Protostar Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, 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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$186K
+301.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$79K
+62.9% YoY
Grant Count
7
+40.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+16.3% YoY
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.
About Protostar Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Protostar Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, 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.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $186,322 | $46,356 | $118,069 |
| Revenue | $269,235 | $13,423 | $142,122 |
| Expenses | $129,309 | $85,192 | $63,137 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $129,309 | $85,192 | $63,137 |
| Net Investment Income | $20 | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $3,448 | $3,779 | $2,840 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include La Jolla Music Society ($30,000), New York Junior Tennis & Learning ($27,500), North Coast Repertory Threatre ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| JUNIOR TENNIS FOUNDATION WEST HARRISON, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $3,000 |
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARY P POON | PRESIDENT, CHAIRMAN | 40 | — |
| RICHARD HARTLEY | TREASURER, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Protostar Foundation?
Protostar Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAN DIEGO, CA. It holds $186K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Protostar Foundation?
As of 2024, Protostar Foundation holds $186K in total assets with $269K in annual revenue. It awarded 7 grants totaling $79K in 2024.
Where does Protostar Foundation operate?
Protostar Foundation has awarded grants in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York.
What size grants does Protostar Foundation award?
In 2024, Protostar Foundation awarded 7 grants totaling $79K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Protostar Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Protostar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Protostar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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