The Atel Foundation
The Atel Foundation is a private foundation, based in San Francisco, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $202K. Net investment income was $20K.
The Atel Foundation at a glance
In short: The Atel Foundation gave $202K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $201,642
- -36.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,405
- -36.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,509,081
- -25.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who The Atel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Asian Art Museum ($100K). Together the top 9 received $202K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 53 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Atel Foundation gives
- Giving fell 65% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 577% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $202K (2024) to $571K (2021). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $202K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Asian Art Museum San Francisco, CA | Annual Fund | $100,000 |
| SF Symphony San Francisco, CA | Annual Charity Donation | $48,926 |
| Friends of Hawaii Charities Inc Honolulu, HI | General Support | $16,679 |
| Stosik Foundation Honolulu, HI | General Support | $12,000 |
| Stern Grove Festival San Francisco, CA | Annual Support | $10,000 |
| Hawaii State Jr Golf Association Honolulu, HI | General Support | $5,537 |
| McAh Mililani, HI | General Support | $5,000 |
| Armed Services YMCA HI Joint Base Pearl Harbo, HI | General Support | $2,500 |
| Breakthrough T1D New York, NY | General Support | $1,000 |
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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 | $1,509,081 | $-314,532 | $208,282 | $201,642 | 9 | $205,022 | $20,190 | $35,515 |
| 2023 | $2,031,895 | $158,425 | $381,505 | $318,490 | 9 | $322,531 | $14,051 | $51,034 |
| 2022 | $2,254,975 | $675,874 | $335,664 | $312,704 | 11 | $314,431 | $6,760 | $61,073 |
| 2021 | $1,914,765 | $1,329,527 | $583,632 | $570,696 | 16 | $571,758 | $818,173 | $89,220 |
| 2020 | $1,168,870 | $537,519 | $324,547 | $298,500 | 8 | — | $274,891 | $52,495 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Atel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $36K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Atel Foundation is led by Eliza Cash, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Eliza Cash
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Dean Cash
Vice President
On filings since 2020
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 The Atel Foundation
How much does The Atel Foundation give each year?
The Atel Foundation gave $202K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $318K across 9 grants.
What is The Atel Foundation's typical grant size?
The Atel Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $22,405, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Atel Foundation give grants?
The Atel Foundation gives mostly in California: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Hawaii (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants) and Honolulu, HI (3 grants).
Does The Atel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of The Atel Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Atel Foundation's largest grantees?
The Atel Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Asian Art Museum ($100,000), SF Symphony ($48,926) and Friends of Hawaii Charities Inc ($16,679), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Atel Foundation?
The Atel Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $205K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $36K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Atel Foundation's EIN?
The Atel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-5406606. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 26, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Atel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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