Protect the Groms
Protect the Groms is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in Encinitas, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $211K in total assets. In 2025, it made $2K in qualifying distributions.
Protect the Groms at a glance
- Total assets
- $211,300
- +190.4% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $140,050
- +0.9% vs 2024
- Qualifying distributions (2025)
- $1,514
- -98.8% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $1,514
- -98.8% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Protect the Groms funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
11 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 11 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How Protect the Groms gives
- In 2025 it paid out 23% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $91K (2023) to $143K (2022). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $115K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen View Academy Castle Rock, CO | Shade Structure | $60,000 |
| Skate Like a Girl Seattle, WA | To support summer camp programs benefiting 40 underserved youth and 280 adult participants focusing on promoting positive youth development and providing education on sun safety practices. | $33,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club Vista Vista, CA | Shade Structure | $12,000 |
| City Surf Project Inc San Francisco, CA | Shade Structure | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $211,300 | $140,050 | $1,514 | — | — | $1,514 | $6,464 |
| 2024 | $72,764 | $138,826 | $121,179 | $115,000 | 4 | $121,179 | $3,673 |
| 2023 | $55,117 | $110,710 | $93,315 | $90,528 | 4 | $93,315 | $3,369 |
| 2022 | $37,722 | $111,103 | $144,850 | $142,750 | 3 | $144,850 | $3,940 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Protect the Groms reported a distributable amount of $6K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Protect the Groms is led by Cynthia Herrera, President since 2024 (on filings since 2022); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cynthia Herrera
President
Director & President → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Ladwig
Director Operations
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Walsh
Secretary Treasurer
Director, Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Evan Slater (2024) — Director Operations
- Former: Elise Orozco (2022) — Director & Operations
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 Protect the Groms
How large is Protect the Groms?
Protect the Groms reported $211K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Protect the Groms?
Protect the Groms is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in Encinitas, CA. It holds $211K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Protect the Groms operate?
Protect the Groms has awarded grants in California, Colorado, New Jersey, Washington.
What is Protect the Groms's EIN?
Protect the Groms's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3070897. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 17, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Protect the Groms's focus areas in our free grants database
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