Michael and Catherine Podell Fund
The Michael and Catherine Podell Fund is a private foundation based in Hillsborough, California. In 2024, it made 20 grants totaling $520,000 to organizations including California nonprofits and recipients in South Carolina, Washington, DC, New York, and Vermont.
Michael and Catherine Podell Fund at a glance
In short: Michael and Catherine Podell Fund gave $520K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), mostly in California. 45% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $520,000
- -34.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- -9.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $26,000
- -28.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,500
- Total assets
- $14,750,235
- +25.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (9 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (78% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Michael and Catherine Podell Fund
- Contact
Application contact: Catherine H Podell
Mailing address: 1201 Howard Ave Ste 301, Burlingame, CA 94010
Phone: (650) 579-7900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Michael and Catherine Podell Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Meals on Wheels of SF ($100K). Together the top 10 received $463K.
Grant Size Distribution
91 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 91 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 12% to South Carolina, 5% to Washington, DC, 3% to New York, and 2% to Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Michael and Catherine Podell Fund open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 20 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 80% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $383K (2021) to $1.4M (2020). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $520K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Meals on Wheels of SF San Francisco, CA | General Support | $100,000 |
| Epacenter East Palo Alto, CA | General Support | $75,000 |
| Ukranian Action Daniel Island, SC | General Support | $62,500 |
| UCSF Foundation San Francisco, CA | General Support | $57,500 |
| Giffords Law Center San Francisco, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Sage Compassion for Animals Mountain View, CA | General Support | $25,000 |
| SF Symphony San Francisco, CA | General Support | $25,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | General Support | $25,000 |
| The Achieve Foundation San Francisco, CA | General Support | $23,000 |
| Foster Love Brea, CA | General Support | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Michael and Catherine Podell Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14,750,235 | $1,924,711 | $587,803 | $520,000 | 20 | $529,300 | $626,220 | $660,356 |
| 2023 | $11,726,703 | $1,854,112 | $857,964 | $795,500 | 22 | $804,900 | $149,084 | $549,672 |
| 2022 | $11,789,982 | $918,613 | $640,713 | $584,500 | 18 | $590,910 | $294,066 | $513,655 |
| 2021 | $11,512,084 | $1,784,855 | $446,808 | $383,157 | 8 | $389,077 | $665,109 | $527,577 |
| 2020 | $10,174,035 | $1,672,610 | $1,438,231 | $1,374,500 | 23 | — | $631,376 | $461,788 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations working in areas such as youth arts and technology, emergency food relief, animal welfare, health services, arts inclusion, open-space conservation, and pollinator conservation. These are descriptions of grantees’ work: EPACENTER says it helps young people develop their talents through art, design, and technology; World Central Kitchen says it provides meals during humanitarian, climate, and community crises; and Sage Compassion for Animals says it helps fund veterinary care for companion animals in crisis and educates communities about illness prevention.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund made 20 grants totaling $520,000. Awards ranged from $2,500 to $100,000, with a median of $15,500. The largest grants included $100,000 to Meals on Wheels of SF, $75,000 to EPACENTER, $62,500 to Ukranian Action, $57,500 to UCSF Foundation, and $50,000 to Giffords Law Center. The listed grants were for general support.
The fund’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. How to apply: Contact Catherine H. Podell. No application form or other materials are required, and there is no deadline. Charities must qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael H. Podell as president and Catherine H. Podell as secretary.
Michael and Catherine Podell Fund is led by Michael H. Podell, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael H. Podell
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine H. Podell
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Michael and Catherine Podell Fund
How much does Michael and Catherine Podell Fund give each year?
Michael and Catherine Podell Fund gave $520K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $796K across 22 grants.
What is Michael and Catherine Podell Fund's typical grant size?
Michael and Catherine Podell Fund's median grant in 2024 was $15,500, and its average grant was $26,000, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Michael and Catherine Podell Fund that year got $28K on average.
Where does Michael and Catherine Podell Fund give grants?
Michael and Catherine Podell Fund gives mostly in California: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was South Carolina (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (6 grants), Oakland, CA (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Michael and Catherine Podell Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Michael and Catherine Podell Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Michael and Catherine Podell Fund's largest grantees?
Michael and Catherine Podell Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Meals on Wheels of SF ($100,000), Epacenter ($75,000) and Ukranian Action ($62,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Michael and Catherine Podell Fund?
Michael and Catherine Podell Fund reported $14.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $529K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $660K (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 does Michael and Catherine Podell Fund fund?
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations working in areas such as youth arts and technology, emergency food relief, animal welfare, health services, arts inclusion, open-space conservation, and pollinator conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Michael and Catherine Podell Fund?
Michael and Catherine Podell Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Michael and Catherine Podell Fund funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Michael and Catherine Podell Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma
San Francisco, CA
The Federation funds Jewish life and identity, antisemitism response, crisis relief, human services, and justice and inclusion, with work in the Bay Area, Israel, and beyond. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,050 to $2,405,915, with a median of $22,750. It frequently issues requests for proposals and welcomes inquiries about new Bay Area programs; no current organization grant opportunities were listed.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
1,032
Total Given
$94.5M
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
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
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The Yelp Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$6.2M
Grants
644
Total Given
$886K
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Michael and Catherine Podell Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/michael-and-catherine-podell-fund-morg_3634ce8e882c480995e09a71cbd5dd85
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203483888_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Michael and Catherine Podell Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/michael-and-catherine-podell-fund-morg_3634ce8e882c480995e09a71cbd5dd85},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Michael and Catherine Podell Fund'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.
Michael and Catherine Podell Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?