The Challenge Foundation
The Challenge Foundation is a private foundation based in Tigard, Oregon, that supports educational opportunity for students from under-resourced communities. Its own programs provide scholarships and holistic support to students, while its 2025 filing also reports grants to outside organizations.
The Challenge Foundation at a glance
In short: The Challenge Foundation gave $1.7M across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $130K), top state Virginia. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,685,000
- -2.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $129,615
- -2.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $396,205
- +21.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (36% 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 Challenge Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact the foundation and review the grantmaking guidelines on its website. The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and that there are no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- There are no fixed deadlines.
- Deadline
- There are no fixed deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: The Challenge Foundation
Mailing address: 1900 Preston Road 267, Plano, TX 75093
Phone: (972) 867-3265
Website: https://thechallengefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Challenge Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Young American's Foundation ($350K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 39 grants of 72 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its scholar program operates in Denver, El Paso, and Phoenix. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares went to Virginia (36%), Arizona (21%), New York (12%), Washington, DC (10%), and Illinois (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Challenge Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 11 grantees (9%) 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 $100K; repeat grants $145K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $113K repeat.
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2020) to $1.8M (2021). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Young American's Foundation Reston, VA | National Student Conference | $350,000 |
| Center for Rights of Abused Children Phoenix, AZ | Support Ongoing Efforts for Foster Children | $250,000 |
| Moving Picture Institute New York, NY | Upcoming Films, Intern Program | $200,000 |
| State Policy Network Arlington, VA | ESA Programs | $150,000 |
| Heritage Foundation Washington, DC | Projects with the Center for Education Policy | $125,000 |
| Center for American Rights Chicago, IL | School Choice Expansion, Censorship | $100,000 |
| Goldwater Institute Phoenix, AZ | Parental Rights, Academic Transparency, Etc. | $100,000 |
| Mt Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union Mount Vernon, VA | Revitalization of Exhibits | $100,000 |
| Parents for Educational Freedom in NC (Pefnc) Raleigh, NC | Expanding School Choice & Scholarships | $100,000 |
| Pacific Research Institute Pasadena, CA | Support of Educational Outreach Programs | $70,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Challenge Foundation?
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 | $396,205 | $1,949,663 | $1,890,446 | $1,685,000 | 13 | $1,685,000 | $1,268,494 | $13,911 |
| 2024 | $326,494 | $1,396,994 | $1,922,809 | $1,735,000 | 13 | $1,735,000 | $1,142,329 | $15,514 |
| 2023 | $844,107 | $1,597,224 | $1,917,613 | $1,745,000 | 14 | $1,745,000 | $70,284 | $50,653 |
| 2022 | $1,187,768 | $2,610,985 | $1,953,702 | $1,765,000 | 16 | $1,765,000 | $334,835 | $71,668 |
| 2021 | $2,470,178 | $1,336,371 | $2,027,039 | $1,847,500 | 16 | $1,847,500 | $333,178 | $126,590 |
| 2020 | $3,261,461 | $-798,991 | $2,342,741 | $1,398,338 | 17 | — | — | $136,397 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Challenge 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’s mission is to empower motivated and academically inclined students from under-resourced communities to reach their full potential through educational scholarships, comprehensive support, and advocacy for students and families.
Its scholar program includes access to partner private schools, tutoring, mentoring, summer opportunities, academic and college advising, and social and emotional support. Separately, its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including education policy, school choice, children’s issues, and film.
Among its 2025 grantees, the Moving Picture Institute describes its work as creating films about human freedom, and State Policy Network says it catalyzes state-level freedom movements anchored by independent think tanks. Cascade Policy Institute says it develops and promotes policy alternatives intended to foster individual liberty, personal responsibility, and economic opportunity.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $1,685,000. Grants ranged from $40,000 to $350,000, with a median grant of $100,000. The largest reported grants included $350,000 to Young American’s Foundation for a national student conference; $250,000 to Center for Rights of Abused Children for ongoing efforts for foster children; $200,000 to Moving Picture Institute for upcoming films and its intern program; and $150,000 to State Policy Network for ESA programs.
Other reported grants included $125,000 to Heritage Foundation for projects with its Center for Education Policy; $100,000 each to Center for American Rights, Goldwater Institute, Mt Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union, and Parents for Educational Freedom in NC; and $70,000 to Pacific Research Institute. The filing also lists $50,000 grants to Carolina CAN and Cascade Policy Institute. Cascade Policy Institute describes its work as promoting policy alternatives that foster individual liberty, personal responsibility, and economic opportunity.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Martha Bryan and Rupert Reinstadler as trustees and Cheryl Reinstadler as executive director.
The Challenge Foundation is led by Cheryl Reinstadler, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cheryl Reinstadler
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$132K (2020) → $132K (2025)
Martha Bryan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rupert Reinstadler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $132K, to Cheryl Reinstadler (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Challenge Foundation
How much does The Challenge Foundation give each year?
The Challenge Foundation gave $1.7M across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 13 grants.
What is The Challenge Foundation's typical grant size?
The Challenge Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $129,615, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Challenge Foundation that year got $100K on average.
Where does The Challenge Foundation give grants?
The Challenge Foundation's top state is Virginia, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Arizona (21%) and New York (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Challenge Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Challenge Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Challenge Foundation's largest grantees?
The Challenge Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Young American's Foundation ($350,000), Center for Rights of Abused Children ($250,000) and Moving Picture Institute ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Challenge Foundation?
The Challenge Foundation reported $396K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $14K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Challenge Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to empower motivated and academically inclined students from under-resourced communities to reach their full potential through educational scholarships, comprehensive support, and advocacy for students and families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Challenge Foundation?
Contact the foundation and review the grantmaking guidelines on its website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Challenge Foundation's EIN?
The Challenge Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1817816. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Challenge Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Challenge Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-challenge-foundation-morg_f2c3cb3eeaa541f381c6664da002dd7c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581817816_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Challenge Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-challenge-foundation-morg_f2c3cb3eeaa541f381c6664da002dd7c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Challenge 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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