Protostar Foundation
Protostar Foundation is a private foundation, based in San Diego, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $186K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $79K. Net investment income was $20.
Protostar Foundation at a glance
In short: Protostar Foundation gave $79K across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $79,000
- +62.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 7
- +40.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,286
- +16.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $186,322
- +301.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (51% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Protostar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was La Jolla Music Society ($30K). Together the top 7 received $79K.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 27 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Protostar Foundation gives
- Giving grew 159% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2020) to $79K (2024). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $79K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| La Jolla Music Society La Jolla, CA | Charitable Purposes | $30,000 |
| New York Junior Tennis & Learning Long Island City, NY | Charitable Purposes | $27,500 |
| North Coast Repertory Threatre Solana Beach, CA | Charitable Purposes | $10,000 |
| Silkroad's Global Music Workshop Brighton, MA | Charitable Purposes | $5,000 |
| Junior Tennis Foundation West Harrison, NY | Charitable Purposes | $3,000 |
| American Foundation for Suicide Prevention New York, NY | Charitable Purposes | $2,500 |
| Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport Chicago, IL | Charitable Purposes | $1,000 |
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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 | $186,322 | $269,235 | $129,309 | $79,000 | 7 | $129,309 | $20 | $3,448 |
| 2023 | $46,356 | $13,423 | $85,192 | $48,500 | 5 | $85,192 | — | $3,779 |
| 2022 | $118,069 | $142,122 | $63,137 | $27,000 | 8 | $63,137 | — | $2,840 |
| 2021 | $41,794 | $49,055 | $72,199 | $30,500 | 6 | $72,199 | — | $2,779 |
| 2020 | $62,145 | $2,675 | $30,000 | $10,000 | 1 | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Protostar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Protostar Foundation is led by Gary P. Poon, President & Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gary P. Poon
President & Chairman
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Hartley
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Peter Leighton (2020–2022) — Treasurer & Director
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 Protostar Foundation
How much does Protostar Foundation give each year?
Protostar Foundation gave $79K across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $49K across 5 grants.
What is Protostar Foundation's typical grant size?
Protostar Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $11,286, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Protostar Foundation give grants?
Protostar Foundation gives mostly in California: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (42%) and Massachusetts (6%).
Who are Protostar Foundation's largest grantees?
Protostar Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include La Jolla Music Society ($30,000), New York Junior Tennis & Learning ($27,500) and North Coast Repertory Threatre ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Protostar Foundation?
Protostar Foundation reported $186K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $129K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Protostar Foundation's EIN?
Protostar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1864222. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Protostar Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Protostar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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