The Bravo Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in 1997, it operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status since April 1964. The foundation awards grants to human service organizations serving underprivileged and disadvantaged communities, with a special focus on the Hispanic community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.7M
+1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$623K
+4.5% YoY
Grant Count
34
-17.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+26.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bravo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $724K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Bravo Foundation's primary mission is to ensure that grants reach organizations serving the poor and disadvantaged. The foundation concentrates its grantmaking on human service organizations with particular emphasis on serving Hispanic communities.
Grantmaking
The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$15,000
Average Grant
$13,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in California, though grants have also been distributed to organizations in Nevada and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $12.7 million
- Annual Revenue: $986,000
- Annual Expenses: $1.03 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Annual Income (reported): $1.5 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,718,639 | $12,489,534 | $11,795,924 |
| Revenue | $986,454 | $1,045,443 | $469,181 |
| Expenses | $1,027,737 | $928,890 | $543,654 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $946,961 | $881,180 | $501,532 |
| Net Investment Income | $936,572 | $971,107 | $353,326 |
| Distributable Amount | $723,902 | $621,063 | $693,500 |
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
148 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Children's Hospital ($50,000), Project Mercy ($50,000), Homeless Prenatal ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALL GIRLS STEM SOCIETY SAN DIEGO, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ALVARADO PTA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS SAN DIEGO, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS SAN DIEGO, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE ESCONDIDO, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BARRIO LOGAN COLLEGE INSTITUTE SAN DIEGO, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BIRTH COMPANIONS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF VISTA VISTA, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CARSON CARSON, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CASA CORNELIA LEGAL SERVICES SAN DIEGO, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL J LOPEZ | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $248,417 |
| WIND RALSTON | TREASURER | 1 | $4,000 |
| BEATRIZ RAMIREZ | SECRETARY | 1 | $4,000 |
Contact Information
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bravo Foundation fund?
The Bravo Foundation's primary mission is to ensure that grants reach organizations serving the poor and disadvantaged. The foundation concentrates its grantmaking on human service organizations with particular emphasis on serving Hispanic communities.
How do I apply for a grant from The Bravo Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Median grant size: $15,000 • Average grant size: $13,000 • Grant range: $2,000 to $20,000 (based on recent filings) • Total grants awarded: 114 grants totaling $1.5 million across available records • Annual giving has grown from $380,000 in 2020 to $596,000 in 2023 **Application Process:** The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. **Recent Gr…
Where does The Bravo Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in California, though grants have also been distributed to organizations in Nevada and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Bravo Foundation award?
In 2024, The Bravo Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $623K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Bravo Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Bravo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $724K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Bravo Foundation's EIN?
The Bravo Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-2160081. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bravo 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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