Sophora Foundation
Sophora Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Palo Alto, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $729K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $134K. Net investment income was $90K.
Sophora Foundation at a glance
In short: Sophora Foundation gave $134K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $133,665
- +30.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +700.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,708
- -83.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $728,542
- -4.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (56% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Sophora Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was GS Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management ($75K). Together the top 7 received $134K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 14 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Sophora Foundation gives
- Giving grew 664% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 76% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $100 (2022) to $134K (2024). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $134K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GS Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Albany, NY | General Operating Purposes | $75,000 |
| George Mayne Elementary Alviso, CA | General Operating Purposes | $20,000 |
| Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA | General Operating Purposes | $15,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | General Operating Purposes | $10,000 |
| Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA | General Operating Purposes | $10,000 |
| Nike Animal Rescue Foundation San Jose, CA | General Operating Purposes | $2,500 |
| Bay Area Older Adults San Jose, CA | General Operating Purposes | $665 |
| Kqed San Francisco, CA | General Operating Purposes | $500 |
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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 | $728,542 | $100,104 | $149,637 | $133,665 | 8 | $149,512 | $90,104 | $197,190 |
| 2023 | $762,875 | $49,572 | $107,025 | $102,440 | 1 | $103,725 | $49,572 | $121,100 |
| 2022 | $820,328 | $158,193 | $613 | $100 | 1 | $281 | $158,193 | $102,721 |
| 2021 | $662,748 | $101,086 | $38,739 | $17,500 | 2 | $30,100 | $101,086 | — |
| 2020 | $600,401 | $12,303 | $13,457 | $2,750 | 2 | — | $10,014 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sophora Foundation reported a distributable amount of $197K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sophora Foundation is led by Yan Ke, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Yan Ke
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
June Li
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Sophora Foundation
How much does Sophora Foundation give each year?
Sophora Foundation gave $134K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $102K across 1 grant.
What is Sophora Foundation's typical grant size?
Sophora Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,708, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sophora Foundation give grants?
Sophora Foundation gives mostly in New York: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (36%) and Maryland (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Clara, CA (2 grants) and San Jose, CA (2 grants).
Does Sophora Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Sophora Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sophora Foundation's largest grantees?
Sophora Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include GS Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management ($75,000), Santa Clara University ($25,000 across 2 grants) and George Mayne Elementary ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sophora Foundation?
Sophora Foundation reported $729K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $150K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $197K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Sophora Foundation?
Sophora Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Palo Alto, CA. It holds $729K in total assets as of 2024.
What is Sophora Foundation's EIN?
Sophora Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3364880. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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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