Paulus Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Mount Vernon, WA EIN: 20-0351925

The Paulus Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Mount Vernon, Washington. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including community philanthropy, habitat conservation, wild salmon ecosystems, animal welfare, health-related travel, and university research.

Key facts about Paulus Family Foundation

In short: Paulus Family Foundation gave $1.3M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $96K), top state California. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
20-0351925
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,345,000
Grants made (2024)
14
Average grant
$96,071
Median grant
$100,000
New grantees (estimate)
21% first-time grantees (3 of 14, 2024)
Total assets
$7,250,955
Primary geography
California (43% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$7.3M

-4.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.3M

+4.7% YoY

Grant Count

14

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$96K

+4.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paulus Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $323K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Paulus Family Foundation open to new grantees?

21%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 3 of 14 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $100K; repeat grants $95K. How we count

Medians: $100K first-time, $100K repeat.

  • 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 24% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 417% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable purposes. For example, the Skagit Community Foundation received funding to promote philanthropy and positive change in the community, while San Diego Canyonlands received support for natural canyon habitat protection and restoration.

Among the grantees’ own descriptions, Wild Salmon Center says it promotes conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim; Trout Unlimited says it works to conserve, protect, and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and watersheds. Helen Woodward Animal Center describes its work as teaching about the animal-human bond, and Thrive Animal Rescue says it aids abandoned and discarded dogs and prepares them for placement in homes.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $1,345,000. Grant amounts ranged from $20,000 to $250,000, with a median of $100,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in California (43%), Washington (32%), Oregon (17%), Virginia (7%), and Maryland (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

Cities

San DiegoMount VernonPortlandLa JollaLake OswegoRancho Santa FeSanta MonicaArlingtonDel MarEdmondsFrederickNatickPrescotRedlands

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M10 grants2020 12 grants2021 17 grants2022 14 grants2023 14 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $945K (2020) to $1.4M (2022). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $1.3M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

The Skagit Community Foundation: $250KThe Skagit CommunityFoundation$250KSan Diego Canyonlands Inc: $150KSan Diego Canyonlands Inc$150KUc San Diego Foundation: $125KUc San Diego Foundation$125KAngel Flight West: $100KAngel Flight West$100KRonald McDonald House Charities of San Diego: $100KRonald McDonald HouseCharities of San Diego$100KWild Salmon Center: $100KWild Salmon Center$100KTrout Unlimited Inc: $100KTrout Unlimited Inc$100KThe Stronghold Fund: $100KThe Stronghold Fund$100KWild Salmon River Expeditions (The Conservation Angler): $100KWild Salmon River Expeditions(The Conservation Angler)$100KBoys and Girls Clubs of Skagit County: $75KBoys and Girls Clubs of SkagitCounty$75K

The largest 2024 recipient was The Skagit Community Foundation ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.

Grant Size Distribution

67 grants across all recorded years

12<$50K18$50–100K32$100–250K5$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 32 grants of 67 (48%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Skagit Community Foundation Mount Vernon, WAPromote Philanthropy and Positive Change in the Community$250,000
San Diego Canyonlands Inc San Diego, CAProtection and Restoration of Natural Canyons Habitat$150,000
Uc San Diego Foundation La Jolla, CAGeneral support for the center for academic research and training in anthropogeny (CARTA)$125,000
Angel Flight West Santa Monica, CADeliver health and hope using donated flights to serve those with healthcare or other compelling human needs$100,000
Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego San Diego, CAProvide a "home-away-from-home" for families with children being treated for serious, often life-threatening conditions at local hospitals$100,000
Wild Salmon Center Portland, ORProtect and restore populations of salmon and steelhead in the columbia and snake river basin and the marine waters of the pacific northwest$100,000
Trout Unlimited Inc Arlington, VAConserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds$100,000
The Stronghold Fund Portland, ORSupport ongoing conservation work of wild salmon ecosystems throughout the pacific rim$100,000
Wild Salmon River Expeditions (The Conservation Angler) Edmonds, WAFighting for the protection of wild pacific anadromous fish populations$100,000
Boys and Girls Clubs of Skagit County Mount Vernon, WAEnable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens$75,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grant sum Grant count
2024 $7,250,955 $370,084 $1,404,320 $1,345,000 14
2023 $7,628,567 $14,711 $1,336,735 $1,285,000 14
2022 $7,624,296 −$47,288 $1,513,520 $1,420,000 17
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$7,250,955$7,628,567$7,624,296
Revenue$370,084$14,711$-47,288
Expenses$1,404,320$1,336,735$1,513,520
Qualifying Distributions$1,348,718$1,285,000$1,420,000
Net Investment Income$314,482$50,549$49,618
Distributable Amount$323,326$345,663$413,427

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

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

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists C Michelle Paulus as president, Andrew E Beldin and Ana Sophia Augustenborg as co-vice presidents, and Lia G Beldin as secretary.

Paulus Family Foundation is led by C. Michelle Paulus, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • C. Michelle Paulus

    President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ana Sophia Augustenborg

    Co-Vice President

    Vice President → Co-Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrew E. Beldin

    Co-Vice President

    Vice President → Co-Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lia G. Beldin

    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.

Contact

Mailing address: 227 Freeway Drive B, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Phone: (858) 382-6867

Frequently asked questions about Paulus Family Foundation

How much does Paulus Family Foundation give each year?

Paulus Family Foundation gave $1.3M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 14 grants.

What is Paulus Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Paulus Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $96,071, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Paulus Family Foundation that year got $100K on average.

Where does Paulus Family Foundation give grants?

Paulus Family Foundation's top state is California, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Washington (32%) and Oregon (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (3 grants), Mount Vernon, WA (2 grants) and Portland, OR (2 grants).

Does Paulus Family Foundation give general operating support?

Occasionally: 7% of Paulus Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Paulus Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Paulus Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Skagit Community Foundation ($250,000), San Diego Canyonlands Inc ($150,000) and Uc San Diego Foundation ($125,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Paulus Family Foundation?

Paulus Family Foundation reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $323K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Paulus Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Paulus Family Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Paulus Family Foundation's EIN?

Paulus Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0351925. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Paulus Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

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

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