The Arsenault Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2000 and based in Louisville, Colorado. Operating under the name PAX sapiens, the foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization focused on addressing large-scale global challenges through effective systems and strategic philanthropy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.6M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+82.8% YoY
Grant Count
17
+41.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$87K
+29.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Arsenault Family reported a distributable amount of $509K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to promote effective global systems that address human security challenges. The organization concentrates on two major issue areas:
- Global Pandemic Prevention: Catalyzing effective systems for pandemic prevention through better mechanisms for early identification of potentially pandemic diseases and effective early response to outbreaks
- US-China Relations: Supporting a peaceful, productive relationship between the United States and China, with particular emphasis on preventing militarized and nuclear conflict
Additional funding interests include:
- Women's rights and empowerment
- Global conflict resolution and peace building
- Leadership development
- Economic development
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains a low public profile and does not operate a formal application process or maintain a website. Interested organizations may contact the foundation directly at the address and phone number provided.
Average Grant
amount: $210,000–$325,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds efforts in the District of Columbia, Colorado, and California, with an international scope reflecting its focus on global pandemic prevention and US-China relations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $14,615,770
- Total Revenue: $6,428,056
- Total Expenses: $5,664,260
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Assets (2023):
- Total Assets: $13.9 million
- Revenue: $536,000
- Expenses: $3.37 million
Staffing: The foundation employs no staff members.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,615,770 | $13,851,974 | $16,690,187 |
| Revenue | $6,428,056 | $535,526 | $8,767,937 |
| Expenses | $5,664,260 | $3,373,739 | $2,172,948 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,263,263 | $3,383,950 | $2,443,318 |
| Net Investment Income | $828,002 | $157,408 | $59,474 |
| Distributable Amount | $509,424 | $596,352 | $384,060 |
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
64 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fundacion Santa Teresa ($256,400), Mediators Foundation Inc ($200,000), Inter Mediate ($197,670).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WESTERN UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENC POMONA, CA | PREVENTING PANDEMICS | $67,715 |
| FUNDACION SANTA TERESA BROOMFIELD, CO | HUMANITARIAN AID TO VENEZUELA | $256,400 |
| INTER MEDIATE BROOMFIELD, CO | NEGOTIATE POLITICAL TENSIONS | $197,670 |
| CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTL PEACE WASHINGTON, DC | PREVENT US/CHINA MILITARY CONFLICT | $91,083 |
| WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL WASHINGTON, DC | CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN | $20,000 |
| MEDIATORS FOUNDATION INC WASHINGTON, DC | SIDE3 EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES | $200,000 |
| FOUNDATION POUR L'INSTITUT DE BROOMFIELD, CO | GLOBAL PREVENTION OF PANDEMICS | $154,964 |
| MADRE INC NEW YORK, NY | DISCRETIONARY FUND | $14,000 |
| COUNCIL ON STRATEGIC RISKS WASHINGTON, DC | PREVENTION OF NOVEL NUCLEAR WEAPONS | $75,000 |
| RAND CORPORATION SANTA MONICA, CA | PEACE BETWEEN CHINA AND USA | $24,179 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Marcel Arsenault - Principal Officer and Founder
Marcel Arsenault is the founder and CEO of Real Capital Solutions, a Colorado-based real estate company. He previously pursued a Ph.D. in molecular biology and founded Mountain High Yoghurt while a student, which he sold to Beatrice Foods Co. in 1983 for $1.5 million. Arsenault approaches business and philanthropy from an academic perspective and is known for his analytical approach to understanding complex systems.
Cynda Arsenault - Co-Founder
Cynda Arsenault co-founded the Arsenault Family Foundation alongside Marcel. The couple are also founders of One Earth Future and the Secure World Foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARCEL JC ARSENAULT | CHAIRMAN/PRE | 20 | — |
| CYNDA COLLINS ARSENAULT | DIRECTOR/VP | 0.5 | — |
| IAN WEBB | DIRECTOR/VP | 0.5 | — |
| WILLIAM URY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Marcel and Cynda Arsenault signed the Giving Pledge in 2021, committing to give the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. The foundation's tax filings indicate a strong commitment to funding programs related to women's empowerment, global conflict resolution, and leadership development, with particular emphasis on organizations addressing global security challenges from a women's rights perspective.
The Giving Pledge welcomes 13 new signatoriesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Arsenault Family fund?
The foundation's mission is to promote effective global systems that address human security challenges. The organization concentrates on two major issue areas: • **Global Pandemic Prevention**: Catalyzing effective systems for pandemic prevention through better mechanisms for early identification of potentially pandemic diseases and effective early response to outbreaks • **US-China Relations**: Supporting a peaceful, productive relationship between the United States and China, with particular …
How do I apply for a grant from The Arsenault Family?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving in 2024: $1,483,011 • Average grant amount: $210,000–$325,000 • Made 16 grants in the most recent reporting year **Recent Grants (2024):** • Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: $91,083 (Prevent US/China Military Conflict) • United Nations Foundation: $88,000 (Pandemic Prevention) • Limited donations to Kaaba Microfinance Institution: $100,000 • Women's Action for Charitable Organization: $50,000 • Women's Action for New Directions Education F…
Where does The Arsenault Family make grants?
The foundation primarily funds efforts in the District of Columbia, Colorado, and California, with an international scope reflecting its focus on global pandemic prevention and US-China relations.
What size grants does The Arsenault Family award?
In 2024, The Arsenault Family awarded 17 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $87K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Arsenault Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Arsenault Family reported a distributable amount of $509K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Arsenault Family's EIN?
The Arsenault Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1569419. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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