SMARTMEME INC. DBA CENTER FOR STORY-BASED STRATEGY ("CSS") IS A NATIONAL STRATEGY CENTER DEDICATED TO HARNESSING THE POWER OF NARRATIVE FOR MOVEMENT BUILDING AND SOCIAL CHANGE. CSS PROVIDES SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL JUSTICE LEADERS, ORGANIZATIONS AND ALLIANCES THE STRATEGIC SUPPORT TO REFRAME ISSUES AND WIN CRITICAL CAMPAIGNS. WE USE STORY-BASED APPROACHES TO AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, TO COMMUNICATE TRANSFORMATIVE POSSIBILITIES AND TO RE-IMAGINE SOCIAL CHANGE STRATEGY. THROUGH TRAINING AND CONSULTING, WEVE SUPPORTED OVER 300 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND 6,000 INDIVIDUAL CHANGE AGENTS.
Key facts about Smartmeme
- EIN
- 20-1897585
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $81,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- Average grant
- $20,375
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $5,309,193
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Smartmeme funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Smartmeme's 4 itemized 2024 grants were California (100%). None of its 4 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Re-grants" (4 grants).
Next steps with Smartmeme
- How to evaluate Smartmeme as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Smartmeme 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
$5.3M
+70.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$82K
+226.0% YoY
Grant Count
4
+300.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
-18.5% YoY
About Smartmeme
Based on IRS filings
Smartmeme is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Oakland, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $5.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $82K. Net investment income was $20K.
Focus Areas
Ready to take the next step with Smartmeme?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 4 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,309,193 | $3,119,879 | $2,961,906 |
| Revenue | $4,218,156 | $1,678,377 | $1,968,605 |
| Expenses | $2,036,399 | $1,598,407 | $1,368,806 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $19,879 | $10,033 | — |
| 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 4 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Black Organizing Project ($25,000), Central Valley Movement Build ($25,000), Gender & Sexualities Alliance ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Black Organizing Project Oakland, CA | Re-grants | $25,000 |
| Central Valley Movement Build Sacramento, CA | Re-grants | $25,000 |
| Gender & Sexualities Alliance San Francisco, CA | Re-grants | $25,000 |
| Movement Generation Berkeley, CA | Re-grants | $6,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Castro | Interim ED | 32 | $135,000 |
| Zakiya Scott | Strategy Director | 40 | $100,556 |
| Reuben Tihi Hayslett | Board President | 2 | — |
| Jamila Brown | Vice President | 2 | — |
| Yee Won Chong | OutgngTreasurer | 2 | — |
| Angus Maguire | Secretary | 2 | — |
| Seng So | Secretary | 2 | — |
| Kedar Reddy | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Sara Dillon | Outgng Secretar | 2 | — |
| Michael Premo | Outgng Treasure | 2 | — |
| Dallas Goldtooth | Outgoing Pres. | 2 | — |
| Ivy Brashear | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Nayantara Sen | Executive Dir. | 32 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Smartmeme?
Smartmeme is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Oakland, CA. It holds $5.3M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Smartmeme?
As of 2024, Smartmeme holds $5.3M in total assets with $4.2M in annual revenue. It awarded 4 grants totaling $82K in 2024.
Where does Smartmeme operate?
Smartmeme has awarded grants in California.
What size grants does Smartmeme award?
In 2024, Smartmeme awarded 4 grants totaling $82K — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Smartmeme's EIN?
Smartmeme's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1897585. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Smartmeme's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Warsh-Mott Legacy
Petaluma, CA
Assets
—
Grants
51
Total Given
$3.4M
RSF Social Finance Inc
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$108.4M
Grants
457
Total Given
$48.2M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,383
Total Given
$176.2M
Solutions Project Inc
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$28.8M
Grants
146
Total Given
$5.0M
Common Counsel Foundation
Oakland, CA
Assets
$67.5M
Grants
621
Total Given
$101.2M
Tides Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc
Washington, DC
Assets
$361.1M
Grants
1,134
Total Given
$165.7M
Tides Center
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$297.4M
Grants
461
Total Given
$55.3M
The Libra Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$28.0M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
More Funders in California
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.