Saya Foundation
Saya Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Los Angeles, California, established in 2005. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and focuses on grantmaking in education, charitable causes, and human services.
Key facts about Saya Foundation
- EIN
- 20-3343622
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $787,956
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- Average grant
- $29,184
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (9 of 27, 2024)
- Total assets
- $4,676,250
- Primary geography
- California (61% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Saya Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Saya Foundation's 27 itemized 2024 grants were California (61%), Illinois (24%) and Michigan (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (9 grants). None of its 27 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "charitable" (6 grants) and "educational" (5 grants).
Is Saya Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 27 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Saya Foundation
- How to evaluate Saya Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Saya Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.7M
+2.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$788K
+58.0% YoY
Grant Count
27
+42.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$29K
+11.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The organization has not provided a formal mission statement to public databases.
Grantmaking
The foundation also received funding from The Citadel Foundation in the amount of $15,000 (unrestricted) during the 2024 tax period.
Grant Range
$5,000–$217,000
Ready to take the next step with Saya Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include California, Michigan, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 27 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024
- Total Assets: $4,676,250
- Total Revenue: $935,468
- Total Expenses: $802,034
- Net Income: $133,434
- Total Liabilities: $7,030
The foundation maintains a healthy financial position with assets exceeding liabilities and consistent annual revenue.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,676,250 | $4,543,613 | $4,170,070 |
| Revenue | $935,468 | $788,297 | $627,421 |
| Expenses | $802,034 | $510,742 | $552,992 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $787,956 | $498,571 | $541,145 |
| Net Investment Income | $133,303 | $100,224 | $47,343 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
109 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Westside Community Center ($214,750), The Citizens Foundation ($192,034), New Horizon School Westside ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WESTSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER Santa Monica, CA | RELIGIOUS/EDUCATIONAL | $214,750 |
| THE CITIZENS FOUNDATION Schaumburg, IL | charitable | $192,034 |
| NEW HORIZON SCHOOL WESTSIDE Los Angeles, CA | educational | $50,000 |
| VARIOUS DONATIONS LESS THAN 5000 Los Angeles, CA | charitable | $44,422 |
| MPAC FOUNDATION Los Angeles, CA | charitable | $40,000 |
| MHEF USA Lansing, MI | HEALTH CARE | $40,000 |
| THE WOODDROW WILSON CENTER NW Washington DC, DC | HISTORICAL MUSEUM | $30,000 |
| WORLD MEMON ORGANIZATION USA INC Torrance, CA | WELFARE/ CULTURAL | $20,000 |
| SHAHID AFRIDI FOUNDATION Charlotte, NC | HEALTHCARE/EDUCATION | $15,000 |
| ISLAMIC CENTER OF SOUTHERN CAL Los Angeles, CA | RELIGIOUS/WELFARE | $11,650 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Salim Adaya — President and Chief Executive Officer
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salim Adaya | President & CEO | 1 | — |
| Yasmin Adaya | Vice President | — | — |
| Halima Mohammed | Vice President | — | — |
| Muhammad Adaya | Secretary | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Saya Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The organization has not provided a formal mission statement to public databases.
How do I apply for a grant from Saya Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024)** • Total giving: $787,956 • Number of grants: 22 • Grant range: $5,000–$217,000 **Recent Grantees (2024)** • New Horizon School Westside: $50,000 (Educational) • Developments in Literacy (DIL): $10,500 (Educational) • Zindagi Trust: $10,000 (Educational) The foundation also received funding from The Citadel Foundation in the amount of $15,000 (unrestricted) during the 2024 tax period.
Where does Saya Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include California, Michigan, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Saya Foundation award?
In 2024, Saya Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $788K — an average of about $29K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Saya Foundation's EIN?
Saya Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3343622. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Saya Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Al-Ameen Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$24.8M
Grants
18
Total Given
$893K
Zakia and Mian Family Charitable Foundation Inc
Davie, FL
Assets
$42K
Grants
27
Total Given
$34K
Rauf & Azeem Foundation Inc
League City, TX
Assets
$21K
Grants
19
Total Given
$126K
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The Cigna Group Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$127.2M
Grants
4,075
Total Given
$14.1M
Medserve Foundation Inc
Takoma Park, MD
Assets
$8.9M
Grants
8
Total Given
$68K
Tides Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$2.2B
Grants
2,025
Total Given
$272.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Sempra Foundation
San Diego, CA
Assets
$11.5M
Grants
1,501
Total Given
$1.8M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,383
Total Given
$176.2M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
More Funders in California
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.