Teach a Man to Fish Foundation
Teach A Man To Fish Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Irvine, California. Established in 2013, the organization operates as an independent 501(c)(3) charitable foundation with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking activities.
Key facts about Teach a Man to Fish Foundation
- EIN
- 27-4213183
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,458,250
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- Average grant
- $768,932
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 70% first-time grantees (7 of 10, 2024)
- Total assets
- $144,373,812
- Primary geography
- Wyoming (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Teach a Man to Fish Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Teach a Man to Fish Foundation's 11 itemized 2024 grants were Wyoming (99%). The most frequent recipient cities were Jackson, WY (2 grants). None of its 11 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.
Is Teach a Man to Fish Foundation open to new grantees?
70%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 10 grantees (70%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $2.8M. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 30% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 46% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 121% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
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 Teach a Man to Fish Foundation
- How to evaluate Teach a Man to Fish Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Teach a Man to Fish Foundation with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$144.4M
+12.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.5M
+59.4% YoY
Grant Count
11
-68.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$769K
+407.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Teach a Man to Fish Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on funding new treatments for prostate cancer, developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to address pressing societal problems. Primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Prostate cancer research and treatment
Grantmaking
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Teach a Man to Fish Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects primarily in California, Wyoming, and Washington, though grant activity extends to major urban centers including New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 11 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (Most Recent Data):
- Total Assets: $144,373,812 (2024)
- Total Assets: $128,584,721 (2023)
- Total Revenues: $18,786,411 (2023)
- Total Expenses: $18,493,163 (2023)
- Total Giving: $8,458,250
Tax Status:
- EIN: 27-4213183
- Tax-exempt since February 2013
- Required to file IRS Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $144,373,812 | $128,584,721 | $122,395,656 |
| Revenue | $-5,323,856 | $18,786,411 | $65,043,134 |
| Expenses | $10,677,706 | $18,493,163 | $31,219,654 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,633,257 | $5,453,610 | $6,303,371 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,278,174 | $9,614,628 | $6,849,718 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,145,258 | $6,417,101 | $5,826,271 |
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
163 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Teach a Man to Fish Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Walking Softer ($8,365,650 across 2 grants), St Mary's School ($20,100), Hole Food Rescue Corp ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Walking Softer Jackson, WY | To support innovation and awareness of conservation through their academic programs and scholarships. | $8,065,650 |
| WALKING SOFTER Jackson, WY | To support innovation and awareness of conservation through their academic programs and scholarships. | $300,000 |
| ST MARY'S SCHOOL Aliso Viejo, CA | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO HELP EMPOWER STUDENTS AND NURTURE THEIR INTERESTS. | $20,100 |
| Hole Food Rescue Corp Jackson, WA | TO SUPPORT THE REDUCTION OF FOOD WASTE & CULTIVATE FOOD SECURITY. | $10,000 |
| Great Old Broads for Wilderness Durango, CO | TO SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF WILDERNESS AND WILD LANDS. | $10,000 |
| MIRACLES FOR KIDS INC Irvine, CA | TO PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH CRITICALLY-ILL WITH FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER. | $10,000 |
| CLIMATE JUSTICE ALLIANCE Berkeley, CA | TO SUPPORT FRONTLINE GROUPS REBUILDING CITIES STRUCK BY A CLIMATE DISASTER. | $10,000 |
| WIND RIVER TRIBAL BUFFALO INITIATIVE Kinnear, WY | TO SUPPORT THE RESOTRATION OF BUFFALO POPULATIONS THROUGH CONSERVATION EFFORTS. | $10,000 |
| AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION Washington, DC | TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR AFR%ICAN WILDLIFE. | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY Atlanta, GA | TO SUPPORT RESEARCH EFFORTS INTO CANCER TREATEMENTS AND CURES. | $7,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Vincent C. Smith – President
- Victoria Smith – Secretary/Treasurer
- Matt Gless – Vice President/CFO
All leadership members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vincent Smith | President | — | — |
| Victoria Smith | Secretary/Treasurer | — | — |
| Matt Gless | Vice Pres / CFO | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 17595 Harvard Ave Ste C511 Irvine, CA 92614-8516
Phone: 949-501-7227
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Teach a Man to Fish Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on funding new treatments for prostate cancer, developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to address pressing societal problems. Primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Prostate cancer research and treatment
How do I apply for a grant from Teach a Man to Fish Foundation?
The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Teach a Man to Fish Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects primarily in California, Wyoming, and Washington, though grant activity extends to major urban centers including New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
What size grants does Teach a Man to Fish Foundation award?
In 2024, Teach a Man to Fish Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $8.5M — an average of about $769K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Teach a Man to Fish Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Teach a Man to Fish Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Teach a Man to Fish Foundation's EIN?
Teach a Man to Fish Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4213183. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Teach a Man to Fish Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Teach a Man to Fish Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.