), Ukranian Action ($62,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ASPIRE PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATION OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CREATIVE GROWTH ART CENTER OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| EPACENTER EAST PALO ALTO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| FOSTER LOVE BREA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| GIFFORDS LAW CENTER SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| GIRLS INC OF ALAMEDA COUNTY OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,500 |
| LIFE MOVES SANTA CLARA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $11,000 |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF SF SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michael H. Podell - CEO
- Catherine Hewett Podell - Registered Agent
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL H PODELL | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE H PODELL | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 2200 Ralston Avenue, Hillsborough, CA 94010-6462
Telephone: 650-579-7900
EIN: 20-3483888
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Michael and Catherine Podell Fund fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Michael and Catherine Podell Fund?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $320,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation awarded $520,000 in total giving according to its most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024). **Recent Recipients:** • The Achieve Foundation (San Francisco, CA) - $32,000 to contribute to Alexander Robinson's scholarship (2023) • Sage Compassion for Animals (Mountain View, CA) - $25,000 to provide education and financial support for acute medical care for companion animals in crisis (2023)
Where does Michael and Catherine Podell Fund make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Vermont.
What size grants does Michael and Catherine Podell Fund award?
In 2024, Michael and Catherine Podell Fund awarded 20 grants totaling $520K — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Michael and Catherine Podell Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Michael and Catherine Podell Fund reported a distributable amount of $660K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Michael and Catherine Podell Fund's EIN?
Michael and Catherine Podell Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3483888. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Michael and Catherine Podell Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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