The Challenge Foundation logo

The Challenge Foundation

TIGARD, OR EIN: 58-1817816 Website

The Challenge Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation established in 1989. The organization is headquartered in Tigard, Oregon, with operations also noted in Phoenix, Arizona. The foundation operates as a nonprofit organization dedicated to educational support and scholarship programs.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$326K

-61.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.7M

-0.6% YoY

Grant Count

13

-7.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$133K

+7.1% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Challenge Foundation empowers motivated and academically inclined students from under-resourced communities to achieve their full potential through educational scholarships and comprehensive support services.

Mission Statement: "The Challenge Foundation empowers motivated and academically inclined students from under-resourced communities to achieve their full potential. Through educational scholarships and comprehensive support, we equip Challenge Scholars with tools and resources to navigate obstacles and chart their own futures, providing holistic support and advocacy to them and their families."

Core Values:

  • Creating an environment where all are comfortable as their authentic selves and celebrated for their differences, including race, socioeconomic status, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, and other identities
  • Recognizing that talent is more equally distributed than opportunity and acknowledging that equal access to opportunity is limited by both seen and unseen barriers
  • Affirming the individuality and intersectionality of each scholar and family
  • Partnering with Challenge scholars, families, schools, and community organizations to elevate, honor, and empower students
  • Engaging in continuous learning and growth to foster a community of inclusivity with a strong sense of belonging

Primary Focus Areas:

  • Educational scholarships for low-income students from middle school through college
  • Support for model educational initiatives and charter schools
  • Comprehensive support services for scholars and their families
  • Experiential learning opportunities

Grantmaking

The foundation made 18 grants in 2024. Recent grants include:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation is based in Tigard, Oregon, with additional operations in Phoenix, Arizona. The organization serves students from under-resourced communities, though specific geographic service areas are not detailed in available sources.

Grant Distribution by State

10states
+2 more states

Cities

ArlingtonChicagoGreshamIndianapolisJacksonvilleMount VernonNew YorkPasadenaPhoenixPortlandRaleighRestonSan FranciscoTigardWashington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

2024 Financial Data:

  • Total Assets: $326,494
  • Total Revenues: $1,396,994
  • Total Expenses: $1,922,809
  • Number of Employees: 1

2023 Financial Data:

  • Total Assets: $844,107
  • Total Revenues: $1,600,000
  • Total Expenses: $1,920,000

Current Operations:

  • Annual Revenue: $10,872,970
  • Employees: 12

Tax Status: Tax-exempt since December 1989; EIN 58-1817816

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$718K$1M$2M$3M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$326,494$844,107$1,187,768
Revenue$1,396,994$1,597,224$2,610,985
Expenses$1,922,809$1,917,613$1,953,702
Qualifying Distributions$1,735,000$1,745,000$1,765,000
Net Investment Income$1,142,329$70,284$334,835
Distributable Amount$15,514$50,653$71,668

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$462K$924K$1M$2M17 grants202016 grants202116 grants202214 grants202313 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

YOUNG AMERICAN'S FOUNDAT…$350KCENTER FOR RIGHTS OF ABU…$250KMOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE$200KGOLDWATER INSTITUTE$150KSTATE POLICY NETWORK$150KHERITAGE FOUNDATION$125KMT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCI…$100KNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PRO…$100KPARENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL …$100KPACIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE$70K

Grant Size Distribution

76 grants across all recorded years

6<$50K28$50–100K36$100–250K6$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Barbara Radigan - Executive Director
  • Kristin Kray Wells - Acting National Director
  • Ben Valore-Caplan - Board Member

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

CHERYL REINSTADLEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$132K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
MARTHA BRYANTRUSTEE1
CHERYL REINSTADLEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR40$132,000
RUPERT REINSTADLERTRUSTEE1

Contact Information

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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