Tella Sakamoto Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PALO ALTO, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 17 grants totaling $118K. Net investment income was $364K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.4M
+11.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$118K
-50.4% YoY
Grant Count
17
-22.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-35.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tella Sakamoto Foundation reported a distributable amount of $177K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Tella Sakamoto Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Tella Sakamoto Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PALO ALTO, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 17 grants totaling $118K. Net investment income was $364K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,375,570 | $2,136,972 | $2,270,730 |
| Revenue | $365,717 | $112,552 | $73,685 |
| Expenses | $127,119 | $246,310 | $158,908 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $125,251 | $244,430 | $125,209 |
| Net Investment Income | $363,849 | $111,229 | $40,090 |
| Distributable Amount | $176,993 | $154,627 | $166,178 |
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
108 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Swarthmore College ($25,000), Fdn for Liberty and Human Rights ($20,000), Carnegie Mellon University ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fdn for Liberty and Human Rights Berkeley, CA | General fund | $20,000 |
| Palo Alto Medical Foundation Palo Alto, CA | General fund | $10,000 |
| Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA | General fund | $25,000 |
| Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | General fund | $20,000 |
| Martha Graham Dance Company New York, NY | General fund | $5,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA New York, NY | General fund | $1,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Washington, DC | General fund | $300 |
| Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation New York, NY | General fund | $5,000 |
| Ballet Theatre Foundation New York, NY | General fund | $5,000 |
| Gamble Gardens Palo Alto, CA | General fund | $125 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vijay Tella | Pres Dir | 10 | — |
| Hideko Sakamoto | Secy CFO Dir | 10 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tella Sakamoto Foundation?
Tella Sakamoto Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PALO ALTO, CA. It holds $2.4M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Tella Sakamoto Foundation?
As of 2024, Tella Sakamoto Foundation holds $2.4M in total assets with $366K in annual revenue. It awarded 17 grants totaling $118K in 2024.
Where does Tella Sakamoto Foundation operate?
Tella Sakamoto Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia.
What size grants does Tella Sakamoto Foundation award?
In 2024, Tella Sakamoto Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $118K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Tella Sakamoto Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Tella Sakamoto Foundation reported a distributable amount of $177K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Tella Sakamoto Foundation's EIN?
Tella Sakamoto Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0559416. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Tella Sakamoto Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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