Orca Free Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Arroyo Grande, CA EIN: 77-0513674

Orca Free Inc is a private foundation focused on Environment & Animals, based in Arroyo Grande, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $53K. Net investment income was $122K.

Orca Free Inc at a glance

In short: Orca Free Inc gave $53K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$52,500
+195.8% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
2
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$26,250
+195.8% vs 2023
Median grant
$26,250
Total assets
$2,447,972
+33.2% vs 2023
Primary geography
California (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who Orca Free Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 2 recipients in 2024

Lichen Health: $50KLichen Health$50KJust the Wild Foundation: $3KJust the Wild Foundation$3K

The largest 2024 recipient was Lichen Health ($50K). Together the top 2 received $53K.

Grant Size Distribution

16 grants across all recorded years

15<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 16 (94%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.

Cities

San FranciscoTucsonWiscassetBoulderHaleiwaKaneoheNevada CityNew YorkPunta GordaSanta RosaSilver SpringVenturaWashington

How Orca Free Inc gives

  • Giving fell 42% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 229% of 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

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K8 grants2020 4 grants2021 0 grants2022 2 grants2023 2 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $18K (2023) to $90K (2021). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $53K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Lichen Health Nevada City, CATo launch a comprehensive healing network using animal-based modalities to enable holistic, functional medicine pathways as an adjunct to traditional allopathic methods. Lichen is founded and led by former facebook, pinterest and google product managers and engineers.$50,000
Just the Wild Foundation Boulder, COTo investigate the elusive behavior of eastern caribbean sperm whales feeding off giant squid in depths of over 8,000 feet in guadalupe and dominican waters.$2,500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$2,447,972$121,774$243,649$52,5002$237,122$121,624$103,670
2023$1,837,154$114,671$137,665$17,7502$127,947$114,496$83,505
2022$1,415,459$-31,157$85,574——$68,208$2,938$100,669
2021$2,807,116$977,279$96,725$90,0004$90,000$977,129$112,623
2020$594,397$450,694$99,343$72,0008—$438,506$83,699

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Orca Free Inc reported a distributable amount of $104K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Orca Free Inc is led by Johanna Santer, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Johanna Santer

    President

    On filings since 2020

    15 hrs/week

    $18K (2023) → $30K (2024)

  • Michael Santer

    CFO

    On filings since 2022

    3 hrs/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.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Johanna Santer — President: $30KJohanna SanterPresident$30K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $30K, to Johanna Santer (President).

Frequently asked questions about Orca Free Inc

How much does Orca Free Inc give each year?

Orca Free Inc gave $53K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $18K across 2 grants.

How large is Orca Free Inc?

Orca Free Inc reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $237K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $104K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Orca Free Inc?

Orca Free Inc is a private foundation focused on Environment & Animals, based in Arroyo Grande, CA. It holds $2.4M in total assets as of 2024.

Where does Orca Free Inc operate?

Orca Free Inc has awarded grants in Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Maine, New York.

What is Orca Free Inc's EIN?

Orca Free Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0513674. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Orca Free 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.

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