Peaceful World Foundation
Peaceful World Foundation is a private foundation based in Petaluma, California. Founded in 2006 by the late Sami Sunchild, it supports nonprofit organizations’ peacebuilding efforts in the arts and mindful education.
Peaceful World Foundation at a glance
In short: Peaceful World Foundation gave $92K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $92,000
- -18.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +11.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,200
- -26.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $3,421,402
- -3.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Peaceful World Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its stated process begins with submitting a one-page letter of interest in PDF format. The foundation’s website says the 2026 grant cycle is closed.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists March 3.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists March 3.
- Contact
Application contact: Heidi Majano
Mailing address: PO Box 491, Petaluma, CA 94953
Phone: (540) 645-7904
Email: heidim@peacefulworldfoundation.org
Website: https://peacefulworldfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Peaceful World Foundation
Who Peaceful World Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was San Francisco Art & Film Program ($12K). Together the top 10 received $92K.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 33 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it is primarily interested in programs in nine Bay Area counties: San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Solano, and Napa. It says preference is given to organizations founded and based in the Bay Area and that proposals outside these areas are not encouraged. The 2024 grants were all to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Peaceful World Foundation gives
- 10% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 130% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $2K (2020) to $113K (2023). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $92K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Art & Film Program San Francisco, CA | Arts for Teens Afterschool Programs | $12,000 |
| Kids Cooking for Life Larkspur, CA | Nutritional Education | $10,000 |
| Mahea Uchiyama Center for Int'l Dance Berkeley, CA | Cultural Dance & Traditional Arts | $10,000 |
| Marinlink San Rafael, CA | Community & Family Service | $10,000 |
| Petaluma Historical Library & Museum Petaluma, CA | Museum & Historical Learning | $10,000 |
| Rebuilding Together Petaluma Inc Petaluma, CA | Community Improvements | $10,000 |
| Sunday Friends San Jose, CA | Community Education Program | $10,000 |
| Youth Art Exchange San Francisco, CA | Community Programs for Teens | $10,000 |
| BACV Media San Francisco, CA | Art & Culture Media | $8,000 |
| Aqua Community Foundation Petaluma, CA | Community Conversations | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Peaceful World Foundation?
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 | $3,421,402 | $111,368 | $268,212 | $92,000 | 10 | $241,984 | $104,952 | $186,011 |
| 2023 | $3,561,347 | $168,491 | $304,975 | $113,000 | 9 | $300,262 | $163,779 | $182,641 |
| 2022 | $3,718,139 | $68,804 | $474,259 | $90,000 | 7 | $249,122 | $68,804 | $181,178 |
| 2021 | $3,922,269 | $12,062 | $308,336 | $83,000 | 6 | $190,392 | $136,161 | $173,524 |
| 2020 | $4,546,299 | $92,004 | $220,202 | $1,500 | 1 | — | $36,917 | $198,405 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Peaceful World Foundation reported a distributable amount of $186K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated goal is to promote peace by supporting nonprofit organizations in their peacebuilding efforts, particularly in the arts and mindful education. Its website describes interest in arts programs that promote peace and social consciousness, including visual and media art, music, and performing arts. It also describes interest in mindful education and well-being programs, and encourages programs to include a community peacebuilding component.
The 2024 grants included arts, cultural programs, education, community services, and community improvements. One grantee, Rebuilding Together Petaluma Inc, received $10,000; the organization describes its mission as rehabilitating homes for low-income and disabled individuals in the Petaluma area.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $92,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $12,000, with a median of $10,000. Examples include $12,000 to San Francisco Art & Film Program for arts for teens afterschool programs; $10,000 each to Kids Cooking for Life for nutritional education, Marinlink for community and family service, and Sunday Friends for a community education program; and $8,000 to BACV Media for art and culture media.
The foundation’s website says it seeks requests of $5,000–$15,000 and holds its grantmaking meeting once a year. The first application step is a one-page letter of interest in PDF format summarizing the program, the amount requested, and how the program contributes to peace and social consciousness. The 2024 filing states that awards have no restrictions and that the foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Tamara Gomez as Chair; David Whitridge as CEO and Director; Thomas Koster as CFO and Secretary; and Tim Dale and Bryan Wiley as Directors. The foundation’s website identifies Heidi Majano as Executive Director.
Peaceful World Foundation is led by David Whitridge, CEO & Director on every filing since 2023; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Whitridge
CEO & Director
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamara Gomez
Chair
Director → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Wiley
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Dale
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Koster
CFO & Secretary
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Dave Whitridge (2020–2022) — Director CEO
- Former: Duane R. Menting (2020–2022) — Director CFO
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 Peaceful World Foundation
How much does Peaceful World Foundation give each year?
Peaceful World Foundation gave $92K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $113K across 9 grants.
What is Peaceful World Foundation's typical grant size?
Peaceful World Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,200, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Peaceful World Foundation give grants?
Peaceful World Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants) and Petaluma, CA (3 grants).
Does Peaceful World Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Peaceful World Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Peaceful World Foundation's largest grantees?
Peaceful World Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include San Francisco Art & Film Program ($12,000), Kids Cooking for Life ($10,000) and Mahea Uchiyama Center for Int'l Dance ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Peaceful World Foundation?
Peaceful World Foundation reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $242K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $186K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Peaceful World Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated goal is to promote peace by supporting nonprofit organizations in their peacebuilding efforts, particularly in the arts and mindful education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Peaceful World Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Peaceful World Foundation's EIN?
Peaceful World Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0182668. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Peaceful World Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Peaceful World Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Peaceful World Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/peaceful-world-foundation-morg_2bcdfb1d4c0f4449a4924510f12735f2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_320182668_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Peaceful World Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/peaceful-world-foundation-morg_2bcdfb1d4c0f4449a4924510f12735f2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Peaceful World Foundation'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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