Pivotal Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Established in 2006, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity with a primary focus on philanthropic grant distribution. The foundation conducts no direct charitable activities; instead, it functions exclusively through grantmaking and investment activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$92.5M
+13.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+25.0% YoY
Grant Count
53
+8.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$51K
+15.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pivotal Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 44 grants in the most recent reporting year (2024).
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue
- Total Assets (2024): $92,488,285
- Total Assets (2023): $81.7M
- Total Revenue (2024): $14,123,570
- Total Revenue (2023): $24.8M
- Total Expenses (2024): $3,325,796
- Total Expenses (2023): $2.64M
- Total Liabilities (2023): $5,000
The foundation maintains substantial assets relative to its annual grantmaking expenditures, indicating a long-term funding capacity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $92,488,285 | $81,685,457 | $59,532,605 |
| Revenue | $14,123,570 | $24,784,772 | $32,036,612 |
| Expenses | $3,325,796 | $2,636,920 | $1,965,937 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,745,837 | $2,165,449 | $1,890,852 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,676,916 | $4,393,985 | $631,839 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,950,986 | $3,140,372 | $1,550,431 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
224 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Quincy Institute ($310,000), Khan Academy Inc ($200,000), Barrow Neurological Foundation ($135,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN PARKS WASHINGTON, DC | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $25,000 |
| ALEX VICTORY'S LEGACY INC SCOTTSDALE, AZ | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| ARIZONA COSTUME INSTITUTE (PHOENIX ART MUSEUM) PHOENIX, AZ | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION TEMPE, AZ | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $63,764 |
| ASSOCIATION FOR PROMOTION OF JEWISH SECULARISM (JEWISH CURRENTS) BROOKLYN, NY | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $100,000 |
| BALLER DREAM FOUNDATION SCOTTSDALE, AZ | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $3,000 |
| BALLET ARIZONA PHOENIX, AZ | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $130,000 |
| BANNER HEALTH FOUNDATION PHOENIX, AZ | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| BARROW NEUROLOGICAL FOUNDATION PHOENIX, AZ | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $135,500 |
| BARROW WOMEN'S BOARD PHOENIX, AZ | FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| F FRANCIS NAJAFI | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| RICHARD GARNER | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JACKIE REED | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Pivotal Foundation?
The foundation made 44 grants in the most recent reporting year (2024). • **Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft:** $310,000 • **Khan Academy:** $200,000 • **Barrow Neurological Foundation:** $135,500 All administrative expenses incurred in connection with the foundation's tax-exempt purpose are allocated to grantmaking activities. The foundation reports that all other expenses are properly allocable to investment activities.
What size grants does Pivotal Foundation award?
In 2024, Pivotal Foundation awarded 53 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $51K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Pivotal Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Pivotal Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Pivotal Foundation's EIN?
Pivotal Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3959093. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pivotal Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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