The Avalon Foundation
The Avalon Foundation is a private foundation based in Templeton, California. It is a family foundation founded by Lisa Stromsoe and Lori Buzzetti, and its website says it primarily focuses on children, youth, and underserved people in San Luis Obispo County, as well as particular projects that appeal to the foundation.
The Avalon Foundation at a glance
In short: The Avalon Foundation gave $15K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in California. 55% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,500
- +3.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +120.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,318
- -52.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $306,942
- +2.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (6 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Avalon Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists Lisa Stromsoe as the contact and “general information” as the form and materials. It states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations and lists no award restrictions.
- Review Cycle
- No deadline is listed on the 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- No deadline is listed on the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Lisa Stromsoe
Mailing address: 3775 Old Creek Road, Templeton, CA 93465
Phone: (805) 237-8632
Website: https://www.avalonfoundationslo.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Avalon Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ethiopia Skate ($3K). Together the top 10 received $14K.
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 39 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it primarily serves San Luis Obispo County. All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in California; the listed recipients include organizations in San Luis Obispo County and Tortoise and Animal Rescue in Los Angeles.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Avalon Foundation open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 11 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 36% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $14K (2023) to $16K (2021). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia Skate Templeton, CA | Further Tax-Exempt Purpose | $2,500 |
| Lumina Alliance Paso Robles, CA | Further Tax-Exempt Purpose | $2,000 |
| CASA of SLO San Luis Obispo, CA | Further Tax-Exempt Purpose | $2,000 |
| Echo Atascadero, CA | Further Tax-Exempt Purpose | $1,500 |
| Family Care Network San Luis Obispo, CA | Further Tax-Exempt Purpose | $1,500 |
| Camp Ocean Pines Cambria, CA | Further Tax-Exempt Purpose | $1,250 |
| Studios on the Park Paso Robles, CA | Further Tax-Exempt Purpose | $1,000 |
| Diversity Coalition Arroyo Grande, CA | Further Tax-Exempt Purpose | $1,000 |
| Morro Bay Art Center Morro Bay, CA | Further Tax-Exempt Purpose | $1,000 |
| Estero Bay Kindness Coalition Cayucos, CA | Further Tax-Exempt Purpose | $500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $306,942 | $12,717 | $15,977 | $14,500 | 11 | $14,500 | $13,685 | $14,063 |
| 2024 | $300,280 | $-13,305 | $15,417 | $14,000 | 5 | $14,000 | $11,716 | $13,317 |
| 2023 | $329,828 | $13,180 | $15,389 | $14,000 | 8 | $14,000 | $13,180 | $13,374 |
| 2022 | $342,941 | $13,651 | $17,028 | $15,575 | 8 | $15,575 | $15,361 | $15,204 |
| 2021 | $349,641 | $21,822 | $17,664 | $15,900 | 7 | — | $21,822 | $15,385 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Avalon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it supports life-enriching programs in art, music, and health. Its website also lists organizations it has supported in visual arts, music and theatre, health and wellness, and recreation.
Among its 2025 grantees, Lumina Alliance says its mission is to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children. Family Care Network describes its mission as enhancing the wellbeing of children, adults, and families in partnership with the community. Camp Ocean Pines says it fosters enjoyment and appreciation of the natural world through creative activities in a residential setting. Studios on the Park describes its work as providing creative, educational, and transformational experiences that enhance understanding and appreciation of visual arts. Estero Bay Kindness Coalition says it partners with organizations to benefit the greater good and people living on the margins in the Estero Bay community.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $14,500 through 11 grants. Grants ranged from $250 to $2,500, with a median grant of $1,250. The largest awards were $2,500 to Ethiopia Skate; $2,000 each to Lumina Alliance and CASA of SLO; and $1,500 each to ECHO and Family Care Network. Other 2025 grantees were Camp Ocean Pines ($1,250); Studios on the Park, Diversity Coalition, and Morro Bay Art Center ($1,000 each); Estero Bay Kindness Coalition ($500); and Tortoise and Animal Rescue ($250). The filing lists the purpose for each award as “further tax-exempt purpose.”
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it donated to 11 separate charities, all approved nonprofit organizations, and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists Lisa Stromsoe as the contact, “general information” as the application form and materials, no deadline, and no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lisa Stromsoe as president and Lori Buzzetti as CFO/secretary. The foundation’s website lists Lisa Hageman Stromsoe, Lori Buzzetti, Lauren Buzzetti, Heidi Buzzetti, Nicole Stromsoe, and Sean Stromsoe as board members.
The Avalon Foundation is led by Lisa Stromsoe, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Stromsoe
President
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Buzzetti
CFO & Secretary
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Avalon Foundation
How much does The Avalon Foundation give each year?
The Avalon Foundation gave $15K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $14K across 5 grants.
What is The Avalon Foundation's typical grant size?
The Avalon Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,250, and its average grant was $1,318, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Avalon Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Avalon Foundation give grants?
The Avalon Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Luis Obispo, CA (2 grants) and Paso Robles, CA (2 grants).
Who are The Avalon Foundation's largest grantees?
The Avalon Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ethiopia Skate ($2,500), Lumina Alliance ($2,000) and CASA of SLO ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Avalon Foundation?
The Avalon Foundation reported $307K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $14K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Avalon Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it supports life-enriching programs in art, music, and health. Its website also lists organizations it has supported in visual arts, music and theatre, health and wellness, and recreation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Avalon Foundation?
The 2024 filing lists Lisa Stromsoe as the contact and “general information” as the form and materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Avalon Foundation's EIN?
The Avalon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0518388. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Figures come from The Avalon Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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