Real World Scholars Inc
Real World Scholars Inc is a private foundation based in Mariposa, California. It supports entrepreneurship-based, hands-on learning for young people, including student-run businesses and K–12 learning programs.
Real World Scholars Inc at a glance
In short: Real World Scholars Inc gave $55K across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $54,911
- -15.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,288
- +70.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,656
- Total assets
- $99,001
- +2.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Real World Scholars Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 2099, Mariposa, CA 95338
Phone: (619) 204-4987
Website: https://www.realworldscholars.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Real World Scholars Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Baldwin High School ($10K). Together the top 10 received $40K.
Grant Size Distribution
340 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 340 grants of 340 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing’s grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Pennsylvania (66%) and California (21%), followed by Michigan (6%), Missouri (4%), and Georgia (2%). The organization’s website describes EdCorps as operating across more than 40 states and says its application page is for K–12 classrooms, clubs, and organizations in the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Real World Scholars Inc open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 24 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $55K (2025) to $187K (2019). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $55K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Baldwin High School Pittsburgh, PA | To Support Organization's Mission | $10,001 |
| Keystone Oaks Middle School Pittsburgh, PA | To Support Organization's Mission | $7,759 |
| Otto-Eldred JS HS Duke Center, PA | To Support Organization's Mission | $3,775 |
| El Camino High School Oceanside, CA | To Support Organization's Mission | $3,489 |
| Monteith Elementary School Grosse Pointe Woods, MI | To Support Organization's Mission | $3,300 |
| Riverview Jr Sr HS Oakmont, PA | To Support Organization's Mission | $3,126 |
| Ramsay Elementary School Pleasant, PA | To Support Organization's Mission | $2,308 |
| South Park High School South Park, PA | To Support Organization's Mission | $2,150 |
| IU1 - Educational Campus Waynesburg Waynesburg, PA | To Support Organization's Mission | $2,057 |
| Central Coast New Tech High School Nipomo, CA | To Support Organization's Mission | $2,048 |
Ready to take the next step with Real World Scholars Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $99,001 | $114,433 | $111,791 | $54,911 | 24 | $81,309 | $25 |
| 2024 | $96,359 | $248,612 | $304,972 | $64,591 | 48 | $276,268 | $40 |
| 2023 | $157,491 | $399,160 | $428,343 | $107,819 | 91 | $294,090 | — |
| 2022 | $184,306 | $363,502 | $456,886 | $109,084 | 93 | $421,492 | $72 |
| 2021 | $278,589 | $526,077 | $492,346 | $100,365 | 84 | $426,857 | $64 |
| 2020 | $243,419 | $743,465 | $745,139 | $83,401 | 105 | — | $90 |
| 2019 | $244,006 | $788,992 | $758,092 | $186,799 | 170 | — | $99 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Real World Scholars’ stated mission is to work with students, teachers, and communities to reimagine learning through an entrepreneurial lens, helping young people develop their strengths, voice, and entrepreneurial mindset. Its website describes EdCorps as a program through which K–12 classrooms run e-commerce businesses, use entrepreneurial toolkits, receive program and community support, and may access micro-grants.
The organization’s 2025 filing describes its direct charitable activity as creating, developing, and implementing a reality-based learning program for K–12 students, and online store creation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Real World Scholars reported 24 grants totaling $54,911. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $10,001, with a median of $1,656. The largest reported grants included:
The filing lists each of these grants as supporting the recipient organization’s mission.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John Cahalin as president and treasurer. Directors listed are Elyse Burden, Neville Billimoria, Darius Jones, Debra Titus, Jennifer Stillittano, Grant Knowles, Jane Shore, Kwaku Aning, and Spencer Taylor.
Real World Scholars Inc is led by John Cahalin, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John Cahalin
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Elyse Burden
Director
On filings since 2019
$64K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Neville Billimoria
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Darius Jones
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Debra Titus
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Grant Knowles
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jane Shore
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jennifer Stillittano
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Kwaku Aning
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Spencer Taylor
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Tony Simmons
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Helen Cahalin (2019–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $59K, to Elyse Burden (Director).
Frequently asked questions about Real World Scholars Inc
How much does Real World Scholars Inc give each year?
Real World Scholars Inc gave $55K across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $65K across 48 grants.
What is Real World Scholars Inc's typical grant size?
Real World Scholars Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,656, and its average grant was $2,288, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Real World Scholars Inc that year got $1K on average.
Where does Real World Scholars Inc give grants?
Real World Scholars Inc gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (21%) and Michigan (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (3 grants) and San Diego, CA (2 grants).
Does Real World Scholars Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Real World Scholars Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Organization's Mission" (24 grants).
Who are Real World Scholars Inc's largest grantees?
Real World Scholars Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Baldwin High School ($10,001), Keystone Oaks Middle School ($7,759) and Otto-Eldred JS HS ($3,775), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Real World Scholars Inc?
Real World Scholars Inc reported $99K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $114K.
What does Real World Scholars Inc fund?
Real World Scholars’ stated mission is to work with students, teachers, and communities to reimagine learning through an entrepreneurial lens, helping young people develop their strengths, voice, and entrepreneurial mindset. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Real World Scholars Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Real World Scholars Inc's EIN?
Real World Scholars Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4308932. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Real World Scholars Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 9, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 20, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Real World Scholars Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Real World Scholars Inc'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.
Real World Scholars Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?