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.
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
The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. The foundation only makes contributions to organizations it has specifically selected.
How to Apply
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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
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 |
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
129 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 include Walking Softer ($8,065,650), Walking Softer ($300,000), St Mary's School ($20,100).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Walking Softer Jackson, WY | To support innovation and awareness of conservation through their academic programs and scholarships. | $8,065,650 |
| 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 |
| WALKING SOFTER JACKSON, WY | To support innovation and awareness of conservation through their academic programs and scholarships. | $300,000 |
| 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 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ATLANTA, GA | TO SUPPORT RESEARCH EFFORTS INTO CANCER TREATEMENTS AND CURES. | $7,500 |
| ST MARY'S SCHOOL ALISO VIEJO, CA | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO HELP EMPOWER STUDENTS AND NURTURE THEIR INTERESTS. | $20,100 |
| AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR AFR%ICAN WILDLIFE. | $10,000 |
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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 68 grants in 2023 • Typical award range: $2,000–$8,065,650 • Median grant amount: $10,000 • Recent notable grants include: • Walking Softer: $3,664,279 (to support innovation and awareness of conservation through academic programs and scholarships) • New Venture Fund: $200,000 (to support positive impact in racial equity and justice projects) • George Mason University Foundation: $150,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and…
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.
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 June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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