Sempra Foundation
Sempra Foundation is a private foundation based in San Diego, California, founded by Sempra in 2007. It supports social progress in communities where Sempra and its employees live and work, with stated priorities that include climate action, inclusion, economic prosperity, and community resilience.
Sempra Foundation at a glance
In short: Sempra Foundation gave $1.8M across 1,501 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in California. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,820,957
- -51.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1,501
- -29.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,213
- -31.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $260
- Total assets
- $11,486,083
- -18.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (350 of 1,427, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sempra Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
Grantmaking is by invitation only; the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 488 8Th Avenue Hq 08N1, San Diego, CA 92101-7123
Phone: (619) 696-2467
Website: https://semprafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sempra Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Solar Electric Light Fund ($100K). Together the top 10 received $620K.
Grant Size Distribution
9,646 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9,592 grants of 9,646 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its primary geographic focus is communities where its employees live and work, including Texas, Washington, D.C., Central and Southern California, and Mexico. In 2024, California received 60% of grant dollars, Washington, D.C. 11%, Texas 7%, Colorado 5%, and Illinois 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 1,501 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sempra Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 350 of 1,427 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $150 first-time, $360 repeat.
- 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 61% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 261% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2024) to $5.0M (2020). In 2024 it made 1,501 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Electric Light Fund Washington, DC | Clean Energy | $100,000 |
| State Center Community College Foundation Fresno, CA | Workforce Development | $100,000 |
| Engineers Without Borders USA Denver, CO | Economic Development | $75,000 |
| Galveston Bay Foundation Kemah, TX | Climate Action | $75,000 |
| The Actuarial Foundation Schaumburg, IL | Climate Action | $60,000 |
| Leadership California Sacramento, CA | Workforce Development | $50,000 |
| Monarch School San Diego, CA | Education | $50,000 |
| Victory Institute Washington, DC | Advocacy | $50,000 |
| United Way Inc Los Angeles, CA | Human Services | $32,683 |
| University of San Diego San Diego, CA | Education | $26,865 |
Ready to take the next step with Sempra Foundation?
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 | $11,486,083 | $747,486 | $4,311,994 | $1,820,957 | 1,501 | $1,951,062 | $578,007 | $747,946 |
| 2023 | $14,132,710 | $745,120 | $5,417,134 | $3,782,471 | 2,127 | $3,828,711 | $652,361 | $777,079 |
| 2022 | $17,995,022 | $10,199,595 | $4,461,855 | $3,604,227 | 2,382 | $3,685,584 | $67,324 | $964,415 |
| 2021 | $11,508,146 | $4,070,772 | $4,680,555 | $4,651,692 | 1,850 | $4,707,559 | — | $727,765 |
| 2020 | $12,117,929 | $171,577 | $5,097,817 | $4,993,042 | 1,786 | — | — | $718,134 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sempra Foundation reported a distributable amount of $748K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it seeks to advance social progress and a sustainable future. Its giving priorities include climate resilience and action; community engagement and inclusion; economic empowerment and workforce development; and disaster relief and community preparedness. Its climate-action work includes support for reducing or offsetting emissions, climate-resilience technologies, and public education about environmental protection.
The foundation seeks to collaborate with nonprofit organizations in communities it serves. Examples of grantees’ work include the Solar Electric Light Fund’s efforts to provide solar power and wireless communications to people experiencing energy poverty, and Galveston Bay Foundation’s mission to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay. Other 2024 grantees include the Actuarial Foundation, which describes its work as advancing math education, and Team Rubicon, which describes itself as a veteran-led humanitarian organization serving communities before, during, and after disasters.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 1,501 grants totaling $1,820,957. Grants ranged from $4 to $100,000, with a median of $260. Among the largest awards were $100,000 to Solar Electric Light Fund for clean energy and $100,000 to State Center Community College Foundation for workforce development; $75,000 each to Engineers Without Borders USA for economic development and Galveston Bay Foundation for climate action; and $60,000 to the Actuarial Foundation for climate action. Other listed awards included $50,000 to Monarch School for education and $50,000 to Leadership California for workforce development.
For organizations invited to apply, the foundation says proposals must come from U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing with the IRS and must align with its strategic priorities. It looks for clearly defined goals, outcomes, and success metrics, as well as evidence that the proposed work can achieve its goals. Its stated restrictions include funding for individuals, private foundations, endowment funds, for-profit organizations, political parties, candidates, or partisan groups. It generally does not fund scholarships, capital improvements or equipment, building funds, sports teams or events, or general operating expenses unrelated to the proposed project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christy Ihrig as president and board director, Kirstie Raagas as executive director, Patrick Billings as treasurer, and Lisa Abbot and Jim Baker as secretaries. Directors listed include Eugene Mitchell, Andy Carrasco, Randall L. Clark, Scott Crider, and Matt Henry.
Sempra Foundation is led by Christy Ihrig, President & Board Director since 2024 (on filings since 2022); none of the 11 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christy Ihrig
President & Board Director
Director → President & Board Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kirstie Raagas
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily C. Shults
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eugene Mitchell
Director
President, Vice Chair & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Henry
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randall L. Clark
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andy Carrasco
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Crider
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Baker
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Abbot
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Billings
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Bruce Folkmann (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Bruce Macneil (2020–2023) — Vice President & Treasurer
- Former: Lisa Larroque Alexander (2020–2023) — Director & Board Chair
- Former: Maryam Brown (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Beatriz Palomino Young (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Molly Cartmill (2020–2021) — Chief Stewardship Officer
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 Sempra Foundation
How much does Sempra Foundation give each year?
Sempra Foundation gave $1.8M across 1,501 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.8M across 2,127 grants.
What is Sempra Foundation's typical grant size?
Sempra Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $260, and its average grant was $1,213, across 1,501 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sempra Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Sempra Foundation give grants?
Sempra Foundation gives mostly in California: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (11%) and Texas (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (234 grants), Los Angeles, CA (123 grants), New York, NY (49 grants) and Washington, DC (44 grants).
Does Sempra Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Sempra Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (34 of 1,501) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Education" (379 grants), "Human Services" (164 grants) and "Animals" (123 grants).
Who are Sempra Foundation's largest grantees?
Sempra Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Solar Electric Light Fund ($100,000), State Center Community College Foundation ($100,000) and Engineers Without Borders USA ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sempra Foundation?
Sempra Foundation reported $11.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $748K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sempra Foundation fund?
The foundation says it seeks to advance social progress and a sustainable future. Its giving priorities include climate resilience and action; community engagement and inclusion; economic empowerment and workforce development; and disaster relief and community preparedness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sempra Foundation?
Grantmaking is by invitation only; the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sempra Foundation's EIN?
Sempra Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1325469. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Sempra Foundation 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sempra Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sempra-foundation-morg_9cdcd0997a4d4caba6378600ef2afb00
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261325469_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sempra Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sempra-foundation-morg_9cdcd0997a4d4caba6378600ef2afb00},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Sempra Foundation'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.
Sempra Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?