Moxie Foundation
Moxie Foundation is a private foundation focused on Youth Development, based in San Diego, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2021. In 2021, it awarded 5 grants totaling $11.5M. Net investment income was $164K.
Moxie Foundation at a glance
In short: Moxie Foundation gave $11.5M across 5 grants in 2021 (avg $2.3M), mostly in California. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $11,470,042
- +98.4% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 5
- +25.0% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $2,294,008
- +58.7% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $3,700,346
- Primary geography
- California (99% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026.
Who Moxie Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Stone Steps Fdn (Dissolution Recip) ($3.7M). Together the top 5 received $11.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 8 grants of 10 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Moxie Foundation gives
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2019 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $4.5M (2019) to $11.5M (2021). In 2021 it made 5 grants totaling $11.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Steps Fdn (Dissolution Recip) Cardiff, CA | Global Poverty & Social Justice | $3,700,346 |
| Futures Unbound (Dissolution Recip) Solana Beach, CA | Families, Climate, & Democracy | $3,700,346 |
| Avila Fund (Dissolution Recipient) San Diego, CA | Hunger & Social Justice | $3,700,346 |
| Jewish Community Fdn of San Diego San Diego, CA | Education & Charitable Social Svcs | $249,000 |
| City College of New York New York, NY | Educational Incubator Program | $120,004 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $190,347 | $11,553,437 | $11,470,042 | 5 | $11,470,042 | $163,693 | $100,463 |
| 2020 | $11,363,090 | $848,535 | $7,039,319 | $5,782,176 | 4 | — | $581,844 | — |
| 2019 | $17,553,874 | $1,201,913 | $5,736,984 | $4,472,279 | 1 | — | $930,465 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Moxie Foundation reported a distributable amount of $100K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Moxie Foundation is led by Peter Zahn, Director & President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Peter Zahn
Director & President
On filings since 2019
$266K (2019) → $0 (2021)
Ellen Waddell
Director, CFO & Secretary
Prgm Officer & Director → Director, CFO & Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
$48K (2019) → $0 (2021)
Karen Paterson
Director & Ast CFO
Prgm Officer & Director → Director & Ast CFO, 2020
On filings since 2019
$48K (2019) → $0 (2021)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Irwin Zahn (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Stephen Karpa (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2020 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2020 filing was $355K, to Peter Zahn (DIR/Pres). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Moxie Foundation
How much does Moxie Foundation give each year?
Moxie Foundation gave $11.5M across 5 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $5.8M across 4 grants.
What is Moxie Foundation's typical grant size?
Moxie Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $3,700,346, and its average grant was $2,294,008, across 5 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Moxie Foundation give grants?
Moxie Foundation gives mostly in California: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (2 grants).
Does Moxie Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Moxie Foundation's 2021 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Moxie Foundation's largest grantees?
Moxie Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include Stone Steps Fdn (Dissolution Recip) ($3,700,346), Futures Unbound (Dissolution Recip) ($3,700,346) and Avila Fund (Dissolution Recipient) ($3,700,346), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What is Moxie Foundation?
Moxie Foundation is a private foundation focused on Youth Development, based in San Diego, CA.
How much is Moxie Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Moxie Foundation reported a distributable amount of $100K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Moxie Foundation's EIN?
Moxie Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2453481. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2021.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 29, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2021
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