The Cappello Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Santa Barbara, CA EIN: 20-3987578

The Cappello Foundation is a private foundation, based in Santa Barbara, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $315K. Net investment income was $86K.

The Cappello Foundation at a glance

In short: The Cappello Foundation gave $315K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $35K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$314,632
+188.7% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
9
+28.6% vs 2023
Average grant
$34,959
+124.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$2,121
Total assets
$1,721,410
-6.8% vs 2023
Primary geography
California (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who The Cappello Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2024

The UCLA Foundationschool of Law: $300K across 2 grantsThe UCLA Foundationschool ofLaw$300K · 2 grantsGreen Brigade at University of North Texas: $5KGreen Brigade at University ofNorth Texas$5KNational Disaster Search Dog Foundation: $3KNational Disaster Search DogFoundation$3KThe Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps: $2KThe Cavaliers Drum & BugleCorps$2KBella and Sunshine Rescue: $2KBella and Sunshine Rescue$2KDoberman Pinscher Rescue: $2KDoberman Pinscher Rescue$2KThe Gentle Barn: $1KThe Gentle Barn$1KDonkey Land: $500Donkey Land$500

The largest 2024 recipient was The UCLA Foundationschool of Law ($300K across 2 grants). Together the top 8 received $315K.

Grant Size Distribution

39 grants across all recorded years

33<$50K2$50–100K4$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 39 (85%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.

Cities

Santa BarbaraLos AngelesOjaiSanta ClaritaIndianapolisFillmoreFilmoreRosemontAustinDentonOntarioRiversideSeattle

How The Cappello Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 35% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 347% 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

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K11 grants2020 7 grants2021 5 grants2022 7 grants2023 9 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $65K (2020) to $315K (2024). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $315K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The UCLA Foundationschool of Law Los Angeles, CACappello Trial Endowment UCLA Scholarship Program$150,000
The UCLA Foundationschool of Law Los Angeles, CACappello Trial Advocacy Fund$150,000
Green Brigade at University of North Texas Denton, TXGeneral Fund$5,000
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation Ojai, CAGeneral Fund$2,500
The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps Rosemont, ILGeneral Fund$2,121
Bella and Sunshine Rescue Ontario, CAGeneral Fund$2,011
Doberman Pinscher Rescue Fillmore, CAGeneral Fund$1,500
The Gentle Barn Santa Clarita, CAGeneral Fund$1,000
Donkey Land Riverside, CAGeneral Fund$500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$1,721,410$190,665$316,423$314,6329$314,632$85,665$90,549
2023$1,847,168$402,925$110,754$108,9717$108,971$80,549$88,221
2022$1,554,997$613,082$81,224$80,0005$80,000$12,092$50,691
2021$1,023,139$102,735$236,048$233,0507$233,050—$51,815
2020$1,156,452$11,144$70,191$65,17711—$8,590$57,783

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cappello Foundation reported a distributable amount of $91K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Cappello Foundation is led by A. Barry Cappello, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • A. Barry Cappello

    President, Director & Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lori Cappello

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    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 Cappello Foundation

How much does The Cappello Foundation give each year?

The Cappello Foundation gave $315K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $109K across 7 grants.

What is The Cappello Foundation's typical grant size?

The Cappello Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,121, and its average grant was $34,959, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Cappello Foundation give grants?

The Cappello Foundation gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).

Does The Cappello Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 78% of The Cappello 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 Cappello Foundation's largest grantees?

The Cappello Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The UCLA Foundationschool of Law ($300,000 across 2 grants), Green Brigade at University of North Texas ($5,000) and National Disaster Search Dog Foundation ($2,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Cappello Foundation?

The Cappello Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $315K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $91K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is The Cappello Foundation's EIN?

The Cappello Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3987578. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The Cappello 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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