Paul L Wattis Foundation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA EIN: 84-1624183

Paul L Wattis Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAN FRANCISCO, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $5.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $371K. Net investment income was $1.1M.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$5.8M

+12.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$371K

-17.5% YoY

Grant Count

11

+22.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$34K

-32.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paul L Wattis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $520K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Paul L Wattis Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Paul L Wattis Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAN FRANCISCO, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $5.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $371K. Net investment income was $1.1M.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Cities

AspenBerkeleyBoulderHollisterLos AngelesMill ValleyNew YorkOaklandSacramentoSan FranciscoSan Luis ObispoSan RafaelSolvangTres PinosWashington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$310K$620K$930K$1M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$5,787,095$5,137,378$5,498,738
Revenue$1,072,651$162,427$127,580
Expenses$422,933$523,787$451,744
Qualifying Distributions$409,518$506,936$411,235
Net Investment Income$1,059,236$145,676$102,071
Distributable Amount$519,804$458,349$483,096

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$139K$278K$416K$555K8 grants202017 grants20217 grants20229 grants202311 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

San Francisco Jazz Organ…$100KLACMA - Museum Associates$50KSweetwater Music Hall$50KThe Grabhorn Institute &…$50KThe Grabhorn Institute &…$50KAmerican Near East Refug…$30KSan Francisco Jazz Organ…$25KDiocese of Monterey$5KSaint John's Presbyteria…$5KThe Swedenborgian Church$5K

Grant Size Distribution

52 grants across all recorded years

30<$50K18$50–100K4$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include San Francisco Jazz Organization ($100,000), LACMA - Museum Associates ($50,000), Sweetwater Music Hall ($50,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
American Near East Refugee Aid Inc Washington, DCSupport the distribution of meals to people affected by the war in Gaza$30,000
Aspen Historical Society Aspen, COGeneral support$500
Diocese of Monterey Tres Pinos, CASupport the Parish Painting Project$5,000
LACMA - Museum Associates Los Angeles, CASupport Ed Ruscha/Now Then: A Retrospective$50,000
Saint John's Presbyterian Church San Francisco, CASupport the provision of a space available for community purposes$5,000
San Francisco Jazz Organization San Francisco, CASupport the SFJAZZ Immersive Media Project$100,000
San Francisco Jazz Organization San Francisco, CASupport the SFJAZZ Gala 2024$25,000
Sweetwater Music Hall Mill Valley, CAGeneral support$50,000
The Grabhorn Institute & Arion Press San Francisco, CACapital campaign to help move the Arion Press historic printing facility to Fort Mason$50,000
The Grabhorn Institute & Arion Press San Francisco, CACapital campaign to help move the Arion Press historic printing facility to Fort Mason$50,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Paul L Wattis IIIPresident, Director12
Paul L Wattis JrSect'y., Tres., Director1
Anne M WattisDirector1

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Paul L Wattis Foundation?

Paul L Wattis Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAN FRANCISCO, CA. It holds $5.8M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Paul L Wattis Foundation?

As of 2024, Paul L Wattis Foundation holds $5.8M in total assets with $1.1M in annual revenue. It awarded 11 grants totaling $371K in 2024.

Where does Paul L Wattis Foundation operate?

Paul L Wattis Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, New York.

What size grants does Paul L Wattis Foundation award?

In 2024, Paul L Wattis Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $371K — an average of about $34K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Paul L Wattis Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Paul L Wattis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $520K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Paul L Wattis Foundation's EIN?

Paul L Wattis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1624183. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

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